What's My Brand?

We've got company

I hate modern terminology. My brand? What am I, a toaster? I am so much more than that, yet I feel so insignificant it's almost amusing. I am told that proper branding is essential for an author to communicate to readers what they can expect from my written work. Before I get to that, let me tell you a little bit about myself.

My earliest memory is the smell of hay and alfalfa. The hay was wrapped with twine in bales about 14 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 36 inches in length, weighing in at 40 to 60 pounds apiece. These bales were stacked in large rectangular blocks right at the edge of the pasture. Before the age of five, I would play on those bales. If some bales had been used to feed the livestock that day, the empty space would make a nice terraced stair-step up to the top of the pile. Once I was old enough, I would be helping my dad as best I could to bale and stack that hay. The bales were heavy and very large, but I would do my best with a small bale hook, which was a handheld hook-shaped implement that I would use to pull the bale off the hay trailer so that my father could lift it up onto the stack. After finishing the pile, I would walk around pretending I was a pirate.

On that ranch, we had a thousand acres, with cattle and horses. I used to go with my father in the winter to watch him and some of the neighbors use dynamite to blow out the ice from the watering holes. Those were the good memories.

The bad ones are best left untold.

One of my greatest strengths is empathy. I can almost experience other people’s pain and joy as if it were my own. This ability has enabled me to imagine myself as that other person and connect with them in a way that makes them feel genuinely cared for. It has also led me into periods of deep despair. As a writer, it helps me get inside the minds of my characters. Some are easier to understand than others.

Another strength is my imagination. I spent the first eight years of my life on a farm, where I often found myself alone when I wasn't at school or helping my father with chores. During this time, I would talk to anyone willing to listen: cows, horses, my dog, bales of hay, and quite frequently, God. I crafted entire worlds in my mind.

After we lost the farm and relocated to a more populated area, I had to share that space. By the time I was in sixth grade, I had attended four different schools, never really able to put down roots. I was always the new kid, and I really didn't possess the right skills to fit in. Being labeled as "weird" can be beneficial. I frequently found myself watching the interactions of my classmates from afar. I wasn't participating, just observing.

When observing human behavior informally, I've noticed that individuals have various desires and objectives, but fundamentally, we all share a common trait: we tend to prioritize ourselves over others. Don't misunderstand me; self-preservation is beneficial. It can lead to remarkable accomplishments, such as the making of our constitutional republic or launching the first rocket into space. I've also encountered a few genuinely selfless individuals in my life—those who would give you their last dollar to help you.

Yet we have heroes in our midst who come close to absolute selflessness every day. Mothers who wake up in the middle of the night for a sick child. Fathers who get up early to go to a job they hate just to earn a living to support their family. We see long-term caregivers, teachers, delivery drivers, and the guy who stocks shelves at the local grocery store who may go above and beyond just to help another human.

When I reflect on my identity (my brand, I guess. Did I mention I hate that word?), it's striking how ordinary I really am. I didn't go to a renowned Ivy League school, nor did I have an exciting career in the military, national intelligence, or law enforcement. However, I have met individuals who are outstanding in those fields and have maximized their talents. I've also read a good deal of literature on national security, and believe me, what passes in academic circles as groundbreaking probably would not make a headline in the East Podunkville Herald. Herein lies the problem: all the juicy stuff is classified, and even if I had the security clearances to read about it, I certainly wouldn't be able to write about it. Instead, I am relegated to reading old declassified documents about events from long ago that have seemingly little bearing on today's world.

My aim as a writer is to explore the complexities of human behavior and authentically portray these actions in my work. In reality, I might perceive the world somewhat differently from other authors. While my characters are bound only by my creativity, their actions must align with their personalities and the real world. I've also learned that the funniest aspect of life is how unaware people can be about their own behavior.

My perspective on the world might be considered somewhat old-fashioned. I hold the belief that truth and justice exist and that a time of judgment will come. We might not witness these outcomes in this life. On the other hand, mercy and grace are also present. It is often said that we are living in an age of grace, which is a wonderful idea.

The issue of realism and the extent to which it should be incorporated into storytelling is a constant internal struggle for me. This brings me to the practical consideration of including elements like violence, sex, and language within the story's context. At times, when I'm crafting a scene, it feels unrealistic for a character to simply say something dismissive like "darn it." On the other hand, I'm not fond of using curse words in my daily vocabulary, let alone writing. It feels as burdensome as adding a 30-pound dumbbell to my luggage. However, in reality, the world we inhabit is filled with people who swear frequently. I've met people who have invented some very creative ways to curse with every thought that comes out of their mouth.

Another element of my "brand" is resisting the urge to preach within my stories. Rather than delivering a gospel message, I aim to depict characters who, despite knowing and believing the gospel, are as human and flawed as those who do not. At the core of their beliefs lies the understanding that what they hold to be true is solid and real, as tangible as the desk where I write these words. Their worldview will inevitably clash with other characters who think differently.

I've also studied national security at the graduate level. Believe me, I'm no better informed now than when I first started my journey, but I love the idea of taking current events and projecting potential scenarios to their logical end. Sometimes, as I write and a scene unfolds, I actually surprise myself with how unique it seems. And then I read the news and realize, nope, what I wrote actually can happen.

For example, I started writing Maskirovka in the fall of 2021, under the working title UFO Sheriff. It was supposed to be about a rural sheriff who discovers a UFO and tries to warn the community. Eventually, he ends up testifying before Congress and is hindered by outside forces. Then, in the summer of 2023, two whistleblowers came forward to testify before Congress regarding their encounters with UAPs. Honestly, I wish I could write faster.

I've changed the story significantly over the years, but with each new iteration, I've added layers of characters who drive the story to its conclusion. The result: Maskirovka blends action and adventure with a hint of espionage, some romance, and sets the plot against a backdrop of aliens and UFOs (UAPs). Imagine a mix of Indiana Jones and The X-Files.

If the reader can connect with me, it might be in this: I'm just an ordinary guy with thoughts about the world that are not necessarily ordinary. I am different. If you like different, you might enjoy my novel Maskirovka.

I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, I'll create more. I've included several short stories on this page for you to get a taste of my writing style. As a bonus, these stories provide the backstories to the main characters in Maskirovka. If you're curious about what happens next, I hope you'll purchase Maskirovka and enjoy the ride.