Another finish line

Two of the Iron Kahuna's top goals as an adult:

1. Become an Ironman.

2. Become an author.

He became an Ironman on his first try, crossing the finish line at Ironman Florida in 2006 with most of his closest triathlon friends watching.

The published author goal has been more difficult to achieve. The Kahuna has written two novels (one good, one horrible), three screenplays (all horrible), and several nonfiction proposal (all good, but unappreciated by agents).

Finally, when he wasn't expecting it, he found an enthusiastic agent and publisher after writing this first-person essay for the Los Angeles Times. In a very short time, he signed a contract with HarperCollins and had a July 1, 2008 deadline to deliver the manuscript.

With his advance, it took a leave of absence from his day job to write the memoir. This is where the triathlon training kicked in. The Kahuna knew he had one shot at his dream, and he wasn't going to let it slip away. So he attacked the writing like it was a regular job (or Ironman training).

He started writing by 9 a.m. each morning, took 30 minutes for lunch, and worked until 4 p.m. The result: the first draft of his memoir was finished by March and the final draft was turned in last week -- two-plus months ahead of schedule. And the publisher LOVES the manuscript.

The book is titled, "Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith While Reporting on Religion in America." It's not a polemic against faith, though there are some tough questions asked. It's simply one man's spiritual journey -- from agnostic to born-again Christian to reluctant atheist -- during his eight years of reporting on religion for the Los Angeles Times. In many ways, it's a tragic love story.

The memoir is scheduled to be published in February 2008. The Kahuna will be doing a nationwide publicity tour, including appearances on many national TV and radio shows. If you want to keep informed (and attend a book signing or tape his appearance on "The Colbert Report), you can sign-up for his e-mail list here (the site isn't completed, so bare with the Kahuna).

In February, the Kahuna will feel the same thrill has he felt crossing the tape in Panama City Beach -- knowing that he achieved two of his life's biggest goals.

Boo-yah!