Randy Mitchell's Blog - Posts Tagged "randy-mitchell"

Living Like A Ferrari

This isn't an article about a car, well, not really. Rather, it's a discussion about how a Ferrari would feel if one were to be human. It's about the type of emotions it would carry inside: the pain, sorrows, celebrations, respect and love it would show others. It's about the power and confidence provided to those lucky enough to drive and appreciate being in its presence. It's also about the overall image it would project to the world if made of blood, guts and true feelings.

A Ferrari is an amazing machine. It's mostly hand made to razor-like specifications and precision by those gifted geniuses in Maranello, Italy. Its powerful engine performs and sounds like nothing else on the road today. The interior is constructed of the finest quality leather and highest polished chrome, its body is given several coats of hand mixed optimal paint, and chassis is built to ease drivers around the tightest of turns without the slightest hesitation. There are other super cars which are just as fast and cost more, but a Ferrari, just its name sends chills through the pickiest of automobile enthusiasts.

I had the pleasure of driving a Ferrari for a weekend once, and believe me; it lived up to its reputation and legacy. Just admiring every detail from its bulging engine, the feel of its super-soft leather, the stance of its tires, and richness of its paint kept me admiring for hours (can you tell I'm a car guy) and that was while simply sitting stationary in my garage. Maybe it was a guy thing, but I found myself unable to sleep knowing what was waiting to be driven downstairs.

The Ferrari brand is rarely advertised on TV. You'll seldom see any self-promotion or competitive campaign trying to grab buyers and thrust them into showrooms. A salesman assisting a Ferrari buyer doesn't need to work very hard because the quality of his product is realistically unmatched. And with the price of a new model (depending on version) well north of $200,000 plus, demand for this sexy beast is as strong as ever--in this economy, just imagine that.

If a human being could be a, Ferrari, wouldn't you love being one?

Ferrari's wouldn't struggle getting their points across to others because their words would always carry great weight, trust, depth and influence. People wouldn't hesitate to believe them because of their competitive winning history, superb quality image and stellar reputation. A Ferrari would never lie or play games. He would have nothing to prove. Any celebrities or politicians out there who can match that?

A Ferrari would always demand respect from others, because it could, and wouldn't accept anything less. It wouldn't need anyone else because it performs just fine on its own. It likes itself, and is extremely comfortable in its own skin. It tells itself that it's beautiful on the inside out, and the world wholeheartedly agrees with its confidence. If you were friends with a Ferrari you'd be proud to know one and most likely want to be friends for life. A Ferrari wouldn't be jealous of your successes, your looks, or engage in any petty disagreements because it wouldn't hang out with persons of low quality. A Ferrari's friends would be Lamborghini's, Mercedes', Porsche's etc, in other words, those sharing similar traits and values. He would demand, and surround himself with the finest in companionship and personal behavior. This machine would only hang out with supportive personalities, not negative ones. Why? Because a Ferrari is the best and he knows it.

Many these days share their products, services and personal opinions on social media. They seek others likes, re-tweets and shares. It's a constant competition to see who's moved up the search engine ladders and gets the most "hits" on their blogs and websites. Some have even made it a full time job striving to become the next, Social Media King or Queen. But, what would a Ferrari do here? Would he spend his time posting and re-posting? Or would he do so occasionally, allowing his stellar reputation to grow his audience? Money, it would never be a problem for a Ferrari because everyone would gladly pay for his products and services knowing they're receiving the absolute finest.

I doubt a Ferrari would have many relationship troubles. Whether or not this human machine is a guy or his sexy sister, a Ferrari would have the luxury of being choosy when selecting a mate. Think about it, the ones who created a Ferrari (designers) put together perhaps the finest individual there is. His lineage is one of blue-blooded genes. His siblings come from the same mold. He was taught to be, and is, the smartest and arguably fastest in the room. He maintains himself extremely well and strives to always act, and appear at his best. When he enters a social situation (road) others instantly know his reputation is impeccable. There is little to no competition because everyone recognizes his name and he doesn't need to sell himself to anyone. He attracts the best because he is the best and his children will inherit his morality. Very rarely would anyone pick a fight with a Ferrari because they know they would most likely loose. If a Ferrari heard someone expressing negativity towards him, he wouldn't give it a passing thought and just keep going faster and faster.

All of us have lived like Ford's, Chevy's and Volkswagen's at one time or another. However, living as a Ferrari would is a life worth striving for.

Ever had a big dream, huge aspirations to do something truly great, wanted to be "somebody" who is far out of the realm of your personal comfort zone, desired to leave your mark on the world for history to exhibit your legacy?

We all have them, deep inside, those hopes and dreams churning within. It's great when we begin taking action: writing your first novel, blindly flying off to Hollywood to pursue an acting career, working hard for that next promotion, even going after the relationship you've always craved. We have but one life to live and should pursue what we truly want; whatever that is personally, but here's the thing: the higher you go and closer you get to your destiny the more forces will come against you. The more obstacles and hurdles you'll have to clear. At this point, there's a choice you must make: Plunge ahead like a surging locomotive or let negative forces talk you out of what you really want.

Big dreams come with big problems. Average people have average problems, but outstanding people have much greater bridges to cross. Nothing comes free and rarely does success arrive without paying a price. But, if you really want what your heart desires you must be willing to fight thru those impending battles.

Have you ever noticed the second you start becoming successful how quickly negativity clouds begin forming? How voices appear telling you it can't be done, that you don't have the talent, the looks, the personality, the time, the patience, the connections, the drive or the passion. And inevitably, some of those claiming to be your friends and supporters suddenly find reasons to keep you down, to stay at their level, to ignore your efforts; even try talking you out of what you want to accomplish. Have you ever noticed how much pettiness, jealousy, even disrespect appears once you draw closer to your goals?

Here's a key to getting ahead: Focus on your ambitions rather than allowing anything, or anyone to alter your course. Don't ever listen to the reasons why you can't do something, only listen to the one who says you can do something, YOU! Ignore your critics but pay attention to those willing to help you. When you have a true vision and believe in your talents, the right people at the right time will miraculously arrive, bringing things into reality.

Many of you reading my articles are writers, you have visions of becoming published and having your books placed on shelves where they can be bought, read and passed along to others. It's a great thing to pursue and is wonderful when it happens--personally, it took over three years and lots of querying before my first novel finally went to print with a traditional publisher. Did I have lots of voices and opposition along the way? Absolutely. Did I care? I wouldn't be human if I said I didn't. Did I learn to shake them off and keep going after what I wanted? Absolutely.

No matter what great things you're striving for, don't ever talk yourself out of it. And even if your dreams come to pass the negativity will be right behind, chomping at your heels, just waiting for you to fail. The devil hates success; he curses your willingness to rise higher and wants you to stay right where you are. Don't listen to him and don't allow yourself to give in to the lie.

One of the best ways of attaining what you want is to surround yourself with positive people; those who genuinely have your best interests at heart. You may have friends and family members who've said how much they want the best for you, and how you should, "Go for It!" when pursuing your dreams. Yet, when things start coming together, suddenly and miraculously, their positivity begins dwindling; the best thing to do is either minimize your time or dismiss them altogether. After all, some people come into our lives for merely a season; they're simply not meant for the long term.

Risk for reward and fear are also worth mentioning. If you're not willing to swim in deep waters, then don't expect to navigate the journey. If you're afraid of "what could happen," then your allowing past issues and personal hang-ups to ruin your future--a future better than you could ever imagine if you would simply let go of the shackles holding you back.

My wish is for anyone willing to dig deep and put in the work for them to be rewarded. I want successful people everywhere, making our society much more positive. And positivity breeds success.

When an author of fiction sits down to pen a novel, he has a fairly decent idea of what his story is about. He has characters in mind, places envisioned, a general idea of the plot which can make or break his efforts.

Many, like me, write from the gut and develop the book as inspiration hits while typing. Not so easy, as oftentimes this can become a very time-consuming endeavor. Others, like mega-author, John Grisham strictly believe in formatting an outline first then placing the story on paper; specifically seeing the story from beginning to end and then crafting a readable manuscript. No outline, no book, those are words they live by. The rationale is you don’t want to arrive on page 250 of 400 and draw a blank, then, you’re in big trouble.

Both methods work, but first and foremost, you have to actually see the story, right? This brings up the question: What/Who do you see and where do you go to envision your stories? What propels the creativity fairy to arrive and pay you a much-needed visit?
We’ve all heard the saying, “Writers write about what they know.” Much truth to this, no? After all, many writers have places and people they draw inspiration from.

Personally, I’ve learned to write about cities lived and visited, occupations worked in, and people who’ve made lasting impressions on me, for good or bad. For various authors, their lives are colorful enough to fill thousands of pages. For others, seeking out new ideas and visions to accompany the ones they already have is the needed answer.

My newest work-in-progress takes place in a small town outside of Dallas; and as it just happens, one where some of my family resides. So, I’m very familiar with the landscape. And there’s something about the charm of small-town living that draws people in and makes great stories--especially when there’re jackals living among good God-fearing, non-drinking, dinner-at-six type folks.

I always thought a tiny town, one like this, which rarely makes the news or gains much attention, could use a giant shakeup. Something that makes people pace the floors at night, pulls upon their greed, and tests generations of family bonds. It would take a lot to change the lifestyles of small-town attitudes; however, nothing gets peoples attention faster than the lure of buried treasure, so to speak.

Here’s where I’m going with this. I’ve known for a while what I wanted the story to be about, yet, I couldn’t envision some of the plotline I knew lay beneath the surface. So, after plenty of frustration, I did what any crazed writer would do, I started visiting the places I had in mind, and it’s helped immensely

There’s the old gas station turned restaurant/bar in the middle of nowhere (GPS required) where I hear moonshine is bottled and sold after midnight, the historic-looking town square both at lunchtime and way past dark, the biker bar where I was noticeably overdressed (tattoos and pissed-off attitude required for admission), the racetrack down the road where RV’s find new homes and fights are frequent, the neighborhood Drive-In Theatre (home of teenage pregnancies), and of course, Wal Mart, every residents second home (great for people watching while dining on popcorn and beer). To most outside observers, this tiny spec on the map of Texas is a sleepy pit stop. But dig a little deeper and stories can be found.

Think of things this way: Ever spent time at a Truck Stop in the middle of the night (just picture the drug dealing, prostitution, and adultery you’d see), Topless Bar in Washington D.C. (is that Senator #@$& across the room!), Homeless Shelter (imagine listening to the reasons of why many are there), a chic Country Club dinner table (did his wife just wink and lick her lips at that other lady’s husband?), or how about that abandoned, rusty old barn where millions (and Jimmy Hoffa) were accidentally found seconds before burning it to the ground– it stood next to a busy highway for years, yet, if people had only known. But you, the creative writer, envisioned a story inside its patinaed sheet metal while cruising by!

Stories are everywhere; maybe the ticket is spending less time at Starbucks and more at Bubba’s Bar & Grill?

If you don't write with your heart, soul, or delve into your emotional database while creating, your readers won't feel anything either.

While having dinner recently, the lovely lady I was with suddenly asked, “How’s your writing going?

I took a moment and said, “Are you asking about my new book?”

“Yes, tell me about it.”

She’s one who’s suggested I do a sequel to, Sons In The Clouds. And although I haven’t dismissed that idea, right now, I have another story which I’ve spent a great deal of time developing. In my mind, and my heart, I finally believe I’ve seen the true plot from beginning to end.

As I began describing the new novel, I told her about how I saw the characters; their pain and happiness, the places they were living and drama they were experiencing. I even went so far as telling her about a dream I had a few nights earlier when I woke up sobbing myself awake because the visions I’d witnessed were so intense. She sat and listened, probably noticing my eyes starting to water while speaking. I couldn’t help it, and then I stopped, not wanting to be on display in the middle of a busy restaurant.

I could tell the storyline moved her when she said, “I think you’ve finally felt the story you want.”

This happened once before when I initially met the editor of my first book. I remember handing over the rough manuscript for her to begin working on when she said, “Tell me about the story.” The same thing happened as it recently did; I began to get emotional describing the characters because I knew and felt them so well. Not wanting to scare her away thinking I was some sort of overly emotional character, I stopped, and continued talking about other things. She probably sensed my passion at the time, and later said that she’d drawn some tears while working on the editing.

Simply stated, if you don’t write with your heart, your soul, and delve into your emotional database while creating, your readers won’t feel anything either. Rather, they’ll simply close the back binder, flip the last page (if they get that far), and toss your book aside to collect dust on the shelf, forever. They won’t carry with them an attachment to your work and they won’t tell others about their experiences into the world you created. There will not be a connection. You will have missed your chance to generate an audience.

Like most writers, I read other’s work (although I didn’t read much before I started writing). I study, interpret, and examine various blogs, books, and short stories from unknown authors like myself to those on the bestsellers lists. I look for certain qualities which move and touch me personally and deeply. I’m one who’s always on the lookout for that next great idea. But, whether or not the world loves it or hates it, if someone’s writing hits me in my gut, I know its author felt it as well.

I really love movies. But, for a movie to truly be great, the ones who wrote the words spoken on the screen had to be emotionally involved to capture the magic. They had to live with the characters insides their heads and imagine experiencing the same thoughts, gestures, heartaches, and celebrations as the ones walking across the silver screen. For a story to really come together and affect an individual in a prolific, meaningful way its creator(s) must find the heartstrings which bind the tale together.

So, what’s the best way to do it?—pulling images inside your head then placing them into the written word. And what gives truth to the well-known statement by Hemingway himself: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

For me, its commitment, time, finding inspiration, and delving inside something which is important to me; sharing an original story that pulls out emotions the reader never knew existed; giving him/her something that changes their way of thinking; and opening up their minds to believe the story is true. In reality, if you don’t believe what you’re writing, your readers won’t either. And for those of us who write fiction, receiving a reader’s trust in your storyline is something we continually strive to do.

When you write, do your readers get mad at, love, even hate your characters? Do they want to scramble and buy a ticket so they can travel to the places you’ve created? Are they feeling your lover’s kisses, sand on their toes while dashing across that beach, loosing breath chasing down that elusive murderer, or crying while watching those mistreated orphans struggle for survival awaiting adoption?

If your readers experience all, or only one of these, ole’ Ernest will be proud.

It’s the Christmas season, meaning most are thinking of presents under the tree, trips to shopping malls and brightly-colored boxes filled with things on our wish lists. The holidays are a magical time, giving us hope and reasons to be thankful. The beginning of a new year will also start soon, dusting off those resolutions always filled with good intentions and promises to keep. But, aside from the gifts and changes we want, did you know that right now you’re already overflowing with everything you’ve always desired? That the person God created you to be is packed with the talent, creativity and expertise to become the individual you’ve dreamed of being?

There are buried treasures inside us all begging to come out. Books, movies, stories, promotion, businesses and the relationships you’ve always craved and wanted to create are waiting to be unleashed; all it takes is opening the door and allowing them to take place.

So many are living inside a “what if” mentality. They wonder, as each New Year passes why their prayers and aspirations go unanswered. Many ask, “Why didn’t I ever get that dream job, book deal, my face on the silver screen, or relationship I always craved?” They look at others and become envious, jealous, and even angry at the successes of those around them. There always seems to be someone, or something else we want in order to become happy and fulfilled. Yet, for all of us, those desires we have deep within are there and waiting, all it takes is letting go of the uncertainties and insecurity holding us back, letting loose the power within.

Perhaps, the single biggest factor keeping us from our dreams is, fear; that ugly, four letter word that lives in our self-conscious and always waiting to strike at the first sign of your success. It tells you lie after lie: That you don’t hold the talent, have the connections, the right family background, the will, the drive, or the creativity to make things happen--that you’re not good enough, pretty or handsome, or contain the proper motivation and patience to carry through with your efforts. That there’s too much competition running against you, and you’ll always be fighting a losing battle. And that some are just lucky, or born into winning gene pools.

Fear can be debilitating, suffocating and make you believe in a negative world. It can also cause you to wake up at a latter age, look around, stare into a mirror and reminisce about a life which could have been if only you’d tried. So many don’t go for their goals or to have a great relationship because of fear of failure. Others observe, and allow the disappointments of others to bankrupt their future.

Taking risks is something required in order to succeed at anything. It’s kind of like holding a winning lottery ticket; no one has ever won without walking into a store and taken that chance. Most don’t ever win, yet sometimes they do. And those are the ones never afraid of taking their shot.

Too many have succumbed to settling. They go through life believing that where they are is all there is, and all there ever will be. Many times they blame their upbringing, race, or others around them for lack of motivation. Yet, they always wonder how much better their lives could’ve been if only they’d taken an opportunity, and ignored the forces holding them back.

Make this coming year the one dedicated to new beginnings. Think about the one accomplishment that’s always lingered in the back of your mind and take at least one step towards making it happen. Don’t listen to any negativity; voices telling you it can’t be done or you’re wasting your time. Let go of the talent you know you possess and share it with the world. Go after that person which could make you happy, throwing caution to the wind.

Everything you’ve ever dreamed of having wasn’t placed inside you by accident; it’s there for a reason. As you move, God will also move, doing his part to fulfill your destiny.

Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord. He came upon this earth to bring us joy, peace and happiness, not to live unfulfilled lives. What makes one individual happy is different for another. But, it’s up to you to shift in the right direction.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year…

I read a book one time about ways of discovering your life’s meaning. It was informative, and filled with lots of ideas and methods of taking your existence into positive territory. And one of the areas I enjoyed most was an exercise in listing at least ten of your biggest moments so far—those trinkets in time helping shape who you are and that left the greatest impressions. For everyone, those experiences can be both, good and bad; a divorce or bad breakup, childhood bully, death of someone you loved. Or maybe it was the thrill of graduating from college, getting your first job, meeting “the one,” beginning bike ride, or in my case, first solo flight in an airplane. But, no matter what yours mean to you personally, every single one leaves a lasting mark upon your mindset.

The question is: are you letting your past influence your future in a positive way?

We all endure disappointments and challenges as we age. It’s just life, and part of our individual plans. How we learn from, and apply these to our future is about our ability of letting the past remain in the past.

I’ve known people who cannot let disappointments and upsetting moments fade away, no matter how long ago they happened. One even said to me recently “the past is your future.” That was quite a statement, and left me believing they were allowing former misfortunes to dictate their future. Not, in my opinion, a healthy way of living and serves only to keep from moving beyond negative experiences, therefore, seeing the world through dim-colored glasses.

When something negative happens that haunts us, pulls us off course, makes us angry, causes us to loose faith, even draws us into depression, you never forget. But, rather than continuing to hold grudges or remaining upset or angry, I prefer using them as something to learn from, and move forward. Our future is all we have, and yesterday’s experiences, although we never forget them, should remain behind us.

Holding onto past distress and anguish is a form of self-inflicted torture which can cause serious health risks as well as emotional scarring. The truth is, when you’re clinging to the past, you’re internally changing your present.

How can something you’ve kept inside for so long be let go? It’s not easy, but it can be done with a little effort and self-reflection.

In personal relationships, learning to forgive and forget is the best way of moving forward. It may sound easier said than done, but forgiving someone who has hurt you can be extremely therapeutic. Strive to let things stay in the past and don’t allow them to affect your present. Once you learn to forgive the ones who’ve caused your pain, you will find it much easier to heal and move on with your life. Probably the best way of doing this is to confront those who’ve hurt you, let them know why, hopefully get an apology, and continue on.

At the top of the list of moving forward is forgiving the past. If you can’t change the past, you might as well learn to accept it and move on. You’ll be glad you did once you see how bright your future can be while regaining control of your life.

In our professional lives, disappointment is literally waiting around every corner. Maybe you had a boss that kept you from achieving your full potential, a co-worker that back stabbed you, a contract that should’ve been yours, or a company laid you off for reasons beyond your control. Things like this are never fair, or easy to accept. But taking from, and learning from these experiences in a positive way can help keep them from happening again.

Negative situations and being around negative people can destroy a person’s future more than anything. The trick is not allowing them to infiltrate your life. If something or someone isn’t supportive, helpful and mutually respectful or isn’t bringing something good to the table, find ones that do and gravitate toward them. Life is way to short to be surrounded by voices and circumstances not having your best interests at heart.

Looking at the future in a positive light makes life rewarding and worth living; anything else is a waste of time, and only serves to disrupt our potential.

Thanks for listening!

In order for a disadvantaged child to become educated, skilled, resourceful and ready to tackle the world with competitive spirit, the books and developed love of reading they have available to them oftentimes arrive through the love of selfless hearts. And right now, there are literally hundreds of book drives and charities which, through the use of volunteers and determined will, deliver free books and other reading materials to low-income children who otherwise wouldn’t enjoy the world of literature.

For children to become strong readers, they need books in their hands that they care about – brand-new, quality books they are excited to read. And it isn’t always those colorful covers of, Harry Potter or The Twilight series of novels I’m referencing. It’s also books from lesser-known authors, educational resources and even children’s illustration booklets helping to get them started.

Developing the ability to read is critical to a child’s success, and literacy is perhaps the biggest predictor of a young persons chances. However, a child without access to books will not have the advantage of becoming an engaged and capable reader, and this is the reality of those living in poverty. In some of the lowest-income areas in the United States there is roughly one book available for every 300 children, a national disaster, and something our educational system needs to address with much greater attention.

Children who are illiterate, or have low literacy skills have poor education, employment and health outlooks. Many will never graduate high school, or earn barely enough to rise above poverty and become much more likely to follow criminal and anti-social lifestyles. Illiteracy costs are enormous, which is why individuals who take a generous approach to providing reading materials to those in need deserve our attention and unending support.

Recently, I visited a small area in Texas along the Mexican border where I helped deliver books to the impoverished children of Rio Grande City. The trip was a short one, only for a weekend, but allowed me to see firsthand how one woman’s desire, and those who help her, can make a difference to so many in desperate need.

Starr Readers was founded roughly ten years ago by Texas native, Karen Furlong. Her family’s roots are imbedded in Rio Grande City and she started the organization as a way of honoring her grandparents who were longtime residents. As a lover of books and charitable causes, she began delivering books in her car one Christmas season and has enjoyed seeing the number donated each year grow into the thousands. With the help of individual donations and non-profit organizations such as, First Book, that kind of success has started requiring the use of large trucks and more trips as well as adding a college scholarship fund (Starr Readers Scholarship) so that a high school senior can realize the advantage and dream of higher education.

The children of Starr County are extremely poor, many live in areas known as, Colonias (video) where food, running water and other sanitary amenities are virtually non-existent. Most of the housing is handmade from scrap metal and whatever materials are lying around. The kids ride to school on buses and then return home which is mostly cut off from the rest of society, several miles from major roadways. For the overwhelming majority, the meals provided to them at school are their only ones. Those, and perhaps the scarce vegetables grown outside their doorways. And books, most times the only ones they’ll ever own are those donated by organizations such as Starr Readers.

Organizations like this are selflessly founded to help others and to improve disadvantaged lives beyond that which they are born into. And as a writer who obviously loves books and all things reading, it’s wonderful knowing and now seeing, how the gift of literature is being given to a deserving generation.

For more information about, Starr Readers visit their website @ www.starrreaders.com

Follow them also on, Twitter @starrreaders

If you write books, are a blogger, post on social media and tap into the latest pulse of our social and political landscape it’s easy to consider popular opinions while churning out your current content. The question is: how much are you allowing these to dictate what you write?

Our world has become very judgment-minded, politically and socially correct and is constantly trying to find the right balance as to what’s trendy, acceptable and careful not to offend. It’s become exhausting and I’ve known some who’ve resorted to keeping their opinions to themselves for fear of reprisal—delicately walking that tense tightrope. They don’t dare write something which could be interpreted as argumentative, biased, or subjective. However, we all have a right to our viewpoints and this really shouldn’t affect the way we express ourselves creatively.

I’ve been developing a new novel for a while and am trying to get it finished. It’s been a long journey fitting all the pieces together. And like lots of writers, I sometimes feel like starting over. But, one thing I’ll never do is allow political and social correctness to influence my craft. I like to create realistic characters who aren’t afraid to be who they are, and no matter what, they have a right to be the individuals God created (well, I’ve plucked out of thin air). If they happen to be anti-gay, a member of the KKK, non-believer in Global warming, Democrat or Republican, Christian or Muslim, war monger, Capitalist, Socialist, or Communist I’m going to portray them exactly how I see them. It will never be about what I think personally, it’ll always be about the story and its characters I’m trying to create.

I’ve read several books from a well-known writer who also happens to be very far-left with his politics. Some of his personal activities include financially supporting and giving speeches for certain political candidates during election time. However, the characters in his books can be extremely racist, even using the “N” word describing persons of color or calling homosexuals people destined for hell. He’s very blunt bringing out the demons in his personalities. The point I’m making is his writing has nothing to do with his personal beliefs; it’s all about making a great story that’s both believable and very entertaining. Does he get much backlash about this? I’ve yet to see any change in his readership.

As writers look to gain an audience, it’s only natural and part of business to go-with-the-flow in regards to what’s hot and cool. Nobody wants to turn off a piece of the market and offend anyone with our words. But, if you’re intentionally sacrificing your writing style for the sake of business the only one you’re truly hurting is yourself.

My current novel, Sons In The Clouds and my future ones I regard as being in the Inspirational Fiction genre. “Inspirational” to me meaning the stories I tell, hopefully, will leave readers with feelings of faith, positivity and encouragement. They’re not intended to be filled with fluff, fairy godmothers, knights on white horses, or Romeo and Juliet dashing off into a sunset. All of that isn’t realistic and tends to put readers asleep. What they are intended to bring is optimism and uplifting endings while sometimes churning through the mud to get there. And that is often accomplished by using strong, raw human emotions and actions to draw the story together as well as pulling in scenes that some could find offensive. It’s all part of the game and not being timid while portraying a story is what makes things click.

I started a novel a couple of years ago about a Mexican immigrant whose family was suddenly murdered by the drug cartel. He crosses the border into the United States, lives off our government for a while, later becomes a wealthy hit man killing everyone from women to babies, dreams about seeking revenge against his family’s killers, then miraculously turns his life around with the help of newfound love and some omnipresent, spiritual signs.

Just the paragraph above could cause many to become offended. I bring out the words, “Mexican,” “immigrant,” “drug cartel,” and “living off the government” in two sentences. And with the issues of amnesty, social entitlements and racial equality ravaging our headlines these days I could run the risk of turning many people away. But, this is a story and I’m creating a fictional character that just happens to be from Mexico and enters the U.S. illegally; something happening everyday. Am I concerned about political backlash? Not in the least because it will make a terrific, graphic and uplifting story.

As an artist, feel free to express yourself and create stories that sing. The politics will take care of themselves.