mysql insert query problem

Hello Experts,
I am having a problem with my form results INSERTing into the database. I have a mysql INSERT stmt that I have tried to get working. BAsically, it gives me the error from !sql

if (!$sql) {
            echo 'There has been an error creating you account, please conact the site manager.';

Here is my entire page with the query.. I think something is wrong with my query but not sure how to trouble it..

Thanks for your help...

<?PHP
include('.db.php');
include('common.php');

// Let's Grab the post vars


$status = "1";
$user_level = $_POST['user_level'];
$first_name = $_POST['first_name'];
$last_name = $_POST['last_name'];
$email_address = $_POST['email_address'];
$username = $_POST['username'];
$business_name = $_POST['business_name'];
$address = $_POST['address'];
$city = $_POST['city'];
$state = $_POST['state'];
$zip = $_POST['zip'];
$phone = $_POST['phone'];
$account = $_POST['account'];
$newsletter = $_POST['newsletter'];


// Used for debugging. Turn on and off in the common.php file
if ($debug == "ON") {
      echo "the status is"           .$status .     "<br/>";
      echo "the user level is"       .$user_level .     "<br/>";
      echo "the first name is"       .$first_name .     "<br/>";
      echo "the last name is"       .$last_name .      "<br/>";
      echo "the email addy is"       .$email_address .  "<br/>";
      echo "the username is"         .$username    .    "<br/>";
      echo "the business name is" .$business_name .  "<br/>";
      echo "the address is"           .$address       .  "<br/>";
      echo "the city  is"           .$city    .        "<br/>";
      echo "the state is"           .$state    .       "<br/>";
      echo "the zip is"             .$zip    .         "<br/>";
      echo "the phone is"           .$phone  .         "<br/>";
      echo "the account is"         .$account .        "<br/>";
      echo "the newsletter is"       .$newsletter .      "<br/>";
}

// Strip slashes


$first_name    = stripslashes($first_name);
$last_name     = stripslashes($last_name);
$email_address = stripslashes($email_address);
$username      = stripslashes($username);
$business_name = stripslashes($business_name);
$address       = stripslashes($address);
$city          = stripslashes($city);
$state         = stripslashes($state);
$zip           = stripslashes($zip);
$phone         = stripslashes($phone);



// Error checking goes here




// Make sure that the email address hasn't been taken

$sql_email_check = mysql_query("SELECT email_address FROM members
      WHERE email_address ='$email_address'");

// Check to make sure user name hasn't been taken

 $sql_username_check = mysql_query("SELECT username FROM members
 WHERE username = '$username'");

$email_check = mysql_num_rows($sql_email_check);
$username_check = mysql_num_rows($sql_username_check);

// If stmt to echo user a messsage telling them that the email / uername exist

if (($email_check > 0) || ($username_check > 0 )) {
      echo "<span class=\"maintext\"> Please fix the following errors:</span> <br/>";
      if ($email_check > 0) {
            echo "<span class=\"maintext\"> <strong> Your email address has already been used by another
            member <br> in our database. Please submit a different email address!</strong></span><br/>";
            unset($email_address);
      }
      if ($username_check > 0) {
            echo "<span class=\"maintext\"><strong>The username that you have selected has already been used by
            another member<br/>in our database. Please choose a different username!</strong></span><br/>";
            unset($username);
            
      }
      echo "<br><br>";
      echo "<a href=\"index.php?content=join2\">Go Back</a>";
      
// Exit the script so that we don't create this account      
      exit();

}


// if everything is successfull let's set up the account

// Random password generator

function makeRandomPassword() {
 $salt = "AaBbCcDdEeFfGgHhIiJjKkLlMmNnOoPpQqRrSsTtUuVvXxYyZz0123456789";
 srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
 $i = 0;
 while ($i <= 7) {
  $num = rand() % strlen($salt);
  $tmp = substr($salt, $num, 1);
  $pass = $pass . $tmp;
  $i++;
 }
 return $pass;
 
}

$random_password = makeRandomPassword();
$db_password = md5($random_password);






$sql = mysql_query("INSERT INTO `members` (`id`, `status`, `first_name`, `last_name`,
`address`, `city`, `state`, `zip`, `phone`, `business_name`, `email_address`,
`signup_date`, `verified`, `last_login`, `bio`, `admin_access`, `username`,
 `password`, `account`, `user_level`, `newsletter`) VALUES ('$id', '$status', '$first_name', '$last_name',
'$address', '$city', '$state', '$zip', '$phone', '$business_name', '$email_address', '$signup_date', 'verified', '$last_login', '$bio', '$admin_access',
 '$username', '$db_password', '$account', '$user_level', '$newsletter', now()  
        or die (mysql_error()");
       
       

      if (!$sql) {
            echo 'There has been an error creating you account, please conact the site manager.';
            }else{
                  
                  $id = mysql_insert_id();
                  // Let's mail the user
                  $subject = "Your membership at Bell Plantation!";
                  $message = "Dear $first_name $last_name, \n
                  Thank you for registering at our website, http://www.bellplantation.com!
                  You are ywp steps away from logging in and accessing our exclusive member's area.
                  \n To activate your membership, Please click here http://www.dannykelly.com/bell/index.php?content=activate&id=$id&code=$db_password
                   Once you activate your memebership, you will be able to login
                with the following information:
                Username: $username
                Password: $random_password
                Thanks!
                  Thanks!
    The Bell Plantation Team
    This is an automated response, please do not reply!";  
    mail($email_address, $subject, $message,  
        "From: Bell Plantation Webmaster< registrations@bellplantation.com>\n
        X-Mailer: PHP/" . phpversion());
       
        // Email the administrator
        $mailer = &new Email;
        $mailer->ToMail = "dk4210@planttel.net";
        $mailer->FromMail = "System@bellplantation.com";
        $mailer->FromName = "Bell Plantation Administrator";
        $mailer->Subject = "New Member at bellplantation.com [$username]";
        $mailer->Message = "Hi,\n\n".
                                      "A new member has just signed up ".
                                      "at BellPlantation.com! Here's their ".
                                      " information:\n\n".
                                      "=====================\n".
                                      "First Name: $_POST[first_name]\n".
                                      "Last name: $_POST[last_name]\n\n".
                                      "Email Address: ".
                                      "$_POST[email_address]\n\n".
                                      "UserID: $username\n\n".
                                      "This user is from $city, $state\n\n".
                                      "=====================\n\n".
                                      "Thank you,\n\n".
                                      "Bell Plantation System notification\n";
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      
        $mailer->SendMail();
                                      
             
       
        ?>
    <br><br><center><br><br><div class="boxheader">Congratulations!!</div><br><div class="maintext"> Your membership information has been mailed to your email address!
    Please check it and follow the directions!</div></center>
   
   
   <br><br><center><a href="index.php"><div class="maintext"> Click here to go back home<div></a></center><br><br>
    <?
}
?>