I used to tell myself that I could and should write a book, but life is what happens between your plans. Ironically, the procrastination worked in my favor. Had I tried to write this twenty years ago, the story would’ve been underdeveloped, an impatient chef serving an undercooked meal. I didn’t yet have the perspectives of a father or a man with responsibilities that extend beyond the freedom of being a bachelor. Time and life had to sharpen a few things. I had to sharpen a few things.

For the most part, the characters in my debut novel lived in my head for nearly twenty years. Over those years, even while procrastinating, I worked on my craft. I’d scribble memories on napkins at two in the morning from a dream I just had before it evaporated into the ether of the subconscious. As technology advanced, I’d text myself with new concepts. I kept it all until I was finally ready to bring them together. Eventually, nearly a year after I sat down with purpose, I created Half of Us - Book One, the first installment in a Half of Us trilogy.

Now that Book One is out and Book Two is in the works, I’m learning what it feels like to invite others into a place that lived privately in my mind for so long. It’s both humbling and invigorating. I’ve served in the military, and I’ve maintained a profession that allows me to connect with people from all over the world almost daily. The discipline and communication that I’ve embraced with both have allowed me to strengthen characters and stories that can feel almost universal. I take pride in such artistic realism.

If you enjoy character-driven fiction that explores relationships, ambition, subtleties, desire, and the peaks and valleys of the human condition, I’d love for you to check out my work, starting with Half of Us - Book One. And I’d love to hear about a creative project that you held onto for years before you finally shared it.