What if humanity's great historical figures weren't just talented-they were supernaturally talented? In this fresh spin on urban fantasy, history's illustrious leaders, thinkers, warriors, and entertainers all share a secret...and a perilous destiny. Chosen as 2016 Editor's Choice (Historical Novel Society) and named a Favorite Indie Book of 2015 (Self-Publishing Review).The year is 1939, and everyone who's anyone has descended upon the glamorous streets of Hollywood. It's a great place to be if you're an actor, singer, politician, or businessman. Not so much if you're Gray Studebaker, a young guttersnipe stuck selling movie-star maps on the street corner. But then Gray never wanted to be rich or famous-he'd be happy just being left alone by his tyrannical caretaker.
During a rash of celebrity kidnappings, Gray discovers the stars on his map are hiding unusual talents for which they are being abducted. When Gray tries to solve the crimes on his own, he finds himself caught up in a battle for power that stretches back to the beginnings of humanity.
The hunt begins for an ancient tool that can rescue celebrities the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks from an indestructible maniac who wants to steal their talents to create an invincible army. But Gray has a secret of his own, a mysterious disease that will either save the others or destroy them all.
The Sixteen Burdens is the story that inspired Houdini's Last Trick, a 2015 finalist for the JukePop/Black Hills Press Summer Writing Project (available now on Amazon). Original artwork in the book by artist Francesca Baerald.
About the Author: David Khalaf was born in Orange County, California. He studied print journalism at the University of Southern California, where he served as editor of the Daily Trojan newspaper and held court on the patio outside Carl's Jr. He later went to graduate school at USC for creative writing. He has been a waiter longer than he cares to remember.
David wrote his first full novel, a futuristic social satire, right out of college. It's still sitting on a high shelf somewhere. Don't go looking for it. The Sixteen Burdens series grew in part out of David's interest in Los Angeles history and in Hollywood during the Golden Age of film.
After nearly twenty years in Los Angeles, he came to know the city well, mostly after getting lost. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon. He still gets lost sometimes.
If you're interested in stalking David and discovering fun curiosities from 1930s and '40s American culture, follow his author page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/davidkhalafwriting.
