What’s funny is, while I’ve been actively working on this book for the past year+, the idea itself has been sitting in the back of my mind for years. One of those stories that just wouldn’t leave. It kept showing up, poking at me, saying, “You’re not done with this yet.”

Turns out, it was right.

This is a different kind of book for me. Not in style or scope, but in what it’s trying to say. It’s a story about fame, sure. Hollywood, money, power, all the things that look great from the outside.

But more than that, it’s about what happens underneath all of it.

About what it costs to hold that kind of life together.

About what happens when it starts to slip.

Here’s the version you’d get if I had about 30 seconds to explain it to you at a party before someone interrupts us:

Manheim Matejcek is Hollywood’s Golden Boy.

The face of two blockbuster franchises. The star of a dozen action hits. Married to a pop sensation. The man behind Malibu’s most legendary parties.

From the outside, his life is the dream.

Until he learns the truth.

He’s broke.

What looks like an empire is actually a house of cards, and it’s starting to fall.

Enter Alister Wolfhart, his cousin from Minnesota. Practical. Grounded. The kind of guy who solves problems in the real world, not in front of cameras. He’s brought in to untangle the financial mess left behind by Manheim’s late manager.

But as Alister digs in, it becomes clear this isn’t just about money.

Something deeper is wrong.

And the closer he gets to the truth, the more dangerous it becomes.

Because in Hollywood, image is everything…

And some things are worth killing to protect it.

That’s the story.

Or at least, that’s the version I can tell you without ruining the fun.

Now, one quick thing for launch week, because I want as many of you as possible to jump in right away:

The eBook will be $0.99 on release day.

Not because I think that’s what it’s worth, but because I want it to be an easy yes. If you’ve been following along, if you’ve been reading these newsletters, if you’ve ever thought, “Yeah, I’ll check out one of his books at some point…” this is that point.

No pressure. No hard sell. Just an open door.

Over the next couple weeks, I’ll share a little more about the world, the characters, and what inspired it. But for now, I just wanted to let you know:

It’s coming.

April 21st.

And I think you’re going to enjoy the ride.

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page