Vienna attorney Richard Gazala took inspiration from personal sorrow and turned the meat of it into a suspense thriller. Released in mid-October, "Blood of the Moon" is Gazala’s first novel.

Set in 2016, "Blood of the Moon" is the story of the world at war, fighting domestically and globally over dwindling oil reserves. An aging astronaut who walked on the moon more than 45 years earlier and now has Alzheimer’s, holds a secret in his deteriorating mind that could refocus the world’s dependency on organic oil.

It is up to the astronaut’s son, David Rivers, to draw out his father’s recollections of man’s last walk on the moon and what the astronaut brought back to earth with him.

"When writing this, my mother was dying of Alzheimer’s," said Gazala. "This book was part of the way I coped with the disease and her decline."

An embattled incumbent president, an ancient society protecting its interests and a military presence patrolling the streets of the United States form the backdrop for the story’s plot.

As the child of an international banker, Gazala grew up in Beirut, London and Belmont, Mass. Although action takes place in the Middle East, the book also has scenes that take place in a house in McLean.



GAZALA PERFORMS primary research whenever he can, visiting places and talking to people. He learned every nook of Lafayette Square by walking around there repeatedly.

When first-hand research is not possible or feasible, he turns to the Internet for information, as well, as when he learned about the Hostmen of Newcastle, an ancient coal cartel or about abiotic oil.

"If I’m creating a character with a job I don’t know very well, I try to find people who’ve done that kind of work and pick their brains," said Gazala. An acquaintance, which was a retired space shuttle astronaut, "generous with his time and expertise" educated Gazala on NASA, astronauts and astronautics.

In respect to the influence and impact of Alzheimer's on the protagonist, Gazala said he lived it as he cared for his mother in her final years, imprisoned by Alzheimer’s. "Blood of the Moon" is dedicated to his parents’ memory.



AT A CORNER TABLE at a Tysons Corner-area Starbuck’s, Gazala wrote most of his thriller. Although his mother had around-the-clock care, Gazala was close by, reading to keep his mind bright and ideas percolating in his head. He started writing the book before his mother died on Christmas Day 2006. The book was finished in September 2008, after nine drafts.

Gazala said he writes for hours late at night, away from distractions. He recently returned from two weeks in New Orleans where he did research for his new novel, something he calls "utterly different" from "Blood of the Moon." It’s a bit of New Orleans life, a bit of culture ... he loves New Orleans. "The new book has sort of a sci-flavor," he said.

A resident of Vienna since 1994 and former Vienna Softball League coach, Gazala is married and has two teenaged children. Gazala received his undergraduate and law degrees from Vanderbilt University. He works out of his Vienna home as a legal consultant, mostly in the area of intellectual property law.

Published by iUniverse, "Blood of the Moon" has received the Editor's Choice and Rising Star awards from iUniverse. "Blood of the Moon" is available at booksamillion.com, iUniverse.com, bn.com (Barnes and Noble), and Amazon.com.