A Story of Crime, Romance, Betrayal, and Mystery

     They knew all the right things to say to convince me. Who am I to turn down such an incredible deal? I was a desperate man, and they seemed like professionals willing to help.

     My name is Samuel Davis and I used to be what some may call “unemployable.” You see, I have never been afraid to bend the rules a little, but then the whole “criminal law of the land” issue arises. Of course, I was not very good at it, but I at least managed to stay out of jail and the grave. I hated being a criminal, but I had no choice.

     Why not just go get myself a regular job? Well, I tried: I used to work as a carpenter for several different companies, a locksmith here and there, and for a little while I even chopped wood near my home and tried to sell it. But after a while construction projects stop, people quit hiring, and firewood is replaced by electricity.

     Oh, and this was not the worst part. My home was falling apart and food is not free, so I had to borrow money from countless places. But of course, an unemployed man borrowing money is a fast road to disaster: the loans were ready to default and banks would not even look at a man like me. So give me a break for accepting the agreement. Desperate men do crazy things.

Do you like what you see? This is the intro to my new novel Obscura: The Contract. Check out the rest of the story and follow Sam's incredible journey here! 

If you wish to preview the first chapter, leave a comment or message me, and I will get back to you as soon as possible! I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

No Moment in Life is Insignificant

     Sometimes the only way up is down. Sometimes you must tear yourself down to build yourself up. Sometimes the only way to appreciate something is to lose it. Sometimes the only way to enjoy your life is to be thrown into another person's shoes. Sometimes the only way to be glad for yourself is to destroy everything you know.

     Be glad you are at least alive. There is always someone in a worse situation than you can possibly be in. Be thankful for everything in your life; anything can be turned to benefit you if you look at it in the right perspective. If all you do is search for darkness, you will never find the light.

     I lost someone dear to me a few months ago, and I have just now decided to write about it. It hurts to look back and realize I can never see or speak to this person again. I am trying to move forward and stay motivated, but it is harsh realizing my mistakes.

     Do not let a single moment seem insignificant to you, even the bad times. I have grown as a person and hope to inspire others to grow the same way. Without pain, there is no pleasure. We must learn from our mistakes to make the future a better one for those around us, and for those who come after us.

I would like to hear about your struggles, and how you pushed past them. I wish to seek the light in all situations and would appreciate your support in this dark time. Thank you for reading.

The Pursuit of Realism

     Some people read to escape reality and leave this world. However, some people enjoy the world we are in and read with this in mind. This is where things get tricky. Anyone with an imagination has the ability to create their own worlds and rules to govern said universe, but how can a writer adhere to our universe's rules and still write good literature?

     In a fantasy world, if a writer is stuck, all they have to do is make up something which, at worst, just makes sense. Sometimes they get lucky and it all falls together beautifully, but odds are it feels loose and forced. This is beside the point, though. In fantasy anything is possible, so theoretically a writer should never become stuck in an impossible situation for the characters or the plot in general.

     When writing a piece based in our universe, the writer must be careful to stay within our logical boundaries. They can't (or at least shouldn't!) make up crazy or impossibly convenient situations to help the story move along. The reader feels cheated, or the characters miss out on important development. This is where intense research and planning come into play.

     During the course of writing my first novel, I learned just how tricky it is to thread a good story together which is both logical and entertaining. In my head I had planned out this elaborate criminal drug lab underground in the middle of a large city. Of course, knowing I wanted everything to make sense, I did extensive research and discovered several obvious issues with my plan (the process is too complex for a city, the large shipments of raw cocoa leaves to a rundown apartment, etc.)

     As sad as I was, I knew it was the right thing to discard this idea and move on with the story. From that moment forward, I told myself I would be one hundred percent positive all my facts were checked and I would have a logical story in my hands.

     The last thing I want is readers to question the logic of what I write. An entertaining, yet sensible read is perhaps the best thing a writer can create. If you write in our universe the way it is, why break reason when you can avoid it?

He Loves You

Your eyes lock for the first time. It was an instant romance. You fell for his devilish smile. He thinks you're the most beautiful person in the world. Everything in the world is okay because

He loves you 

You catch him talking to another girl in the hall. She says they are together. He says it is a joke. He promises. Everything is okay because

He loves you 

He proposes. Your whole dream together is falling into place. The next day you catch him kissing another. He apologizes. Everything is okay because

He loves you 

Church bells are ringing. Your wedding day. You dab makeup over the black eye and smile through the pain. He says he would never again. Everything is okay because

He loves you

Three months pregnant. A little baby girl for her father. One argument. He broke his promise. No more little girl, no more little dreams. Everything is okay because

He loves you

Long day at work. Come home to the smell of another's perfume. She's lying in your bed. In the house you two built together. You scream. He says he would never again. Everything is okay because 

He loves you 

Heading down the interstate. Driver wasn't looking. Hospital bed for life. No husband. No comfort. He's out with another, telling her she's his whole world. But everything is okay because

He loves you
Doesn't he?