Geoffrey Betton

Geoffrey Betton is the story’s point-of-view character. Betton used to work an ordinary job with a regular, rigid schedule. Eventually, he developed an interest in literature, and his first novel gained much critical and commercial success soon after its publication. As a result, his fairly limited financial means greatly expanded. He used his new wealth to move to an expensive private residence. At first, Betton enjoyed the money and fame that resulted from his success, and he also enjoyed not having to work a regular job. He wrote a second novel to try to extend his notoriety, but between the completion and publication of the novel, he began to yearn for the anonymity and regular schedule of his former life.

During the main storyline, Betton decides to hire a secretary to manage the new wave of fan letters that he expects to receive after his second...