I first developed the concept of The Menses File while sitting in my studio apartment one night after finishing the book entitled, Kiss the Girls , by James Patterson. The book had been mistakenly left at my apartment and before I returned it I opened it and began reading. Interestingly, as I read Patterson's book the thought came to me that I could come up with a story of my own.a crazy thought as I think of it now. Although it sounded crazy, I had no reason not to do it so I started creating the story that would become The Menses File and began writing my ideas down in a notebook. At the time I was working for Columbia University and had a twenty-minute walk to work. So I'd start my day thinking about the storyline as I walked and as soon as I got home from work I'd write. I did this just about every day until I finished the first draft in a little more than a month. Naively, I thought the book was finished. I quickly realized, however, that there was much more work to be done. I got back to work and began editing the story. That was the spring of 1999 . Later that spring I was accepted to medical school so I put my book away and headed off to school. A few times throughout school I pulled the book out and edited it. During that time I also let a few of my family members and a friend read it. They encouraged me to continue working to get it published. I was busy with school so I didn't push the book much and after graduation I packed up my things and moved into my own apartment. A copy of the book landed on my closet shelf. It stayed there until my girlfriend saw it one day and asked me what I was waiting for. She decided to read it. Once she read it, she was determined to help me get it published. Together, we got an editor and developed a plan to publish the book. We created the Hamilton Mountain Group to bring the book to you and the rest is history in the making.

Enjoy.

Signed,
j.e.bird

* j.e.bird is a graduate of both Cornell University and The Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He is currently an orthopaedic surgery resident in New York City . He lives in Harlem.