Set in a near-future Chicago, BLANKTOWN (Original title: Queen Mab Courtesy) is part adventure, part mystery, part science, and all fun.

Tito, the main character, is a "Denver Dwarf"--victim of a birth defect caused by a biological terrorist attack while he was in the womb. It certainly didn't affect his mind or his spirit, though.

He meets up with Charlie Sleazer, a hot chestnut vendor who quotes Shakespeare and has a few interesting sidelines (like helping people out of jams). They are trying to unravel what happened to Tito's father, who disappeared years ago. The C.O.P.S - biomechanical enforcers of a nanny state that wants to protect the people from everything, including human nature - seem to be engaged in a massive cover-up. They're closing in on Tito and the only way out leads through Blanktown.

Blanktown is a fast-paced novel that's fun and easy to read, yet it makes the reader think about lots of things, not least of which is the value of being true to oneself and one's family.

Rated PG for intense scenes. Suitable for mid-grades and up.

80,000 words; equivalent to a 300 page mass market paperback