Barrett Fuller’s privileged life is about to change radically … or else.

Barrett Fuller is a world-famous and very wealthy children’s author who writes under a pseudonym because he’s a self-absorbed womanizer and drug-user. His life changes when he receives an extortion letter, challenging him to live up to the morals he currently espouses in his books. He is presented with a series of tasks to complete or face having his identity revealed to the public, resulting in the ruin of his financial empire.

Richard Fuller, Barrett’s nephew, has a secret too, and it’s one no kid should bear. He knows why his father left the family and he’s never told his mother.

When the extortionist challenges Barrett to spend time with his nephew, their respective secrets move towards a collision that will change their lives forever.

Scott Carter was born in Toronto and raised in the Beach neighbourhood. Scott began his career in publishing with an internship at ECW Press, followed by work as an editorial assistant at several publishers. He began his writing career publishing poetry and short stories in small literary zines and literary journals across North America. Scott is also a screenwriter, and his first short film debuted at the Exploding Cinema Film Festival in Los Angeles. His latest short film, The Unspoken Promise, was written for Bravo! Television. The Unspoken Promise played at the Reel World Film Festival before making its television debut in February, 2008. Since then he has worked on numerous feature films and short films with various companies, including his own Sad But True Entertainment, founded in 2007. Sad But True has produced a short for Bravo! television, a reality series and is now at work on several feature films. Scott has been teaching high-school English for nine years and has worked on many literacy committees, plus the Toronto School Board’s Learning through the Arts program. He still lives in Toronto’s Riverdale district with his family.

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• Commended, Dewey Divas and the Dudes Fall Picks

How much of him/herself does a writer put into a story? In the case of famed children's author Barrett Fuller, extremely little. So little, in fact, that he writes under a pseudonym so that fans (and their parents) won't know he's a narcissistic womanizer with a serious drug problem. Then one day, someone discovers his secret and sends him a letter: Live up to your imaginary morality or else...This is the terrific premise of Scott Carter's second novel and it's better than Blind Luck, his excellent debut.

Globe & Mail

Over the course of Carter's surprisingly exciting and evocative tale, relationships among Carol, Richard and Barrett acquire meaning, though, initially, not through Barrett's free will.

Winnipeg Free Press

. . . Carter doesn’t shy away from making this character unlikeable, but most impressive is that I was engaged and guessing until the “big reveal” of the blackmailer. Also impressive is how Carter wrings every ounce of gut-wrenching tension and heartbreak from the reveal that could possibly be wrung without making it feel hokey.

On Fiction Writing