The other day, after a pretty good writing session, I came to realization that the book is almost done. Yes, there is still plenty of work to do with four more chapters to be completed, but the majority of the heavy work has been completed. It’s a strange sensation. Happiness at being so close, but sadness for a journey coming to an end.

My current dilemma today resides not near the end book, but rather at the beginning of it. I’d like to start each book with a quote that is applicable to the major theme undertaken. This book opened with a quote from Corinthians and the content of the quote suites the overall apocalyptic feel, but I’m afraid it gives the book too much of a christian/new age feel.

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short;
from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they
had none, and those who mourn as though they were not
mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not
rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions,
and those who deal with the world as though they had no
dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing
away.

Corinthians 7:29-31

As a reader, does that scare you to think you might have picked up a book slated for the Religion section as opposed to the horror section? I really dig the content of the piece, but whenever I read the bible book and verse numbers right underneath it, I feel like I might be making a mistake. The last thing I want to do is put off readers the moment they enter the door.

I do have a backup quote slated to start the third book. This quote mirrors Randell’s path. He starts as a boy who becomes a slave and then becomes king of the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Think of Conan with zombies.

If there were a man who had sufficient force,
He would shake off and break through and escape from all of this
He would trample underfoot all our formulas and spells and charms
And all our laws which are against nature
The slave would rise in rebellion and be lord over us
And the light of natural justice would shine forth
- Callicles

Any thoughts?