Desert Chimera (Stone Quest Book 1)

Desert Chimera, the first book in the Stone Quest Series, introduces the reader to recluse, tracker, and reluctant twenty-eight year old psychic visionary Luke Stone and to his paranormal universe. Luke has been sequestered in the serene woods of Northern Michigan under the tutelage of Cherokee guide Shadow Wolf. When the shaman suddenly dies, Luke flees on a desperate cross-country quest that takes him to the heart of Death Valley.There, Luke is assaulted by terrifying visions of the apocalypse. While praying in agony for release, a shimmering specter arises from the sands to stand beside him. But this is not the one Luke has sought. Instead, this is the One from whom Luke had escaped seven long years ago, the black magician and his arch nemesis Armand Jacobi. Torrential rains flood; rivers of mud flow. Luke is forsaken. But deep within the cacophony of the storm, Luke hears a voice calling. Following the call, Luke stumbles out of the wilderness and into Eppie Falco’s Desert Inn and Café. Gathered here also seeking shelter from the storm are an array of fellow travelers. However, upon a clap of thunder and a burst of lightning, the café door swings open and Armand Jacobi, the charismatic black magician Luke had seen as the vision in the desert in the desert and the man from whom he had run now stands before him in the flesh. Among the travelers whom Armand eventually takes hostage in his struggle with Luke is Consuelo Arroyo, a woman whose life Armand threatens, a woman with whom Luke is falling in love, something he'd never thought would be possible for him. As Luke’s battle with Armand heightens, Luke is confronted with the full horrors of his past. The battle that rages will culminate in either Luke’s final destruction or his ultimate redemption.

From the Inside Flap

Read what Amazon and Kindle readers are saying about Leigh Podgorski's debut novel, The Women Debrowska: Jack Maxwell: ...vividly told, weaving together the story of one family and Polish history... a particularly powerful love story from the moment she is whisked away from the bridge to the moment she dies at the age of only 25 from a gunshot wound to the chest... Maureen Serra:...beautiful, powerful, and deeply touching ...a love letter to Poland and to all those who believe in freedom and are willing to take a stand against oppression... Paul G. White...Flowing with great energy and speed... contains passages... of beautiful vivid descriptions. [t]he tale not only of a family but of a nation. I could smell the snow and the blood in the air.... You won't be disappointed. Douglas Glen Clark: Although Podgorski's story begins as personal quest, it quickly evolves into a discovery of Polish heritage and a family tree ravaged by oppression, revolution and a passionate attachment to homeland. Dr. Chris Herron: When the plane crashed...carrying the Polish statesmen...I felt sorrow as if they were brothers of mine. Ms. Podgorski's saga told the story of Polish history in a way that made its memories mine Arpine Ovesypian:...a captivating tale sure to become an instant classic....eloquently crafted plot deviates from tradition and keeps the reader on the edge of his/her seat...... And from Ouray's Peak: If you can put this book down after you pick it up, you are a stronger person than I am..., I couldn't stop reading. You won't either. Read this book. (B.R.A.G.H) This is one of the best novels I have read of late. Leigh Podgorski paints a scenic picture of the Colorado mountain country and the Indian reservation in this beautiful, memorable, coming of age story.... I applaud her unique storytelling talent and look forward to more from this author. Thank you Ms. Podgorski, I didn't want the story to end! (Jacqueline Bryant) I read this in one sitting! Gripping story, strong characters..love Leigh's writing style! I recommended her books to all my friends. (Ann)

From the Back Cover

"Wild, primitive, disturbing..." DESERT CHIMERA, the first volume in the Paranormal Mystery STONE QUEST series is "a wonderfully constructed mix of mystery, intrigue, and action, spiced with just the right touch of the supernatural..." Enter the world of reluctant psychic and tracker Luke Stone and his paranormal universe. Since a horrifying event seven years ago, Luke has been sequestered in the serene woods of Northern Michigan under the tutelage of Cherokee guide Shadow Wolf. But one day, Luke finds the shaman inexplicably dead. Lost and frightened, Luke flees on a desperate cross-country quest that takes him to the heart of Death Valley. There, Luke is assaulted by terrifying visions of the apocalypse. While praying in agony for release, a shimmering specter arises from the sands to stand beside him. But this is not the one Luke has sought. Instead, this is the One from whom he had escaped seven long years ago, the black magician and his arch nemesis Armand Jacobi. Torrential rains flood; rivers of mud flow. Luke is forsaken. But deep within the cacophony of the storm, Luke hears a voice calling. Following the call, Luke stumbles out of the wilderness and into Eppie Falco's Desert Inn and Café. Gathered here also seeking shelter from the storm are an array of fellow travelers. However, upon a clap of thunder and a burst of lightning, the café door swings open and Armand Jacobi stands before him. Among the travelers Armand takes hostage in his contest with Luke is Consuelo Arroyo, a woman with whom Luke is falling in love, something he'd never thought possible. As Luke's battle with Armand rages, Luke is confronted with the full horrors of his past. Will this war culminate in Luke's final destruction or his ultimate redemption? "... lovely echoes of Oliver Twist and Fagin... with... sinister overtones..." "The tale transcendentally possesses the best qualities of the mystical and the real, the now and the hereafter, this world and the underworld, and captivates completely ..." "An expertly woven, gripping and exciting trip to that shadowy land that lies between..."

About the Author

I am amazed by the diversity of the Earth, by her cultures and her mythologies, her symbolisms and her colors that spring so incessantly from that stream, as Joseph Campbell writes, that incessantly bubbles up from the deepest reaches of our collective unconscious to influence and inform and ultimately to unify the universes that flow within and without us.   In 1985, I had the distinct privilege of interviewing Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross for my one-act play Windstorm. Here was a celebrated doctor who had penetrated the fourth wall, who saw visions, who communicated with the dead, and who, through her visions, taught us more about, as she said, not how to die, but how to live.   While producing the play festival CelebrateWomen, I interviewed another great woman, Cahuilla elder Katherine Siva Saubel. Dr. Saubel, like Dr Ross, was a great healer, and a great visionary. She could call the wind by whistling for it to blow down from the mountains to cool the steaming valley below.   I like writing about characters who can call the wind.

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