Outskirts Press, INC.

SAVING PORTERVILLE is a sequel to DECENT DECEIT—Destiny of Deception—Story of how Drake Dawson, a young man in search of himself befriended a soldier with PTSD and both lives were changed as well as were others. The physically and emotionally flawed strangers caught up in a history of deceit and the tragedy of the war against ISIS in Afghanistan, searched for and found purpose, redemption and love. Although Saving Porterville stands alone, you may also enjoy the precursor. SAVING PORTERVILLE is a continuation of the story, with the same delightful characters, plus the addition of a new character, Francine, a Homeland Security agent recruited to help solve an out-of-control illegal drug crisis in the small town. If you liked Drake, Oscar, Patricia, Charlie and Tanner in Decent Deceit you are invited to visit them again in this new book. This time, after reaching their personal goals, you will find them courageously fighting a war on drugs where family, neighbors and friends are victims. If a small group of friends can save a small town, perhaps there is hope for the country. This book has been in the making for two years. Covid isolated us, made us fearful, often angry, and friendships were jeopardized. We were thwarted from physically expressing our love to one another, and the consequences are yet to be fully realized. I survived by writing about love of home, community, and country. It is also about art, food, forgiveness of oneself, and a bit of humor—all things to make us smile in a sad, fast-changing world. Thich Nhat Hanh said, “You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.” The same is true of countries. I hope SAVING PORTERVILLE will help all of us return to love, faith, friendship and courage, whether we live in a city, country or somewhere in between.