I am a retired theatrical set designer. After an enduring career with international and national credits, I am now a painter and author living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My novel THE LAST DAYS OF THE BARBARY COAST is the first novel I have actively sought to publish, but I have results. A NYC publishing firm has offered me a contract. At the moment I continue to paint and am nearly concluded with the sequel to the first book, this to be called THE QUEEN OF THE MISSION. I am a gay man, fond of film noir and 40's - 50's detective novels. While I am writing what would be termed "thrillers" I foster other interest in a different look at the LGBTQ+ community of San Francisco presented in the format of those films and novels. As exciting as the action is, I insist that it grow from a presentation of the persons and events in that community presented in a style of those classic stories -- even though the existence of the community would have been anathema to their writing.