As seen in the November issue of Uncaged.
Uncaged: Can you tell readers more about your A Cure to Kill For series?
The “A Cure to Kill for” series is currently a two book series. The first book, “Chain of Salt and Water” was originally intended to be a standalone novel. As I neared the end I realized the story was far from being complete and a sequel would need to follow.
The concept for “Chain of Salt and Water” began as an assignment in nursing school. I had completed a very lengthy paper in which I came up with a hypothetical cure for AIDS. When I say lengthy I mean that I went overboard on the paper. All I can say is that I was in to my school work and became overly involved in the assignment. What was supposed to be a five page paper ended up being somewhere between twenty five to thirty pages in length. When I finally turned in the project my teacher refused to accept it saying, “This has nothing to do with nursing.” Annoyed that I had put all this work and energy into the assignment, I slapped some of my research onto a different paper and ended up with an “A” anyway.
Several years after graduating, I revisited my thoughts and began to formulate “Chain of Salt and Water”. For starters many of the underlying themes fall in line with how the infestation of a virus overruns its surroundings. This is similar to how people can manipulate their environment, to the point of destruction, in order to get what they want.
This principle can be found taking place with Charles Differ, the owner of a small mom-and-pop hardware store. There have been several mishaps that have negatively impacted his business and it leaves him wondering if the store has somehow been infected. But for what purpose? Charles is left with the difficult decision to either sell the store or try and pull it out of its nosedive toward bankruptcy. Will he be able to make this decision before something bad infects him?
The timeline for both books are written in a linear fashion and that in turn corresponds to their titles. We as humans are comprised of salt and water, whereas the “chain” or “bond” expresses the way we are linked to one another.
In the end two college students, Anthony and Lianna, need to put aside their differences and somehow unite in order to save their professor’s cure for AIDS before it falls into the wrong hands. As their efforts become more and more difficult, their relationship begins to blossom and the bond they develop continues into the second book, but at what cost?
Besides being a little bit thriller and a small part mystery there are also several paranormal qualities to the book. This is partially shown in Anthony’s dream journeys into the underworld. When he awakens he’s left wondering if they were something more than a simple dream. As he tries to unravel these mysteries he hopefully begins to realize that there other agenda’s lurking out there. A killer with a motive. A killer who wants what Antony and Lianna have found. Someone who wants the hardware store gone. Someone who wants it all for themselves. But who and what this person wants may be manipulated by someone else as if they were a puppet on a string.
Uncaged: Chain of Salt and Water is out now and the second book, Bonds of Water and Salt will come out November 27. How many books are planned in this series?
As I mentioned earlier “Chain of Salt and Water” was originally meant to be a standalone novel. When I realized there was more to tell, I embarked on the sequel.
I initially approached “Bonds of Water and Salt” with a lot of zest and I had the first section completed within a few short months. However, the next section took several months longer and by the time I reached the third part I wasn’t writing as frequently as I normally do. I felt I had fallen into a trap where the writing wasn’t as fresh as it had been when I was first developing the characters and the storyline. I think that’s the challenge when writing a sequel in that the story itself can potentially become mundane and quite repetitive.
My initial intentions had been to finish the series after the second book. Currently, I’m not counting out writing another installment. There are several characters that I really like, one being Johnny Dantanian, who I would love to explore and write about even more. I’ve kicked around a storyline in my head and I have a very rough idea how things might play out. As of yet, nothing has been placed on paper. So I guess the short answer is to wait and see.
Uncaged: What advice would you give new authors?
I’m still young in my author career so I’m still exploring the ins and outs of writing. However if I was to give any advice it would be persistence and enjoyment.
Persistence in that you have to keep writing to become better at the craft. I feel you should try and limit your expectations as it relates to your work getting out into the public’s hands. By being persistent it will eventually find its way to where it was meant to be.
Further, you have to enjoy the process of writing. Enjoy developing the story, characters and dialogue. If you don’t it’s going to show in your work.
Uncaged: Do you read your reviews? What do you feel you can take away from them?
I’m sure everyone would agree that reading a good review is elating and being confronted with a not so great one can be disheartening. I would prefer being praised for my work, but the negative review can allow you to grow as an author. As one of my teacher’s had said, “You have to be willing to fail in order to succeed.” With that being said, I do take the time to read all my reviews.
Uncaged: What is one of the nicest things someone has said to you about your books?
One of my more memorable compliments occurred when someone had told me that they couldn’t put “Chain of Salt and Water” down. They had been reading the book late into the night, were late for work and then spent the majority of their weekend reading it from cover to cover. Not only had the book engaged them that much but they wanted to more about the characters and some of the back story. It’s this same person who has been eagerly waiting for the sequel, “Bonds of Water and Salt”.
For me one of the greatest achievements I could hope for as a writer is having a reader become engrossed in the characters, the story and ultimately the book itself.
Uncaged: What do you like to do when you aren’t writing? Where is one of your favorite places on Earth?
There are many things that I enjoy doing outside of writing. For the most part I like to keep busy and rarely do I find myself sitting idle. I love to further explore my creativity through painting, drawing and working in my yard. I also like to work out, run and get involved in running races. I will always find the time to spend with my dog and fiancée. Of course work has to be crammed in there somewhere. As someone recently told me, “Work seems to get in the way of my life.”
As for my favorite place on Earth, that can be a difficult choice. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been to several unique and exciting places. If I had to pick one I would, at this particular moment, choose Nepal. A few years ago my fiancée and I travelled to Kathmandu for a volunteer medical mission. We meet some incredible people during our stay and found the city itself fascinating. We also toured the countryside where we visited a jungle, gave a bath to an elephant in a river with a crocodile nearby and then took a bus to Lumbini where we had the opportunity to stand over the spot where the Buddha is said to have been born.
Uncaged: What can you tell us that is very unique about you?
Despite being active and involved in a variety of things, I tend to be a private person. I’m content with spending time by myself and for the most part I’m comfortable in my own skin. I can even go several days without talking to anyone.
Uncaged: What would you like to say to fans, and where can they follow you?
I would like to simply say to my fans, “Thank you.” Thank you for taking the time to read my books, becoming immersed in the characters and story, creating the enthusiasm that surrounds them and finally allowing me to pursue my creative passion. If it wasn’t for you these books would never have gotten very far.
[symple_box color=”black” fade_in=”false” float=”center” text_align=”left” width=””]Tim Sabados has been an emergency room nurse for over eleven years and a part time paramedic for nineteen. A native born Detroiter having interests in painting, sculpture and drawing it was only natural that he turned to creative writing to fulfill that artistic gap formed by the excessive amount of technical writing required of him during nursing school.
His influences in fiction have come from interests in various mystical concepts and the many unusual situations presented to him during his medical career. More importantly his writing strays from any one single genre, but instead blends them together to create a literary experience that allows a vibrant mental journey and the ability to contemplate the multi-faceted aspects of life. Something he feels the reader will find enjoyable on top of an entertaining story. Visit Tim online at www.timesabados.com.[/symple_box]
Bonds of Water and Salt
Tim Sabados
Suspense/Paranormal
Releases Nov. 27, 2018
What would you trade for freedom and wealth? This simple decision is the difference between life and death. Find out how the dice roll in the anticipated sequel to Chain of Salt and Water.
Millions of lives hang in the balance while Anthony and Lianna fight to keep the cure for a deadly virus protected from the onslaught of people who want it destroyed. When an elite team is paid big bucks to confiscate it, a dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues, and the body count rises.
With a bounty on their heads, Anthony and Lianna soon can’t trust anyone, not even each other. As their relationship tears apart and Lianna is manipulated by a deadly double agent, Anthony is left wondering what happened to the woman he loves.
In this heart-pounding conclusion where greed is a poison, can Anthony save Lianna, or will the cure cost them both their lives? Will Anthony turn a cold shoulder on his dream walking abilities, even though the strange and eerie parallel to his waking world could be a way to save them all?
Excerpt
The ringing was tortuous. Cold. Harsh. Relentless. It became louder. Drilled deeper and deeper into Anthony’s skull, as if the bony hand of death were twisting it with the frosted tip of a carbon screw driver. The metallic vibration intensified. His eardrums swelled, ballooning to the point that they filled every minuscule crevice in his ear canal, effectively keeping out any other sound. The very core of his brain shook. And louder.
If only it would stop. Anthony needed some kind of relief. Yearned for it. Craved it as if his very life depended on it. Maybe he could plug his ears with his fingers. Block the scalpel-sharp pain from slicing into his head. Somehow soothe the overbearing agony that disintegrated any thought he had of reprieve.
Anthony tried to move his right arm. It wouldn’t budge. Neither would his left. Not even his hand. His fingers. Something had climbed on his back and pinned him down with animalistic voracity. Panic seeped into his lungs. Stole his breath. Burrowed into his veins. His heart thumped wildly, trying desperately to rid itself of the poison of terror. The ringing became even louder.
It was too much. He needed to do something. Anything. He needed to escape the unyielding torment. Squirm free from the binding restraints.
Anthony tensed his arms. His legs. Tightened his shoulders. His gut. Locked the vertebrae of his spine. He took a deep breath and pushed.
He thrust upward with all he had, hoping the sudden jolt would throw off the phantom clamped to his back. He pushed. Strained. The tension in his muscles surpassed its limit. The organic fibers locked. Shredded. He kept pushing. Acidic pain sizzled in the joints between his bones. Ate away at the straps that held his spine. His arms trembled. That thing on his back didn’t budge.
Anthony tried to scream. Tried one final thrust. The air bubble of his will crept out of his lungs and lodged in his throat. Clogged his voice box. Nothing escaped from his mouth. Not even a whimper. The ringing got louder. Sharper.
He collapsed. Gasped for a breath as if it were the final one he would ever take. The last remnants of energy oozed from his listless arms. His triceps were liquid gelatin. So were his quads. Chest. Shoulders. His neck. Sweat trickled into the curve of his back, pooled and then evaporated.
The flame of his will sputtered. Its glowing embers flickered their last shards of light. Anthony exhaled the remaining gulps of air from his lungs. He was the gazelle caught in the jaws of the lion. There was no escape. Nothing more he could do except give in to the moment. Life drained from his body as if flowing from a broken faucet. His fate was sealed.
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