When RAY CASS, a successful advertising executive and lapsed Catholic, begs God to save his dying teenage daughter, MELISSA, his prayer is so persuasive, God answers it under one condition: Ray must promote the Second Coming of JESUS CHRIST. Thus begins a taut, twisted thrill ride taking Ray from his high-octane world of crafting slick messages selling glamorous products to creating a communications package that will form the foundation of the most important marketing campaign in history. Ray faces the intense challenges and dangers being God's messenger has always evoked. A timeless, yet contemporary Jesus opens a surprising window into His life, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection. As the project unfolds, Ray must sell his ad agency and work alone to maintain his secret. Assisted only by Melissa and his assistant, GINA SPIZZO, Ray assembles the campaign elements. From the images they help create, the photographers, filmmakers, and designers Ray enlists to work with him come to suspect they are involved in the Second Coming. Some accept this revelation; others dismiss it as ridiculous fantasy. As gossip and media coverage increase, Ray must discuss and defend his work. As he does, he begins to rekindle his moribund faith, which he tossed aside the night his wife, Jamie, was killed by a hit-and-run driver five years earlier. After massive media exposure, Ray is harassed and threatened by religious zealots, who accuse him of blasphemy and heresy. Both protesters and supporters demonstrate across the street from his house, where he works on the campaign. Fr. TED CAVANAUGH, a slick assistant to CARDINAL GONZAGA, the Archbishop of Chicago, badgers Ray for a meeting between Gonzaga and the supposed Jesus. Jesus won't accept, so Ray refuses. Feeling slighted by the rejection, Gonzaga labels Jesus a minion of Satan and becomes Ray's enemy. Ray and Gina become lovers. Cavanaugh and Fr. SCOTT DARROW, a priest who ministers to the poor, support Ray. Unknown stalkers threaten Melissa. Gina's brother, JOEY, who heads a small crime family, dissuades them. Televangelist fanatics kill Gina and nearly kill Ray. Against Jesus' wishes, Ray, who recognizes the killers' leader, gives Joey his name. Joey kills him. Ray is devastated and shamed by his refusal to obey Jesus' request to say nothing. Ray learns Gonzaga is the anti-Christ in a posthumous letter he receives from Cavanaugh, who is murdered by the Cardinal while Ray moves Melissa to the protection of her wealthy grandfather. Gonzaga is elected Pope, setting the stage for the End of Days confrontation. Joey thwarts Gonzaga's multiple attempts to kill Ray, including a set-up by a sexy female assassin in Rome. Jesus must bring Ray back from the dead to complete the Second Coming campaign's real mission: harassing Gonzaga into acting rashly, making mistakes, and rushing ill-prepared toward Armageddon. With the End of Days imminent, Gonzaga's mistakes will doom his enterprise. It's God's will.
About the Author: Rick Novak has held a number of positions in major advertising and marketing agencies, such as J. Walter Thompson and companies including Playboy and Sears. At Playboy, he created and directed major promotions for the magazine division. Novak began as a recording artist/songwriter with the Sidewalk Skipper Band on Capitol Records. He has had articles published in Chicago Magazine. He is the father of three and resides in Chicago.