Vandermeer's Curse
by
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When I sat out four years ago to write Vandermeer’s Curse, I never thought that I’d become so involved with a project like this. The premise for this tale was actually born some two years earlier while I was sitting at the front desk of my present job. Basically, it’s a story about a lofty, lonely individual. Although he has considerable wealth, through the acquirement of his late father’s profitable company, his spirit is very deficient in manners and general compassion for his fellow man. As our story unfolds, we find that the main character’s outlook toward humanity is rather vulgar and bitter. He is in a constant search for control over his external environment, for through his own neglect, he has little control over what is going on inside himself. From his faithful manservant, Winston Beasley, to the many people that work for him at his late father’s electronic firm. Even his first encounter with the young woman working behind the counter at the pastry shop where he obtains his one supposed pleasure, strawberry sugar delight, is treated with utmost contempt by him. So, in his quest for further control, he sponsors a monetary awards contest, well aware of the many responses he’ll get. For him, it’s just another selfish way for him to administer his venomous spillage onto other beings. As we are introduced to each contest recipient, we find out that although their reasons for responding to his contest are genuine, Orion could care less. Although he does offer assistance, it’s not given from the heart. It comes from believing he has the fate of each person in the palm of his hand. The man, cruel with his comments, does not try and hide his discontent for each one of them. He makes it obvious at the very beginning of each of their meetings. Little dose Orion know that one of these individuals is about to take his cruel spirit down a path he has never known. This mysterious woman, an individual with her own internal struggles with rage, has entered into his life to punish him for past crimes against her family’s lineage. I would like to thank the following people for their heartfelt assistance with the completion of this, my first novel; To the Creator of All Things; "Without you in my life, I would have never realized my dreams nor my calling. It is true, with you all things are possible."
To my mom; "Thanks for giving me the tenacity to finish what I start. You’ve helped me with this project in more ways than you’ll never know."
To Terri; "Your editing insight, input and patience have been very inspirational in the completion of the story. You are truly a unique person."
To Mr. Gene Deroin: "Thanks for the first editing and for helping smooth things out. Enjoy your retirement." Thanks to you all and anyone I forgot to mention. You’re always deep within my prayers. Marvin
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About the Book
On the page prior the beginning of Vandermeer’s Curse there’s a quote that I used as the main premise or thrust of this particular tale. It is the notion that a person’s stature in life should never let them forgo what should be truly a part of the interior of their heart, compassion. As we steadily travel down the avenue of this one and only life that we all have been granted with. One must have a sense of balance and empathy for all others for whom we come in contact with. Although academics can help us obtain great riches, without a soft spot in the heart for all living things, a person will surely be at an emotional deficit. In the beginning of Vandermeer’s Curse, our main character, Stanley Orion is lacking severally in this area. In his world, his life, it’s about complete control over everyone from his trusted manservant, Winston Beasley, to the numerous individuals employed at the profitable company left him by his late father, Mitchell. No one is spared the sadistic wrath of Orion’s detain for his fellow human beings. Even the first encounter with the young woman behind the counter at the pastry shop where he obtains his one supposed pleasure, strawberry sugar delight, is treated with utmost contempt by him. So embittered is the hardened heart of his that when it meets its match, in the form of the mysterious and vengeful Delphina Vandermeer, an individual with her own internal struggle with rage. His mortal soul is thrown for a jolt that in the end will expose it to a past family history full of baseless hatred and savage murder.
About the Author
Born February 23, 1961 in the windy city of Chicago, the author considers himself to be a late bloomer. It was not until while attending college in his mid-thirties, he at the urging of one of his professors in English decided to pursue a career as a fiction novelist. Before attempting to undertake this first novel, the author wrote several poems that were later published by the International Library of Poetry. After having somewhat moderate success with poetry writing, he figured that now was the time to start the outline of the first draft for this story. So for the next three and one-half years, he spent almost every spare moment available working on this initial project. In the end and after having several "significant" dreams, Vandermeer’s Curse was brought to life. Passionate about his writing, the author has spent many waking hours putting together new ideas for possible upcoming literary tales. Some of these include the Ghosts of War; the second installment of Vandermeer’s Curse, The Graystone and The Last Race. When not hammering out tons of dialogue, the author has trained and participated in several marathons and other smaller road races to stimulate mental clarity and creativity, as well as to honor his physical body. This author is definitely dedicated to the literary arts and feels privileged to escort you through this journey of his collection of truisms, mysteries, and dreams.