is a griping non-stop thriller. The siege of Washington D.C. has begun and the body tolls are rising. Two men want the profits and only one man can win. The stakes are high with the lives of thousands of people trapped inside the city on the line. Inside the battle zone lay our U.S. Constitution, our memorials to our war dead and Presidents, the epicenter of our military power, the central core of our government, and the hallmarks of our rich American history. Our American rights are being suppressed, our right to bear arms useless to defend against this predator. Maple Leaf had changed the concepts of war and how to fight the enemy. We face the enemy from within as one American accepting payment to release the serum stalks the city. The American spirit alive inside the city is facing certain death. Armed troops have surrounded and taken over the city. Life is about to change. Even our allies question the American government's ability to manage the situation. U.N. Peacekeeping forces and Great Britain are posing to attack. The Maple Leaf weapon must be destroyed at any price. Nathan Shepherd is a native of Wisconsin. He was raised in the Town of Genesee, Wisconsin area, he currently lives in the metro Milwaukee area. Nathan did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville. Many of his professors were a constant source of inspiration. He married his first and only sweetheart, Sarah. Step 339 is Nathan's first major novel, having previously written only short story essays. His wife, Sarah, is an accomplished writer and accountant. The adorable character, General Max Gray featured in Step 339, is based on their beloved dog who is conniving in his thefts of socks laying around the house. The idea for a biological agent came from Max's unusual spring allergies. Nathan currently teaches Martial Arts in his spare time. Among his other interests he enjoys tinkering with his sixties era car and simple life in Wisconsin. An avid movie fan, Nathan enjoys complex and cliffhanging fictional