Fire In The Woods

May 29 there was my dog, my daughter, and a car fire.  I had just spent about two months trying to escape a horrific job opportunity that fell apart after my first staff meeting when a co-worker said he would hit me with his hockey stick. I did say he was acting like a three year old and that enraged him a bit.  Point being, my family got out of there on my daughters birthday. Three hours into the move to Georgia, smoke engulfed the SUV I was hauling.  I pulled over and attempted to separate the u-haul from the SUV which had a fire in the engine.  Two strangers pulled over and offered to assist.  My eight year old was overseeing our dog nestled comfortably between our seats. Two strangers and I watched the SUV become engulfed in flames while tires exploded into traffic.  I became that guy who held up traffic for miles while firemen attempted to douse the charred remains of boxes and personal items. Long story short (tooo late)

I had just spent two years in the Middle East. While I was there I wrote this self described master piece of middle grade fiction about a boy scared of the woods entitled Woodland.  It was completed until the Big ending. I had stored a copy on my computer and a copy on a jump drive which was in the SUV. I realized this when I got home to Georgia. Internally, there was weeping and nashing of teeth. Then i remember I had a version on the computer which made it home however, in the move the computer took some damage and all I could see was the blue screen of death. I thought my story about the beloved woodlands had been lost to the fire.

I started over. The ordeal inspired me...or required me to start fresh with a new story, a new boy, and an adventure to Mexico. That's where I am today. I haven't give up on the inspiration given to me by my Writing and English teachers. They each said I had a gift and I should use it. Yes, my parents thought that as well but shouldn't they?? After all, I was the beloved first and favorite child...and only. 

There are plenty of unanswered question presented in this blog. I may or may not get to them. What I do want to do is document the struggled and euphoric sensation of completing this second 50,000 word middle grade fiction that keeps me young. I'm bogged down, busy, booked, and trying my best to finished what I started. This second word baby of mine has been a thrill and a small, screw you, to the car fire which I thought had destroyed my dream of publishing a book. I've been published and paid, but never for a book. I really don't expect anything from this except an accomplished goal and the title of author. So here we go.