You've gotten away with it for so long, you think you're immune to the danger . . . At thirty-three, Don Hawkins has spent the better part of his life, in every sense, as a U.S. Marine. Enlisting to escape an alcoholic father and stepmother, he became the unofficial leader of a group of gay servicemen and women, all compelled to guard their sexual identity as faithfully as they serve their country. But with newly inaugurated President Clinton's promise to lift the ban on gays in the military, Don is optimistic that a brighter era is dawning-and not just politically. Ten years now since his lover died in Beirut, Don is finally ready to love again, and falls headlong for Patrick, a handsome young helicopter pilot. As their relationship develops, Don lets his guard down-in potentially dangerous ways. Because forces are at work in the Naval Investigative Service, in Congress, and even in the bars and clubs that Don views as his turf, with a vicious agenda that will have unforeseen consequences . . . Drawing on his own experiences as a Marine, Rich Merritt has crafted an extraordinary story of love, loss, duty, betrayal, and hope. Most of all, Code of Conduct is a deeply compelling exploration of the power of loyalty-to friends, lovers, country, and the unwavering dictates of our own hearts. Praise for Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star "Rich Merritt writes an honest, inspiring, sexy, funny, and courageous story" -William J. Mann, author of Men Who Love Men "Inspiring, thought-provoking, and brutally honest" -Michael Thomas Ford, author of Changing Tides "A gripping memoir" -Gay & Lesbian Review "Merritt has written a powerfully honest and compelling story of living two lives" -David Mixner, author of Stranger Among Friends Rich Merritt served in the Marines from 1985 until 1998, attaining the rank of Captain. The same year he was honorably discharged, he was featured on the cover of The New York Times Magazine in an
Rich Merritt was born in Greenville, South Carolina and attended the Bob Jones family of schools from first grade through the second year of college. He graduated from Clemson University.
After 13 years in the Marine Corps (attaining the rank of Captain) he graduated from the University of Southern California Law School. He practices law in New York.
Rich's first brush with international attention was in 1998 when he was featured on the cover of the NY Times Magazine in an article titled "Uniforms in the Closet" by Pulitzer prize-winning author, Jennifer Egan ("A Visit From The Goon Squad"). In the years since, numerous newspapers and magazines in the USA, England, France and Australia have covered Rich and his writing.
In 2005, Kensington published Rich's memoir which is currently in its fourth printing and its first foreign language translation.
Rich's writing experience before that included a column he wrote while serving in the Marines, in the Navy Times under the penname "Buster Pittman." In 2005 he also wrote the article, 'Bye-Bye Doctor Bob,' published by numerous alternative papers around the nation.
In 2008 his first novel, "Code of Conduct" was published, also by Kensington and in 2012, he published "Spiritual Probation." All are available here on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.
