Ain't No Messiah
Tales of the Blessed and Broken Book 1
by
Mark Tullius
Mark Tullius
Genre: Psychological Suspense
“God has chosen Joshua to bring forth his new kingdom on Earth.”
From the day he was born, Joshua has found himself the recipient of
death-defying miracles. His earliest memories include his own father
proclaiming him the second coming of Christ. However, Joshua has
wrestled with serious doubts about the validity of this claim all his
life. How could he not, having survived a childhood filled with
physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his earthly father.
death-defying miracles. His earliest memories include his own father
proclaiming him the second coming of Christ. However, Joshua has
wrestled with serious doubts about the validity of this claim all his
life. How could he not, having survived a childhood filled with
physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his earthly father.
Now, one way or another, Joshua is going to show the world who he really is.
"A compelling, if sometimes-lurid, a picture of a faith gone wrong."
- Kirkus Reviews
- Kirkus Reviews
"Ain’t No Messiah is a beautifully-written book about one man's effort to
find himself - and maybe even a bit of happiness - in a world bitter
enough to greet even a supposed Messiah with abuse and scapegoating."
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader
find himself - and maybe even a bit of happiness - in a world bitter
enough to greet even a supposed Messiah with abuse and scapegoating."
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader
Amazon * Apple * B&N * Google * Kobo
Sometimes he’d take the blame, but most times he put it square on my back. One Sunday night, after a long day stewing over an almost empty church, Father grabbed my hand and yanked me along.
“You haven’t given the people the purity they deserve,” he said. “You’ve haven’t repented and begged God to cleanse your soul.”
Father opened the basement door and told the few homeless men to take my room. He shoved me down the stairs into the darkness. From the top of the stairs, he yelled, “I don’t hear no prayer!”
So I prayed. I said The Lord’s Prayer and a Hail Mary and some of the ones Father had written himself.
“Blessed God, I ask you to take your sword and slice off the infectious sins clinging to my mind and heart. Chop off the wickedness and rotten core of my body. Give me peace and purity. Make me perfection so that I can deliver your spirit.”
Father carried down the hard, wooden kneeler. He expected me to use it, but when he went upstairs I’d sit on my butt and act like I was suffering. It’s strange how your eyes adjust to the dark. That first night, I could hardly make out the stairs or walls. By the second night I saw spiders spinning webs and a whole line of ants devouring something the homeless guys had dropped. I couldn’t make out the demons, but I knew they were there.
Sometimes he’d take the blame, but most times he put it square on my back. One Sunday night, after a long day stewing over an almost empty church, Father grabbed my hand and yanked me along.
“You haven’t given the people the purity they deserve,” he said. “You’ve haven’t repented and begged God to cleanse your soul.”
Father opened the basement door and told the few homeless men to take my room. He shoved me down the stairs into the darkness. From the top of the stairs, he yelled, “I don’t hear no prayer!”
So I prayed. I said The Lord’s Prayer and a Hail Mary and some of the ones Father had written himself.
“Blessed God, I ask you to take your sword and slice off the infectious sins clinging to my mind and heart. Chop off the wickedness and rotten core of my body. Give me peace and purity. Make me perfection so that I can deliver your spirit.”
Father carried down the hard, wooden kneeler. He expected me to use it, but when he went upstairs I’d sit on my butt and act like I was suffering. It’s strange how your eyes adjust to the dark. That first night, I could hardly make out the stairs or walls. By the second night I saw spiders spinning webs and a whole line of ants devouring something the homeless guys had dropped. I couldn’t make out the demons, but I knew they were there.
Mark Tullius is the author of Unlocking the Cage: Exploring the
Motivations of MMA Fighters and dark fiction which includes Ain't No
Messiah, Twisted Reunion, 25 Perfect Days: Plus 5 More, Brightside,
and the Try Not to Die series. An Ivy League graduate, Mark lists
Chuck Palahniuk and Stephen King as the authors who most influence
his own writing. He attests that attending Tom Spanbauer's Dangerous
Writing workshop marked the turning point in his career. In addition
to his writing, Mark is the host of the podcast Vicious Whispers.
Motivations of MMA Fighters and dark fiction which includes Ain't No
Messiah, Twisted Reunion, 25 Perfect Days: Plus 5 More, Brightside,
and the Try Not to Die series. An Ivy League graduate, Mark lists
Chuck Palahniuk and Stephen King as the authors who most influence
his own writing. He attests that attending Tom Spanbauer's Dangerous
Writing workshop marked the turning point in his career. In addition
to his writing, Mark is the host of the podcast Vicious Whispers.
Mark resides in Southern California with his wife and two children.
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i love the cover, its perfect!
ReplyDeleteI don't think the plot ends in a good way, very disturbing blurb.
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks great. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love a good suspense read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDo you like meeting readers of your work?
ReplyDeleteThe excerpt is written really well. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to read more. The theme is very unique.
ReplyDelete