When a man's beginnings are far rougher than usual, it gives his childhood a hard-eyed look at the world. Poverty, family violence and thuggish behavior are the norm for Ben Kelly as he scrambles toward adulthood. Through great effort, he overcomes a mountain of obstacles to become successful as a professional. Then, at the apex of his career, he is struck with false accusations about this character. People consumed with envy conspire to destroy him. Trusted friends slither through clouds of deception to attack. The career that he fought so hard to attain is left in shambles.

In the face of this crisis, how will he respond? Will his thin veneer of sophistication hold up under the pressure, or will old thoughts and ideas resurface to catalyze unpredictable behavior? If his reactions become extreme, how far will he go? His unique path through hard circumstances down a perilous road of action provides the drive for what happens to Ben Kelly and those around him.

Clayton Carpenter is a former public school teacher and counselor who spends most of his free time in the American wilderness. When not hanging out in nature, he lives in New Orleans with a rough looking orange cat of undetermined heritage. Shadow of Turning is his first novel.