Advance Praise

“Robert Swartwood’s The Silver Ring is a full-tilt no-holds-barred bobsled of a ride, absolutely engaging and a hundred percent fun. If this one doesn’t grab you, it’s time to up your Ritalin.”

— Joe Schreiber, author of Chasing the Dead and No Doors, No Windows

“In short, sharp chapters, Robert Swartwood’s The Silver Ring launches the reader into a high-flying, fast-paced cosmic adventure in which the fate of the universe rests in the hands of a seventeen-year-old movie clerk. Grounded in the emotional realities of an everyday family, Swartwood infuses his tall tale with the humanity of a young man navigating his way through the emotional minefields of everyday life while trying to be the best big-brother he can be. The Silver Ring delivers light in the heart of darkness, and simple truths from webs of mystery. Have fun!”

— Gerard Houarner, author of The Oz Suite and A Blood of Killers

Foreward

In 2000 I wrote a 22,000 word novella called The Silver Ring. I was eighteen. I submitted it to a major science fiction and fantasy magazine (I’m sure you can guess which one) and it was rightly rejected. In the rejection letter the editor said it was “ambitious.” He was being too kind. What was ambitious about it was the length. At the time it was the longest thing I had ever written. But it needed work, and I knew it, and so I put it away and didn’t think of it again until just a couple months ago where I took it back out and rewrote the entire thing. Keeping the main storyline the same, I managed to cut out 4,000 words while adding in almost three times the amount of action.

Thank you for stopping by, and I hope you enjoy The Silver Ring. If at all possible, please make sure to leave a comment when you’re done.

Yours truly,

Robert Swartwood
Lititz, Pennsylvania
May 1, 2009