Coming Soon December 2025
The 4th installment of Dr. John Stourton Adventures will be out this December 2025, in time for a Christmas gift.
The Estate at Wake Forest
The Estate at Wake Forest
December 20, 2022
BOOK 3
The morning was cold and brisk. The trees bare and most people were huddled inside in the stores. For those caught outside were walking or old up in their vehicles. The year is 1934 and Saturday was the busiest of days in town. The local farmers came into town to sell their goods and shop at the stores for the next week. Ladies and kids were wrapped up in their coats and scarfs to keep the wind from contacting their skin.
In the distance, the sound of a steam locomotive was close to the station. The main railroad line was Seaboard Air Line which ran through Wake Forest and was a major stop for freight and passengers. With Wake Forest University just to the west of the train station, many of the passengers were students, parents and faculty that worked and attended the university.
The man turned his attention to the sound of the locomotive and the wailing of the whistle was heavy. He knew that Billy J was at the Throttle. He had an urgent message to get to Billy J this morning. He had been awakened at 3 AM with a telegraph from Western Union and it was urgent. Billy J was to contact his uncle here in Wake Forest as his uncle had an item that had to get to Washington, DC at once.
The small package was from Dr. Philias Francis Stanhope who lived just north of Wake Forest University. The package was very heavy and with the package, there were two letters. One was for the intended recipient of the package and the other was for Billy J. Dr. Stanhope had made the matter clear to him that he MUST be sure to get this to Billy J today. There were lives counting on this package to arrive in DC today.
As Dr. Stourton moves from the beautiful mountains of North Carolina to Wake Forest, NC, his target is the upcoming election for President of the United States. He wants to alter the course of the US and he knows that he has the ability to make the course correction for all in the USA. However, something from his families past will reappear which finds individuals bent on recovering this major item for the US Government. And there are those that will not stop until they have that item. Will Dr. Stourton live to see the prsidency?
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The Resort on Roan Mountain
October 21, 2021
Book 2
The Story Begins
In the summer of 1908, atop the misty heights of Roan Mountain, the Cloudland Resort stood proud—a haven above the clouds. It was here that Dr. Philias Francis Stanhope was preparing to marry his childhood love, Bernadette Caroline McKinney. As they sat together on the south-facing balcony, savoring the quiet morning, a knock at the door interrupted their peace. Stanhope kissed Bernadette gently, rose, and answered.
A tall, slender young man stood at the threshold, holding the morning paper and a handwritten note. Stanhope tipped him politely and closed the door. But before he could return to his coffee, the phone rang. On the line was the newly appointed commissioner of Mitchell County, urgently requesting Stanhope’s presence.
Something strange had occurred—two men had vanished while investigating a sudden halt in the resort’s water supply. Even more unsettling, a mysterious glow had begun emanating from the nearby rail tunnel, defying explanation. The commissioner and town council hoped Stanhope could unravel the mystery. But the real question lingered: was the mystery ready to be revealed?
A Century Later
One hundred years on, Dr. John Stourton unexpectedly inherits a vast tract of land that includes part of Roan Mountain. The origins of the gift are unclear—he doesn’t know who the previous owner was or why the land was passed to him. To uncover the truth, he dispatches his closest friends to Bakersville to dig into the land’s history.
Meanwhile, Stourton finds himself seated before a Senate Committee, facing questions about four former senators found mysteriously on the Capitol steps. The political storm intensifies. Some in the Senate want him silenced. Others want him to run for president.
And then there’s the Org—an enigmatic group that has made its intentions clear: they, too, want him to run. Their motives remain hidden, their influence undeniable.
But Stourton is already CEO of LSSL, a role that demands everything he has. Why would he willingly step into an even greater chaos? A looming disaster threatens to engulf everything. No one is safe.
So what will he choose? Will he accept the call to lead a nation? Or will he walk away from it all and retreat to the quiet refuge of Spruce Pine?
Would you like help developing this into a full chapter or outlining the next part of the story? It’s got the makings of a gripping mystery-thriller.
The Palace in Spruce Pine
June 30, 2020
BOOK 1
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It began like any other day in John Stourton’s quiet routine. He taught all his classes from home, so mornings followed a familiar rhythm: feed the dog and cat, brew a pot of coffee, and wait patiently for it to finish. Once ready, he’d settle into his recliner, sip his coffee, and catch the morning news. At precisely 8:00 AM, he’d head into his home office and begin teaching. Everything about this day felt ordinary.
As usual, when he spotted the mailman, John stepped outside to greet him. Jeff, the mailman, handed over a small stack of envelopes, exchanged pleasantries, and continued on his route. Coffee in hand, John strolled up the driveway, casually flipping through the mail. Just as he reached the garage, one envelope caught his eye—it looked aged, like something lost to time.
Setting the rest of the mail aside, he opened the mysterious letter. Within five minutes, disbelief washed over him. He examined the envelope again—the postage, the return address. It had been sent from Athens, Georgia, and the sender was none other than his longtime friend, Steven Drake.
John read the letter once more. As he did, he noticed two figures approaching. In the distance, black Chevy Suburbans rolled down the hill. In that instant, John knew: the letter was real.
Bio
My Imagination at Work
John David Sheuring – Author & Educator
John David Sheuring is a passionate author and cybersecurity educator whose writing blends imagination, personal experience, and a deep desire to inspire. His literary journey began with Forever Forward, a heartfelt memoir that took nine years to complete and marked a turning point in his life. Published in 2018, the book offered a cathartic release, allowing him to share his struggles and triumphs with readers.
In 2020, amid the global upheaval of COVID-19, John turned to fiction. He wrote The Palace in Spruce Pine, his first adventure novel, in just one month—a creative burst that reignited his love for storytelling. Since then, he has published several more works, including The Resort on Roan Mountain (2022), The Estate at Wake Forest (2023), and his debut science fiction novel, Futurist 2062: The Year of Phyllias.
Though life has kept him busy, John is now returning to the keyboard with renewed focus. In the coming year, he plans to complete two long-awaited projects: one exploring the field of cybersecurity—his professional passion—and another delving into mental health, aiming to foster greater understanding of mental disorders.
As a dedicated cybersecurity instructor, John brings real-world experience into the classroom, empowering students to transform their lives and meet the growing demands of the digital age. Whether through teaching or writing, his mission remains the same: to connect, educate, and inspire.