Marathon
Timothy Attewell
Author Bio
Timothy Attewell is an American writer with a passion for all forms of storytelling. He has spent years working in the film and television industry while writing and directing short films of his own. However, not all stories are meant for the screen. Tim’s writing aims to express and explore ideas that are simply too complex, internal or oddball for the audio-visual medium.
Utilizing an organic writing process, Timothy’s work often result in finished products that are dramatically different from what he initially set out to write. He does his best to let his writing be guided by the winds of what is interesting and exciting to him. Timothy is a firm believer in the power of a single question: “What happens next?” The result is a collection of work that is difficult to put down.
Timothy enjoys reading and writing a wide range of genres including Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery/Detective, Comedy and Political Satire. His recent Novella, “Marathon,” incorporates a delicate combination of all of these genres. For inspiration, Tim looks to Jonathan Lethem, Chuck Palahniuk, Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, Nicholson Baker, Richard Matheson and Phillip K. Dick.
When he’s not writing, Timothy can likely be found deep in the wilderness, hunched over a small campfire or gazing up at the stars.
Description
Carl Pace is a man on the outside. Sleeping his life away in his condo of solitude, he leaves only to work as a freelance lab-rat in pharmaceutical tests. It’s a lifestyle that suits him, as contact with other members of the human race tends to flood his mind with anxiety. Carl’s internal monologue narrates his journey through this lifestyle in a witty and often hilarious way. He is a character that will be hard for you not to like, despite the fact that he probably wouldn’t like you.
When Carl gets caught up in the wrong test, his way of life is forever changed and he is left only with questions and problems. While he struggles to undo the changes made to his body by any means necessary, threatening circumstances continue to worsen all around him. It very quickly becomes clear that Carl is caught up in something much larger than a simple pharmaceutical test. With no other choice, he must work his way through a mountain of questions, a parade of shady characters and the fog of an international conspiracy that could very well change life on earth as we know it. Trouble is, Carl would much rather order delivery and watch TV.
Enjoy the thrill of being dragged through a mystery against your will in this fast-paced novella containing an oddball mix of mystery, sci-fi and comedy. The experience will send you through a collection of apocalyptic hallucinations, compelling questions and seemingly hopeless predicaments before landing you squarely in an ending that is sure to satisfy. The depth of the characters and twists of the plot will undoubtedly keep the pages turning for you.
“Marathon: An Introvert’s Mystery Novella” is currently available for reading on your kindle, phone, tablet or laptop via amazon.com. Don’t pass up this quick read.
Book excerpt
I’m sitting in a room silently doing paperwork with three strangers. One of the florescent lights over my head sings its swan song. A full sonata of low, irritating buzz noises. This is the most social night that I’ve had in months.
I analyze my hand-writing on the form. Name: Carl Pace. I messed up some of the letters. My attempt to fix them did just the opposite. At first glance my name is Corl Pack.
I’m rushing the questionnaire because if I finish first, I can leave the room before anyone tries to strike up small talk. This is an inevitability.
Three more questions and I’m out the door. I’ll hand in the form and sit in a bathroom stall for at least ten minutes until I’m confident the science people are ready for me.
Two more questions. Sometimes you can figure out what they’re testing by what they ask you. If I had to guess, this one is a sleeping pill. That would explain why I’m here so late.
One more question. Almost there.
Some scientist lady enters. She doesn’t know it, but she just blew my plan. Now if I try to leave she’ll ask where I’m going. Then I’ll be forced to announce to the entire room that I need to expel waste from my body. This would be a lie of course, as I never actually use public restrooms.
“All done?” She asks. I hate this woman. Now everyone knows it. They think I think I’m better than them. She couldn’t just wait.
“Yes indeed!” Sometimes if I feel like the room hates me I compensate with raw enthusiasm. This never actually works.
The three strangers finish up and hand Science Lady their papers. One tries to keep the pen but Science Lady catches him. He plays it off like it was an accident.
Science Lady leaves us. I always imagine they take the questionnaires down the hall and immediately drop them in a furnace.
With Science Lady gone, I begin calculating my trajectory to the door. I need to wait just the right amount of time. Too soon, and one of my fellow test subjects might think I’m some kind of creep. Like I have a crush on Science Lady and I’m going to go hit on her. I do not have a crush on science lady.
Blast off in three…two…
“You do a lot of these?” Oh for the love of Mike. Some all-powerful force is trying to keep me in this room. For a fraction of a second, I consider pretending I didn’t hear him. In the sum of a few seconds more, I process: Would it be reasonable to assume he was talking to someone else? Not really, he’s four feet away and looking right at me. Perhaps I could play the “I have an emergency” trump card. Simply walking away from someone whose trying to talk to you is obviously rude, but breaking away at an all-out sprint some how seems to cross the threshold back into acceptable behavior. Trouble there is, I would have to return to this very room and keep the act going. Or, hell, I could return like nothing happened. Then again, something tells me this invader wouldn’t be above prodding in with one of those “Everything Okay?” intrusions once I got back. Lets size him up.
The question came from a guy sitting right next to me. His face looks too young for the salt/pepper hair he’s sporting. Peering through his black rim glasses, I can’t be sure, but I don’t think he’s blinked since the 80s. No, this man is inescapable. Ignore him, he’ll repeat himself only louder. Run, he’ll find you. Scream, he’ll scream back. I’m on the brink of taking too long to respond. Completely corned with no other option, I engage.
“Every now and then.” I under-play. Truth of the matter is, offering my body to science is how I pay the bills.
Author Website
http://www.amazon.com/Timothy-Attewell/e/B00ZYZX0XK/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1