Book is 20 years of hard work

     By Sonya Padgett
     View staff writer
      After 20 years of writing it, Las Vegan Brent Lee has published his first book.
      Well, sort of.
      His publisher, buybookson theweb.com, is a "print on demand" publisher that stores books electronically, then prints, binds and ships within two days after an order is placed.
      Lee, a local resident, has had his adventure novel "Gangs of Pitch" published in this unique way that is gaining in popularity with writers long frustrated by the conventional publishing world.
      Had he gone the traditional route and submitted his novel to publishing houses, Lee would have most likely faced rejection.
      As it is, he's thrilled that his book is available to the public. The novel's setting -- the Spratly Islands in the Pacific Ocean -- and the politics behind them are topics that have interested Lee for a long time.
      Lee's interest in the Spratlys was sharpened as a boy growing up in the Philippines.
      "I had a keen interest in geology," the 43-year-old Lee said. "The Spratly Islands caught my interest because a lot of countries are involved in a conflict over the ownership."
      China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines all want ownership of the islands, mainly because of the rich oil deposits just off the coast, Lee said.
      Even before he left the Philippines 10 years ago to pursue his education in International Studies through the University of the Nations, Lee had started writing notes that eventually became his novel.
      He ended up in Hawaii, where he took a creative writing course. After finishing the class, Lee realized that what he called a collection of information might make a good novel.
      "For a couple of years, I left it sitting on the shelf," Lee said. "I wasn't interested in publishing it."
      When Lee first came to Las Vegas two years ago, his novel was still in rough-draft form. And even though he stayed busy helping his cousin run his retirement business, Lee was able to shape his writing into a publishable work.
      "The hardest part of writing is finishing the book. Of all the places I've been, this is the place where I could write," Lee said. "This is the only place I had enough time. Something must be in the air in Las Vegas."
      Writing has been more of a hobby for Lee while he worked providing relief aid in places like Albania, France, Switzerland and most recently, Iraq.
      In 1992 and 1993, shortly after the Gulf War, Lee lived in Iraq, helping with relief aid to Kurds displaced by the war.
      His main job consisted of writing the stories of people who were most affected by the conflict.
      His next novel will be based on those experiences in Iraq.
      "I wanted to share it with others," Lee said. "I always see the media reporting everything and it doesn't give the full picture. The media deals very topically."
      The book is available through special orders at local bookstores or through the Internet from www.buybooksontheweb.com, or by calling (877) 289-2665.