A Cape Coral man recently had his first book published through Author House and is in the process of working on two others.

Lawrence Wasden, a retired Air Force veteran of 20 years, published his first book this year, called “Finders.” He lives in Cape Coral with his son who is physically and mentally challenged.

Before the Porch Creek, Native American began his writing career, he worked for Boeing Aerospace as a Kennedy Space Center employee for 12 years and as a psychologist for many years.

Wasden said he enjoys writing because he likes where his mind takes him.

“I really don’t know where these stories are going to go,” he said, adding that he likes applying things that have happened in his life or other people’s lives to make the story interesting.

He wrote a play “This Ain’t Shakespeare,” which was later performed at the Jess Parish Theater in Titusville, Fla.

Since he is a retired psychologist and child investigator, Wasden did a lot of work with children. He said in order to gain his clients’ attention he made up stories, which lead him to writing his first book.

“Finders” is a Sci-Fi book about best friends who are 11 years old who go on a summer vacation together in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Darnel Ellis joined his friend Josh Hampton’s family for the summer not expecting the adventure they both would encounter while exploring Knott’s Peak.

“I started writing ‘Finders’ in 2003 and I had some interruptions along the way,” he said. “I left it partially undone for a long, long time.”

The book was published on July 25 and is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon and Author House.

Wasden said his chapters are approximately 10 pages long because he wanted his readers to have short chapters with something exciting happening in each. He said he also wanted to give his readers the opportunity to read a chapter on their lunch break.

The author promises that “Finders” is filled with adventure that will keep readers turning the pages.

“I am overwhelmed by the responses that I received about this book,” he said about “Finders.” “Everybody is screaming about the sequel.”

The sequel of “Finders” is currently in the works with six chapters finished, but has been put off to the side to finish another book called “Senior Village.”

“It is too soon to put out my sequel to my first book,” Wasden said, which is why he began transcribing the script of “Senior Village” to text.

The idea struck Wasden from a personal standpoint due to his son having to stay in a nursing home a couple years ago after he broke his hip. He said their were mostly seniors in the home and he was never really pleased with the care he received.

The story takes readers through a journey of a mid-70-year-old man’s life who was placed into a nursing home called Senior Village after his daughter did not want him living with her anymore.

Once he began living in the nursing home, he discovered a lot of corruption and abuse taking place, which began his journey of documenting what he found.

“It’s a pretty violent book, but it is written in a way to bring attention to abuse in nursing homes,” Wasden said. “It’s a valid story, one that would fascinate people.”

He hopes to complete the book by the end of next month.

Once “Senior Village” is completed, Wasden will go back to writing his sequel “Finders II: Return to Ur.”

He hopes by this time next year he will have seven books on the market.