In 2019, I worked on an independent film called The One Eyed Dog. It was a passion project—zero budget, no formal script, just an idea, some hand-drawn storyboards, and a handful of people determined to make something out of nothing. The film didn’t take off; it made the festival rounds but never won any awards. Still, the experience was invaluable. I learned a lot about cinematography, storytelling, and the sheer grit it takes to bring a vision to life.

Sundays on set often turned into writing sessions where we brainstormed new film ideas, trading scripts and concepts over coffee and exhaustion. One of those ideas was Welcome To Tucson—a concept that started as a potential hour-long series we thought we could shoot ourselves. The director and I had differing views on the premise, so we each wrote our own versions. I completed a series bible and several scripts, shaping the world I envisioned.

Then, life threw me into uncharted territory. In 2020, my fiancé passed away, and grief took hold. I left behind the film world and moved back to Iowa to be with my family. Even in my darkest moments, writing became my outlet. I kept working on Welcome To Tucson, reworking ideas, expanding its scope, letting it evolve into something greater than its original form.

Fast forward to September 2024—I made a decision. Instead of a series, Welcome To Tucson would be a novel. The story, the characters, and the world had grown beyond episodic storytelling. It needed depth, layers, and the space to breathe that only a novel could provide. Now, I have the complete outline finished and the manuscript in progress. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s coming together.

So, what is Welcome To Tucson?

It’s a story that blends mystery, humor, and the supernatural, set against the backdrop of a town where the bizarre is just part of daily life. Think Twin Peaks meets The X-Files, with a splash of noir and a protagonist who isn’t quite sure what they’ve gotten themselves into.

This book is years in the making—built on the foundation of creativity, loss, and resilience. I can’t wait to share it with you.

Stay tuned. Welcome To Tucson is coming.