Beyond The First Glance
Second Edition
One controversy sent him running. One encounter could bring him back… whole.
A viral controversy ends his career overnight. A nationally known podcaster, Jordan escapes to a quiet island, desperate to leave the noise of Washington, D.C. behind.
He expects solitude. Instead, he meets Mia, a smart and perceptive pharmacist who truly sees him. Their connection is instant, intimate, disarming, and more real than anything he’s felt in years.
But when Mia reveals a part of herself that Jordan didn’t anticipate, he pulls away. Still, no matter how hard he tries, his attraction remains strong. The emotions are too complex, too confronting. Hoping to understand his confusion, he turns to therapy in search of answers… and perhaps permission he never actually needed from anyone else.
In those sessions, Jordan must choose: break down the walls he’s built around himself or miss the connection he never thought was possible.
About the author
August Tesfa
I’m August Tesfa (my pen name), an author exploring stories that inspire and transform.
My writing allows me to reflect on the intricacies of ideas and how they shape our individual lives and the course of history. I love to explore the depth of human relationships, how we engage with the world and our place in the universe.
One reason I love fiction is how it enables us to imagine what’s possible as we navigate our world. It shows us what’s possible in love, in career, in exploration, in science. It fuels our soul and reignites passions we may have lost along the way, as we grow into who we envisioned for ourselves when we were full of optimism.
Stay a while. Explore my work, follow my journey, and let’s share stories that resonate—stories that keep the fire burning in our souls.
Why do I use a pen name, you ask?
When I write a book with romance as a primary theme, I publish it under my pen name. I’m currently working on a novel that I plan to release under my real name, since the primary theme isn’t romance.
In all my work, story comes first, but I don’t shy away from challenging the irrational dominant ideas in our culture, economics, or politics, as they stand in the way of individual happiness and a flourishing life. I do this, to the best of my ability, anchored in reason and clarity.
My first self-published novella challenges the traditional and moral assumption of love and sex as its primary theme. The subplot grapples with our view of free speech in the culture. I hope you enjoy the story. Either way, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Augusttesfa@gmail.com
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August Tesfa 