It's a novel that combines a land swindle, crooked cops, drug deals, Colombian death squads, and a hurricane, all played out on an Island off the Belizean coast. That's the potent brew of elements that John Alexander Watler has put together for his latest novel, "Sea Lotto." The novel, published by Print Belize was launched today at the company's new Belize City headquarters and Watler told us that the story picks up when the young Belizean American heir to an island finds a misplaced drug drop.

John Alexander Watler,
“He wanted to see this island so he goes out on a trip there. And while he is out there you know he is having a nice time and they catch barracuda and king fish and made a big boil-up and enjoy themselves. And while he was asleep the companion took a walk up the beach and they hit the Sea Lotto while walking.”

Jules Vasquez,
Explain what that means?

John Alexander Watler,
“Well the two guys found three huge bales of cocaine and they buried them in the sand and they marked the spot but they brought out two packets with them to test the market, so the speak, and that was like 2 in the afternoon and by 2 in the night they were both dead.”

Jules Vasquez,
Is there an underlying theme in here? Is there a message? Is there a morale? Or is it just a great romp of a story?

John Alexander Watler,
[Laughing] “Don’t mess with drugs. When you find the Sea Lotto out there just a machete and chop it up so it sinks to the bottom of the sea. You will be safer.”

Lawrence Nicholas, Print Belize
“John Watler is a renowned writer and I believe that this is one of his better works in terms of the Sea Lotto. The attraction to Sea Lotto is obviously the message that ‘Say no to drugs.’ I think that is one of the message that is resounding in Sea Lotto. Of course Print Belize works closely with artists.”