I begged my wife for a year. Got her to agree. We took the kids out of private school. I went at things with the same determination and single-mindedness I had shown in business — vacuuming in whatever knowledge I could, applying it to whatever skill I brought — monitoring, auditing, improving, until I had this heavy draft that shone to me like a diamond, that was going to make the publishing world stand up and welcome me in.

It didn’t.

It never sold. Got close. Found a fancy agent, raised a few brows. What it did do, though, was miraculously find its way into the hands of a top-selling author looking to partner up with someone to get out a few more ideas. That first breakfast with Jim Patterson changed my writing life. We did a book. It went to #1, his first. We did five more. They all went there too. Over, seven years it became probably the best co-writing gig in the business. And what I learned from Jim was invaluable-- like a combination MFA-MBA.

Seeing my name at the top of the lists, boarding planes and counting my books as I passed the rows, it was that same triumphant feeling all over again.

So here I am in Baltimore again. This time I have two novels of my own, The Blue Zone and The Dark Tide. Both made the N.Y. Times list. Maybe not #1, but climbing. I’ve been writing crime thrillers for twelve years. I’m struck by the amazing way life has come full circle—diverse, rewarding, fulfilling in ways I never imagined. And also by how it’s changed. No one here would ever even recall I once had something to do with the HEAD company. Once I traveled relentlessly; now, I rarely leave the house. Once I was so obsessed I yelled at a Miami sales rep for not being out on the road in Hurricane Andrew. Now I talk about seeing your kids grow up, finding balance, advising burnt out business people on how to reinvent their careers.

Once I stayed awake at night plotting growth strategies. Now, I’m still awake, just plotting.