A Place Called Home: A Memoir

Join Bernie in this madcap, gonzo adventure of gambling, love, and redemption set in South Lake Tahoe's 1975 swinging casino scene. Bernie's an eccentric, flamboyant, Elvis protege with a waning career, but regrettably even more recognized as "Numbers" Bernie, a washed up gambler and bourbon slamming womanizer, obsessed with a failed numbers system. That is, until he has a meeting with destiny.

Once a top-notch entertainer, Bernie finally hits rock bottom one fateful evening after losing his gig at the lowly Pinecone Lounge. He takes a pensive moonlit walk by the lake where he has a chance (or is it chance?) encounter with a beautiful, mysterious woman with her clever white German Shepherd at her side. Bernie, the quintessential "man's-man," oddly finds himself spilling his guts to this attractive, toga-clad stranger as she falls in step with him. In turn, she gives him a "message of the day" to lift his dampened spirits.

After their encounter, a strong premonition deftly leads him to discover her message is even more uplifting at a roulette table. Bernie then desperately searches for this mystery woman to keep the gravy train rolling, along with adding her to his long list of female conquests. When Bernie finds her, the cash starts piling up, and a series of outrageous escapades, with a cast of unforgettable characters ensue, forever changing the course of his life, and the casinos of Stateline, Nevada.