Trail of Thoughts
by David Lomax
GENRE: Memoir / Survival / Identity
PUBLICATION DATE: 06/30/2025
DESCRIPTION:
In the remote wilderness of Alaska, a bush pilot navigates deadly mountain passes and unpredictable weather where every flight is a gamble with fate. Haunted by a childhood shaped by silence and emotional neglect, he turns to aviation as both escape and control, pushing deeper into the sky to outrun the past.
But isolation offers no refuge. As near-fatal encounters mount, the line between external danger and internal collapse begins to blur. Memories surface mid-flight, threatening his judgment and survival.
Just as fatherhood brings purpose and grounding, tragedy strikes with devastating force. Faced with unbearable loss, he must confront the life he’s spent avoiding and decide whether survival alone is enough.
Set against a stark and unforgiving landscape, Trail of Thoughts is a story of resilience, grief, and the search for meaning when everything that once held you steady falls away.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
I am a builder, educator, and memoirist who has journeyed through some of the most remote and demanding environments in North America. From constructing HUD-funded homes in isolated Alaskan villages to specializing in weatherization and green building in Mexico’s deserts, my career has been shaped by resilience and innovation.
Now semi-retired, I teach at San Jose City College, where I developed a pioneering Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) program in partnership with Stanford University. In 2022, I was honored with induction into Marquis Who’s Who for my contributions to the trades and education.
My memoir captures these experiences, and my wife, Marcela Lomax, made many contributions, including translating it into Spanish as Sendero de Pensamientos and many other languages. Learn more at Trail of Thoughts.com
REVIEWS:
Best new book on Amazon 2025
That was a masterpiece. I can't see my phone. Too Many Tears. I'm sure we will talk at length. I spelled that one for me and Robert talk to you soon
Marquis Who’s Who is pleased to announce that David L. Lomax has achieved feature placement in The Wall Street Journal. With prominent reach in the Western Edition, Mr. Lomax’s feature was published on Thursday, June 5, 2025.
COMPARATIVE FILM/BOOK:
Cinematically, Trail of Thoughts aligns with Into the Wild, capturing the allure and danger of Alaska as both physical landscape and existential proving ground. Like The Revenant, it pairs survival against nature with an internal battle for meaning, while the emotional gravity and quiet devastation of loss echo Manchester by the Sea. In literature, it shares the raw introspection of Wild by Cheryl Strayed, where external journey mirrors inner healing. The working-class struggle and family dynamics resonate with Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, while the emotional honesty and endurance reflect Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig. What distinguishes Trail of Thoughts is its rare combination of high-risk bush flying and deeply personal reckoning—where survival is not the end goal, but the beginning of understanding.
CASTING:
A single protagonist portrayed across life stages, requiring actors who convey continuity of inner life, restraint, and emotional depth. Age 4: Expressive, observant child (unknown/local casting for authenticity). Age 10: Roman Griffin Davis (Jojo Rabbit) — natural emotional intelligence and subtle vulnerability. Ages 14–19: Kodi Smit-McPhee — lean, introspective, capable of quiet intensity. Age 30: Garrett Hedlund — grounded, physically credible, with underlying emotional tension. Age 60: Kyle Chandler — steady, reflective presence with quiet authority.
PRIMARY VENUES/LOCATIONS WITHIN THE BOOK:
Alaska (Kotzebue, Kiana, Iliamna, Arctic regions) – Core setting, essential for authenticity and tone California – Emotional foundation and character development Kamloops, Canada – Cost-effective stand-in for Alaska, major production asset New Zealand – Cinematic landscapes, visual enhancement Mexico – Transitional setting, flexible and optional
BOOK EXCERPT:
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