In this 7000-word yearly journal, Joseph Sutton writes about the highs and lows of being a wholesale salesman of costume jewelry. He writes about his wife, their four-year-old son, and the constant battles he has with his teenage stepson. Sutton dreams of getting back to being the writer of fiction that was far from lucrative for him but supporting his family as a salesman takes precedence over everything else.

Joseph Sutton was born in Brooklyn and raised in Hollywood. He played football at the University of Oregon and graduated with a degree in philosophy. He earned a teaching credential and a degree in history at Cal State University Los Angeles and taught high school history and English for many years. Sutton, who has been writing for more than 50 years, has published over two dozen books. His essays and short stories have appeared in numerous national magazines and journals. He lives in San Francisco with his wife Joan.