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True and Imagined Drama
On the Brink follows an ambitious man from childhood schemes into the ruthless advertising world of 1960s New York, where early trauma, unchecked ambition, and a single reckless choice put his hard-won future at risk. What first sparked the idea for On the Brink?
I had written a few books featuring Dave Powers, unfortunately publishing them without editing. When I decided to convert the books into a series, I began with Dave as a child. The fireworks caper was a critical part of the story.
The novel emphasizes momentum—how one choice leads to another. Was that a guiding principle from the start?
Yes. I created dramatic scenes (both true and imagined) to propel the storyline.
Since the novel is based on true events, how did you decide where to stay close to reality and where to fictionalize?
I tried to stay close to reality as much as possible. I deviated when I needed a more dramatic scene to move the action forward. In these cases, I created an extraordinary event to replace an uninteresting one. In these cases, the result is fact, not the process.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
Yes, it is Book 1. All four books are published and I’m in the process of uploading new covers. In Book 2, Dave goes over to ‘the Dark Side’ and takes a job in Corporate America, a departure from his entrepreneurial focus. There he gets shredded by the bureaucrats and ends up a scapegoat in a major bribery scheme.
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Dave Powers has survived the unthinkable. Orphaned by tragedy, he claws his way from the wreckage of his childhood to the glittering chaos of 1960s Madison Avenue—where ambition, alcohol, and betrayal flow in equal measure.
Landing a coveted spot at one of New York’s most prestigious ad agencies, Dave discovers a world where creative genius battles nepotism and backroom deals. It’s the Mad Men era in full swing: brilliant, brutal, and unapologetically male-dominated.
Then he makes a fatal mistake.
He falls in love with his boss—a rare woman in the executive ranks, enigmatic and untouchable. It’s a romance that could cost him everything: his career, his reputation, and the fragile sense of self-worth he’s fought so hard to build.
Haunted by his past and surrounded by predators, Dave must decide: Will he let tragedy define him? Or can he rise above the wreckage and claim his place in a world designed to break him?
Based on true events, On the Brink is a gripping tale of ambition, forbidden love, and the cost of survival.
On the Brink—Chaos and Mayhem at the Office
On the Brink is a coming-of-age business novel that follows Dave Powers from a sharp, restless childhood into the pressure cooker of adult ambition. The book traces how early trauma, raw intelligence, and a hunger to succeed push Dave toward entrepreneurship, first in scrappy childhood schemes and later into the unforgiving world of advertising and office politics. It is a story about momentum. How one choice leads to another. How talent can open doors, but character decides what happens once you step through them.
What struck me first was how readable this novel is. Sisti’s writing moves fast and clean, especially in the early chapters. Scenes from Dave’s youth feel grounded and vivid without trying too hard to impress. The fireworks episode, in particular, does a lot of heavy lifting. It is funny, tense, and quietly revealing. You see Dave’s instincts for business forming alongside his blind spots. Sisti has a knack for showing lessons instead of announcing them. When authority figures step in, especially Dave’s father, the moments feel earned rather than preachy. That balance is not easy to pull off.
As the book shifts into adulthood, the tone darkens in a natural way. The office becomes its own kind of wilderness. Less predictable than the woods and far more punishing. I appreciated how author Michael Sisti portrays work culture as something that can shape you or slowly grind you down, depending on how aware you are. There is humor here, but it is the kind that comes from recognition rather than jokes. If you have ever watched a smart person underestimate the emotional cost of ambition, this will feel familiar.
On the Brink feels like a blend of business fiction and a classic coming-of-age story, with a strong autobiographical pulse running underneath. I closed the book feeling like I had spent time with someone who wanted to tell the truth about success, not just celebrate it. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy character-driven stories about work, ambition, and personal growth. I think it is especially well-suited for aspiring entrepreneurs, young professionals, or anyone curious about how early life shapes the way we move through the adult world.
Pages: 307 | ASIN : B0DM2V1WBD
