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No pressure - it's your turn to impress a group of peers, led by a two-time National Book Critics Circle Award and National Book Award finalist. That's the situation then-22-year-old Doug Shiloh faced in 1985. Now it may be a novella.

It was August, 1985. Ronald Reagan was President. MTV was 4 years old. Robert Ballard and crew found the wreck of the "Titanic." A 22-year old college student attended "the Granddaddy of writers' conferences" and found an inspiring mentor.

Can you spot pop culture, news items in the pages of "Pookoo"? It happens once a week. How on earth did this book, published in 2008, get to be so relevant?

While conventional wisdom on the Internet says that a book can't do September 11th justice, Doug Shiloh wrestles the demons of 9-11. He begins our journey in the unlikeliest of places.

Its fan base grows with 3,000 ebooks and counting. The story follows three characters in 1991 Chicago, the year the Cold War ended. Distribution channels now make it available to 25 countries in Europe and Asia. Find out why it's a must-read.

By all rights, a novel published in 2008 should be on its last legs, as relevant as last month's Tweets. But POOKOO, a comic novel of celebrity, Chicago, sports, Yuppie culture and unemployment, continues to increase its fan base. Why?

Walking billboard. Personal statement. And yes, clothing item. The t-shirt is THE 21st century clothing item. How can it boost sales or a message?

The 21st century, with all that juicy technology, adds a new level for artists to connect with people. Take the case of this novelist working on his second novel. Doug Shiloh is looking for beta readers for his new mainstream novel. Volunteer now.

His first novel was set in Chicago, 1991, as a way to say goodbye to the 80s. Now, with a novel about 9-11 and grief, goes back the 1970s.

He's currently editing his second novel. Doug Shiloh, the author of POOKOO, relays some of the joys and pitfalls in tackling a story about grief, 9-11 and second chances. Read how you can get your free copy of his first book about a famous athlete.