Because I Must

There's something magical about creating a story, a special something that offers me more than a chance to express myself. I don't know what that something is, but I need it. I want it. I must have it.

There have been so many times in the past several years that I thought about giving up writing, so many times that I tried convincing myself that the time I spend pounding out words onto a laptop would be better spent doing something else. Every time, I fall back to one single thought:

I write because I must.

Shaping worlds and emotions onto a page is my therapy, I think. There's so much chaos and noise and distractions around me that finding a quiet spot and writing helps clear my head and keep me focused on what's really important. And I like that.

I started plotting a new book a couple days ago and can't wait to get into the words. It's another YA Thriller, a genre that I'm currently drawn to. Hopefully, like by last book, it turns into something special. We'll see.

I heard a quote over twenty years ago that's stuck with me since. "I write to unravel the tangled web of my mind." I have no idea who said it, but I believe it applies to me more than most things. Anyway, that's it for now.

Happy Reading.

 ~ Jamie

Ten Random Facts

I've decided that my shiny new YA Thriller needs an entry into #PitchWars, so I thought I’d re-introduce myself and share ten random facts about me. If you'd like to know about other authors who will also be participating, you can find their bios in this post. For those who are new to my blog, welcome. Dig around because there's plenty to discover. 

1.      I love movies. All of our kids and pets are named after main characters from the following movies:

·         Beetlejuice

·         Last of the Mohicans

·         Lord of the Rings

·         Return of the Jedi

·         Sabrina

·         X-Men

2.      My last Five Netflix watches are:

·         Friday Night Lights (the series)

·         Kingpin

·         Zoolander

·         The Pursuit of Happiness

·         50 First Dates

3.      I met my wife while I was dating her sister. She thought I was a dork.

4.      My wife and I celebrated 20 years of marriage this past June. She still thinks I’m a dork.

5.      I love thunderstorms and sailing, but not at the same time.

6.      I served two years in France as a church missionary. I lived in Chartres, Corbeil-Essonnes, Paris, and Troyes.

7.      I decided I wanted to write at age 15 after a tragic canoeing accident on the Snake River.

8.      I was once followed into a restroom by a man who thought I was Tom Hanks and wanted an autograph. (I don’t look anything like Tom Hanks)

9.      I’m currently reading Don’t Look Back by Jennifer Armentrout.

10.  I’m super shy unless you put me in front of a microphone. Then I’ll talk your ear off.

There you have it. Ten things you didn't know about me. I’m pleased to meet you. Oh yeah, my book is about a guy who gets buried alive by his girlfriend. I love thrillers and I'm scared of getting buried alive, so I figured this would be a great project. And it has been a blast! It has reminded me how much I love storytelling and has pushed me to improve my writing. I hope, I really hope that I can get this book fine tuned enough to entice a publisher because there are so many fantastic elements inside and I believe that people could really get into this. 

Happy Reading.

 ~ Jamie

Out of the Cave

Where have I been? What have I been doing?

Stuff. Lots and lots of stuff. I lead a busy life. Oh, and reading and writing.

I am going to climb out of the cave soon for some social sunlight. I have a new book and it's so close to being shiny and bright that I can't keep the awesomeness a secret any longer. Pardon me as I stretch my arms for a bit and get used to the light. More to come, so watch out!

Happy Reading.

 ~ Jamie