On Picking Fruit: A Novel

"If Armistead Maupin and David Sedaris had a love child it would be Arthur Wooten." –Greg Archer, The San Francisco Examiner

Although he was born gay, Curtis Jenkins has trouble picking fruit. Now a successful middle-aged New York City writer, he is still searching for that elusive man of his dreams. But unfortunately, Curtis has already formed a self-destructive pattern of choosing all the wrong men all the wrong places.

After a bizarre yet comical attempt at suicide, Curtis becomes a reluctant patient of the aging and eccentric psychiatrist, Dr. Magda Tunic. Her gruff and unethical approach to therapy relentlessly pushes Curtis to explore the real reasons why he hasn't found love and helps him to discover the important qualities he desires in a man.

Eager to help Curtis on his quest to find his true soul mate is his irreverent and unpredictable mother, Mrs. J., and his incorrigible best friend and soap opera writer, Quinn.

Will Curtis discover who and what he truly wants in his life? While he barely survives dates that are funny, frightening, sexy, moving and even shocking, Curtis may just uncover the fortitude to find Mr. Right (or even Mr. Pretty Close).

“If gallantry in our day is defined as facing adversity with screams of laughter, then this is the most gallant book I know of.” –Edmund White

“…the great gay memoir you always wanted to write.” –HX Magazine–NYC