A little over fourteen years ago my first novel, A Model Community, was published.  At that time I was living in LA and had written several screenplays, but had I failed to get them noticed by anyone in Hollywood.  I was certain my novel would be my ticket to success, the thing to launch my career as a professional writer.

It didn’t quite work out that way.

While to this day I remain very proud of A Model Community, it went nowhere in terms of sales.  If you go to the Amazon page, it’s ranked 233,312 in all books.  While I still do get the occasional royalty check, it never even paid for one month of rent.  Like the fate of all the screenplays I had written, mostly everyone ignored it.

Instead of starting my career as a professional writer, A Model Community almost ended it.  Not too long after its publication I began working in hotels and in the profession of human resources.  Unlike writing, this new accidental career was very good to me.  I am grateful that I have had so much success in the hospitality field, but even more thankful for all the wonderful people I have met.  I wouldn’t go back and change a thing.

But I still can’t let go of my dream of being a professional writer.

I have also never stopped writing.  Since the publication of A Model Community in 2003, I’ve written one script, several short stories, one play, one more novel, and am currently working on a third book of fiction.  My job as an HR Director takes up most of my time, but I’m able to find hours at night and over the weekend to write.

I finished the first draft of my second novel, Lost in the Fog, in 2008.  Over the next five years I rewrote the thing over a dozen times, and finally declared it the best it could possibly be.  And what did I do after all that hard work?

I printed it and shoved the manuscript in my desk.

It doesn’t take a $300 an hour psychiatrist to figure out why I didn’t try to do anything with Lost in the Fog.  All of my efforts in LA to find success with my scripts and my book ended in failure.  While I absolutely loved (and continue to love) the process of writing, the mass rejection of my work had taken a huge toll.  Working on a project brought me so much happiness, but trying to sell it to agents/producers/publishers was just pure misery.

So here we are in 2017, and I have decided to do something with Lost in the Fog.  A few days ago I listed it on Inkshares, a great company that helps writers reach their dream.  If you’re able to get a minimum of 250 pre-orders of your book, they’ll edit and publish it.  If your book gets 750 pre-orders, they’ll give it the full marketing and promotion treatment as well.  Important to note that writers cannot fund their own book, so I’m not able to help my own cause.

Whoever is reading this blog post now, I would sincerely appreciate your support in pre-ordering a copy of Lost in the Fog.  I’m very proud of this book, and I’m certain you’re going to think my comedic mystery set in San Francisco is a great read.  It’s for those who enjoy classic crime & mystery capers but with a modern twist. In movie terms, I like to think of it as The Big Lebowski meets The Thomas Crown Affair.

I thank everyone in advance of their support!  You can pre-order a copy of it here!  Mahalo!