For the second time in just a few months, the former deputy fire chief of Greater Sudbury Fire Services has released a novel.
A book signing for Dave Wickenden's second novel, “Homegrown,” takes place at Chapters Sudbury June 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Homegrown” tells the story of an American teen on the wrong side of an ISIS suicide bomb. Only the unconditional love of his mother and Muslim girlfriend has a chance of saving him.
Dalton, an 18-year-old from Washington D.C. suffering from depression since the death of his father, finds peace in Islam. After his conversion, he comes to the attention of ISIS recruiters.
Aazam, an ISIS commander, has set in motion a plan to attack the international coalition countries in their individual homelands. He will use Dalton and the other homegrown terrorists to make the West pay for its interference.
Once Dalton realizes the true goals of the extremists, he looks for an opportunity to escape the group.
His mother finds an ally in Daanya, a Muslim girl who warns her of Dalton’s involvement with the fanatical group. Together, they must stop Dalton before he does the unthinkable.
Wickenden released his first book, “In Defence of Innocence,” earlier this spring. Both were published by Crave Press.
“In Defense of Innocence” follows Janice Williams, head of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Child Sex Crimes Division, as she hunts child abusers only to be beaten to their capture by a vigilante who avenges the harms done to these innocent children.
When Janice uncovers the identity of the vigilante, she is faced with the dilemma to do her job to uphold the law or help this person escape a nation-wide manhunt.
After 31 years as a deputy fire chief, Wickenden traded business plans and council reports for creative writing.
He wrote and edited the Sudbury Fire Department’s In the Line of Fire newsletter earlier in his career, and he has enjoyed writing and reading since a young teen.
