Every Grain of Sand

2020 Eric Hoffer Grand Prize ShortList Finalist, Montaigne Medal Finalist, Horizon Award Finalist

Finalist LGBTQ Non-Fiction 2020 International Book Awards

Maxy Award Non-Fiction Finalist




"Every Grain of Sand is a heartbreaking memoir that I could not put down, a story of pain, of the search for one's place in the world, and of the transformative power of forgiveness. David Wichman has lived a thousand lives-some agonizing, some sublime-and we're lucky he survived them all with his talent and compassion intact."

-Dave Holmes, writer, producer, and television personality; editor-at-large, Esquire; author of Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs




Sexual healer and entrepreneur David P. Wichman has lived through it all: childhood abuse, foster care, homelessness, survival sex work, and the blackest pits of drug and alcohol addiction. Despite the darkness, he found a profound sense of purpose as a male escort, but not the type of provider often seen in the news. His approach to sex work transcended common shame-based belief systems as he brought compassionate intimacy to marginalized men, including the elderly, disabled, and traumatized, illustrating a universal need for true connection.




After white-collar crime landed him in jail, David resolved to finally conquer the sense of brokenness that had been driving him to self-destruction throughout his life. In his moving memoir, he recounts how his recovery and spiritual journey have revealed to him his inherent wholeness and worth, a message of love and belonging that he now carries to others. Every Grain of Sand is a celebration of restoration to a life of joy, gratitude, and wonder.