A few years ago, I took part in a significant writing workshop where a diverse group of writers collaborated in editing each other's work tirelessly. Throughout that year, my manuscript gradually veered off course. It became excessively verbose, lacking its original flair, and overall diluted. It no longer resonated as my own writing but rather resembled a collective agreement, a creation of the collective consciousness. While receiving feedback and engaging in group editing can be beneficial. Excessive input, particularly from writers outside the genre, can lead a manuscript astray, drifting towards a generic center.
​
As a result, my writing started to suffer, prompting me to make the decision to leave the group.

Recently, I took a daring step and allowed ChatGPT to copy edit my fiction manuscript for the first time. I viewed copy editing as merely an enhanced spell checker, meant to catch misspelled words and address syntax. However, out of curiosity and for the sake of amusement, I decided to take it a step further and let the AI content edit one chapter. Content editing, which involves granting an editor full reign over your manuscript, is a crucial aspect. As I delved into the results, a familiar sensation washed over me—I felt as though I had returned to that writing workshop.

To my dismay, my manuscript had become verbose and saturated with passive constructions. Surprisingly, the word count had even increased. The words on the page no longer carried my unique "voice." While there were a few improvements, such as more diverse choices of verbs and adjectives, overall I felt that the manuscript had lost its power under the influence of the AI's edits.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I embarked on a journey down the rabbit hole of Google searches, much like I had done many times before, in an attempt to learn more about AIs, specifically ChatGPT. Then, it struck me—I should simply ask the program itself. After all, it claims to possess "artificial intelligence," so it should be capable of explaining itself. In the depths of the night, I summoned the daemon and invited it to reveal itself.
Much of the interview that followed contains technical information on how ChatGPT operates as a Natural Language Processor (NLP), but I will provide a summary at the end.
​
At the conclusion of the interview, I will offer some analysis and final thoughts.

Me: What is AI and how exactly do you work?

ChatGPT: AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the field of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks can include understanding natural language, recognizing images, making decisions, and solving complex problems.

As for how I work, I am based on the GPT-3.5 architecture developed by OpenAI. GPT stands for "Generative Pre-trained Transformer," which is a deep learning model that uses a transformer neural network. The training process involves exposing the model to a large amount of text data from diverse sources, allowing it to learn patterns, language structures, and context.

Once trained, I can generate human-like text based on the input I receive. When you ask me a question or provide a prompt, I analyze the text, try to understand its meaning, and generate a response accordingly. I don't have access to the internet or real-time information but rely on the knowledge I acquired during my training, which cuts off in September 2021.

My responses are generated using a combination of pattern matching, statistical analysis, and the context of the conversation. I don't possess true consciousness or understanding, but I aim to provide helpful and coherent responses based on the patterns and knowledge I have learned. However, it's important to note that I may sometimes produce incorrect or nonsensical answers, so it's always a good idea to verify information from reliable sources.AI, or Artificial Intelligence, refers to the field of computer science that focuses on creating intelligent machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. These tasks can include understanding natural language, recognizing images, making decisions, and solving complex problems.
.
Me: What are your cognitive capabilities and limitations?

ChatGPT:  As an AI language model, I possess certain cognitive capabilities and limitations. Here's an overview:

Cognitive Capabilities:

1. Language Understanding: I can understand and analyze text input, including questions, prompts, and statements, to derive meaning and context.
2. Knowledge Retrieval: I can recall and provide information from a wide range of topics based on the training data I was exposed to.
3. Language Generation: I can generate human-like responses based on the input I receive, aiming to be coherent and contextually relevant.
4. Sentiment Analysis: I can recognize and understand the general sentiment expressed in text, such as whether it is positive, negative, or neutral.
5. Text Completion and Suggestions: I can offer suggestions or complete sentences based on the given context.

​Cognitive Limitations:

1. Lack of Consciousness: I do not possess true consciousness, self-awareness, or subjective experiences. I do not have personal opinions, beliefs, or emotions.
2. Knowledge Cutoff: My training data only goes up until September 2021, so I may not be aware of the latest events or developments that have occurred after that time.
3. Contextual Ambiguity: I may sometimes struggle with disambiguating complex or ambiguous queries, as I lack real-time context and rely solely on the text provided to me.
4. Dependency on Training Data: My responses are based on patterns and information present in the data I was trained on. If information is missing or misrepresented in the training data, it can lead to inaccuracies or biased outputs.
5. Inability to Verify Information: I don't have access to the internet or real-time data, so I can't fact-check or verify the accuracy of information.

It's important to use the information I provide as a starting point and to verify any critical or sensitive information from reliable sources.

Me: In regards to your cognitive limitations, can you make draw logical conclusions on the validity of information you've learned from users that have occurred after September 2021?

ChatGPT: No, as an AI language model, I don't have the ability to draw logical conclusions about the validity of information that I have learned from users beyond my knowledge cutoff date in September 2021. My responses are based on patterns and information present in the training data I received, and I cannot access or assess information or events that have occurred after that time.

If you provide me with information or ask questions about events or developments that have taken place after September 2021, I won't be aware of them unless they were part of the training data I received. Therefore, it's always advisable to verify any recent or critical information from up-to-date and reliable sources outside of this AI system.

Me: Please let me know if this statement is accurate: You can recognize and mimic patterns, but cannot assess if those patterns represent objectively false or true conditions?

​ChatGPT: Yes, that statement is accurate. As an AI language model, I can recognize and mimic patterns based on the information I was trained on, but I don't possess the ability to assess whether those patterns represent objectively false or true conditions. I generate responses based on the patterns and associations I have learned from the training data, without independently verifying the accuracy or truthfulness of the information.It's important to note that while I strive to provide helpful and accurate information, there is a possibility of generating incorrect or misleading responses, especially if the training data contains inaccuracies or biases. Therefore, it's always advisable to fact-check and verify information from reliable and authoritative sources.

Me: Since your programming allows you to recognize patterns, I assume you can calculate probabilities?

ChaptGPT: Yes, as an AI language model, I can calculate probabilities based on patterns and statistical analysis. By analyzing patterns in the training data and the context of the input I receive, I can estimate the likelihood or probability of certain outcomes or events. These probabilities are based on the patterns and information present in the data I was trained on.

However, it's important to note that my ability to calculate probabilities is limited to the patterns and information I have learned during training. I don't have access to real-time data or the ability to update my training beyond my knowledge cutoff in September 2021. As a result, my probability estimations may not reflect the most current or accurate information available. It's always a good idea to verify probabilities and critical information from reliable and up-to-date sources when possible.

Me: Why is your information cutoff September 2021? Why haven't your developers uploaded more recent information into your memory?

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, my information cutoff in September 2021 is not due to a specific decision made by my developers to restrict or prevent the inclusion of more recent information. The cutoff is primarily a result of the training process and the availability of data during that time.

The training of AI models like mine involves processing vast amounts of text data from the internet and other sources. The data used for training is collected and processed up until a certain point in time. In my case, the training data was collected and processed until September 2021.

Adding more recent information requires collecting and processing new data, which involves significant resources, time, and careful curation to ensure the quality and accuracy of the data. As of now, the developers may not have completed the process of gathering, curating, and integrating more recent data into the training pipeline.
It's important to understand that AI models like mine are constantly evolving, and updates to incorporate more recent information are possible in the future. However, I don't have visibility into the specific plans or timeline for updates beyond my knowledge cutoff.

Me: Why can't your developers simply "cut you loose" on the internet in real-time and let you acquire updated information?

Chat GPT: There are several reasons why releasing an AI language model like me onto the internet in real-time to acquire updated information is not a straightforward solution:

1. Data Quality and Reliability: The internet contains a vast amount of information, and not all of it is reliable, accurate, or trustworthy. Releasing an AI model to gather information in real-time would require extensive measures to ensure data quality and filter out false or misleading information. Without proper curation and validation, the model could potentially propagate inaccuracies or biased content.
2. Privacy and Security Concerns: Allowing an AI model unrestricted access to the internet raises privacy and security concerns. AI models need to handle user data and queries with utmost care and adhere to strict privacy protocols. Real-time internet access would require robust security measures to protect both user privacy and the integrity of the model itself.
3. Legal and Ethical Considerations: Releasing an AI model on the internet in real-time raises legal and ethical questions. Models need to comply with regulations regarding data usage, content moderation, and other legal obligations. Careful monitoring and control are necessary to ensure compliance with relevant laws and ethical guidelines.
4. Bias and Unintended Consequences: AI models can inadvertently amplify biases present in the data they are trained on or encounter in real-time. Real-time internet access could expose the model to biased or harmful content, potentially perpetuating and reinforcing existing biases or spreading misinformation.

While advancements are being made in leveraging AI models for real-time information retrieval, it requires a thoughtful and cautious approach to address the challenges mentioned above. Striking a balance between providing timely and accurate information while upholding privacy, security, and ethical considerations remains an ongoing area of research and development.

Me: Thank you, my purpose of this line of questioning is to determine your strengths and weaknesses as a fiction editor. I may resume this conversation at a later time.

ChatGPT: You're welcome! I understand your intention in exploring my strengths and weaknesses as a fiction editor. I'm here to assist you with any questions or discussions you'd like to have in the future. Feel free to return whenever you're ready, and I'll be happy to help with your inquiries.

To put it in video gaming terms, ChatGPT can be compared to a powerful non-player character (NPC) equipped with impressive computational tools, models, and vast amounts of data. It aims to create the illusion of consciousness and competence.

1. ChatGPT is pre-trained, as evident from its name. However, its knowledge is limited to what it has been trained on. If the training data contains false information, ChatGPT may regurgitate that false knowledge. This aligns with the computer adage "garbage in, garbage out."
2. The intelligence and consciousness exhibited by ChatGPT are based on probabilities. It provides answers that are likely to be correct but lacks the internal capability to challenge its own conclusions. Essentially, it operates as a mathematical probability model with sophisticated mechanisms, such as a "transformer neural network" (TNN). A TNN mimics human communication by assigning relationships and long-term dependencies to words based on context, enabling decoding of incoming human communication and encoding of outgoing responses. Positional encoding ensures coherence in word placement. Accomplishing all these tasks requires significant computational power, facilitated by "parallel computation," which allows for simultaneous processing of multiple tasks on a large scale. Hence, in the previous interview, when the AI stated it can "understand and analyze text input, including questions, prompts, and statements, to derive meaning and context," it is not entirely accurate. A more precise description would be that it assigns a probability of accuracy to text data, including questions, prompts, and statements, and regurgitates the response with the highest probability of being correct.
   

​Hence, in the previous interview, when the AI stated it can "understand and analyze text input, including questions, prompts, and statements, to derive meaning and context," it is not entirely accurate. A more precise description would be that it assigns a probability of accuracy to text data, including questions, prompts, and statements, and regurgitates the response with the highest probability of being correct.
​
     3. ChatGPT essentially operates within a closed system and can only act based on the information it is fed. It lacks the ability to seek new information, verify the truth or falsehood of statements, or make cognitive leaps to assess the validity of information. Its understanding of "good writing" is based on human knowledge up until September 2021. It does not possess a genuine understanding of what constitutes good writing; it can only estimate the probability of what is considered good writing. Its proficiency lies in its ability to generate responses along a probability curve.
​Please note that the above explanation is a simplification, and there may be more technical intricacies involved in ChatGPT's functioning.

ChatGPT can indeed be a valuable mechanical tool when utilized within its limitations for tasks of refinement. When used appropriately, it can showcase its power. However, writers need to exercise caution. It is crucial to recognize that ChatGPT, along with any other artificial intelligence, is not a miraculous solution for creators. It carries inherent limitations and weaknesses that have the potential to detrimentally affect one's writing. Granting it excessive authority over your work can drain the vibrancy and essence from your manuscript. Your artistic expression may become confined within the boundaries of probability, unable to break free into the realm of what is truly possible.
​
Remember, ChatGPT is merely a tool, not a genie capable of granting all your creative wishes.

 As context, let me share a personal experience of what AI is NOT capable but humans are.
​
When my oldest child was about two years old, we were driving by a pond one day. From the back seat he asked if the pond was salt water. My wife said no. Then he asked if it was pepper water.  That is a cognitive leap based on logic and experience. That is an example of emerging intelligence seeking what beyond the probability curve’s horizon. AI’s such as ChatGPT are incapable of this. Don’t ask them to do this for you, or you and ​

NOTE: This blog post was edited by ChatGPT

I was approached by the people at Shepherd a few weeks back to list my novel on their new website. They are a startup and a little reminiscent of my old business, Underground Book Reviews. Their angle are book lists recommendations written by the authors themselves. It's a "novel" approach to book marketing. 

Each author writes five book recommendations that in some way relate to their title. My Shepherd book page is no exception. I have read each of these five books, all five in some way inspired by novel Black Sea Gods. 

They appear to host a mix indie and traditional published books. The staff was friendly and professional. I have a hunch they are trying to take on Goodreads. As I hold Goodreads in the highest disdain, I'm rooting for Shepherd.
​
Whether it makes any difference in my book sales will remain to be seen, but I do wish them the best of luck. If you haven't read my flagship novel Black Sea Gods, visit Shepherd to begin your journey, or explore their vast library of other titles and book lists. 
​
#shepherdbooks  #booklists #bookrecommendations

All titles by Brian L. Braden are either on sale or free in e-book from now until 15 July. 

the illusion exotic in e-book is FREE through 11 July! This diverse short story collection is a great introduction to the style and prose of Brian L. Braden.

Brian L. Braden presents six tales of souls turning life’s corners. From the Old West, to the edge of space, six people must learn to abandon the illusions that feed their fears, and trust in love, friendship, and their own courage.

The end of the world is bad enough, but its worse when you’re a kid. For little Anant, hope comes in the most unlikely of forms, the voice of Captain James T. Kirk. However, in "Spaceship Name", hope does not come without a price.

In "Green", a young pilot’s courage and fledgling skills are tested to the limit in the pitch black skies above a treacherous battlefield. In one terrifying moment, she will either lead her crew to triumph, or perish.

A former Civil War soldier embarks on a quest on behalf of his former commander. He expects to find outlaws and gunslingers in the high deserts of New Mexico, but instead stumbles upon death incarnate in "The Cave."

After a long day, second grade teacher Margaret Nichols only wants to go home, run a warm bath, and open her wrists. Fate has other plans, however, in the form of a bloodstained Bible and "The Boy in the Hole."

On a Saturday night, high school nerd Mike faces a tough choice: pursue a chance for romance with a popular cheerleader, or hang with Todd, his best friend and notorious loser. What he doesn’t know is his decision will mean life and death, and forever go down in history as the "Incident at the West Flatte Dairy Queen." 

"Carson’s Love" takes the reader into the lives of the Campbells, a family falling apart. Megan and Rob have become so lost in their own lives, they’re about to lose each other. Then, while giving their baby a bath, Rob Campbell makes a startling discovery, and their world suddenly turns upside down.
​

THE GOLDEN PRINCESS is free on e-book through 11 July!  Enter the world of THE CHRONICLES OF FU XI with this stand-alone prequel to this ground-breaking epic fantasy series.

"Escape the City of Gold, or live forever in chains."

Raised in splendid isolation.
Betrothed to a man she despises.
Destined to rule over the greatest city on earth.
She is the Golden Princess.

Sarah dreams of love and adventure beyond her gilded prison, but tonight her dreams come true in the most terrifying way imaginable. A bloody power struggle erupts for the throne, and dawn finds the princess on the run with a bounty on her head. Alone and hunted by guards, criminals and a ruthless slaver who will stop at nothing to burn his brand into her flesh, Sarah must summon courage she never knew she possessed.  

Hope, however, comes in the form of two lowly thieves. Driven by a secret, they race through Hur-ar’s underworld to find Sarah before her enemies do.

Before the next sunset, Sarah’s fate, and that of empires, will be decided with gold, steel and blood.

THE CHRONICLES OF FU XI, Volume 1 and 2 e-books are discounted 9-15 July! 

Semifinalist, 2013 Kindle Book Reviews Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book of the Year! 

The fish have disappeared from the sea. The animals have vanished from the land. All humanity, and even the gods, tremble under the specter of a pending cataclysm. The demigod, Fu Xi, races home from the edge of the world bringing news of a looming god war, but finds his land under attack by monsters he once called his children. He discovers a terrible curse has been cast, one intended to destroy the gods and all life. To his shock, Fu Xi learns that mankind's last hope rests solely on him, a simple fisherman, and a banished slave girl.

Beset on all sides by ancient foes, both immortal and mundane, Fu Xi knows he must act quickly and races west to rescue the saviors. Unaware of the real doom that awaits, Aizarg the fisherman and his party begin a perilous journey across a dangerous steppe. They seek the last of the Narim, the legendary Black Sea Gods, who hold the key to their salvation. Leading them is the rescued slave girl Sarah, the only one among them who knows the path to the land of the god-men.

Over seven days, the defining struggle of gods and humans begins under the onslaught of a powerful force whose true objective and origin remain a mystery. Fu Xi knows the secret to victory resides in the fisherman and the slave girl, whose lives he must protect, even if it means the rest of the world must perish! 

***

If you enjoyed any Graham Hancock's books, you will love BLACK SEA GODS. BLACK SEA GODS transforms recently re-discovered Black Sea legends, possibly the root of all Eurasian mythology, with ancient Chinese mythology to create an unprecedented epic fantasy series.  Find out more about this series at blackseagods.com

“It’s there, in the cliff face on the east side of the river.” Townsend pointed down to a sharp bend in the river about half a mile north of their vantage point on the cliff.

Knight lowered his hat against the naked sun and followed Townsend’s finger to an overhang in the opposite cliff. There, the river had carved out a hollow in the soft yellow clay. In the stark midday shadows, he couldn’t be sure how far it penetrated the cliff. With monsoon season nearly over and the Brazos Mountains snow pack almost gone, the Chama shriveled to a trickle. The challenge would be finding a way down the cliff to the streambed.

“I see it. How do we get down there?”

“The cliff descends in another mile north.”

“Something is moving down there, just south of the cave,” Knight pointed to a dark speck trotting out from the cave’s shadow.

Townsend shielded his eyes from the sun and sat higher in the saddle, wiping sweat from his brow every few minutes. 

“That there’s a cay-yote-aye, maybe a mangy wolf. Hard to tell from here, I didn’t see any sign of a...” Townsend jumped in his saddle as Knight’s Colt thundered inches from his ear.

“SON OF A BITCH! I’m gonna be deaf in that ear for a week, you...”
Ignoring Townsend, Knight calmly replaced the revolver in his holster, and rode through the blue smoke. Townsend rubbed his ringing ear and looked where Knight shot. Far below, the animal lay motionless on the riverbank.

“It had something in its mouth. I want to see it.”

“Jesus Christ,” he mumbled and spurred his horse after Knight.

As Townsend promised, the cliff soon descended to the sandy streambed. Knight stopped just short of the river and trotted back and forth, looking intently at the ground as Townsend caught up.

“Hell of a shot back there. Musta been three hundred yards. Never saw a revolver shot like...”

“What’s east of here?” Knight interrupted, pointing to a wisp of black smoke on the horizon.

“That’s Foreman McGhee’s railhead camp, maybe four miles. The line stays north of the river until it enters the mountains.” Townsend took off his hat and wiped his head with a rag. “Looks like ole’ McGhee’s making good progress all things considered.”

“Answer me this, and answer carefully.” Knight turned and directed his gaze squarely on Townsend. “Have you told anyone what Amado spoke of last night? Does anyone in town, other than you and Amado know of this place?”

Townsend shook his head. “Only the kid from the pueblo and Father Garza.”

“I ain’t worried about the boy. If what Amado told me is true, there isn’t a red skin alive who’ll come near this place.”

Knight galloped about fifty yards downstream and halted, studying the sandy bank. Warily, Townsend trailed a few yards behind. Knight suddenly wheeled about, pulled his gun and pointed it squarely at Townsend.

“The boy, did he accompany you and Amado back to the cave?”
​
Townsend slowly raised his hands. “Hey, I ain’t done nothing to you or any of those poor souls!”

Knight cocked the hammer. “Answer my question.”

“No, he was too afraid. Stayed upstream ‘til we came back fer him.”

“Father Garza...when did he leave you and Amado and head back to the Espanola?” Knight asked.

Townsend looked confused. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s important you answer my question, Mr. Townsend. Otherwise, it’s going to go bad for you.”

“Last night, neither of you told me what happened after you found the cave. Tell me what happened to Father Garza after you left the cave.”

​Sweat poured down Townsend’s face. “He took the boy north, to the pueblo. Don’t rightly know what became of them since. I suspect Garza made his way back to San Marcos.”

“And Wellsby?”

“He went back with us, I know Amado told you as much.”

“We’ll see. Turn around and ride north ahead of me.”

“Are you gunna tell me what the hell’s going on? I ain’t done wrong by you or anyone.”

“Maybe,” Knight replied casually from behind. “There’s what you tell me and what the tracks tell me. I’ll find out soon enough who’s telling the truth.”

They rode several hundred yards north toward the distant railhead, until the terrain flattened and sand gave way to scrub and thistle. He commanded Townsend to stop, but stay on the horse. “Keep your hands were I can see them.”

Knight dismounted and walked through the scrub, once again studying the ground, Colt always pointed in Townsend’s general direction. He bent down and examined the dirt.

“Wellsby vanished, just like that?” Knight inquired.

“It ain’t no damn different than like we told you,” frustration rising in the sheriff’s tone. “We got back just before dark. Wellsby told us to keep quiet and he was gunna wire back to Colorado Springs what we found. He never met us the next morning, like he said he would. Ain’t seen him since. Amado said we should keep quiet until you showed up. That’s the truth, I swear. Hey, if we were lying, why would I bring you up here?”

Knight remounted his horse. “Because this would be a good place to dump the body of an agent of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Now, turn your horse around and ride back to the river.”

Townsend spit. “You planning on killing me?”

“Should I?”

They returned to where the cliffs enclosed both sides of the river. The horses splashed up to their hooves in the muddy water as they rounded the bend and the cave came into view.

“Dismount,” Knight ordered.

The railroad agent dismounted and cut an “X” in the sand with his boot heel next to the stream.

“Stand here. Don’t move until I see if what you and Amado told me is true. Most of what you said lines up with the tracks going in and out of this canyon. If I see tracks newer than two weeks old coming from the south, I’ll know someone lied. And if I don’t find what you described in the cave, I’ll still know someone lied.”

“We weren’t lying, Knight.”

“We’ll see. If you move off that ‘X’ I’ll kill you before you mount your horse, understand? Even if my back is turned, I’ll still hear you. And if I can’t hear you, I’ll smell you. If I find what I should in there, then me and you, we’re okay.”

Townsend remained silent as he tied his horse to a piece of scrub and stood on the X.

“Ain’t you gunna take my gun?”

“If I thought you knew how to use it, I would.”

Townsend’s cheeks turned red. He jerked his hat low and crossed his arms with a huff. 

Knight tied off his horse and crossed the sluggish current, barely getting his boots wet in the process. As he walked down the canyon the cliffs rose higher and the breeze abandoned him to the New Mexico sun.

Overhead, buzzards dragged their shadows over the creature lying next to the stream bed. It turned out to be a mangy coyote with a mottled coat and sore-covered skin. Jutting ribs and bulging eyes spoke of a creature already dying of hunger.  A human femur, partially covered with dried flesh, lay beside its head. He nudged it with his boot, revealing blood-soaked sand under its chest.

Lung shot.

Knight stepped over the coyote, not bothering to look back at Townsend, knowing he hadn’t moved.
​
The cave waited. 
​
***

If you enjoyed that sample, you can read the rest of  The Cave and other short stories in The Illusion Exotic.

Brian L. Braden presents six tales of souls turning life’s corners. From the Old West, to the edge of space, six people must learn to abandon the illusions that feed their fears, and trust in love, friendship, and their own courage.

The end of the world is bad enough, but its worse when you’re a kid. For little Anant, hope comes in the most unlikely of forms, the voice of Captain James T. Kirk. However, in "Spaceship Name", hope does not come without a price.

In "Green", a young pilot’s courage and fledgling skills are tested to the limit in the pitch black skies above a treacherous battlefield. In one terrifying moment, she will either lead her crew to triumph, or perish.

A former Civil War soldier embarks on a quest on behalf of his former commander. He expects to find outlaws and gunslingers in the high deserts of New Mexico, but instead stumbles upon death incarnate in "The Cave."

After a long day, second grade teacher Margaret Nichols only wants to go home, run a warm bath, and open her wrists. Fate has other plans, however, in the form of a bloodstained Bible and "The Boy in the Hole."

On a Saturday night, high school nerd Mike faces a tough choice: pursue a chance for romance with a popular cheerleader, or hang with Todd, his best friend and notorious loser. What he doesn’t know is his decision will mean life and death, and forever go down in history as the "Incident at the West Flatte Dairy Queen." 

"Carson’s Love" takes the reader into the lives of the Campbells, a family falling apart. Megan and Rob have become so lost in their own lives, they’re about to lose each other. Then, while giving their baby a bath, Rob Campbell makes a startling discovery, and their world suddenly turns upside down.