8:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 25, 2033: “The following pages tell a true story; I know because it’s my story. As I sit comfortably at my desk, here in my den, I share with you, my reader, the knowledge that I will die this afternoon. I am as sure of this elemental fact as the eagle is that he can fly or the fish that he can swim. Flanders Cremation Service has already been notified, and by Saturday at this time—if my wishes are carried out properly—I will be ashes. From then on, in this world, August Nathaniel Greenleaf will be just a memory. I can only hope that those whom I’ve loved will remember me with fondness, and perhaps a little forgiveness. Lord knows I have not always been easy to live with.” Thus begins the memoir of August Greenleaf, a troubled but gifted boy who has always known that someday, something miraculous would happen to him—even before he knew the meaning of the word miraculous . As is true of us all, August’s story begins with his birth, which, in his case, he recalls clearly and in superlative detail. In addition, he is able to see a stately, white Victorian house that sits among the weeds near the southern shore of Jamaica Bay in Queens, New York, less than 300 yards from his family’s seventh-floor living room window. No one else can see the house, yet August knows it’s there. This dissonance adds to his anxiety, exacerbates his childhood phobias, and leads him to suspect that he is not so much gifted as weird. August Greenleaf’s Last 7,000 Days is a moving and insightful bildungsroman that follows its sensitive, intelligent protagonist as he makes his way in a challenging, sometimes tragic world. With heartache and humor, August learns to cope with love and loss and eventually comes to understand his uncanny gift of memory and connection to the supernatural. "Greenblatt and Connell offer a fictional memoir chronicling a man’s extraordinary life grappling with his uncanny abilities... August is a lovable, fully realized character, and his family and friends are just as vividly drawn, making for an eventful life story." —Kirkus Reviews “ August Greenleaf’s Last 7,000 Days is lively, funny, nostalgic, and loaded with snappy dialogue.” — Randall Beach , columnist and reporter for the New Haven Register , coauthor of The Legendary Toad’s Place: Stories from New Haven’s Famed Music Venue , and author of Connecticut Characters: Profiles of Rascals and Renegades “Quite often, we as humans sideline the three fundamental questions that quietly linger within us all: How did we get here? Why are we here? And where do we go when we die? August Greenleaf’s Last 7,000 Days tells the story of one such human, an ordinary person whose life journey reveals he is anything but ordinary. "In these pages, you’ll meet a character so genuine, so relatable, that his joys and sorrows will feel like your own. As a child, he navigates a world filled with both the quiet discovery of unique gifts and the shadow of fears that shaped his early days. From these beginnings to the reflective final moments of his life, you will laugh, cry, and confront the profound questions often buried beneath the noise of daily living. Above all, this story will leave you with a sense of hope—hope that is richer, deeper, and more enduring than you ever thought possible.” — Charles F. Glassman , MD, FACP, CoachMD™, author of the critically acclaimed Brain Drain “Some books stay with you long after you turn the last page, and August Greenleaf’s Last 7,000 Days is one of them. A poignant, deeply reflective memoir, this book unravels the extraordinary life of August Greenleaf, a man burdened with loss, addiction, and an unusual gift—one that allowed him to see what others could not. “I relate to August completely as being ‘special,’ with all the good and despair that comes with that knowing. “What stood out most was the intricate detail given to every character. Each person in August’s life had a story that unfolded with care, making them feel real and significant. Their experiences, struggles, and connections reminded me of my own journey—how every person I meet seems to fit into the larger picture of my life in ways I may not fully understand yet. “What follows is an intricate, immersive journey through August’s life, chronicling his experiences, the souls he encountered, and the lessons hidden in the mundane and mystical alike. The writing is deeply emotional, painting vivid portraits of the people August loved, lost, and learned from. Every character is given depth and meaning, turning their stories into reflections of our own connections and losses. “Though lengthy, the book never drags. The authors’ meticulous attention to detail makes each character’s arc feel like a standalone story, yet seamlessly woven into August’s greater narrative. Reading it, I found myself contemplating my own life, the people who have come and gone, and the visible threads that tie us to our fates. “By the time I reached the final pages, I f