Jonah Heywood Chronicles

A daring urban fantasy adventure through the rough roads of Asheville perfect for fans of Jim Butcher and M.D. Massey. Magic: To some, it's spectacle. To Jonah, it's pure profit. A shaman for hire, Jonah can tap into his powers as easily as turning on a light switch, but the real money is in putting on a show. And after putting himself in debt to the Carver brothers, Asheville's version of a mafia, in order to save his father's business, he's in need of some real money. Then a mysterious woman makes Jonah a staggering offer: $20,000-to find and deliver the Ledberg runestone, a legendary artifact of Norse myth. He's suspicious of the case and the buyer, but when the Carvers threaten Jonah's father if they don't get their payment within the month, Jonah starts his investigation. As he explores Asheville's seedy magical underbelly, Jonah discovers he's not alone on the hunt. Will Jonah survive long enough to save his father, or will his past of swindling mortals and dodging debt collectors finally catch up with him?

From Patrick Donovan, the author of the Demon Jack series, comes a peek at beleaguered antihero Jonah Heywood ahead of the events of The Ledberg Runestone. Before becoming an alcoholic grifter in the mountains of Western North Carolina, Jonah Heywood was a sixteen year old learning the magical ropes under the tutelage of Gretchen, his mentor. Gretchen helps Jonah process that he can see and influence two simultaneous realms: the spiritual and earthly. Now, in place of the swirling morass of inexplicable phenomena that had been overwhelming him for as long as he can remember, Jonah is finally able to get a handle on his abilities. Everything is finally starting to make sense for the teen. With new tools in his mind's kit, Jonah and his mentor take a field trip to meet tent revivalist Eli Crouse, a country preacher and sometime faith healer. A recent rash of inexplicable deaths in the preacher's congregation has afflicted the tight-knit community. At the same time, Pastor Crouse has his own troubles: a vengeful spirit has taken up residence in his home, scorching the wallpaper and threatening him in his sleep. For a teenage shaman proud of his new capabilities this should be easy: find the culprit, neutralize the evil, rest on laurels! But even small-scale menaces can harness the incredible power of the spiritual realm and can threaten to overwhelm old hand and newbie alike. The hard lessons Jonah faces at such a tender age will change him, helping to set the stage for the man he'll become.