A House of Sand

This mainstream novel delves deeply into the life of protagonist Henry Janus, an immensely successful, politically powerful, ostensibly philanthropic but unscrupulous real estate developer, whose wealth and power impact strongly on the lives of everyone in his purview ..... his wife, his paramours, his business associates and political connections.

This saga opens with Janus attending a dinner honoring him for his seeming largesse. His acceptance speech is a sanctimonious recitation of his life and philosophy, actually prepared for him by his public relation's agency's star writer, who himself had been a victim of Janus' greed. Through the device of pertinent outtakes from the speech, the recollections of major characters most intimately involved with him give us differing and telling takes on the real Janus. The contemporary tale carries the reader into intrigues within the inner sanctums of business and legal domains where strong personalities and conflict abound. Settings include Jan us' home, his office, his private plane an d fleshpots and centers of power and exotic luxury here and abroad.

Marvin Brown has several decades of experience as a newspaper reporter and editor, public relations executive, an advertising manager of a major international insurance and financial services group, and operator of his own advertising/public relations company. His work has earned numerous local, regional and national awards and citations. He has served as a consultant to advertising agencies and publishing companies and has lectured on advertising to high school and college classes. Brown holds a B. J. degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. He resides in Columbus, Ohio.