I've lived many different lives . Traveled Inner and outer worlds; sky, earth and beneathe the sea - I go wherever my curiosity takes me. From the micro (electron microscopy) to the macro (flying), I explore new territory. "Discover" is one of my favorite words. For years I lived in the air, flying hot-air balloons, airplanes, seaplanes, helicopters. Then I came down to earth and slowed down, hiking and bicycling. I've held a variety of jobs. Flaky? Nah - just always ready to move on to the next thing. I love my life and the people in it. Now that I'm retired I am bringing to life a long-held desire to write . 
Words to live by
"Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart" - Confucius
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. Security...does not exist in nature." - Helen Keller
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined." - H. D. Thoreau
contents:
There are two Pacific Crest Trail journals: 2008 and 2009.
When I was working for the aerospace company, I had very little time to myself. To fix that, I decided to take a week off and bicycle around the top of Lake Michigan. I loaded up my bicycle with a tent and sleeping bag and pedaled from my front door to the ferry in Muskegon. I crossed Lake Michigan on the ferry and then rode up the shoreline of Wisconsin, through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and back home. All told, 760 miles.
Now that I am retired, I am going to use the same bicycle to go coast to coast, starting in San Francisco and ending in Virginia in 2010. More details later!
I am keeping my bicycle blog here,
Writing a Book
When I started hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, I had no intention of writing a book about it. I intended to hike my hike, return home and start writing - a screenplay based on a true story about an ill-fated Arctic exploration. I had other writing projects in mind, too: an adaptation of one of my favorite books for a TV movie, a book of short stories, a couple of biographies.
I kept an online journal while I hiked and thought that would be enough. But when I finished, I realized that the journal did not tell the story. My writing in the journal stayed on the surface and recounted the day to day events. A different story happened on that trek, one that I want to tell. So I started writing about my journey, from the heart.
After a year of writing, revising, writing more, deleting, writing more, I knew I needed help with this. I contacted an old friend, a man I'd given some flying instruction to sixteen years ago. He writes for a living. In one long telephone call, several emails and a couple of days together meeting face to face, I got years worth of writing instruction. Just as on the trail, the process transformed the way I write, think about writing and hope to write.
All the research I've done about selling a book indicates that 99% of what is submitted is rejected. That's OK. When I get ready to submit my work to an agent, it will be my best effort. Then, if I am turned down, it will be because of factors I couldn't control, not because I hadn't done my best.
It's a business. If an agent and publisher think my book will sell, then I will have a shot. If they don't think they can make money on it, it will sit on my hard drive waiting for another time and I'll start writing the next thing. That's my plan.
SELLING A BOOK
Once I get the book written, I will share with you the process of selling it. Just as I brought readers with me on a journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, I will bring you along on the journey of selling a book. But first, I've got to get the thing finished! Right now I am working on a query letter and book proposal as well as the manuscript.
