A Look to the Future

In my path to becoming an author phenom, I have decided a couple things.  One, Stephen King was probably right.  You have to read and write to get better.  I need to read more than I do.  It takes me longer than the average person to read a book.  A lot of that time is spent rereading what I have already read, making certain that every detail and nuance of the sentence is understood before moving on.  I also take the time to savor the mental picture, sloshing it around in my head like an expertly aged wine.  Writing more (A lot more, I say!) is critical in becoming better.  I write, but not like I used to.  There are greater and greater periods of my life when I have nothing to show for it on the page.  Unfortunately, that has nothing to do with the infamous writer's block and has everything to do with procrastination and placing other responsibilities in higher priorities.  And while responsibilities cannot be disregarded, I can make the conscious effort to be more available, even to the point of forcing myself, to my craft.

Which brings me to my second point, I have decided to try to freelance.  If I can't get my carcass off the couch and write because I enjoy it, then making money will have to suffice until the fire returns.  As I write this I realize how far I have fallen.  Writing used to be a desire and passion that drove my younger self to do some really fun projects.  It had fueled me since I was boy and my parents had found a word processor just for me.  I remember writing and saving my work on 3.5 floppies (which I understand will probably age me a little) while reading Stephen King's Rose Madder and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at the same time.

I have always seemed to know what I wanted to do.  And now I feel ashamed, if only a little, because I could not at this time bring myself to speak with that boy.  I couldn't bear to see his tears as I tell him that I never published anything, that I barely have finished writing any story or that I never finished telling that first story he had started so very long ago on that hand-me-down word processor.  I want to remedy that.  Today there has to be a change.  There has to be a change in how I do things.  In how I live life.  In how I transpose my thoughts and feelings and concerns onto the blank page before me.  And it has to begin today because I have seen too many todays become yesterdays with nothing to show for them.

The Slowest June

It has been incredibly difficult to write anything real recently. In June I had two weeks where I was able to get in a few thousand words, but that has been it. I have switched my waking hours and working hours, completely discombobulating my world. So needless to say, the world of Adhamh has been visited nary a time since. I have developed a plan to improve this. With this plan in place, I should be able to push a copy to my editor before the end of the year. Fingers crossed and good journey!

I Present Prjoect Sankhari

I have periodically gone through spells where my mind has thousands of things to say, perhaps tens of thousands, but my body lacks the drive to put it down.  The mind is willing (oh, so more than willing) as the saying goes.  I cannot help but think that eventually this collection of information and stories and random thoughts gliding through this simple mind of mine will explode into a plethora of writing.  Today, while my hands, as well as the rest of my body (working too much has a way of doing this), do not feel like writing at all, I believe I need to force my hands hand (a small chuckle echoes through my head at my perceived cleverness) and write something.  This is where you find me tonight.

My first series of books (at least I think it will be first), #ProjectSankhari, were originally planned as a trio of books.  That gave birth to an unnumbered set of sequels set in motion by the first trio.  I now believe that there is too much story for just three books.  Only time will tell, however.  I do promise you now and forever, dear reader, that I will not write simply to make money.  If the story is not there, neither will be my pen.  Or my tablet, as it were.

I am sure you are asking yourself at this point, "So what is your story about since it looks like a huge deal?  Why should I care about this book?"  Those would be very good questions, indeed.  Let me first start with the why.  While I do believe that I shall more than likely cherish and nurture the characters and stories in my head, I am confident these lives stuck inside this mind are going to start in familiar territory and lead (draw you, even) into new realms.  Alright.  Now with that kind of introduction, I present the story of a young man on the cusp of deciding who he is and yearning to know where he comes from, only to find out his life is more important than he had ever imagined.  This boy goes on a journey to reclaim the life he thought he wanted and finds the world he was destined for.

I hope this entices you to continue following me, and, further, to read these stories my faithful hands produce.  Until then, please enjoy this ink.

The Beginning of the Beginning

You may not have any idea of who I am, but I hope to change that.  One day my name will be a household name.  Until then, you have me right here, all to yourself.

The ideas are there, sometimes so many it feels like my head will explode if I don't get it written down.  With a handful of kiddos, a wife, and the real world beckoning me, it becomes difficult to release these ideas into the atmosphere.  I've got to get these burgeoning stories to you.  I have decided that today I shall make the promise, both to myself and you, to do everything I can to get them to you.  No more procrastinating.  No more relying on my handsome good looks to get me by in life.  Today is the beginning of the beginning of my words getting to you.

In the meantime allow me to introduce myself to you.  I have had stories inside this tiny little mind of mine for the better part of twenty years, and one day I may go back and finish the first story I ever thought of writing.  That actually sounds like a great idea.  Go to the beginning and allow this story to come full circle.  We'll get there one day, I promise.

I have been married for several years, though, for all the time we have been married, it seems like I just asked for her hand.  When I said we have a handful of kiddies, I meant an entire handful, ranging from early teen to a noob at life.  A dog quasi-named after a gangster and a Boondock Saint for a cat round out the cast of my life.  Each of them make my life worthwhile.  However, Dutch and Murphy still has some room improvement.