And We're Off

Besides being just another jock, I aspire and attempt to actually write stories. Sometimes funny stories, sometimes meaningful stories, sometimes stories that make you laugh or make you cry. I write because I love to read. In reading, you and the author form a symbiotic relationship akin to a short-term marriage. Initially, you're excited by the hand-holding of a new book, the first words spoken seem fresh, and the touch of page-turning is stimulating. As the relationship goes on, you might have your fights, your differences, but ultimately you persevere because you're invested in the concepts, the characters, the prose or the plot.

Sometimes, those differences are too many, and you throw the book down in disgust, stomp on it as it stomped on your heart and then launch it into the fiery center of a thousand burning suns to carve its very essence from reality.

Or else you donate it to a library.

Whichever.

Having been enamoured by a master story-teller at an early age, I had the naive belief that all authors subscribed to such high-minded and in-depth story-telling. Alas, this was not the case. Some authors were redundant, foolish, some down right boring. Floundering in this sea, awash with need for a decent story, I took on the role of story-teller myself.

Flash forward two decades, and I've only managed to truly complete one story in novel form. During those long, cold, despondant years of hope I have learned that wanting is by far easier than having.

For example, I want to be a world class runner, make money from my looks and live in quiet semi-seclusion near a lake appearing at regular intervals on talk shows to share the secrets of my success.

What I have is some vague hope to actually finish a 10K, about $28 in my savings account, and a nice house with electrical issues and a tendency to pass all earthly heat into the brittle winter night.

Still, I aspire to become better than I am. I run reguarly, work semi-hard, and try to mend my house into the semblance of modern architectural genuis that it can be. I also write on a regular basis, trying to tell my stories in a way that is compelling, interesting and above all sellable.

To that end, recently I stumbled upon an American Idol-type contest sponsored by Simon & Schuster publishing and an online writer's forum. The contest is called First Chapters and gives unpublished authors a chance to be read, critiqued and voted upon. The site puts up your first chapter, and people vote on it. If you get enough votes, you go to the second round and then the third round and perhaps the Winner's Circle of a publishing contract and book promotion. This seemed to me like an interesting opportunity and so I submitted my Tears of Heaven for consideration.

I am pleased to say that it was accepted to the contest and is now up for the first round which you can now read, critique and grant 10 stars to as the best work of fiction you've laid eyes upon in your entire life.

Or, you know, 9 stars if you're feeling conservative.

If you're not familiar with the premise of my story, here's a short synopsis:

Nephilim are the half-angels that have lived among mortals for centuries doomed to serve or die. Their service includes the fighting of demons, stronger, faster and able to channel dark powers. Del is one of the best at this work, and yet even she has failed from time to time. Centuries before now, she found love. Centuries later, she has only pain, anger and despair. Now, with the lives and souls of children on the line, as well as her own, she must overcome her own doubts on the most dangerous mission of her life.

Hope that's something that you would enjoy reading.