Poisoning the Well

My work is slowly evolving from theoretical philosophy to narrative-based fiction fueled by the same archetypal and mythical engine that inspired me to write in the first place. Poisoning the Well is the first of many Novellas (short novels.) With this new format I hope to reach more accessible audiences that may simply enjoy these formats alone or consider venturing deeper into the theological and philosophical pieces I have already authored and plan to author in the future. 

This one is close to home for me, so it is appropriate that I release it first. When I’m not writing about mythology or philosophy, I actually lead a pretty unsuspecting life as a salesman.

The idea for Poisoning the Well was initially a haunting random thought that kept coming to me. “What if one day I realized I was not the person I thought I was?” Surely, we all wear a mask but what if that mask was so ingrained that it couldn’t be removed, but had to be torn away?

This variant thought taunted me for some time until one day I was compelled to write it in one straight session (literally a on a full moon— fun fact: Hellas was written in a similar mental state.) 

Anyway, this day, I woke up and without any planning to do so, I sat down and typed the entire 70+ page novella in a 5-hour straight session. My wife was quite annoyed as we had plans that day to go to the mall and it was quite delayed. 

I can’t say writing it was a relief. My own identity felt rather distorted for days to follow.

Poisoning the Well is a colloquial term for “tainting or ruining one’s reputation.”

It’s a psychological horror told in noir fantasy about a Salesman whose reality is untethered in chaotic capitulation. 

There are no chapters, the narrative literally pulls you in with no escape. Paranoia, delusion, and horror unfold as the protagonist fails to see his own shadow in his rapid descent "down the well" of his own undoing. Take the plunge— if you dare.