Thomas Preiss

The Hassayampa King Thomas Preiss

This is a fictional account of an emotional and courageous journey toward truth. The story begins and ends on the Hassayampa River, south of Prescott, Arizona. There is romance, betrayal, courage, loyalty, friendship, murder, revenge, court room drama, childhood joy, heartbreak, and a waterhole that is the saving grace of one man's life. Locales include Phoenix, Prescott, Flagstaff, San Diego, Harbor Island, North Park, de Benneville Pines camp and conference center, Mesa, Yavapai County Court House, restaurants, Groom Creek, Sierra Vista, Pacific Beach. It is a challenge to categorize this novel. There is romance, crime, punishment, spiritual awakening, despair, and childlike joy with large doses of easy story telling found between the chaos of Mitchell's young life and the mythic peace that grace ultimately delivers. The Hassayampa King walks the gamut of human emotion from the dark grip of fear, to the illumination of truth and the tingling love between a husband and his wife. The story begins and ends on the Hassayampa River south of Prescott, Arizona, and takes Mitchell down the highways and interstates of Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California. The Hassayampa King is haunting. It is rich in symbolism. While writing, I found myself very much a part of Mitchell's life, feeling every step he took, not just inwardly, but outwardly too. I believe the reader will as well. I laughed when Mitchell laughed, and cried when he cried. I felt the blue sky above him, and the dark of night within. Subjectively, objectively, his life will become a part of yours as you open and close this book with him, in his epic passage toward truth. Take the journey with Mitchell, which will ultimately become your own, as you recognize the journeys of your life crossing paths left by Mitchell's own footprints.