The Eleventh Commandment - by John Terry Moore (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Apart from his drug addiction, his homophobic father, and his denial of his sexuality, Ben O'Connor lives a charmed life. He has a wonderful son, a lucrative job as a Realtor, and a supportive mother and siblings. Then his boss promotes someone else over him and his life disintegrates. In his anger, he breaks the eleventh commandment--thou shalt not get caught.

Kicking his ice habit while incarcerated, Ben realizes he has lost his ability to enjoy life. But he gets another chance at Thailand's Resort Jomtien, where he takes part in an experimental program aimed at preventing relapses among recovering addicts. There he meets Matt Wilson, a gay man from Sydney who's facing the same struggle. Ben and Matt form a strong bond as they rediscover joy and learn strategies to cope with the lure of their addictions.

Ben invites the adrift Matt home with him after treatment and finds he fits perfectly into Ben's family. But will Ben recognize that his feelings for Matt go beyond the platonic before Matt's doubts--and a worldwide pandemic--separate them forever?

About the Author

John Terry Moore hails originally from Tasmania, the Australian island state. He completed his education at Hobart Matriculation College, was a farmer and Tasmanian champion single sculler for several years, runner-up in the Australian competition.

After coming out to his family, John made his home in Victoria, holding a number of senior positions in the Victorian automotive industry over a thirty-five-year period. Subsequently, he became a civil marriage and funeral celebrant for many years (now retired), witnessing firsthand rapidly changing Australian public opinion, questioning traditional family structures and culminating in the marriage equality legislation passing into law in December 2017. However, John remains concerned that the fight is never over; right wing politicians, together with some church leaders would seek to wind back the clock to the bad old days where the scourge of homophobia was a major cause of suicide in men under thirty years of age.

Consequently, John seeks to normalize same-sex relationships and inclusiveness through his writing, encouraging all young people to live their lives truthfully, fearlessly, and with dignity, as is their right.

John's interest in economics, politics, and Asian affairs has also played a major role in his writing, and he is unfazed in taking on contemporary issues such as drug use, particularly the unpredictable nature of methamphetamines, and the scourge of coronavirus.

John and his husband have traveled extensively throughout Asia, inserting themselves into the culture and the daily lifestyles of the local people, and consequently have a unique overview and a deep understanding of Asian and South Asian nations, which also feature in his writing.

John and his husband, Russell Baum, live in Geelong, Victoria's largest regional center, one hour from Melbourne, Australia. They were flower growers, raised stud sheep, and bred Kelpies, Australia's working dogs, before moving to Wandana Heights, a Geelong suburb, in semiretirement.

There they have a large network of friends, mostly with canine interests in common. John collects clocks when time permits and fervently espouses the health benefits of red wine.