The Millwright’s Son

Book excerpt: It is 1990, Seattle is booming and the AIDS epidemic rages. Avery Willard, a divorced commercial real estate broker at the peak of his career keeps his awareness of others, and himself, locked down. When the consequences of his adolescent behavior snap the lock he is forced to confront his contradictions and awakening consciousness. This fast moving yet character driven novel centers on relationships among men: personal, professional, and most poignantly, between four generations of fathers and sons. It is also about men and women, power and sex, and money. As Avery struggles with his demons the mood is dark, but humor and insight never fail to illuminate this story about men’s humanity, and the empathy and compassion they cloak from others, and themselves.