The Letter to Philadelphia

About the Book

The Letter to Philadelphiais an erotic thriller about a young conductor William Silmser who, at the pinnacle of his career, discovers he is terminally ill. It is during this time he meets the mysterious and beautiful Astárte Diàvolo, who appears to offer him hope. It is through her that William believes he has met the Devil and strikes up a deal. William is permitted to inhabit the young woman's body for brief periods, during which he must. bring souls for the evil diety. If he fulfills his obligations, he is then permitted to keep her body and remain immortal. Shortly thereafter, a string of bizarre and grizzly murders erupt . William's best friend, John, becomes suspicious of Astárte and her relationship with William. Fearing for William's safety he sets out to discover the truth, only to stumble upon the trail of murder, and ultimately become a fatal victim of his own curiousity. As Wiliam's impending death draws nearer he must finally submit to his fear or defy the evil deity.

Beyond the events of this modern story of Faust, the underlying theme of The Letter of Philadelphia is one of volition and justice. William is faced with the most difficult decision of his life. He must choose between what he thinks is important, and what is truly important. It is through his character, his discomposed sense of the real and unreal that we see the resolution of this dilemma.

About the Author

M.P. Blackburn was born in Kapuskasing, Ontario and received her training at McGill University and the University of Ottawa. She lives in Ottawa where she works as a freelance musician, composer and author

Ms. Blackburn is a member of the Editor's Association of Canada (EAC) and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN). The Letter to Philadelphia is her first full-length novel.