The Stevenson Theory - Part 1: Venom Effect

Childhood innocence is ripped away from a group of adolescents on Halloween night in 1989 when an unthinkable tragedy forces them to face uncertain futures and rocks the very foundation of a once peaceful community.

Tormented by his father, bullied by classmates, and longing for a mother who left him too soon, eleven-year-old Jeremiah has grown accustomed to living in fear and isolation. All of that changes when through a chance encounter he forms an unlikely friendship with Keith, an aspiring athlete and the most popular boy in school. But when social pressures rise, causing Keith to pull away from Jeremiah, the threat of abandonment opens up a dark path and results in horrific consequences.

Forever connected by the events of that night, five children attempt to move on with their lives, unaware that history is doomed to repeat itself and that the past might be coming back to haunt them.

Derek DiFronzo grew up in Connecticut and lives there now with his wife and three daughters. A lifelong musician and film enthusiast, DiFronzo first developed a love for creative writing in fifth grade and has been on that journey ever since. He graduated from Fairfield University with a degree in English, a concentration in Creative Writing, and a minor in Film & Television. After college, DiFronzo spent several years writing and editing for a series of weekly newspapers. During that time, he earned first place regional and national awards in the categories of environmental reporting and investigative journalism. In his fictional literary works, DiFronzo enjoys exploring the duality of human nature and developing characters with rich, complex arcs.