Alan Wolford

As an author, screenwriter and adventurer, I’ve taken a few walks on the wild side and learned that truth is definitely stranger than fiction. A bit of my own personality and experiences goes into almost every character and scene I create. Regardless of which crazy, harebrained adventure that I’ve embarked upon, I'm blessed to have survived so many dangerous experiences, including sailing many of the world’s oceans as a private charter yacht captain, often running aground and unavoidably sailing off course through typhoons and hurricanes in French Polynesia and the Bahamas.

Along the way I’ve been bitten by sharks and moray eels and attacked by poisonous box jellyfish in pursuit of game fish. In the 70-foot underwater landscape of the Great Barrier Reef I narrowly escaped an aggressive six-foot octopus that had its powerful tentacles wrapped around my head, and we both parted ways undamaged. Swimming with dolphins in Bora Bora was a joyful experience though being chased by black bears in the search for wild ginseng was a bit more traumatic. And on top of all of these and many other dramatic encounters with nature I managed to avoid being eaten by the friendly natives of Raiatea and Tikehau in exotic French Polynesia. The unavoidable paradox: the more dangerous the adventure, the more alive it made me feel.

Sailing gliders over the Monterey peninsula and sky diving from 13,000 feet proved to be life-changing events, and the indescribable beauty and splendor of diving among the most incredibly fish-diverse islands and reefs of the South Pacific, Mediterranean, Atlantic and Caribbean helped me understand the importance of being good custodians of our planet and supporting worthy environmental causes. I believe in sharing one’s good fortune with charitable causes, and a portion of book sales are donated to worthy charities.

Twenty years on Wall Street gave me a deep appreciation for the importance of encouraging the growth of global free enterprise and democracy. On my odyssey, I’ve collected everything from one-of-a-kind artworks and exotic seashells to rare armagnacs, black pearls, one-eyed cats, broken bones, broken hearts, and many dear friends.

I’ve also come to believe that all saints have a past, and all sinners have a future, so no matter what misfortune may come your way, never forsake your dreams. In writing entertaining and thought-provoking novels, I hope I can bring to you many smiles and much inspiration along your own life’s journey. Thanks for visiting my website, and God bless.

~AW