I was pleasantly surprised by all the positive feedback I got from my blog, The Story You Live. If you happened to read it and gain something from it, I just want to say "Thanks." I tried to make the overall message an encouraging one, while talking about the struggles with my faith and being a writer and a man at the same time. It can be a juggling act, but I wanted to go full steam ahead. Some people wrote to me that they were sorry I didn't recognize God in my life, and I admit that's been hard, but I have also seen Him at work plenty, and despite the publishing road, there is plenty to be thankful for. I plan on staying on that path and trying to remain as optimistic as I can be. For a natural born cynic, that can be challenging. I like to believe that I'm trying something more than just writing stories, and that I want to make you feel and think about things in a different light, while moving and entertaining you at the same time with the beauty of that thing we all love: imagination.
I recently saw IT in the theaters with my girlfriend, and it made me want to go back and read the book and re-explore King's older work, the man who made me want to be a writer in the first place when I read Pet Sematary at the age of 15. I also wanted to revisit some of my older work and see if it had the possibility to resonate like those tales. That seems a tall order, and though you can be influenced by plenty of people, you still have to remain true to your own creativity and self. I think I try to do that more than anything.
I just finished a rough draft of my latest novel, a cheeky sort of crime noir/Lovecraftian tale. I think I night finally have a title, which for the moment is The Night of Dagon. It's a modern retelling of The Shadow Over Innsmouth. But it was fun to write and hopefully it will be available soon, despite edits and cover art and all that fun stuff.
I am still chasing my dream and have found several readers lately that I've chatted with online, and it's been nice to reach out and hear their stories. That's one thing I really enjoy about this business.
I want to give a shout out to those who have been battling the hurricanes in the south. It's funny when you sit here struggling as a writer, checking your sales, laboring at your day job, and you see people who are losing their homes, loved ones, and things of that nature. Life is a brutal beast, and it often reminds me how important it is to reach out to others, no matter how insecure, secluded, or isolated we might feel and be. My thoughts and prayers are with you down there. Be smart and safe!