A Novel Shaped by Loss

Every novel has a heartbeat. For Irv Selman, that heartbeat came from grief. After losing his first wife, Marsha, he turned to writing as a way to process the unanswerable questions of life and death. Out of that journey came Hidden in Plain Sight, a story that uses speculative elements to make sense of love, loss, and renewal.

Mystery as a Path to Healing

Christopher Copper, the protagonist, mirrors Selman’s own search for meaning. A childhood encounter haunts his life, which he cannot explain, and it is later defined by the death of his wife, Emma. The mysteries Chris investigates, strange signals, hidden projects, and even his own identity are as much about the unknowns of the human experience as they are about extraterrestrial life.

This is what separates Selman’s story from standard science fiction. The speculative mysteries serve as metaphors for grief itself: we don’t always understand why loss happens, but we search for meaning anyway.

Speculative Questions, Human Answers

The novel constantly asks speculative “what ifs”:

• What if humanity is not alone?
• What if forces beyond our knowledge shape our identities?
• What if love can transcend death?

While the story introduces alien refugees and secret government programs, the answers ultimately reveal human truths. Love is enduring. Grief changes us. Identity is not what we’re born with, but what we choose to embrace.

Blending Genres for Broader Appeal

Selman seamlessly blends speculative fiction, mystery, and human drama. Readers who enjoy cosmic wonder will find it. Those who love character-driven stories of resilience will connect. And fans of mystery will follow the suspenseful unraveling of secrets.

This is why Hidden in Plain Sight appeals to such a wide audience; it’s not confined to one genre. It’s a story about the mysteries of both the universe and the human spirit.