But on New Year's Eve three-and-a-half years ago something clicked in his mind, and he found the inspiration for his first book, "Frame 9A," published in November.

Garroway, a University Park resident, was driving home from a New Year's Eve dinner with his wife, Melinda. She was discussing a book she had just finished reading when Garroway told her, "I could write as well, if not better, than that author."

So, during that trip home from West Virginia, he began developing characters and writing the story of Harry Block, a fashion photographer, who gets caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

When he arrived home, Garroway began typing his thoughts, and within six months he finished "Frame 9A," which he describes as a story about sex and murder.

"It's interesting to develop characters," he said. "This is the only profession you could make people up and then make them disappear."

After "Frame 9A" was written and edited in January of 2000. Garroway then began sending the novel to various publishers. Finding a company that was willing to publish a no-name author was difficult, he said.

"Unless my last name is Clancy or King, they don't want to deal with me," he said.

Finally, Frederick-based Publish America, said it would be willing to publish Garroway's first novel. His books are now available on Web sites such as Amazon and Borders.

"Trying to get known is hard," he said. "All unknown authors have to go through this."

When Garroway finished writing "Frame 9A" he immediately began writing more novels. He has completed four more unpublished books and has about 30 to 40 ideas and stories in the works.

Most of his stories take place in the metro area, the Pentagon and the East Coast. Other stories are set in fictional towns.

Garroway grew up in Silver Spring. After graduating high school in 1968, he briefly attended Montgomery College in Takoma Park, but said he soon realized it wasn't for him. He decided to spend his summers taking a photography course at Cornell University in New York.

Garroway had tried his hand at poetry, but said he never envisioned writing novels. Instead, he followed through with photography. He now sells cameras at Penn Camera Exchange in Beltsville.

And he also takes any opportunity he can to write. Sometimes, he gets ideas for stories while walking in the morning and evening. He usually writes several chapters in his head and then goes back to the computer to type them.

His wife and mother are instrumental in editing Garroway's novels. Grammar is something he says he worries little about while writing.

Garroway said he is confident that his work could be on a best seller's list.

"My wife says I write better than many people on the New York Bestsellers list," he said.

In the meantime, Garroway said he is going to continue promoting his book. He said he would also like to talk to other people who want to write books and encourage them to do so despite the difficulty involved.

"Anyone who wants to write a book should just do it," he said.

To purchase a copy of "Frame 9A," or to learn more about Garroway, contact him at frame9a@yahoo.com.

E-mail Kristen Perezluha at

kperezluha@gazette.net.