The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away

What happens when you leave the war—but the war doesn’t leave you?Newly returned from Iraq, Nick is discovering that America feels like an alien land. So when an old squadmate asks him for help, he’s happy to return to a way of life he understands. You stand by your brothers-in-arms, no matter what.But as events spiral out of control, Nick is forced to question just how far he’s willing to go in the name of loyalty. Because sometimes you have to choose between saving your life—and saving your soul.Named one of the Best Short Stories of 2010 by the International Thriller Writers Organization and nominated for a Macavity Award, The Desert Here and the Desert Far Away is a haunting thrill-ride about friendship, betrayal, and the wounds our warriors bear.About the AuthorMarcus Sakey has worked as a landscaper, a theatrical carpenter, a 3-D animator, a woefully unprepared movie reviewer, a tutor, and a graphic designer who couldn’t draw. In 2007 his first novel, The Blade Itself, was published to wide critical acclaim—and thank God, because nothing else seemed to be working. His books have been nominated for more than a dozen awards, named to multiple Year’s Best lists, and translated into numerous languages. Three are currently in development as feature films. Marcus is also the host and writer of the acclaimed television show Hidden City on Travel Channel, for which he is routinely pepper-sprayed and attacked by dogs. To research his work, Marcus has shadowed gang cops, trained with snipers, toured the morgue, flown planes, rappelled with SWAT teams, hung out with spies, and learned to pick a dead bolt. He’s an excellent cook, a travel junkie, and a devotee of ridiculously spicy food. He also enjoys writing about himself in the third person.