Coming Back To You?

   I wanted to let everyone in on what I’ve been writing. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m writing a prequel to The Divide. I want to share more with you than just that today, though. I’m going to tell you the central theme of this book. The theme of the original Divide was separation through class and how we can break down barriers. This story won’t share the same characters or theme. It will have a theme of division, however, and it’s one I’ve experienced myself. I think we all have at some point.

   The theme is of the division we feel when tragedy strikes in our lives. The Divide Origins is set in a world where a disaster has hit, killing countless people in the process. Families and friends bury each other, and as changing temperature and weather patterns threaten to take everyone else, people are left with one question. What would you do to stay alive? At the story’s heart, it’s about more than that, however. In times of grief and crisis, we do things that we never thought we could - horrible things even. When it’s over, we still have to look in the mirror, however. Is there redemption for us, or are we forever changed? The innocent person we once knew could be gone forever. Do we get to come back to who we were, or are our sins too great to overcome? That’s a complicated question. The answer is dependent upon how much of yourself you’ve lost and what you’ve done in the process. This book will explore the best and worst of humanity. Love and forgiveness will be themes throughout the chaos, but so will hate, anger, and death.

   I originally wanted to write this story because I loved The Divide’s chaotic world, and I missed it, but when I started writing, this book took on a new form. It isn’t the old Divide or anything close to it. It could easily be a standalone book with a totally different feel. It shows how much I’ve grown since I wrote The Divide. It also shows the struggles I’m going through in my real life. Hidden in every page is all the good and ugliness inside me. You see, when I started writing this I was in a deep depression like I’ve never been in before. I’m still not completely out of it. I was questioning if I would ever get back to who I was. I had so much hate and anger in my heart, and none of it was like me, but it was who I was becoming. I was just fresh off of writing Destiny, which made me incredibly happy, but a lot changed afterward. I found myself isolated and with nothing to do other than to examine every reason why I was sitting alone in my house all day long. There was a lot of blame to go around. Most of it belonged to me, and a portion of it was put on others. I grew to hate people for the first time, but most of all, I found myself disliking who I was. This book is a mirror of that. The beginning of it starts with a man in prison. When the disaster happens, he’s given a second chance at life. All the things he’s done and the isolation doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all about what he’s going to do with his second life. Does what he’s done define him, or is Max more than who he used to be? Can it all be justified and forgotten, or is it forever who he is? For that matter, the other characters in this book are changed, too. They lose people, see unthinkable things, and find themselves wondering what is left of themselves or the world they once knew. Do they get to come back from it all? Is there still love and normalcy? That is their story, and it’s mine, too. The simple answer to that question is yes and no. Sometimes you can be too far gone, but the majority of us find that our scars heal. The sun metaphorically pops back out when we open ourselves up to it. I’m not there yet, and as I write the ending to The Divide: Origins I find that sometimes the sun is too far buried for it to ever see the light of day again. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression of my new book. It certainly has its playful moments and even romantic ones, but this is a darker journey for people who love survivor stories.

It’s strange to think about it, but over the last few months, I’ve written a romance book that’s completely lighthearted, the final Wrong Visions, and a disaster novel that features some of my deepest feelings. I’m proud of all of them, and nothing I’ve written lately tops Destiny as far as a great story, but I don’t want to sell Wrong Visions or The Divide: Origins short. They’re both a part of me, and I’m finding that Origins is personal to me in a way I never anticipated. I can’t wait to share all of them with you. It might take a while to get them out there, but I promise that it will be worth the wait.

Thanks for reading. It helps to have this outlet when I do feel the isolation and complete division from everyone else in the world that Max felt in a prison cell. Sometimes these four walls can be like one. Hopefully better days are around the corner and I can see a glimpse of the guy I used to be again.

Online Dating In 2015

   These are my personal accounts of online dating and why I might be giving up on it forever. If you find yourself in this blog, it’s not purely coincidental. It’s because you scare me, and you’re one of the reasons I’m not sure if dating is even worth it anymore.

   I created a few profiles on some dating sites a while back, and I’ve been seeing what’s out there - big mistake! The first encounter I had with a crazy woman online was in the form of what people are calling cougars now. She was older than my mom, and she messaged me about a casual encounter. I didn’t respond. That didn’t stop her from sending a follow up message, though. Honestly, where do these women come from? Why don’t you date someone your own age? Now I have this jaded view of old people. Every time I go to Wal-Mart, I have to wonder if the greeter is checking me out. It’s crazy.

   The second came in the form of an actual date. I met this single girl who seemed to want all the same things as me. On paper, we were perfect for each other. Then we actually met. She was gorgeous. In fact, she was the prettiest girl I’ve ever been on a date with. I learned on that date that looks aren’t everything. This woman literally didn’t put together one sentence throughout the date. It was the most awkward experience of my life. Now, I’m not saying it was my best night either, but come on! I, at least, spoke.

   The third experience was truly strange. I read this girl’s profile, and she seemed absolutely perfect. I don’t want to say too much about her, but let’s just leave it at this. She seemed like the sweetest human being on earth, but I learned that she had some weird fetishes . . . like wanting to cut people . . . I was scared away, and I seriously had to start questioning how I keep finding these people.

   The fourth experience came with a girl who told me that she wanted a relationship but that she was asexual. I’m familiar with the term, but if you’re not attracted to men or women, that might just be a problem for me. I mean, a woman with no interest in anything physical would be weird for me if things ever got serious. I feel for her, but once again, how do I keep finding these people?

   Here’s the last one, and it takes the cake. I got a message from what appeared to be a normal looking woman who’s profile implied that she was very sweet. Upon further investigation, I found that she was really a he . . . or used to be . . . I’m not quite sure which it was because I never did understand all the details, but once again, I was scared away.

   Here’s the point of all this. I created some profiles to do an experiment, and what I found was absolutely terrifying. Girls, please tell me you’re not all pedophiles, mute, former men, and ready to cut me as soon as we enter the bedroom. I mean, come on! If that’s all that’s out there, then I’m staying safely indoors at all times. I think I might be done with online dating. If anyone knows a nice girl who wants a real relationship, then let me know. I only have a few requests. She must be able to speak, be attracted to men, not be old enough to be my mother, refrain from cutting me, as hard as it might be, and most importantly, have been a woman for her entire life. I can’t stress that last one enough. Well, the knife thing, too. I definitely don’t want someone cutting me.

   So there you have it. It’s safe to say that my online dating days are over. Here’s to meeting the opposite sex in the real world in a very public location so they can’t cut you and only after you have done a thorough background check to make sure they were never a man.  

My Next Few Weeks

   I thought it might be a good idea to update everyone on what I’m doing. The Unseen: Watchers has been a great success so far. Thanks to all who have bought it, and I hope you’re enjoying it. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to be working on several projects, though, so The Unseen is far from the last you’ll hear from me. Currently, I’m working on three things simultaneously. The first involves the final volume of Wrong Visions. I finished writing the final story today, and I’ve got to say I love how it turned out. Part of the stories are edited, but others aren’t edited at all, so over the next few weeks, I, and the people who help me out, are going to be editing like mad so we can share these stories with you very soon.

   The second thing I’m working on is The Divide: Origins. It’s a prequel to The Divide, but if you haven’t read the first one, I wouldn’t worry very much. This new installment is set roughly fifty years before the events of the original book, so it’s a totally new set of characters and circumstances. The original Divide was set in a world that had fallen apart many years before, and this one will be showing the disaster that led to everything. I’m about halfway through with writing it, and I think it might be even better than the first one. I can’t wait to share more about it with you. It’s a project that I’ve been thinking about doing since I wrote the first Divide, but because of other things I had to do, it’s taken this long to get it rolling.

   The final thing I’m working on is a book called Destiny. Some of you already know about it, but for those who don’t, I’ll give you a little insight into the project. It’s a romance book that follows two people throughout their lives. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done, and I think that’s a good thing. I had to challenge myself on this one, and I didn’t know how it would come out, but the result is something I’m truly proud of. I can say without a doubt that this book is the best I have done so far and possibly the best I can do. I loved writing this story. It’s written and edited, but I’m looking at other mediums to put it out there with. That’s not to say that I won’t release it on Kindle in a few months, but I’m considering all options. Even though this book is ready for release, it will probably be the last one out of these three that sees the light of day. It’s the type of story that I want to be promoted right, and to do that, I’m going to need to consult with people who are much more intelligent when it comes to marketing than I am.

   Now, you might be thinking that it sounds like I’m just doing a ton of work. After all, who works on three books at one time? Even I feel exhausted by just the thought of it sometimes, but I’ve learned to take it one step at a time. I do a little every day, and it’s not really all work. I love writing these stories, and on March 28^th, I’m going to be meeting with some likeminded people at my old school. Northwest Mississippi Community College is holding their second annual Author Rodeo Roundup. No, if you attend, you will not be witnessing me falling off a bull. That’s just the name. Several local authors will be sitting at tables and selling/signing their books. It’s going to be a good way for me to network and more importantly, meet some of the people who care about what I do. I would love to see you there. I’ll be giving away free bookmarks at the event, and I’ll sign any books you might have of mine. They tell me that I might have to speak, too . . . we’ll see about that . . . (I’m a very nervous public speaker.)

   So that’s what’s going on in my world. I’m super busy, and I’m doing what I love. I believe in all three of my projects, and I can’t wait to share all of them with you, especially Destiny. Thanks for reading, and look for more updates soon. I should have release dates set for Wrong Visions Vol. 3 and The Divide Origins very soon. As for Destiny, a little preview might be in order in the near future. :)

So You Want To Be An Author?

   I wanted to take a little time and tell anyone who would like to be an author about my own personal experience. When I got started, I read all these how to be an author articles that told what to do and what not to. Honestly, most of the content was unhelpful. Maybe for you those articles are perfect, but as a person who has to learn hands on, I took a different approach. Let me tell you about my dos and don’ts of becoming an author. Keep in mind that I’m still growing as an author every day, and I still have so much left to learn. I’ll start with my first experience.

   I had a theory from the beginning about writing. I loved it like I pictured loving another person. My stories, characters, and the worlds I was able to escape into were as real to me as any love could be. I started thinking that if they’re like people to me, then maybe I could test out how cut out I really was for this. I used what I’ve started to call the marriage approach. When you get married, you’re not used to seeing someone every minute of the day. You used to think you couldn’t get enough of them, but then you start living together. Their dirty clothes, annoying habits, and ridiculous television shows start to wear on you, and you eventually wonder if you made a mistake. Yeah, too much of a good thing can be bad. Something happens the first time you’re away from each other, though. You either rejoice because you’re free and never want to go back, or you think of them and maybe even miss some of their annoying habits. Even if they get on your nerves, you couldn’t picture life without them. I took the same approach with writing. I wrote every moment I could for the first month I did this. I literally wrote three books in that time, which for a person who had never written anything more than a five-page paper was amazing. At the end of it, I was proud, but honestly, writing had become a job. I was sick of it, so I decided to take a little vacation. The first day I walked away from my computer, I couldn’t stop thinking about what I was going to write next, and on the second, I started writing Strange Visions. Even if I didn’t always enjoy it, writing had become a part of who I was. I loved it. Is that who you are? Writing can be something you want to do, and that’s fine, but I think people who make this a way of life have no choice in the matter. They feel called to do it. It’s like an addiction or a great love that we would miss even in the worst of times.

   The second thing involves style. When I got started, everyone threw a bunch of suggestions at me. They said read this author and that author and encouraged me to emulate certain people’s styles. That’s great for some, but think about it for a second. If someone wants to read a JK Rolling book, why are they checking you out? Wouldn’t they just read her work? When someone sees that a New author is writing a book, they expect a new perspective. Be you. You can read all you want for enjoyment or for references on little details, but you were given a unique perspective in this world. It would be a shame for you to just try to package some type of product that piggybacked off of the John Grishom’s of the world. First and foremost, being an author is about imagination and originality. If you want to make this your career or even a second one, you have to realize that your best friend is not another author. It’s your inner most thoughts.

   The third thing I couldn’t disagree with more that I read was never to make your work personal. I was told you should make a product that you believe people will want to read while leaving all personal aspects out of the story. Now, I’m not disagreeing that you should try to make it appeal to everyday people, but this is your story. If you don’t have a little bit of yourself in there, then I have to question if that won’t come across. Books that are written to mimic what people want to hear often come off as boring and phony. They rarely present any new thoughts. If you have a different kind of sense of humor, then don’t be afraid to let that bleed into your work, or if you’re madly in love with someone, then you know exactly how that feels. Make a character who’s going through the same things as you. You’ll be able to convey things in a very real way. Putting your words out there for all to see is about the most daring thing you can do anyway. Why not make them original and meaningful? After all, this is a reflection of what you have to say.

   Finally, and most importantly, I’ve heard that you must be able to take criticism. That is very true, but if you’re the right kind of author, it won’t ever be you that’s criticized. It’ll be your story and characters, which you’ll view as the closest of friends. Don’t let any article or person lie to you. When someone hates the characters that you’ve spent so much time with, you’ll be offended. You’ll be angry in the same way you would if someone criticized your child. It’ll be irrational and maybe even a little childish, but if you really put everything you have into being an author, you won’t be able to help it. The key is not to be a heartless drone who takes nothing personal. It’s to be able to step away from the computer for a day and think on what the person said. Did they have a point, or were they just trying to start trouble? Trust me. There are going to be people who want to tear you down for their own amusement. Some will criticize you when they haven’t even read a word you wrote. You have to face facts, though. Over half of the complaints you get are going to be legitimate. Once you accept that and take a hard look at other people’s perspectives, you can take a step back and ask yourself, would my story have been better served to do things like that person said? Sometimes the answer is yes when you swallow your pride. Sometimes, you know your story better than anyone, and they’re simply wrong. The key is not to ignore all criticism either way, though. It’s to get your feelings hurt, get over it, and then consider what critiques are saying. It can hurt, but if these characters are really like family to you, you’ll want to make them as well as you can. It won’t be about your failure. It’ll be about your embarrassment for these characters and the way you didn’t present them well enough. A lot of writing is about swallowing your pride and doing what’s best for the story.

   That’s all I’ve got. You might wonder why. I mean, I would have thought there was a lot more to writing than that, but there really isn’t. If you sit down in a chair and force yourself to start writing, it’ll either become a bore or a calling. If there were one thing I would add, it would be this. With every word you write, you’ll get better. This is like anything else. We don’t start out being great at what we do, and it takes a long time to get recognition from anyone in this field. Don’t do it for that, and it won’t matter how long it takes. Be that person who does it for the love of every story you ever write. Let it be your joy and sorrow. Most of all, let it be something that you can come back to again and again knowing that it could hold endless possibilities for you both in fantasy and real life.