Altered State of Affairs

From the heart of Cleveland Heights to the rugged terrain of the French Pyrenees, Steven, a newly minted Army Ranger, is on an adventure of a lifetime. His mission: find a Soviet master scientist hiding somewhere in France before a ruthless terrorist does.

A beautiful Mossad black-ops agent, an enigmatic traitor amidst a field of red poppies, the tantalizing delights of Israeli cuisine, and Cindy, a telepathic, eyeless doll – they all form an unlikely team with Steven, who must step up to become the atypical hero he's always aspired to be.

As Steven's journey unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems. Steven himself may be the biggest mystery of all, his life's narrative winding through time from his adolescence in 1960s Cleveland Heights to the grueling rigor of present-day Army Ranger training in Fort Benning.

Together, they must navigate a world brimming with danger and intrigue, racing against time to prevent a horrific weapon of mass destruction from falling into the wrong hands.

Excerpt from the Prologue and Chapter 1 ...

Girls don’t understand that peeing is an art form but relieving myself in this majestic setting was spiritual. What a perfect place to piss. Trying to rush just makes it more difficult.

“Hurry up,” Avra orders.

Finally, shaking off the last drop, I hear footsteps. I turn to see two frickin’ terrorists aiming AK-47s at Avra’s head.

Chapter 1

The year 2006 was a very good one; very good indeed. Saddam Hussein was killed, and I want to snuff the next crazy jihadist and all his asshole friends. Terrorists, or destructionists, as they prefer to be called, are no longer satisfied with destroying a bus, a plane, two enormous buildings, or gassing six million people. They now want to obliterate cities, destroy continents, or even eradicate humanity. They are obtaining the tools. My name is Steven and this is where I come in.

Before whacking the bad guys, completing Ranger training is my first hurdle. After graduating from The Ohio State University ROTC program with a master’s degree in electrical engineering, I enlist in the army. This is not a rash decision. My lifelong dream has been to be a Delta Force guy with a focus on black ops, a unit which technically doesn't exist—except everyone knows it does, like baseball pitchers don’t use ‘stuff’ on their fingers. Get my drift? Exactly.

About the Author
Jerald Kasimov. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. The Ohio State University Buckeyes. Lives in Buffalo and South Carolina. Retired dentist. Writer.

"The process of writing is unique to every author, and I am no exception. Like Stephen King, I'm partial to the #2 pencil and legal pad. Alongside, "The Elements of Style" acts as my holy grail reference, recommended by the likes of Pat Conroy and James Patterson. Does this choice of tools make us better? Perhaps. But the most important thing is to just write!"

About the Series
Book 1: Altered State of Affairs
Book 2: Reach for the Stars
Stay tuned for the release of book 3 in 2024!

Altered State of Affairs, The Podcast is now available on Audible and most podcast platforms.