Notes From an Aging Insomniac: Reflections on family, friendship, love, and loss from the safe harbor of Key West

Making out with Jesus. A hurricane named Wilma. And a Great Dane to show him the way. With soul-searching introspection, James Grattan spares no one — including himself — as he examines the events and relationships that have shaped his life and led him to the magical island of Key West. From the physical and emotional refuge of Florida’s remote “end of the road,” Grattan shines a light into the darkness of 1970s family life, debilitating loss, and the recurring sadness that have left him almost broken. Along the way, he honors the beacons of loyalty, laughter, and lust that have given him just enough hope. Grattan’s journey from a childhood in Baltimore, to a fledgling acting career in New York, to innkeeping in Key West is rife with ribald humor, whimsical encounters, and no small amount of sassy repartee.