The Separatist                                                             by Gordon Snider (Author of Sigourney's Quest)

At the onset of this novel we meet journalist Julia Rice, who is sought out by a mysterious Mr. Anderson with the promise of giving her a very interesting story that would definitely help her career.  Julia follows her curiosity and meets with Mr. Anderson.  At first she is taken back by his ways but something makes her continue to meet with him as he begins to reveal a story that goes back into time and one that seems to have some connections with one she is working on in present day. A connection perhaps with her own life and a story that will definitely bring her to the brink of extreme danger, yet lead her to the love of her life.   Mr. Anderson was at one time a Separatist, hired for a case that would change his life forever. The Separatist is based on a Japanese custom where people hire such a specialist to end relationships.  This might involve a spouse, a lover, a business partner, or any other kind of personal relationship.  The idea is to create a situation that is so embarrassing to the “mark” that he or she will agree to severe the relationship without public displays of discord, publicity, or court proceedings.  This is the story he must reveal to our Julia that will in turn change her life. Just who is this mystery man, Mr. Anderson, and why has he chosen Julia to confide the details of the evil he knows and the people involved?  Will Julia come out of this alive or has Mr. Anderson put them in a situation that will end both of their lives?