WHY ALL THESE BOOKS?

Having no practical literary skills, nor any indentured interest in writing, Ian has found himself mired in the process of creating three books. How such a thing could happen is beyond anyone’s guess, and the fact that he has plundered endless hours into this project is miraculously ridiculous unto itself.

It all started years ago when Ian was becoming a bit burned out from the rigors of being a Computer Information Systems student at Humboldt State University in northern California. During a period in which he was researching computer programming internships, Ian -- as a joke -- submitted an application to dig trails for the Forest Service.

Months later he received an unexpected phone call from a biologist, who -- having laughed at the application he received -- offered Ian a Fisheries Technician job in one of the most remote regions of Alaska.

Ian -- having no fisheries skill, nor any outdoor skills, nor any inclination in Alaska in general -- jumped at the chance. In just two weeks from being offered the job he found himself standing awkwardly in a strange little Alaskan bush town far, far away from anything he’s ever known.

For the first three years Ian kept a daily journal of his experience living and working for the Forest Service. He wrote seven volumes, more than 700,000 words, complete with pictures and illustrations.

The journals were meant to be a personal memento, but after reading the entire set Ian was delightfully surprised by the strong narrative, the attention to detail, the sprightly humor, and -- with a robust exaggeration and twisting of the truth -- that an interesting story could be told; which sparked the idea to turn the journals into an arcing, three act novel set.

It has been six years since Ian started his journals. The first book, as a result, is nearly finished. The second two are in the introductory processes. Ian realistically expects the set to be finished within the next three years -- 2008 -- providing he spends an average of 10 hours per week writing.