The Woman Behind the Author
This was just going to be a Facebook post… but the writer in me got ahold of the concept and ran away with it—and I’m glad he did!
I have to give credit to my biggest fan, supporter and #1 reader. And while my parents, brother, and the rest of my family have always been a huge support, in the last couple years the scales have shifted. This truly amazing woman was the driving force behind getting me back into writing and pushing me to finish my first book. While I wrote a lot in High School and started multiple projects, I quit after graduating and barely touched them again. I hadn’t given up on them, but I just marked it off as a passion that didn’t have a place in the real world. Well, this woman came along and shed some light onto that lie...
Our first Christmas being married she put hours of work and man—well, WOman—power into my present. I wasn’t even allowed to go into the room where she was putting it together and I had no idea what was to come. On Christmas morning when I walked into that room, I was shocked and I didn’t know what to think. Sitting there, in the spare bedroom of our apartment, was a wooden desk, but that wasn’t the best part, it was all the “stuff” on the desk— the small pieces that brought the desk to life. Among those was an item that I treasured most of all and even now, it sits on my desk, helping to motivate me when I need a little push. It was a small handmade book labeled, Joshua’s Book of Writing Inspiration. I sat down and read the little dorky pictures about writing, the quotes and, at the end, a personal note from my wife. I’ll admit—and I don’t admit this much—I cried. It was not only the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given me but it meant so much more. It meant that no matter what we faced in this life, she would be standing right by my side, through thick and thin, blood and gore, highs and lows, and even in something I didn’t consider important at the time, she would support me.
That was the event that started me down the road I’m on now. As I sit here at my desk—the same one she got me over a year ago—I just can’t help but feel overwhelmed. God has blessed me in so many areas of my life and put some truly supportive people around me, but none more so than my gorgeous wife. Since that Christmas, I have finished two manuscripts, published a book and turned a passion into a budding career (well, God has done all that through me), but more importantly I have my priorities straight.
Now, let me explain something, she didn’t just get me a desk that inspired me to write. She has been here every step of the way, helping me at every turn. She’s put up with me pecking away on the keyboard long into the wee hours of the night in our now, one room home/apartment. She’s listened to me weave grand tales of future works, rant about how awesome writing is and curse vigorously when things aren’t working out. She is my biggest help in editing and proofreading; we spent an entire week working together, which consisted of five to eight hour days reading through Outbreak. She has held nothing back when telling me the parts of the manuscripts she liked, things that needed changing, and things she hated. She has worked tirelessly, sketching emblems and symbols for me and painting a cover for The Weapon. She has stood by me as we dumped hundreds of dollars into this, hoping beyond hope it would pay off. She has inspired me to create realistic characters by learning to understand people and why they do the things they do. She has pushed me to do better, think better, write better, BE better! Honestly, I could sit here for hours and list all the things she has done for me, not just in writing, but in life as well. But I’ll spare you all that and just sum it up with a simple statement.
God provided me with a companion to share in the adventure that is life and she is far
beyond anything I could ever imagine in a thousand lifetimes—and I’m a writer!
Sarah, I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve done, but I will spend the rest of my life doing my best to show you how much you mean to me and how much I love you! I couldn’t begin to do any of this without you, my Deer!
From my desk to you,
