Paul Sheldon

Paul Sheldon is a 42 year old writer from New York. Sheldon is slender with blond hair and blue eyes. Sheldon is highly successful in his career but not in his personal life as can be gleaned from two marriages and two divorces plus many one night stands.

The book opens with Paul finishing his newest novel "Fast Cars." Paul celebrates in a Boulder, Colorado hotel room. It is the same room that Paul has used to finish each book since his first success in 1974. The new book is a comeback of sorts for Paul, who wants nothing more than to be a "serious writer" as opposed to a "popular writer," which is one step above "hack." In Paul's eyes, "Fast Cars" is brilliant.

Paul is drinking his second bottle of Dom Perignon when he encounters a blizzard in the Rockies. No matter what Paul tries to do...