Many times, an author’s first book uses experiences from their lives to tell the story they are writing. It’s not necessarily a good or bad thing to do, for me it just happened naturally. On and On is not autobiographical, it’s not a story about my life. It is written in a first-person narrative, and my voice is very prominent. I’ve been told by friends who have read the book that they hear and see me as they read.The book has my humor. The main character does react and say things that I would or have said. (Duh.) The situations and timelines where the stories take place are mostly fictional, but some events that do take place are semi based on actual events, some from personal experiences (that are always embellished for dramatic effect or made to be more humorous.) Other events are from stories I remember from family or friends, still others are completely made from my imagination. Many characters are based on actual people I know. I have a large close Italian friend who is on the slave boat, the farmer is based on an old football coach, his rugby friend is based on my best friend, and the captain is the worst boss I have ever had (his breath was terrible, probably still is.) The main character’s love interest is based on my wife, which I thought she would love. (Wrong!) That chapter of the book is my favorite piece writing I’ve ever written. I love it. The person I highlighted hated it. (Some shit about not wanting to be in my book.) You can’t please everyone, I guess. We had several discussions about the chapter, I asked her opinion, (tried to be a good husband) changed a few names, but ultimately it was impossible to come to a compromise. I for maybe the first time in my life (This was my first book or even attempt to write a book) used, “You can’t control my artistic freedom.” (Sounds so cliché.) Funny to relive it now, but the chapter stayed, and we are still married. READ the book!