There are many reason why Western men turn to Eastern religion—searching for inner truth, lost love, loneliness, fleeing the law, hopelessness, alcoholism. Some travel halfway around the world in an attempt to overcome their particular dissoluteness, only to realize that improving yourself is like polishing air. What they eventually discover, nevertheless, is one of the Buddha’s most significant lessons: enlightenment comes to those whose singular focus is on helping others less fortunate.

Six stories, six gay men trudging down the road to enlightenment. What they each find is the last thing in the world they expected.

BIO:
Alan Chin writes unique, gay-themed stories about the human heart at war with itself. Alan graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master’s Degree in creative writing. Since publishing his first novel in 2008, Alan has published a total of five novels, with two more working their way to print.

Alan’s first novel, Island Song (2008), won QBliss Magazine’s 2009 Excellence in Gay Literature Award. His second novel, The Lonely War (2009), swept the 2010 Rainbow Literature Awards, taking first place in four categories: Best Fiction, Best Historical, Best Setting, and Best Characters. Alan’s third novel, Match Maker, took first place in the 2011 Rainbow Literature Awards for Best Contemporary Fiction. Alan has published two other novels: Butterfly’s Child (2010) and Simple Treasures (2011), and has also authored three original screenplays: Flying Solo, Daddy’s Money and Simple Treasures. Alan retired from corporate America in 1999 to become a full-time writer and part-time world traveler. He and his husband of eighteen years currently travel the globe half the year, and call the deserts of Southern California their home.