West of 16W

A quarter-life crisis as told through the scrolling tableau of the American landscape

Based on his own quarter-life crisis and subsequent cross-country journey, WEST OF 16W explores the societal fears and pressures that threaten to drown the seedling aspirations of today's 20-somethings striving for more than instant material wealth. Meet Mark, the son of immigrants, whose need to fulfill familial expectations led to a life of hard study culminating in a Ph.D. by his mid-20's. Yet underneath the disciplined scientist facade, Mark had always dreamed of traveling the country and writing great novels. And so, with diploma in hand and love life in shambles, Mark hits the road to explore his long-suppressed literary aspirations. Set amongst the uncertainty of post-9/11 America, WEST OF 16W takes us into the quarter-life crisis of a young man as told through the scrolling tableau of the American landscape. From the deep south of Charleston, to his North Jersey hometown, to the west coast by bus, the novel is as much an introspective journey as cross-country adventure as Mark seeks balance between familial expectations, personal aspirations, and the affection of the woman he loves.