New Release: 'The Power of Having You Near'

Wolfram Books is proud to announce the publication of 'The Power of Having You Near', the first work of fiction by Nicolás Suszczyk, author of the James Bond essays 'The World of GoldenEye' and 'The Bond of The Millennium'.

Set against the backdrop of a hyperconnected world where social media shapes reputations overnight, 'The Power of Having You Near' is a psychological suspense story about risk, chance, and the unpredictable consequences of a single decision. In a world where appearances can be deceptive, hype and hate can prove as deadly as a bullet fired from a Walther P99.

The story follows Mike Fortunato, a young journalist from New Jersey whose quiet and predictable life is disrupted when he is assigned to cover the press junket of a major Hollywood production in New York. There, he comes face to face with Fiona O'Leary, an actress he has admired for decades.

Shortly after the event, Mike receives a mysterious invitation.

An opportunity... or a trap?

Luck... or fate?

Soon, he finds himself gambling without cards or chips, but with something far more valuable: his reputation, his career, and perhaps even his future.

"I've tried writing fiction before, but I always abandoned it after a few pages," says Suszczyk. "For some reason, that didn't happen with 'The Power of Having You Near'. I think it's because this story came straight from the heart."

A lifelong admirer of Ian Fleming, the author sought to capture the elegance, precision and attention to detail that defined the creator of James Bond, while also drawing inspiration from Argentine novelist Claudia Piñeiro, whose novels immerse the reader in the uninterrupted flow of her characters' thoughts.

"Bond has always fascinated me because, beneath the espionage, he's ultimately a gambler," explains Suszczyk. "Not simply because he plays baccarat and other card games, but because he's willing to make impossible decisions without knowing the outcome. Think of Bond bidding for the Fabergé egg at Sotheby's in 'Octopussy', choosing not to kill Kara in 'The Living Daylights' or letting the pipeline bomb go off in 'The World Is Not Enough'. Mike Fortunato belongs to that same tradition. He doesn't live in Bond's dangerous world, but he constantly wagers everything on instinct."

The author also points to another important influence:

"Thomas Crown once admired a Monet painting in complete solitude, asking nothing from it except the privilege of contemplating it. Mike's admiration for Fiona comes from that same deeply private place."

Regarding Fiona O'Leary, he prefers to remain deliberately elusive:

"Fiona is meant to remain enigmatic. Like many people in the public eye, there is always something hidden behind the cameras, the red carpets, and the carefully rehearsed smiles. But the less I say about her, the better. After all... not even the author can control Fiona."

'The Power of Having You Near' is available through Amazon Kindle. A DRM-free special edition will also be released through ZOOM Platform.

You can get your copy here, or visit the short story's official site.