My Hawaiian Penthouse

In this engaging comic novel, Mark A. Thompson spins a cautionary tale about the perils of too much drama, drink, and deceit. Filled with backstabbing, greed, and self-abasement, My Hawaiian Penthouse tells the story of a would-be actor and an elderly millionaire—and their friendship (with privileges).

Growing up in small-town Michigan, Teddy Sears takes his cues from the movies. Taught by his favorite stars (Bette Davis! Barbara Stanwyck! Elizabeth Taylor!), Teddy dreams big: big house, big fame—and a trust fund for life. So with college degree in hand, Teddy heads to Manhattan—only to land in a church production of Godspell. All is not lost, however, for there in the audience sits old-moneyed, blue-blooded, eighty-year-old Harold Armstrong. Before the night’s over, Teddy’s got himself a patron—one who’s worth a million dollars for every year he’s lived on the planet.

Together, Teddy and Harold travel to Hawaii where Teddy convinces Harold to buy a penthouse. Miraculously, at last, Teddy’s future appears secure—that is, until David Findlay arrives. Too pretty and too rich, David Findlay is everything Teddy wants to be—but isn’t. Is David Findlay too good to be true? Can David be trusted alone with Harold? Poor Teddy has his hands full as he works to throw Harold a birthday party and keep David out of Harold’s will.