How The Universe Came To Be...
It only took 1 year, 4 months, and 24 days.
My Debut novel, The Universe, will be released June 10, 2025. Paperback, E-Book, and Audiobook. There’s a sample of the audiobook near the end of this post. Have a listen to the extraordinary talent doing the narration! After you read of course… No dessert before dinner.
The original idea, which popped into my head in a parking structure in Burbank was, “What if the Universe is run out of an office in Queens?”
I think it was December 16, 2023. I sat down, having decided to begin the actual writing of the actual book, which is now The Universe, and with a surprising amount of glee, wrote five pages.
Soon after, me, my kids, and their cousin took a trip New York (between Christmas and New Year's) and during that time, I finished a 90 page 1st draft. Only a first draft in the sense that I had gotten to the end of the story that I originally imagined. This being my first crack at writing a novel, I was delighted that I had “finished.”
After some encouraging but sobering feedback, I went back to work. Expanding what was there, adding a whole other timeline and learning some fascinating stories and facts during my research. Eventually, in September 2024, I figured out what is essentially the shape of the book as it exists now.
I had a vision for certain elements of the book which included some pen and ink sketches. Simple, elegant, and completely out of my wheelhouse.
I reached out to a friend Jamila Koch, a genius artist who I had worked with on an animation project. I hired her to do about 15 drawings which I wanted to appear in particular places in the book. We met, talked creative ideas, made a deal, and she went to work. The work blew me away. Her skill and patience with my requests are both extraordinary. She delivered pretty much exactly what I envisioned except infinitely better.
I started working on a cover, did a sketch myself, and built an early version of what you will see on the cover of the book with the help of my brilliant partner, Katherine.
I asked an old friend of mine, who is the Pablo Picasso of motion graphics, to help with a particular graphic on the inside of the book, the “Cone Diagram.”
I’m grateful for such talented friends.
The writing continued, with small and large adjustments.
Having worked in film for a few decades, I understand that there is always something that can make it better. Nonetheless, I started thinking about what’s next. I began submitting to agents, wondering if I could get someone to represent me and the book. After a handful of rejections and non-responses (I don’t fault anyone for this; the sheer volume of material to choose from is overwhelming), I explored an alternate path and decided to submit directly to publishers.
I submitted to several independent publishers and one of them wrote back, enthusiastically saying, "this is exactly the kind of thing we're looking for!"
I appreciate a small publishing house and a small business person who are trying to get something done. In fact, that is precisely what I am trying to do with writing. After a little back-and-forth, we came to terms and worked for a few months refining the manuscript, placing the artwork, and preparing for release.
Where there’s a book, there ought to be an audiobook. In late January 2025, I flew to New York to record the audiobook with Tony Shalhoub. We worked for 3 1/2 days. He had just recovered from pneumonia and with the help of lozenges, tea, and frequent breaks, got through the entire 45,000 words.
In the last couple of weeks, my 30 years plus of film and television editing experience has come in handy. I edited the audiobook recording into the shape of the book, and sometimes the book into the shape of the recording.
On February 17, 2025, I finished the final edit pass on the audiobook. Just under five and a half hours. If you do listen to the book, you’ll notice that I, myself voiced the acknowledgments. I thought it appropriate that I do that part myself, I have some people I personally want to thank.
On June 10, 2025, The Universe will be released into the wild. I think as a personal creative endeavor, I am the more proud of this of any of the other things I've done over the last 3 1/2 decades.
It is exactly what I wanted it to be, and exactly what I hoped it would be.
I invite you to get yourself a copy. It will be available in PAPERBACK, E-BOOK, & AUDIOBOOK. All available for pre-order soon!
Check out a sample from the AUDIOBOOK!
I’d like to ask you to kindly share this with your friends, forward the email, cheer from the rafters of your social media - All of it!
Subscribers to my SUBSTACK will get all the updates!
This is a labor of love for me and I can't wait for you to read it.
I'm so excited for you! The sample sounds great. (Love the photo of the kiddos).
Congratulations! I can’t wait to read it! Where do you suggest we purchase?