Born in Canada and now living in California, Neil has completed three books and is presently working on several more. He has also written a children's book, The Great Monarch Butterfly Chase, published by Simon and Schuster.
He has written inspirational articles for national magazines.
As a photographer, Neil has travelled the world with his Yorkshire terrier, Zuzu, and his Chinese Crested, Jolie, to photograph images that evoke positive feelings and offer a unique perspective of people, places, and things. He owned his own gallery in Carmel, California, displaying the best of his images. These days he works with small point-and-shoot cameras to large-format film cameras.
The Palo Alto Diaries is a compelling tale of one woman's journey through trauma, heartache, and love. Because the adventure is so remarkable - start to finish - I am often asked: how much is real; how much is embellished?
For Irene, many significant events unfolded between 1972 and 1981; many more than can be detailed in this narrative. But despite the turmoil and confusion of the time, one thread quickly emerges; it's an American love story that ranks among the greatest. Now one couple - Irene and David - can truly define what a great love can be.
As the transcriber of Irene's recollections, I've tried to focus on story over details. And that leads me to a few customary disclaimers. These are: dialog is my interpretation of Irene's recounting of specific events; some names have been changed to assure privacy; some dates may be shifted for narrative clarity. But overall, with an adventure like Irene's, there is no need for embellishment or exaggeration; the truth is remarkable enough.
How true is the story of The Palo Alto Diaries?
America's Greatest Love Story?
Can The Palo Alto Diaries live up to that assertion? Arguably, yes. Ultimately, that's for readers to judge. But there's more to consider than the dramatic story of one woman in California. As I wrote the books about Irene, I wondered; what with over seven billion people on our planet, why are there so few true romance stories being written? Most everyone has an anecdote about love, right? Why is it we rarely read about them?
True, most of us don't have a Cinderella or 50 Shades of Grey story, but whether it's a paragraph or manuscript length, you likely have (or will have) something to share. Personally, I believe that the world could benefit from more accounts of how love has shaped our lives.
So here's my challenge - whether or not you've read The Palo Alto Diaries - write your own narrative that tells how you, or the people you know, have been affected by romance. Don't be concerned about being published. Don't worry about perfect grammar. Simply write it for yourself - or for your family and friends. Why bother? Well, writing about events - both simple and significant - can help put things in perspective. There are always lessons to be learned - like the ones I list below - and learning about yourself or others is usually a good thing; it allows us to grow personally. Although it's likely that many of you are aware of these truisms, keep them in mind as you chronicle your life's turning points.
- Happy endings are hit or miss.
- Both choice and chance guide us.
- Drama often plays a big part of our lives.
- Life is never a straight line.
- Emotions often rule over logic.
- Chaos and everyday life make for a compelling tale.
- Memories mean everything.
If you've already read The Palo Alto Diaries, I hope that you've found that memories - intentionally made or not - become the building blocks of our life stories. Without remembering our past - or learning from it - the future remains a capricious mystery. Of course, if you haven't read Irene's books, please do so. Take from it what you can and then write your own story. Enjoy.
