**WARNING!! SPOILERS!!**

FREE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

Get into a groovy 60s mood by listening to a free spotify playlist I curated exclusively for Now is the Time of Monsters. Enjoy 60 songs from the late-1960s which I listened to daily over the ten month period it took to craft the story. Enjoy!

FREE SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks to everyone who helped me with this book including my wife and #1 Beta Reader, Crystal Mock; Dakota Lawrence for his friendship, support and insight into his daily world as a truly gifted psychic; Jeremy Carlisle Parker for serving as a sounding board for my approach to this challenging novel; all the amazing people at Tantor Audio for believing in my work and publishing the audiobook versions of all my books; and last but perhaps most important of all, thank you to YOU, the incredible reader, without whom none of this would exist.
I love you all!

THE BLURRING OF FACTS & FICTION
A selection of the true crime facts I wove into the fabric of this fictional story!

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  1. The Gemini himself was inspired by two real-life sources:
    • San Francisco's Zodiac killer who operated throughout the late 60s and early 70s
    • The serial killer in the The Exorcist III directed by William Peter Blatty, which serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was purportedly obsessed and would watch specific scenes repeatedly, often before he lured his next victim
  2. The Gemini's boots are known as wing-walker boots, and were alleged to have been the footprints found at more than one crime scene of the real Zodiac killer.
  3. The street address of Sheila McCabe's house—8213 West Summerdale—does not exist in San Francisco. It is, in fact, the actual Norwood Park Township, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago) street address of real-life serial killer, John Wayne Gacy.
  4. The name of my character, Detective Douglas Ressler, is a nod to both John Douglas and Robert Ressler, retired Special Agents of the FBI and pioneers in criminal profiling and analysis at the Behavioral Science Unit (BSU), now known as the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). They are also the inspiration behind the popular Netflix series, Mindhunter. Beyond the mash-up of their names, there is no other basis for my character's personality or background. His surly, no-nonsense approach which masks a heart of gold is based more upon Clint Eastwood's portrayal of Inspector "Dirty Harry" Harold Francis Callahan in the Dirty Harry franchise.
  5. When Ressler hums the same 5 abstract notes when he is deep in thought or uncomfortable, this is based upon me!
  6. Hannah's Ford Galaxie convertible is inspired by the actual car driven by real-life monster, convicted serial killer Edmond Kemper, who murdered eight women and girls in Santa Cruz County (south of San Francisco) between 1972 and 1973. His victims included his mother, her best friend, and six female students. The Ford Galaxie 500 was also featured in Dirty Harry and driven by fictional detective,, "Dirty Harry" Callahan.
  7. The decapitations, dismemberments and even perverse interactions with the corpses or body parts are commom 'depersonalization' traits amongst convicted killers Ed Gein, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Edmond Kemper and many more. (Liberty is taken with certain dates in the novel, particularly when referencing Edmond Kemper).
  8. The term 'serial killer' was coined by FBI Special Agent Robert Ressler, but in my novel I have taken liberty with the timing/date of such when mentioned by my ficitonal character, Siobhan Jacobs, Psychiatrist and Head of San Francisco County's Forensics Department.
  9. Cassie's "Little Zapples" are borrowed from the story of real-life serial killer Edmond Kemper who stated that this is what he called his urge to kill.
  10. Around mid-book, Cassie is described as having a 'fractured mind.' This is just one of many clues hinting at her Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
  11. The alter personality of Janice Wynn was created by Holden (aka Cassie) to both manage his intense feelings regarding Hannah's murder, and to act as a charismatic lure to help him gain the trust of potential victims—something the monstrous and barbaric alter of Solomon is incapable of doing.
  12. Cassie's friend Patty mentions 'people in our situation.' Although Cassie is not a member of the LGBTQ community, Patty is, and she believes the same holds true for Cassie. Patty has known all along that Cassie is male by birth. She is not aware, however, that Cassie is an alter created by Holden as a coping mechanism for his intense childhood traumas. Patty is also not aware that Bill (Cassie's common-law husband who Patty has never actually met) does not exist: Bill is a figment of Holden's fractured mind to help flesh out the story his pysche has created in the form of his alter, Cassie.
  13. The Gemini's wordsearch is inspired by real-like convicted serial killer, Dennis Rader, aka the BTK Killer (a moniker Rader created for himself with the letters being shorthand for Bind, Torture and Kill). Rader sent wordsearch puzzles to the media in which such information as some of his victims' name were included, and even his own home's street address.
  14. The Gemini's Halloween card featured in my novel is the actual card sent by the real-life Zodiac killer to San Francisco Chrionicle reporter, Paul Avery. I then altered the actual image and phrasing within the card to reflect the purposes of my fictional Gemini killer.
  15. When the Gemini killer is described as sexually assaulting the head of one of his victims, this is a direct reference to Edmond Kemper who is alleged to have done so with the decapitated head of his own mother as a way to humiliate the women he so abhorred.
  16. Cassie's (Holden's) VW bug is the same as used by real-life serial killer, Ted Bundy.
  17. Rosalie Sherwood is abducted from Mount Diablo park in the same way Ted Bundy was known to lure his victims: by feigning an injury. This both preyed upon the sympathy of women as well as to make himself appear more vulnerable and less of a threat to draw his victims near.
  18. The mention of how Holden was drafted into service in Vietnam for a 12-month tour by lottery method is accurate. Liberty is taken with the timing, however. The draft lottery did not commence until December 1965...not when Holden was drafted several years earlier.
  19. "Catcher" and "Holden" are nods to one of the most iconic novels in American literary history: J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Like Salinger's main character, Holden Albrighton (aka Cassie) is deeply disillusioend with life. Unlike Salinger's character, in the case of mine, Holden's way of dealing with his repeated and intense trauma was for his mind to fracture his personality into separate and distinct alter identites, each serving a unique purpose and role in his coping mechanism.
  20. When Siobhan Jacobs proposes to Holden that if he confesses, the FBI will relocate him to Barrow Moor—a psychiatric institution "back east"—this is a three-fold reference. First, she says it would be a matter of quid pro quo: "They help you; you help them."
    • Firstly, this is a nod to the iconic Thomas Harris novel, and film by the same name, Silence of the Lambs in which Dr. Hannibal Lecter explains his expectations to FBI agent Clarice Starling;
    • Secondly, it is a nod to the FBI's BSU/BAU innovative profiling program of the 1970s in which Robert Ressler and John Douglas interviewed notorious serial killers incarcerated across the country; and
    • Thirdly, Barrow Moor is a fictional psychiatric institution I created in my 'New Apocrypha' trilogy of books: The Little Woods, Disciple and Shadow Watchers.

READERS’ / BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GUIDE
NOW IS THE TIME OF MONSTERS
BY A.G. MOCK

***WARNING!! SPOILERS!***
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  1.  Setting as a Character: San Francisco plays a significant role in the novel. How does the city’s history and environment enhance the story's tension and atmosphere?
  2. Emotional Impact: The author mentions that writing this book took an emotional toll. As readers, did you feel that intensity through the narrative? What scenes stood out as most emotionally charged?
  3. The Role of Trauma: Trauma is a key element driving the characters. How do different characters cope with their traumas, and what does that say about them?
  4. The Concept of Evil: The character of Gemini is described as an amalgam of several notorious serial killers. What are your thoughts on how the novel defines evil through Gemini?
  5. The Role of Solitude: The protagonist often battles her inner demons in solitude. How do isolation and confinement contribute to the story's themes and mood?
  6. Morality and Identity: Given Cassie's dissociation and dual identities, how does the novel explore the theme of morality? Is Cassie accountable for all her actions?
  7. Friendship Dynamics: Cassie and Patty share a complex friendship. How do their interactions help develop Cassie’s character and the plot?
  8. Portrayal of Law Enforcement: Detectives Doug Ressler, Sid Younger and Psychiatrist Siobhan Jacobs play a critical role in pursuing the truth. How did you perceive the actions and motivations of the detectives? How do you feel their roles add to the plot layers?
  9. Role of Minor Characters: Several secondary characters contribute significantly to the plot’s advancement. Which minor character intrigued you the most, and why?
  10. Twists and Surprises: Were you able to anticipate the plot twists? How did the revelations affect your reading experience, especially regarding Cassie’s true nature?
  11. Mental Health Representation: How effectively does the novel portray Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)? Does it align with or challenge what you know about the condition?
  12. Character Complexity: Cassie serves as both the protagonist and antagonist. How does this duality influence your perception of her actions throughout the story?
  13. Symbolism of the Dungeon: The dungeon plays a central role in the climax. What does it symbolize in terms of both physical and psychological imprisonment?
  14. Victim and Perpetrator: The novel touches on the cycle of abuse. How does the story blur the lines between victim and perpetrator, particularly with Cassie’s journey?
  15. Ending Interpretation: How did the ending leave you feeling? What do you think happens to the characters beyond the last page?

RESEARCH LIST

A great deal of the time involved in the creation of Now is the Time of Monsters went into extensive research—before and during the writing process—to make the story as realistic, believable and true to the topic and era as possible. It was important to me that I faithfully capture the volatile and monumental time in our world history that was the late-1960s, as well as gaining the knowledge to accurately depict the mental illness known as Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID (Multiple Personality Disorder, or MPD, in the 1960s). While the total breadth and depth of research undertaken was more than I can list here, some of the more notable sources were:

Allison, Robert, SAS Blogs (website), Analysis of Serial Killings in the US, https://blogs.sas.com/content/sastraining/2015/07/20/analysis-of-serial-killings-in-the-us/

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Alabama Bio-Clean (website), Deadly or Just Dead? The 5 Stages of Human Decomposition, https://alabamabioclean.com/the-5-stages-of-human-decomposition/#:~:text=The%20five%20stages%20of%20human,at%20which%20a%20body%20decomposes

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Dissociative Jess (blog), https://dissociativejess.wordpress.com/

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Internatinal Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (website), Dissociative Disorders, https://www.isst-d.org/resources/

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Multipliled By One (website), Multiplied By One Org: Trauma and Dissociative Disorders, https://multipliedbyone.org/

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, NASA (website), July 20, 1969: One Giant Leap For Mankind, https://www.nasa.gov/history/july-20-1969-one-giant-leap-for-mankind/

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Social Security Administration (website), Popular names of the period 1940s, https://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/decades/names1940s.html

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, The 60s Official Site (website), 60s Slang, https://www.the60sofficialsite.com/60s-Slang.html

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Universal Class (website), A Brief History of Forensic Investigation, https://www.universalclass.com/articles/law/history-of-forensic-investigation.htm#:~:text=By%20the%20mid%201960s%2C%20forensic,mortem%20cooling%20had%20been%20perfected.

AUTHORS ANONYMOUS, University of Michigan (website), Resistance and Revolution: the Anti-Vietnam War Movement at the University of Michigan, 1965-1972, The military draft during the Vietnam War,  https://michiganintheworld.history.lsa.umich.edu/antivietnamwar/exhibits/show/exhibit/draft_protests/the-military-draft-during-the-

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Wikipedia (website), Beat Generation, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beat_Generation

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Wikipedia (website), Summer of Love, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_of_Love

AUTHOR ANONYMOUS, Wikisource (website), The Zodiac Halloween Card (Oct 27th, 1970) mailed to Paul Avery of the San Francisco Chronicle from the Zodiac Killer,  https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Zodiac_Killer_letter,_October_27th_1970

Bailey, Aubrey, PT, DPT, CHT, Very Well Health (website), Symptoms of Different Types of Dissociative Disorders, https://www.verywellhealth.com/dissociative-disorder-symptoms-5211585

Bauer, Patricia, Encyclopedia Britannica (website), Tate Murders, https://www.britannica.com/event/Tate-murders

Brennan, Ian and Murphy, Ryan, Netflix (limited series, 2022), Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story

Christensen, Emily, Wikihow (website), How to Read Tarot Cards, https://www.wikihow.com/Read-Tarot-Cards

Fagan, Kevin and Ocenada, Ryan, San Francisco Chronicle (website)Zodiac Killer: why sleuths are still obsessed with S.F.'s most notorious serial killer, https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/zodiac-killer-18436725.php#

Hargis, Becca, Healthy Place (website), What Are Opposite-Gender Alters in Dissociative Identity Disorder?, https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/dissociativeliving/2019/9/what-are-opposite-gender-alters-in-dissociative-identity-disorder#:~:text=An%20opposite%2Dgendered%20alter%20is,to%20the%20currently%20fronting%20host.

Hemphill, Beth and Silve, Lauren, Court TV (website), Crazy or culpable? Dissociative identity disorder in the courtroom, https://www.courttv.com/news/crazy-or-culpable-dissociative-identity-disorder-in-the-courtroom/

Kranc, Lauren, Esquire (website), The True Story of Billy Milligan, the First Ever Defendant Found Not Guilty Due to Multiple Personalities, https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a37693537/billy-milligan-true-story-netflix-24-faces/

Lambert, Price and Megaton, Olivier, Netflix (limited series, 2021), Monsters Inside: The 24 Faces of Billy Milligan

Mayo Clinic Staff, Mayo Clinic (website), Dissociative Disorder,  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dissociative-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20355215

Morton, Robert J., Supervisory Special Agent Behavioral Analysis Unit-2, Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI (website), Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives fro Investigators, https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder

notbob1959, Reddit (website), Biologically superior to men, Virginia Slims magazine ad, 1971, https://www.reddit.com/r/vintageads/comments/55u8cl/biologically_superior_to_men_virginia_slims/#lightbox

Perez, Zaira, Denton Record-Chronicle (website), 'Girl in the Closet' Lauren Kavanaugh to be treated at mental health facility, deemed incompetent to stand trial, https://dentonrc.com/news/girl-in-the-closet-lauren-kavanaugh-to-be-treated-at-mental-health-facility-deemed-incompetent/article_14b05afb-3fd8-5bf2-908e-ce8988849c51.html

Rosewood, Jack and Lo, Rebecca, The Big Book of Serial Killers (LAK Publishing, 2017)

Rosewood, Jack and Lo, Rebecca, The Big Book of Serial Killers - Volume 2 (LAK Publishing, 2017)

Woffindin, Louise, CPD Online College (website), What is Scelerophobia?, https://cpdonline.co.uk/knowledge-base/mental-health/scelerophobia/