A heartwarming story of a relentlessly determined young girl between the ages of 16-20. The horse-themed follow-up to the hit romantic comedy 12 Miles to Paradise, currently being adapted into screenplay by Douglas Eboch, writer of Sweet Home Alabama for Disney and Reese Witherspoon.

Tuki is a New Zealander, an ultra-internalized young woman who wants little more from life but a chance to be happy. This is her story between the ages of 16-20 and the decisions she’s forced to make.

This story takes place seven years after 12 Miles to Paradise.

Rather than write a sequel, I wanted to write a new story with a new set of characters. I also wanted a different kind of story, not another romantic comedy. While the book has a lot of funny scenes thanks to its ultra-quirky multicultural assemblage of oddballs, I wanted this to be a heartwarming story that championed a message: success is possible for all, if you are willing to work hard (and together) to achieve it. But once success arrives, careful what you wish for. Sometimes it’s not all you imagined it would be. Then what?

This story has fabulous characters. I like the horse business and wanted to use the industry as a maypole to logically bring these diverse characters together. The horse biz has everything a writer needs: good guys, bad guys, grifters, shysters, great and noble devotees, fast talkers, slow walkers, rich and poor; you name it, there’s one of all kinds at every track and barn in the country.

The story begins in New Zealand and shifts to Los Angeles. From there it works its way to Kentucky.

Not long after the book’s release I got a nice compliment from a reader. He wrote, “I’ve seen all these people in the business at one time or another, but never altogether. Congratulations to you for pulling that off.”

That’s what this story does; it pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. And I like doing that, stretching the reader’s imagination and trusting their minds to do the rest.

Tuki’s foil is a skinny African-American from Cincinnati named Deacon Truth. Deacon is a relentless optimist, a chatty motormouth. By force of personality, he is determined to will himself to a great life. I modeled Deacon after Muhammad Ali’s upbringing, mixed with Chris Tucker’s performance in the Jack Chan “Rush Hour” movies. Tuki is relentlessly determined but quiet; she doesn’t say two words all day. Deacon is a relentless optimist who says two million before lunch.

Together, Tuki and Deacon defy very long odds to achieve great success; both are from humble, hardscrabble upbringings. But when that success suddenly arrives, it isn’t what each expects. Both face difficult decision on how to deal with it.

Tuki Banjo, Superstar has been optioned for movie development and I’d love to see it made. This is an inspiring, heartwarming story with a great cast of meaty characters and a terrific multi-layered storyline. Plus it’s got a happy ending.

One of my favorite fan letters said, “You made me cry with sadness, laugh from joy, and cry from happiness. Few books ever have.”

Wow! Cha-ching, as my pal Steve Cauthen likes to say. If a story can do all that, it must be resonating. That’s what I wanted, to pull you into Tuki’s world. You’ll never want to leave.