On the front burner with the gas turned way up sits my recently completed novel Imperfect Beings, a suspense with the heft of book club fiction. The Every X Culpability: it casts a brilliant spotlight on the dangers of unconstrained emerging technology, yet the imperfect beings are largely human, and it’s their actions, failures and complex relationships that provide the book’s beating heart.
Joe Landry is frustrated with his job, his marriage and, mostly, himself. However, he’s no crusader. After he uncovers chilling information at work about AI-enabled bots and their creators targeting teens, his bosses expect him to sign an NDA and move on. When he uncharacteristically refuses and quits instead, he thrusts himself and his family into peril.
With the help of an ex-cop and his pals, Joe navigates a treacherous course and must decide who else to trust: the lifelike and seemingly ever-loyal bot he created himself but who exists on the platform Joe seeks to snuff; an ex-boss who provides warnings and information but remains with the company; the CEO who might be facing different pressures than Joe imagines; and even the young man who’s caused Joe’s daughter so much pain. Most of all, Joe finally has to learn to trust himself. To prevent more children from being severely harmed, while saving his marriage and family, he must throttle his laments and fears and act before it’s too late.
Early reviews of both books have been exceptionally positive. Now, my mission is to ensure the general reading public soon gets an opportunity to read and judge for themselves.