Mystery in life is a reoccurring theme for the author and business consultant, who said he is inspired by everything.

Price, who divides his time between Dunsmuir and Redding, is an admirer of the great unknown, what we cannot see yet feel is there.

"What we cannot see does not necessarily mean it isn't there," Price explained while sipping his iced tea.

As far as his inspiration, varying from lonely teenagers to disciplined writers, that's the joy in life -- the surprise and connectedness of it all. (The latter is a great inspiration as Price isn't disciplined enough to have a stringent writing schedule. He says he writes like an old dog trying to lie down: circling a few times, trying to get every crease in the bed perfect.) Price will be at the Holiday Inn in Redding at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday as a guest of the Record Searchlight Book Club.

"Dead Connection," a first novel for Price, has had great acclaim. It's noted on the BookSense recommended reads for young-adult fiction, earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly and most recently was named to the top 10 mystery for youth by Booklist Magazine.

Price is thrilled with the acclaim for this novel. He said he wasn't expecting it and at every turn becomes more and more excited.

The mysterious success of the book is one example of what Price loves about life.

What started out as a walk in a Dunsmuir cemetery turned into a short story about an alienated and lonely young male character.

"I always thought of cemeteries belonging to the old," Price said.

But as he was walking around reading the tombstones, he began to see the ages of children who perished.

His lonely character, Murray, talks to the dead children in the cemetery and believes they talk back.

"Murray speaks to the alienated part in all of us. Who didn't feel awkward and lonely in junior high school?" Price asked.

And while those in Shasta County will recognize most of the street names and some local scenery, some names of towns and streets are fictionalized. For instance, although to the local readers the city in which the story takes place is obviously Redding, in the book the city is known as Riverton.

"I didn't want to be tied to geographic accuracy," explained Price, "I wanted the story to move in certain ways and not pretend otherwise."

Regardless of correct cartography, many adults as well as teenagers have enjoyed this book, which is always music to Price's ears.

When he originally began the manuscript, he envisioned an adult novel. But when daydreaming about the success, he couldn't relate to the visions.

"I saw myself on the Oprah stage, as all writers do, I imagine, and I couldn't figure out what I would say about it," Price said.

But what if he could go into classrooms and talk about teen issues like loneliness, suicide, relationships, without being in the role of therapist?

This is where his excitement started to sparkle.

Now finished with his third book, the dream-come-true is just starting to hit this business consultant.

"It's just starting to happen and it's so incredible," Price said, "It's such a marvelous gift."

"Lizard People," a new book by Price, will be released in August.

Those who attend the free R-S author series may be in for a sneak "Lizard People" excerpt.

Shannon Calder can be reached at scalder@redding.com.

http://www.redding.com/news/2007/mar/25/gravely-entertaining/