Journey back through the culture of the 1970s in Mexico and the U.S. as a young surfer befriends indigenous Zapotecs, smuggles weed across the Rio Grande, encounters law enforcement on both sides of the border, and learns to fly.

In 1979, a Mexican army truck and a small U.S.-registered airplane race toward each other on a remote airstrip in southern Mexico. Their game of chicken marks the end of a young surfer’s true-life smuggling odyssey involving midnight powwows with indigenous Zapotecs of Oaxaca, paddling kilos of marijuana across the Rio Grande on surfboards, learning to fly, and a stint in the Oaxaca State Penitentiary.  

Narrated by the main character, Flying Into the Sun is not just a true-crime adventure memoir. It is an introspective, coming-of-age tale that weaves through a secret Mexico and chronicles the fast-changing 1970s in the U.S. with its emergent culture of long hair and drugs, rebellious youth versus hostile law enforcement, and the music and pop themes of the times.  The author worked his way up through general aviation to become a pilot for American Airlines, where he flew twenty years and retired as captain. Previous literary endeavors include publishing the insubordinate aviation tabloid Houston Air News, as well as writing stories for national and regional publications such as General Aviation News, the Portsmouth Herald and the Texas Flyer.  

PRAISE FOR FLYING INTO THE SUN

"I just finished this book. It’s killer. I loved it. 5 stars. A true story about some wild, crazy times in the 70’s. I really felt like I was there with you. I got a bit nervous a few times. Great Read. Hate that it ended." 

~Sandi Syndergaard, admin of the Original Over the Hill Hippies FB group  

Yup, I love books. And I'm always happy to find out about a surf/ travel book that takes me back to places I've been to, or back to a time I've missed. Flying into the Sun is a mix of both...a time before smartphone navigation in rental cars or even planes, and what more a surfboard can be used for than just riding waves... Worth a read. ~thefreesurfer.com  

“This is fantastic!! It's going to be BIG! I see a movie!” 

~Chris Cantara, pilot & owner of Seaside Aviation, LLC 

  "On  a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair; Warm smell of colitas,  rising up through the air  . . . . Oh, the good ol' days of red-haired  Mexican pot in the 70s.  Paul Ogier tells an engaging and entertaining  story about his youthful misadventures as a drug runner at a time when  people were discovering the joys of marijuana.  Not only is "Flying Into  The sun" well written, but there is a quiet wit about it that had me  laughing out loud at several sections.  As a coming of age story, this  is certainly one of the best. It's insightful and has its touching  moments. The ending left me both sad and uplifted that the main  character had finally reached a level of maturity that set him on  another path to his dreams.  But the next time I fly, I will be  wondering what youthful indiscretions the captain had committed!"  Patricia Griffon Author of "Blind Reason" 

 "I  spent 40 years as a professional pilot. Paul was one of the copilots I  most enjoyed flying with. This wonderful book that tells a story of the  start of a airline career quite different from the typical military  trained pilot to commercial flying. I enjoyed the book both for the  story Paul tells so well and to know he ended a career as a captain at  one of the legacy airlines. Read this book and you may look at the pilot  of your next flight in a different way."

-Captain Ed Bassett 

“So many great parts in the book. Magical Mystery Tour down the mountain was excellent. The book reveals a Mexico that tourists never see.” 

~Eric Knight, semi-pro surfer  

“F******awesome!!!!!!!!!!!” 

~Dave Bicknell, guitarist and software engineer  

“I think it's great. You are a very accomplished storyteller. As a US expat living in Mexico I found the Mexican details to be quite accurate.” 

~Tom Bailey, retired expat living in the Yucatán, Mexico