The opening few paragraphs of:

GLOBAL SUPERIORITY

A Steve Hawks Series

The city never truly slept, but tonight, it held its breath.

Special Agent Steve Hawks leaned against the hood of his black SUV, his eyes scanning the scene. A body lay sprawled on the cracked pavement of an alley, illuminated by the strobe of red-and-blue lights. Rain slicked the ground, turning blood into a macabre watercolor.

“Victim’s name is Daniel Peters,” said Detective Ashley Cooper, her voice clipped. She handed Hawks a file, the manila folder already damp from the drizzle. “High-profile defense attorney. Found dead an hour ago. No witnesses, no leads.”

Hawks flipped through the report, the pages sticking together. Peters’s face stared back at him—a man used to winning. His tailored suits, courtroom dominance, and controversial client list had earned him plenty of enemies.

“Shot twice, point blank,” Ashley added. “No wallet, no phone. Feels like a hit.”

Hawks nodded, closing the folder. “Professional, but messy enough to send a message.”

He crouched beside the body, taking in the scene. The alley smelled of wet concrete and copper, a stench Hawks knew too well. He traced the outline of Peters’s body with his gaze, noting the precision of the wounds.

“Anything unusual?” he asked, his voice low but firm.

Ashley hesitated. “There’s... this.”

She handed him a small evidence bag. Inside was a single playing card—a jack of spades, edges frayed. Hawks turned it over, his gut tightening. Scrawled in blood-red ink on the back was a single word: *Justice*.

Hawks exhaled slowly. “This isn’t random.”

He stood, his mind already piecing together a puzzle he didn’t fully understand yet. The card wasn’t just a clue—it was an invitation. Whoever had done this wanted his attention, and they’d just succeeded.

“Ashley,” Hawks said, his tone steely, “get me everything on Peters—cases, enemies, everything. And call my team. This is just the beginning.”

As Hawks stepped back into the rain, his thoughts raced. The last time he’d seen a card like this, it had been years ago. Another murder, another alley.

And a killer who had promised to return.

***

I hope you like the beginning of the new Steve Hawks novel. The next step is to decide to go with the title shown above or something else.  

If you have a suggestion for the title, please leave message down below in the Comments section.  No personal information is kept by submitting a comment. You can also comment on the Facebook or "X" post about this new blog.

I am looking at a release date prior to summer.

Thanks for reading this blog and for any comments you may leave at the bottom.

Until next time,
 John

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that want a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,
 

John

It seems Fall has arrived as this morning it was a cool 37 degrees.

I attended my 55^th high school reunion a few weeks ago. It was nice to see everyone and especially my old friend that I grew up with and inspired me to get into ham radio. Even though it was years later before I did.

My friend Barry has been in radio broadcasting since the late 60s. He was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame a few years ago, honoring his dedication to Country Music.

It was a very enjoyable evening to spend with Barry and his wife. One I will never forget.

For my writing friends, how do you get past a block in the story you are working on?

I have dealt with a block for some time and am not sure where to go with it. It did not help that somehow a few chapters were lost.

One of my friends has been asking me over and over when book three would be done. He is going on a cruise again and wants to have it to read. I am afraid that he will have to find another book to read because mine will not be done in time,

Maybe with Winter coming on and my dislike for the cold that will keep me inside, I can get back to writing.

Enjoy the rest of the second “BER” month.

You can leave a message down below telling us how you get around your writing blocks.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,
 

John

Summer is trying to hang on these next few days, bringing us 90+ degree days. That is fine with me as I hate winter. I am still trying to heal from the three broken ribs. The latest CT scan shows them still broke. It has been since March.

Of course, there were other things that showed up on the scan that I am not happy about. But for now, life goes on.

Back in February 2023, the talk started about AI writing. I decided to check it out and went to Copy Creator and asked about: "How do you write a crime novel?" Below is  what it came up with. Needless to say, it is not all that good.

“The best thing about writing a crime novel is that there are no rules. You can make up your own crimes and your own characters, and there's no right or wrong way to do it. There are countless ways to write a crime novel, and that's what makes it so much fun.

If you're looking to write a crime novel, the best place to start is by coming up with a good story. What's the crime, who committed it, and why? What are the consequences of the crime? These are all important questions to answer before you write.

Once you have a good story, the next step is to create interesting and believable characters. Your readers need to relate to your characters, even if they're criminals. Give your characters flaws and weaknesses, and make them believable.

The last step is to write the story. This is where your creativity really comes into play. There are no limits to what you can do, so let your imagination run wild. Write the story that you want to write and don't worry about following any specific rules.

Writing a crime novel can be a lot of fun. It's a great way to let your imagination run wild, and there are no rules to follow. So, get started today and see where your story takes you.”

Example of an AI creation. CopyCreator

What are your feelings about AI writing stories? Do you think the market will be flooded with this type of writing?

Leave a message down below and tell us your opinion. No personal information is kept from what is asked of you to reply.

I will attend the Beyond the Books Festival again this year at the Starke County Library in Knox, IN. The date is September 7^th.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,

John

Sorry it has taken so long to update this blog. Another heart procedure and now suffering from a broken rib. Reaching out to type causes a lot of pain on my left side, where I have a broken rib and pulled muscles. They say it could take up to six weeks or more for it to heal. All I know is it is painful.

And I am missing out playing in the golf league with my son.

I need to get back to writing on the third novel in the Steve Hawks series. If the pain will improve.

But, if you need some quick reads for your lounging in the sun this summer, check out my short stories on Amazon. They are only 99 cents and have some excellent reviews.

She Rises at Dawn, Hollywood Dream, Dreamer’s Paradise. All in the Family Cruise is a comical story about murder.

I will attend the Beyond the Books Festival again this year at the Starke County Library in Knox, IN. The date is September 7^th.

If I can sit down to use a computer, I may have the third book finished by that time.

Not holding my breath on it.

Have a great summer. If you have a comment, please leave it below.

Here is the link to Hawks’ Dilemma https://tinyurl.com/2mtal5xf

Book two, Marked to Kill: https://tinyurl.com/46bh932s

I have bookplates now that I can sign, and you can place it inside the front cover for those of you that wanted a signed copy and do not live near to me.

If you would like one, just send me an email with your name and address. I will mail one to you. Find my email address on my website at johnpoindexter.com.

Until next time,

John