This project has been a bit of a detour for me. As you know, I usually live in the worlds of sci-fi, monsters, and crazy speculative adventures. But this time, I stepped into the glitzy, neon-lit world of casinos and card-counting teams. And let me tell you—it’s been a blast. Writing about clever, messy humans trying to beat the house has given me a fresh perspective on story tension, strategy, and risk. Plus, it sparked a few ideas for other non-sci-fi stories that I can’t wait to share with you down the road.

What’s fun for me—and hopefully for you—is exploring a world that many people dream about but few experience: being part of a high-pressure team where every hand matters and the odds are never in your favor…unless you’re smart, disciplined, and maybe a little lucky. It’s adrenaline, strategy, and human drama rolled into one, and it gave me a chance to flex a different creative muscle.

Keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks for more updates on the release date and some insider glimpses at the book itself. I promise, it’ll be worth the wait. In the meantime, consider this a small taste of what’s coming: tension at the table, clever plays, and the kind of excitement that keeps you on the edge of your seat—without you risking a dime of your own money.

Thanks for following along on this journey. I can’t wait to share High Stakes with you soon.

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page