In his debut full-length novel, Stripped, author Erik Mario Austin unravels his chaotic return to Los Angeles, where what starts as a simple swipe on a dating app in search of love and sex quickly spirals into a nightmare. A twisting memoir that reads like fiction, Stripped follows Erik’s dramatic downfall after being labeled an addict on the run from rehab after a staged intervention. As rumors run wild, those who claim to be helping only push him further into destruction.
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Caught in a modern-day Dickensian underworld, Erik becomes ensnared in a ruthless network of homeless con artists—outcasts who survive by seducing, stealing, and scheming their way through Los Angeles’s glittering façade. In their desperate quest for drugs and shelter, they prey on the wealthy, handing over their stolen treasures to a manipulative kingpin—a twisted, modern-day Fagin—who doles out just enough to keep them hooked and loyal.
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Erik is forced deep into the city’s underbelly, where trust is a currency no one can afford, and every choice comes with a price.
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With raw urgency and fearless honesty, Austin rips the mask off society’s prettiest lies, plunging readers into a world of blackmail, betrayal, and brutal survival. Stripped is part porn, part dark comedy—a blistering, unflinching descent into madness, with slivers of wit and flickers of hope fighting to survive the wreckage.
The Sadness bravely dives into the depths of depression, fearlessly addressing its complexities and making it easy for kids to understand what seeking help means. With creative storytelling and vivid imagery, the book gives a raw look into depression's impact - the heaviness it brings, the shadows it casts, and the challenges it presents in daily life. But amid the darkness, it also highlights the strength of love and empathy. Readers are taken on a journey of being seen and valued, finding hope in being supported and cared for, even during the toughest moments.
In this “children's book” version of what later became Stripped: A Memoir, Erik Austin recounts his life’s unexpected detour—from being pushed into rehab to facing homelessness and learning some of life’s most brutal lessons. It’s not exactly a new idea—think, “you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube.” Once life squeezes it out, there’s no cramming it back in! Erik’s story serves as a humorous reminder that words and actions stick around, for better or worse. So, if you’re the blurting type, think twice before you squeeze the tube! It’s wisdom we could all use...with a laugh along the way.