Introduce Yourself : My BIGGEST FAIL was HEAVEN'S GATE by Lee Shargel

HOW IT BEGAN! ---- THE ROAD TO A MONUMENTAL FAIL.:The year was 1996 and my newest Sci-Fi novel "VOICE IN THE MIRROR" was  launched in December. Sales were slow and my publisher told me I had to do something to juice the market. So I had to come up with something that would create a "BUZZ" for the book. Well, my novel was about the discovery of life on another planet. The other planet was Earth. They discovered us!

THE PLAN!---Around the same time as my book launch, planet earth was being visited by a comet named HALE-BOPP. Well don't you know, that comet was creating quite a stir all over the world. Well me being a writer, and originally from the BRONX, NEW YORK. I was an expert at being a huckster. So I came up with a plan. My book was REAL!!!! I enlisted the aid of some Academy Award winning friends of mine and said I have a great idea to promote sales for my book. Let's make it real. And by golly, we did.

ACT 1:---: THE DOCTOR IS IN!: "Doctor Lee Shargel, NASA Astro Physicist." I even fooled Dr. Carl Sagan. So I got myself booked on this obscure radio show called, Coast to Coast. On the show, I told the world about a "COMPANION" that was following behind the comet. Holy Moly, that got things going alright. Book sales were going through the roof. But that was not enough for me, I wanted more. And so "Doctor Lee Shargel got booked as the feature speaker at the International UFO convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The biggest UFO show on the planet.

ACT 2::--- THE STAGE IS SET: Well, during my build-up to the BIG SHOW, I got a call from this fellow named, MARSHALL APPELWHITE. He was the leader of a group of UFO enthusiats named, HEAVEN'S GATE. He wanted to know how I knew there was a probe behind the comet. I told him I had photos of it. And of course I did. So I told him about my being the featured speaker in Las Vegas and Lo and Behold, all 39 members of Heaven's Gate show  up and are seated right in the front row. Now you have to understand, everything I was doing was for one purpose and that was to sell books and it was working quite well, Needless to say my lecture in Vegas was a BIG hit. The books were flying off the shelves.

ACT 3::---FAME and FORTUNE! --- Watch what you wish for, you just might get it! A few days after the convention, I found myself at an obscure book store in San Diago and who should show up but the members of Heaven's Gate. It was here that I was given gifts by Marshall and an invitation to come to their mansion for cocktails. Man am I glad I had other arrangements and declined. A few days later, I was back at home and it was early in the morning when there was someone knocking on my door. At the same time my phone was ringing. I picked up the phone and answered the door. Outside my home were several TV station remote trucks and reporters everywhere. On the phone was my agent. He was screaming "They're all dead!" I  told him to slow down. Who is dead? He said "The members of Heaven's Gate, and your name is all over the place" 

ACT 4:--- ANCIENT HISTORY!:Well you can google the rest. So, after a myriad of talk shows, a near fist fight with Geraldo and my being placed on the GALAXY'S MOST WANTED LIST AS ENEMY NUMBER 1. I dropped out of sight. Well their have been numerous stories, TV shows and more, but no one and I mean no one really knows the truth of what happened but ME. And I have been silent about it for 25 years.

THE FAIL:---To tell you the truth, I never saw it coming. My publisher, embezzled all of my royalty money (as well as other writers) and took off with his mistress, leaving his home, hearth and busness for a sexy little Russian beauty. I was blacklisted for pulling off the BIGGEST hoax in UFO history (which BTW stands to this day) and stepped into obscurity until 2021. I joined Stage 32 in 2015 but did nothing until this year and I am so glad I did. My new book, FIREMAN DOWN, launching this August is my best literary work. The true story of African American firefighter Arthur Reese. A man who faced the worst persecution and humiliation anyone could experience, just because he was black. He stood up to his white racist attackers and became an example for us all. His courage and devotion to the Brotherhood of Firefighters was exemplary. Arthur Reese was the most corageous man I have ever known. It has already recieved great reviews. Please buy a copy. 

So that was my great fail. I hope you enjoyed reading my short story on failure.