Jessica had been bicycling hard for two hours in a desperate attempt to be with her boyfriend Joshua. Her father had basically forbidden any further contact. With nothing else to live for, she was on a dangerous journey. It was bad enough to drive through this lawless countryside in a vintage car. Alone, on a bicycle, it was almost unthinkable. Exhausted, she laid down on the side of the road and made peace with the Lord.
An EMP blast has littered most roads in the eastern U.S. with stalled cars, their modern computer-based ignitions fried beyond repair. Ben Randall had formed a survival collaborative with his neighbors. They had to venture out for food, water and medicines while trying to avoid local gangs of thugs. Local governments were operating with skeletons crews at best. Officer Ryan was one of the few Massachusetts State Police officers who had transportation and was able to remain at his post. As a member of Ben's collaborative, he coordinated the formation of a new collaborative. It took an hour's drive with the non-computerized antique Buick that Ben's son Randy had lovingly restored.
Daniel was the leader of the new collaborative. He was a talented man who spoke a number of languages, was a decent musician, and had the natural gift to be a good salesman. Trouble is, he is not a hands-on guy. Starting in the mix in the new collaborative was Daniel's wife, who is often at odds with him, and his son Joshua. Ah, Joshua, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Leaving college early, Joshua's dreams were like those of his dad. He was also gifted with the gab, loved sales and meeting people. He too was worldly, spoke several languages, and come across as a handsome, confident young man.
When the two collaborative meet, it is the encounter of Jessica and Joshua that sets off a tangled journey through danger, survival and love. It inflicts family wounds and eventually pushes the two lovers to leave for "tent city". Like the first book, "Boston Darkens", you will find this story fast paced, and captivating to the end.
"Boston Flickers" is a story of family conflict, friends, and romance, mixed-in with the wit of a unique cast of characters.
Michael Kravitz is an emerging author who lives in southern New England. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He moved to a residential farming community in the 1950s. This helped developed a sense of self-sufficiency and a strong work ethic. This gave him the driving force that developed Ben Randal's character. He had a lifetime of experiences, enduring many ups and downs. He published his first book, Boston Darkens, and this second book is a sequel, a continuing story of the struggles of Ben Randal and his family. After high school, Michael Kravitz went to the University of Massachusetts, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He also has done some postgraduate studies at Suffolk University and Boston University. Soon after college, he worked as an engineer at Johnson & Johnson. Back in the late 60s, during the Vietnam era, instead of opting for a draft exemption, he did a stint in the US Army. After serving in the US Army, he came home and went for a ride with his grandmother. With his college degree and an honorable discharge, he sought employment. Visiting six different firms that day, he had four offers for employment. He elected to work for Draper Bros., in Canton, Massachusetts. Throughout his life, he attempted many different activities. He played tennis, darts, bowling, skiing, and even the clarinet in symphonic bands. He also worked on the weekends in his father's business. His father owned a reupholstering and window treatments shop. They did custom work for decorators and special clients. When his father was diagnosed with cancer, he left his engineering job to keep the business going. Days soon turned to months and years. During those years, he had done extensive traveling not as a tourist but usually alone and on trains. Some of the countries he visited include Holland, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania, Austria, Mexico, Canada, and England.
