The Anvil of the Craftsman

** "Anvil" was honored at the 2013 Best of the Independent eBook Awards with recognition for Best Editing and was also named the Runner-up in both Best Action/Adventure and Best Villain.

"You have love, hate and indifference. Choose."

A doctoral candidate in Theological Studies is recruited by an acquaintance in the U.S. State Department for outreach to the most troublesome province in Iraq. The many challenges of nation building expand the mission from diplomacy into a survival situation, as local and international interests position themselves to oppose the initiative.

Terrorism and counter-terror operations threaten to keep the team from leaving the relative safety of Baghdad, until a former USAF Special Tactics operative hunting the men who want to kill them is assigned to be their protector.

Provincial and regional stability stand in the balance as the simple questions posed during a tribal council explode into a clash of loyalty, faith, schism, and betrayal. The outcome will shape the future of two nations.

Approx. 97,027words / 319 pp. print length.