I got that call recently. That moment doesn't seem to want to end.
My good friend Daniel committed suicide a little over a week ago.
Anyone that's lost someone this way knows how it feels. The surreal haze that just settles over everything. And every time someone asks how you're holding up, the wall cracks a little more, and nothing feels like it will ever be the same again.
Every night when I sit down to write, I find that I just can't. It doesn't help that both of my current projects feature characters based on him. If you've read Son of Thunder, the character of Dan is basically just Daniel in a Fantasy setting. The thought of working on scenes featuring him is a little terrifying. What if it's wrong? What if the words don't honor him the way they should?
The thought of writing like I normally do doesn't sit right. I know that'll go away, but right now? Right now it's impossible for me to work. Last night I started writing a comic book script because it was different enough that it felt safe. It's probably horrible, but at least I was able to work on something.
Anyway, that's not what this post is about. It's more of an announcement than anything, I just wanted to share that news to help explain this next part.
As you may or may not know, I have a table at Salt Lake FanX, March 17-18. I'll be selling copies of both Fixer and Son of Thunder. And, in memory of Daniel, I will be donating a portion of the sales to a charity that benefits suicide prevention. I don't know which one yet, but research is being done, and phone calls/emails are being made. And it won't just be sales made at the convention. Any online sales for the duration of the show and at least the following week(likely longer) will be factored into that donation. This applies to ebook, paperback, and audio format.
And it's not just me. Another good friend, Joshua Mayne, has a short story that will be available on Kindle in the next week or so, and he's generously offered to include a portion of his sales for that time as well. In fact, for the duration of the show, Josh is planning on donating 100% of his sales. So, please, tell your friends. You get an awesome story, and you get to help with a worthy cause.
Stay tuned for more news as we get closer to show, including a link for Joshua's story when it goes live.
And even if you feel like you can't purchase anything at this time, you can still help. How? By being good to each other. Tell your friends how much you appreciate them. Let everyone in your life know that they would be missed if they weren't there anymore. Try your damnedest to brighten someone's day. And if you find yourself in a dark place without any sign of light, reach out. You don't have to be alone. There is always, always, someone willing to listen. I promise.
