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A Sequel to The War Zone


The War Zone, Black Swan edition.

Very excited to be working on a sequel to The War Zone, my novel about incest, abuse and social breakdown.

 I'm feeling really invigorated, fired up and ready to go. It's not a book explicitly about the barbarians at the gate, but that definitely helps fuel the journey the new novel is about. And it's not about forgiveness either. Some things can't be forgiven (although it will be far more complex than that).

 When my wife, Charong, first suggested writing the sequel late last year, I realized how much I wanted to revisit my characters in a new time and with a different focus. In their way, I love them all (well, perhaps not the father) and life and time and experience, both mine and many others', have given me a whole new drive and vision. 


The War Zone 20th Anniversary Edition, also on Kindle.

Yesterday, I received exceptionally helpful notes (many pages, an account not just notes) from Rosie, one of the Zoners (the group of incest survivors who came together through The War Zone film and book), which I cannot even begin to thank her for in terms of perspective, honesty and the unique experiences that I can bring, I hope, to the new book.

The love and support I receive from the Zoners is beyond measure and fills me with hope that I can tread new ground with the sequel. I feel that it will complete the first book in a way that until now I never imagined was possible. Squaring the circle...or busting the circle wide open to explore and love life in entirely new directions.

 I don't know that everyone who is helping me necessarily wants to be named here, but a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you. I learn more each day and I know that together we are stronger. Special thanks, too, to Nath Alive, who coordinates The War Zone Message Board. Nurse Nath rocks (and loves David Bowie and Lana Del Rey as much as I do:)
The sequel to The War Zone will be set both in the United States and Britain.
Photograph copyright © 2017 Alexander Chow-Stuart.

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Thank you for taking the time to comment, and for reading my blog - Alexander

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