This contemporary, character-driven novel is about people who are stigmatized. However, once they discover their true identities, each is empowered to begin the journey of life’s purpose.
The three main characters are police officer Tom Jennings, obese as a mutant Idaho potato in a jiggling gelatin suit; James Odessa-Smith with his schizoaffective disorder; and young Suanna Morningcloud, a person with albinism, half Nez Perce Indian and half Caucasian.
Meeting during a botched bank robbery in Prairie Grove, Kansas, they experience tragedy and trauma. Forever changed and connected, they are forced to ask, “Who am I and where do I belong?”
Taking Back the Bullet explores the themes of stigma, identity, and self-discovery. The multi-layered stories are an escape into reality.
Character Sculptures
J. Alex Potter, my talented wife, has created sculptures of the main characters in Taking Back the Bullet. We have included a video and some photos here.
Table of Contents
Read Chapter 1 to to preview the book.
- Book Ins
- Bookends
- Smoke Signals
- The Jayhawk
- Prank Gone Wrong
- Circles Upside Down
- Wild Horse Adoption Program
- Snow White
- Bullying
- Polyphemus
- Sirens
- Bullets
- The Natural You
- Good Cop, Bad Cop
- Chinese to Go
- The Ark
- Flint Hills Furies
- Battle Buddies
- Eight & Sand
- Rhizomes
- Bat-Shit Crazy
- Social Media
- The Ax
- The Greys
- Superheroes and Archvillains
- Rabbit Chief
- Postpartum Depression and PTSD
- Nothing But the Truth
- Forget-Me-Nots
- Moon-Children
- Brain Guppies
- Pass the Relish
- The Chief
- Phoenix
Appendix: Photographs
