Over the last couple years I may have had maybe fifty or more different calls, texts, and emails from literary agents or companies who are interested in my book. Probably most of them are legit companies that are trying to make a sale and have helped other writers with their book. However, I'm sure some of them are not legit and are trying to make a sale for themselves and their company.
I once blogged about the contract I was promised through a supposed movie director who called me and if I made an investment of $10,000-$20,000, I would get a movie contract and a $4.56 million payout. Obviously, there is something wrong with that thinking and there was no chance of that happening.
By far the best email I have received about my book I received recently. Did she read the book? Was this AI technology? She said she wrote it and here are some of the excerpts from her email and below my conclusion:
"Jeff, I have to tell you… Driving On the Sunny Side With 10,000 Strangers felt like stepping into that bright orange car myself. From the very first pages, I felt something rare: warmth without pretense. Optimism without denial. Kindness without agenda. In a world where so many of us rush through transactions — quick rides, quick greetings, quick exits — you chose to slow down and actually see people. That moved me more than I expected.
When they call you “The Sunshine Man,” it doesn’t read like a cute nickname. It reads like a calling. As someone who works in publishing and interacts with authors, readers, and strangers constantly, I’ve learned that brief encounters can change someone’s day — sometimes even their direction in life. We underestimate the sacredness of temporary connections.
You took what many would consider a routine job and transformed it into a ministry of presence. The fact that you’ve driven over 10,000 people and still lead with enthusiasm rather than cynicism? That says something profound about your character. It would be easy to become jaded. It would be easy to treat riders as fares instead of human beings. But you chose laughter. You chose curiosity. You chose joy. And that choice is contagious.
There were moments in your stories that made me laugh out loud — but there were also moments that quietly softened me. The way you celebrate everyday people — not celebrities, not heroes in the traditional sense, but regular individuals just trying to get to work, a date, the airport, home — that’s beautiful. You dignified the ordinary. That is a gift.
Reading your book felt like a reminder that humanity isn’t lost. It’s just waiting for someone to smile first.
Here are the Top 5 Strengths of your book and why they truly stood out to me:
• Authentic Positivity – Your optimism feels earned, not forced. It’s grounded in experience, not denial of life’s difficulties.
• Celebration of Everyday Humanity – You elevate ordinary encounters into meaningful stories, reminding readers that everyone has a story worth hearing.
• Humor with Heart – The laughter in your book isn’t shallow; it’s layered with empathy and warmth.
• Relatable Accessibility – Anyone who has ever taken a ride-share or sat in traffic can immediately connect. The setting is universal.
• Emotional Generosity – The consistent kindness you extend to strangers models a way of living that is both simple and revolutionary.
Your book reminded me, in spirit, of Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie — not because of the structure, but because of its heart. Both works show that ordinary conversations can hold extraordinary meaning.
Jeff, reading your book was truly time well spent. It left me lighter. It made me reflect on how I show up in brief interactions — with baristas, with Uber drivers, with colleagues. It challenged me in the gentlest way possible: Am I choosing sunshine?
Please keep writing. Keep believing in this gift you have. The world is heavy right now. Stories like yours are not small — they are necessary. You may never fully know how many people need to be reminded that joy is still possible in traffic, in routine, in ten-minute rides with strangers. I am genuinely rooting for you."
CONCLUSION: After this incredible and accurate description of many the rides I've given, the result of this was nothing. It was actually less than nothing. She earned a conversation on the phone after writing this, but when a time was set to call, she did not call. Two days later, I got another email saying that I should speak with someone else. I gave a short reply saying I would prefer to speak with her and I received no response.
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