A man nearing his forties finds himself in Taiwan, teaching English to Taiwanese high school students. The allure of the city nightlife in and around his rural town brings him to meet and befriend a number of partiers, bar owners, and even gang members. Seduced by the rampant drug and alcohol use, he and his best friend Steven are living the high life, but it comes with a cost. 

At times comedic, others heartbreaking, The Edge of Mirth is based on a true story of adapting to a new culture, the lure of vices in the Taiwanese nightlife, and devastating endings. 

About the Author

Donnie Lee Sheets earned his BA in theater from Fresno State University in 2000. During his senior year, he was awarded Best Screenplay from the Mass Communication and Journalism Department for his play Concrete Beach. After graduating, he moved to Taiwan to teach English, encouraged by his employer to teach by reading English novels and stories. It was through these exercises Sheets was inspired to work on his first novel.