"HIS EYES" - My inspirational coming-of-age novel

See my book cover design below from award-winning cover designer, Hannah Linder. Email me at Mark@MarkCharlesPowers.com and give me your feedback.

  Grief buried him. Faith might save him.

When Michael Judson’s younger brother dies in a freak shooting, everything unravels—faith, family, and his fragile sense of who he thought he was. What began as a normal afternoon turned into a nightmare, and now Michael stares into the eyes of a brother he couldn’t save… and wonders if he was the one who pulled the trigger.

His Eyes is a powerful coming-of-age novel that explores the weight of guilt, the ache of grief, and the flickering light of hope. As Michael struggles through bullying, a mother slipping into addiction, and an estranged father who reopens old wounds, it’s an unlikely group—homeless wanderers, small-town believers, and one steadfast neighbor—who show him where to find comfort in the chaos.

This deeply moving story captures what it means to question everything you’ve believed. Honest, heart-wrenching, and ultimately redemptive, His Eyes is for anyone who’s ever cried out “why?” and waited in the silence for an answer.

Let Michael’s story change yours. 

Five years ago, I innocently launched my dream to write a novel. I was a novice fiction writer with no idea what I was doing, despite publishing "Going Full Circle" in 2013.

But the storyline grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I wrote 60,000 words in two months, finishing in the summer of 2020.  

I had several people read it and give feedback. That autumn, I re-wrote the story.  During the winter months, I took some online writing courses. Then I re-wrote again in early 2021.

I marketed it to literary agents and book publishers throughout that summer and fall. But, because the story involved a handgun and also is inspirational, it was too controversial, and I received almost 100 refusals. So, I set the book aside for most of 2022 during my retirement and our move to the mountains. 

In November 2022, I got a contract to publish with a small Christian publisher. But the controversial storyline remained a problem. The publisher raised valid concerns and wanted to publish it with a disclaimer. In July 2023, the publisher and I parted ways by mutual agreement. 

Larry J. Leech II became my writing coach that same month. Larry taught me how to write fiction the correct way. Now "His Eyes" is a powerful story written with excellence.  

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