Hollywood City Lights

About the Book

Jonathon Tanner, only fifteen, is so desperate he decides to run away and boards a bus in Phoenix, Arizona bound for Hollywood, California, in search of his father. He’s running to escape the violence and abuse in his mother, Cheryl’s home. But the outside world isn’t any safer than his home. He’s targeted by a sexual predator on the bus. He narrowly escapes, only to become the victim of bullying thugs who take his wallet with his father’s Hollywood address and telephone number inside. Now alone and broke, he accepts a ride to Hollywood from Marvin, an older man who wants to help him. He lies to Marvin about where he’s going and tells him to let him out by Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Now alone on the streets of a strange city, Jonathon hooks up with the raw underbelly of Hollywood street life when he meets another runaway, Brandy, and her crowd. You, the reader will ache for these youngsters who are trying to survive by any means they can.

About the Author

Melvin Yoshio Tanouye was born on April 13, 1958 in Japan. At the age of three, he moved to Hawaii with his family, where he lived until relocating to California. While living in California he decided to join the Army and was sent to Afghanistan to serve the country during Desert Storm. Following discharge from the Army he returned to school to become a teacher. Teaching became his passion. “If I can make a difference in one student’s life I feel I have done a good job.” This book is the realization of Mel’s dream to write a book. Initially Mel was only able to work on the book part–time while teaching full-time. In 2005 Mel’s life changed dramatically when he was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. When the disease forced him to an early retirement, he saw this change as the opportunity to work on his book full-time. Because of the disease progression, Mel accomplished his goal, finishing the book by using a special computer with eye tracking capability used for writing and communication. He completed HOLLYWOOD CITY LIGHTS on October 20, 2009.