I've recently been reading J.D. Robb's "Naked in Death" and found it to be a compelling sci-fi police mystery, even if it does feel a tiny bit less involved. But a short book doesn't make it a bad one in the same way a one-hour television show can be as good or better than a feature film.

I finally got to see the long-awaited documentary film "Steve McQueen: The Man and Le Mans," and I discovered a showcase of how we can fall into tunnel vision when obsessed by a dream. Here was an example of a docu-film actually being more entertaining than the film it stands behind.

During his production of the iconic 1971 racing film, McQueen rejected numerous scripts by a corp of writers, constantly insisting his character not be a winner or hero. This flew in the face of Hollywood mentality of the time, while today, the anti-hero has become a popular persona. I believe its because we relate to such people in that they reflect our own flaws. Its much easier to believe in someone when you know they aren't perfect. However, I couldn't understand why a man so steeped in film experience thought human drama had little place in this vision he possessed.

The majority of film critics panned "Le Mans" after its release, saying it lacked a dramatic storyline, and I would tend to agree. Even a star like McQueen couldn't carry a story so thin.

Granted, I saw this film in my youth, and it fired my interest in sports car racing. As badly as McQueen wanted to capture the 24 hours of Le Mans on film, I wanted to bring that same excitement to the pages of my novel. But I also realized without believable characters to care about, ones with strong motivation, my story would be as flat as the film. Worse in fact, since I didn't have the visual benefit of speed and the French countryside.

Plying together a tale of love, betrayal, and bitter rivalry was essential, and I truly admire the authors who managed to write an entire series of books and keep a human relationship interesting.

I made it through ten of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum stories before I finally grew weary of the un-ending love triangle. But mostly I was disappointed that Stephanie herself never evolved into a more capable person. Still, ten books is no small feat, and I deeply bow and tip my hat to her efforts.

I don't know how many other writers may have started off trying to write a story that was richer and better than a film they loved, but I must admit it was strong inspiration for me. It has been decades since that night at the drive-in theater, and at that point I had no clue that I would ever undertake writing at all, but now that the first book is done I'm eager to see where the characters go in the stories to come.

"Le Mans" will always remain the film legend it has become and never change. "Moonracer" has the ability to reach beyond, and I can only hope my talent will be as good as those who have inspired me as I explore the future, both mine and the characters I've written into existence.

Hemingway said it was easy, just stand at the typewriter and bleed. Gritty advice, but if we bleed emotion, surely some of it will stain the pages we write.