Dissenting Opinion

Book Description

When Supreme Court Justice Margaret Egley dies unexpectedly, the nation braces for a historic legal battle. Enter Judge Jason Simpson, a brilliant and enigmatic nominee who finds himself at the center of a political storm. Thrust into the highest court in the land, Jason is expected to toe the conservative line. But he has secrets of his own—and a vision for justice that defies expectations. As the Court’s decisions reshape the country, Jason becomes the lone voice of dissent, taking on a system that was never meant to be challenged. With his career, reputation, and personal life under relentless scrutiny, how far is he willing to go for the truth?

Stephen Byrd

Stephen Byrd worked as an EMT and Paramedic before becoming a novelist with works like Silverwood Manor, When Crazy Loves You, and Inner Demons. He continues to write, launching a new detective series featuring the character Grant Bell. Background and Early Career: Stephen Carl Byrd was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The oldest of three siblings, he developed a love for reading early on. He attended South Lawrence Elementary School, where he frequently read books from the library that were well above his age level. He grew up in the rural Iron City/Saint Joseph area, and his favorite book series was The Hardy Boys. Initially thinking of a nursing career, he went to work at a local nursing home before pursuing a career in emergency medicine. He attended EMT and Paramedic training at Columbia State Community College and Northwest Shoals Community College. He worked as an EMT for twelve years before finishing his paramedic training and has since obtained Critical Care transport certification. Byrd remains single and has no children. Writing: In 2021, Byrd began working on his first novel, Silverwood Manor. Fascinated by the movie adaptation of Stephen King's Rose Red, he loved the idea of a story featuring a haunted house. Wanting to experiment with different genres, he next released When Crazy Loves You, loosely basing the antagonist of the story on a woman his best friend dated. His most popular book to date, Inner Demons is a tale of a fictional paramedic struggling with mental health issues. Byrd drew from his own experiences as a paramedic in creating the story. In 2025, he released Blood Eagle, the first in a series of stories set to feature the fictional detective character Grant Bell and his sassy sidekick, JJ.