Last week I began reinstating some of my titles, starting what could be considered my fifth era in this business, my Mark 5, so to speak.
Those in the know would tell you the reason for my retiring was a valid one, but upon reflection, prayer and consulting with others, I’ve stepped back into the world of writing and publishing.
However, this time, things will be different. As said, this is my fifth era in terms of how I do things, and it’s going to be a much simpler one. One of the problems with the last method was its complexity. Most of it was complicated by its nature, and the rest was made complicated by me, but since publishing is always about learning, I discovered how I did things before brought on its share of headaches and issues. Not the publishing part, but the administrative side.
The main thing that will underline what I plan on doing going forward is to keep things as simple as possible in as many ways as possible. Going back to basics here, and since 2014 already marked a change in my career in terms of stepping down as publisher, it’ll also be a year in which I fly below the radar in a lot of ways. I plan on just keeping my head down and working, only surfacing from time to time to check in, see what’s what, then step away again.
One of the main points of my retirement notice was my plan to go into full time Christian ministry. That’s still the plan in that I want my writing work to glorify God and not use it to glorify myself. I might miss the mark now and then, but Jesus is the center of my life so while I’ve made mistakes and had my ups and downs, I want my career to reflect my love for Him.
There are still some Mark 4 items that I’m wrapping up, but after the end of April at the [hopefully] latest, it’ll be Mark 5 all the way.
For my titles, I’ve brought a good portion of them back–books and comics–but my monster and horror stuff is gone. Those made up about half my catalog, but I’m okay with letting them go. What does light have to do with darkness, right? As for anything else I might bring back, we’ll see.
I learned a lesson recently in that I was invited to submit a horror story to an anthology in 2013, the story due end of January/early February of this year. I had a very, very hard time writing it. It was around 13,000 words or so on the third draft, if memory serves, but it was a difficult write and I mentioned to my wife as I wrote it that I just wasn’t into that stuff anymore. That story won’t be published and I pulled out of the anthology when I posted my retirement notice. My heart’s changed and horror and monsters are no longer my thing. A pastor I spoke to recently said it best when he said I was a dispenser of fear.
It’s true.
I was.
I don’t want to be that anymore.
I have plans for what books I’ll write this year and I really hope to do some comic stuff, too, as I love them so much.
This blog will be updated now and then, but with what, I’m not sure. I might go back to a schedule, I might not. I really like this idea of simply working.
Simply.
It’s good you’ve come back, though I’m saddened as to the reason why. I would’ve never considered you a “dispenser of fear”.
Though I never had a chance to read all of your books, never once did I read one that caused fear within me. Suspense…certainly…but never fear—even those with monsters in them.
In some ways, I can understand where you’re coming from—especially when it involves secular horror. Lots of the stuff is pretty much garbage.
I, however, don’t believe that Christian authors (and there’re many), who create evil things—monsters, or such—in their writing, are doing anything wrong.
Because God said:
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
(Isaiah 45:7, KJV)
God created evil when he created Lucifer, the archangel. The strangest part of all is that God knew Lucifer would turn evil, even before He created him.
We know this because we know that God knows everything.
For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
(1 John 3:20)
In the Garden of Eden, God created a tree possessing the knowledge of good and evil, light and darkness—yet this does not make God evil for doing so. This just makes Him the author of everything—including evil, though odd, as it may seem.
Still, God uses evil to bring about good.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
(Genesis 50:20)
For the longest time, my horror didn’t sit right and it seemed two-faced of me to boast Christ but write that stuff. I understand what you’re saying, but I also know the motives behind some of my stories and spookiness was one of them. It’s a tricky balance at times, at other times not. For myself, getting behind horror feels wrong so I’m done with that genre. I value the friendships made and the success I had with it, but going forward, I need to find my footing in something else.
I’m glad to see you back, Adam. Are you going to be putting your Facebook page up again?
Even if I agreed with your minister I don’t think “dispenser of fear” is a bad thing. The whole Bible is a cautionary tale full of demons and monsters and fates worse than mere death. As a story teller your job is to deliver a greater truth through fiction. I have a feeling you were doing God’s work all along.
Adam, you’re Axiom-man nemesis, Bleaken is practically a type of monster.
Well, I missed that typo. I’ve been up forever, it seems…trying to get things squared away before I pass out.
These are all interesting points and I’m glad for the discussion.
For my horror, a lot of the time I was aiming for shock value, spookiness, and blood and guts. All horror staples, of course, but items that I shouldn’t have been writing. Likewise, the reason I got into horror over a decade ago was rooted in something that has caused tons of damage over the years. Long story.
In the end, all the stuff I’ve written was good practice for whatever I end up doing next, whether that’s more Axiom-man or other stuff. I just know I can’t do the horror thing anymore and, in all honesty, I’m not interested in doing it anymore anyway.
I think I get what you’re saying. You’re talking about the hardcore gore stuff. I’ve never cared for that kind of thing myself—save for an exception or two…maybe…and only for the concept, not the gore. I’m more of a vintage horror fan. I think that by the time the 70s came around, things started getting a little too messy for my taste, unless it was made for TV, or edited for TV, or just tamer than most.
Some blood doesn’t bother (especially if used in a creative way), and the overall design of monsters can be neat looking. The senseless, hardcore splatter junk is what turns me off—and grotesque torture. I’m all fine, though, with atmospheric horror, creature effects, and a riveting, suspenseful plot.
Still, I hope you continue your Axiom-man saga, Adam. It was/is a wonderful storyline.
Yes, hardcore gore is never a good thing IMO. For some, it is, and that’s okay for them. But I’ve never been into it overly. I write some horrors in my books, but I try to keep it as minimal as possible, and I don’t think I’m any less a Christian by it.
btw, this is the first I’ve heard of your comeback. Great to have you back, AP.
Glad to be back.