Now Available

The Dilemma  focuses its story on Joe Mason, a young physician completing his residency in Medicine in Little Rock, Arkansas. As many young physicians do, he works in a local emergency room, taking extra shifts to earn extra money. He finds himself confronted with two unusual and alarming cases while working the night shift. Two men present with overwhelming pneumonia and a story that defies belief. Both die within hours of arrival to the emergency room under suspicious circumstances.

Dr. Mason begins to explore the strange nature of the cases. As he begins, he is contacted by a local investigative reporter who shocks him – there have been others --  other cases with similar bizarre circumstances. She, too, is trying to find out what is going on, trying to explore the truth of why so many people are getting sick and dying.

The truth of what is happening unfolds for the two. The truth they discover places them at the center of a remarkable terrorist threat: one that pushes the core of acceptable defensive action on the part of the government, military, and public health infrastructure. Homeland defense and security become mired in difficult and morally suspect actions. However, the convenience of making no decision in response to the threat is gone. Action must be taken.

Readers are also left without the convenient and artificial comfort of making no decision concerning what should be done. The story explores a key question facing the world today: what sacrifices in civil liberties are acceptable in the name of defense and security?


SETTING
The setting of The Dilemma is mostly within Central Arkansas. Dr. Mason works as a resident physician for UAMS, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences . As part of his duties, he also works the McClellan VA Hospital . His moonlighting job takes him to Pine Bluff, Arkansas at JRMC, Jefferson Regional Medical Center , a regional referral hospital for southeast Arkansas.

The story also focuses on a secret program at the Pine Bluff Arsenal (see Google Map ). While the situation depicted in the story is fictional, the Arsenal is not. The Arsenal served the United States (mostly in the 1950’s and 1960’s) as the key laboratory and manufacturing facility for the biological weapons program of the United States Military. Because this location has served in the past as a bioweapons research center, it is a logical choice for any new bioweapons program, open or secret. The Bioweapons Convention of 1972 banned bioweapons programs worldwide, halting the biological program at Pine Bluff. Despite the changes, the Arsenal remains active, with chemical weapons storage, research, and manufacturing programs for defense (such as gas masks and gear). The Arsenal also houses new programs under the Department of Homeland Security.

Little Rock is featured in the story. Every effort was made to remain true to the actual locales in the city. Residents and visitors to Little Rock will recognize the places mentioned in the story, and the locations were presented in their most favorable light as Little Rock is a vibrant city with diverse culture and activities. Particular locations mentioned are author favorites: The Oyster Bar , The River Market , KATV, US Pizza , The Villa , Doe’s Eat Place , Juanita’s are just a few.

The story also includes national settings of Washington, DC , the White House , Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport , Dulles Airport , and international settings including Bern (Switzerland) , Edinburgh (Scotland) , and Inverness (Scotland) .

Setting is a critical element in the story with its authenticity a key goal of the author in giving readers a sense of realism, hopefully adding to the tension in the story.