I Self-Published my Second Book - another adventure novel!

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sanctuary/id1457905402


     I wish to heartily acknowledge my friend, Gordon Fan, who advised me on the cover art.  A Taiwanese artist currently in his nation's Military Police, Gordon graduated from the NYU Tisch School of Art.  He studied Renaissance techniques in Florence, Italy, as well as Chinese calligraphy in the Taipei National Palace Museum.  He was the perfect artist to evoke the scenes in my novel.  I also wish to thank “Aunt” Shari Grenier in Canada (a published author and descendant of Diane de Poitiers), for proofing my plot continuity.  Gratitude goes to my dignified English friend, Alastair Macaulay (the New York Times chief dance critic), who thinks highly of authorship and heartened me to keep writing as a daily priority, regardless of a hectic schedule.  "Write that book!  Don't get discouraged.  It doesn't matter what others say.  Write it because you want to."  

This adventure story is available on Apple iBooks.  It is the next segment in the sequel from Two Chameleons.  

Below, is the book's Foreword.  

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     Ken is an impressive novelist, and this is his second creation.  It delighted me.  Once again, everything was put together so well!  The creative values were high, and the storyline was crisp and sharp, which was completely in line with its cosmopolitan vibe.  Readers got beautiful descriptions of places, events, and characters’ emotions.  Words were meaningfully placed, with a clever avidity for language.  I loved the referrals to music of that era; it created a soundtrack in the background and lent a touch of sophistication.  If you’re having a hard time with life’s struggles and want to feel a sense of solidarity, then you’ll cherish Sanctuary.

     We journey with an interracial duo, Gerard Pierce and Siu Kwan Jai, who invited two curious strangers to their elite home.  It was a place that readers only got hints of, in Ken’s previous story, Two Chameleons.  With an immensely fun and sizable cast of characters, the magnitude of the estate’s work came alive.  From key characters to minor ones, Ken applied a deft touch of realism… and superb names!  His all-inclusive style ensured that every vignette and detail was a contributing component woven into the plot.  It was realistic and polished—everyday yet elegant.  As a writer, Ken took pains to show each person’s context and backstory.  I enjoyed the mixture of ancient cultures, which were consistently eloquent and illuminating.  The logic contained therein regularly gave me “food for thought”, and I found myself taking a lesson or two.

     I always like Pierce: a nightclub owner, lawyer, and homosexual rights advocate.  His lovable retinue baffled and badgered him as their leader.  His brand of shrewd wisdom is unique, but makes sense.  His kindness is tinged with a hard-hitting kind of grit.  Pierce is tough when someone is being too weak, but when he judges that help is needed, he consistently goes above and beyond!  He took my breath away, as he came running through the street—after the car chase—looking fierce yet valiant at the same time!

     Jai came off as extra flirty, in the first chapter, but always had suave, charming, and extremely appealing élan.  There were several times that I literally swooned because of his love for Pierce.  On the flipside, I genuinely valued his astute observations and sharp logic.  Both men are worldly-wise and stand on their principles.  Choosing the harder road—in order to helpfully teach others—was a learning process for them, too.  

     Newcomer, Kirk Russell, picked himself up from the lowest loneliness and started a hard road towards a better tomorrow.  His wholistic experience at the Pierce Estate was thought-provoking.  Considering that it was the 1940s, he took an arduous journey, and I quickly got “on board” rooting for him.  When he went through particularly rough moments, my heart ached for him, and when he experienced victories—big and small—I felt like a proud godparent.  It was nice watching the unspoken trust and love form between him and his soulmate.  

     The estate’s mostly-gay occupants comprise an unofficial academy made up of natives, immigrants, and transplants.  By enrolling, they chose to challenge themselves, in order to learn… which is admirable.  Torsten is a “star pupil” from overseas, where his homeland was in a state of flux and uncertainty.  Not only does he want to do well for himself, he wants to assure Pierce and Jai that they are not wasting their time on him.  The staff members share gratitude, empathy, and appreciation.  In many ways, they stand poised against social norms; therefore, their home is a sanctuary.  Naturally, their chemistry creates “connections”.  Avoiding vulgarity, Ken was quite exciting with sensual desires and “encounters”.  

     It was fun to read about the core coterie again.  What a good boss Louis Lo turned out to be!  A talented chef and teacher.  I loved the camaraderie between him and his men.  Ken’s continuation of food-related expressions in the chef’s bi-lingual dialogue was amusing.  As always, Trevor Remington had “presence of mind” and “strength of heart”.  He’s a cool dude, and I can see why subordinates have a crush on him.  He managed the household and its “love triangles” with cunning.  In contrast, Clive maintained his Midwest humor and steadfast loyalty to his “chief”. His innocence, naïveté, and caring nature quickly came to the fore.  In this novel, secrets are revealed about how Pierce met Angelo, as well as how Jai created his first encounter with Pierce.  I admired how—for the second time in a row—the bellboy never speaks!

     Ken is an outstanding researcher.  Scattered throughout the story were trapdoors to great history.  Ken shone a light into those trapdoors and led the way for a beautiful journey.  In the background, I got a picture of postwar America—and certainly New York City—poised for downfall.  Unrelenting corruption promises to damage the bright future that so many soldiers and wartime workers aspired for.  It demonstrated the need for upstanding “global citizens” like Pierce’s crew.  The nationalities include Chinese, Danish, English, Brazilian, Indian, Native American, Hungarian, German, and Israeli.  The plot is full of interplaying ideas: religion, women’s rights, structure of governing, the exceptions of a privileged class, family loyalty, and realizing who your family really is.  If you want a meaty story with memorable moments, this is your book!  

- Lewis L.

Here is the link to find it on iTunes iBooks:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/sanctuary/id1457905402

*Here is the link to my first novel:

https://halfwindsorfullthrottle.blogspot.com/2017/10/i-published-my-first-book.html