“As you wish”

In the closing scene of The Princess Bride, Wesley asks swordsman Inigo Montoya about his plans, having avenged the death of his father. "You know,” Montoya responds, “it's very strange -- I have been in the revenge business so long, now that it's over, I don't know what to do with the rest of my life."

I know how he felt – not about revenge, but about achieving a long sought, all consuming singular goal.

Five years ago, I set out to become a writer, although I didn’t know it at the time. I was unemployed, recently married, and struggling with the dormant torment of my United States Marine Corps service in Vietnam. My writing career began with the transcription of the 102 letters home written during my two year enlistment. Somewhere along the way, the letters began to morph into a book and I dared to dream that I could be a writer.

Slowly, I became consumed – some might say possessed – by the book and the process. Six months later, I got a job. During lunch and after work, I worked on the book and thrived in the writing process. After a year, I lost the job.

I continued to write, research, and network the book while looking for another job. It had now become a product that I wanted published, both for my own validation and that of my fallen brothers in arms.

Two years later, I got another job. During lunch and after work, I worked on the book and thrived in the writing process. After a year, I lost the job. A month later, my marriage ended. She said "I never want to hear the word 'Vietnam" again."

Oh well.

Broke and now homeless, I accepted the generous invitation of Nancy and Terry Tillery to live over their garage in North Carolina. The completion of the book was near and, as throughout the process, I was filled with hope. My family, friends, and Marine Corps brothers believed in me without condition. They provided the enormous positive strength that I required to complete the book.

Over time I had acquired the services of a brilliant editor and a top New York literary agent. Three months ago, with the book completed to the satisfaction of my editor and me, I hand delivered the finished product to my agent. Last week, thanks to her efforts, we received word that Random House will publish the book in May, 2009. It will be positioned as “a good beach read.”

The story will be told.

Now what?

I am sitting in a cubicle on the ninth floor of the new Hong Kong Central Library, listening to Bonny Raitt, and looking out at the full expanse of the magnificent waterfront and skyline. I will be visiting with my daughter and her family for two more weeks before returning home to a wonderfully uncertain future.

Another book? A writing or teaching position? A carpenter’s assistant?

I have never been happier.

Amid the ferries, container ships, and mammoth cruise liners that I can see plying the harbor below, an ancient Chinese Junk with two red masts is slowly working it’s way northward with the wind. It is an incredibly incongruous site. It ignites my fertile daydreaming mind to a career idea that makes me smile – laugh.

“Have you ever considered piracy?" Wesley responded to Inigo in the closing scene of The Princess Bride. "You'd make a wonderful Dread Pirate Roberts.”

A pirate?

Of course.

Thank you for visiting.

Jack