May 11th, 2023 Now that we had a name and had performed an original song, it was time to record an EP (a short album which is typically 2-5 songs in length). By this time, personal computers were becoming more common in homes; we got our first PC when I was in high school. IContinue reading “The History of The Next Step, Part II: Tangled Cords, No Fear Of Failure, and Recording at Pachyderm Studio”
Tag Archives: Faribault
The History of The Next Step, Part I: The Beginning, The Idea and The Name
May 8th, 2023 The Next Step was supposed to be a boy band. I mean this in no uncertain terms. I have loved a lot of music over the years, but at that point in my life, high school in the late 90’s/early 00’s, I was obsessed with two flavors: emo/indie rock, and boy bands.Continue reading “The History of The Next Step, Part I: The Beginning, The Idea and The Name”
Final Thoughts On Us, and Them
April 28th, 2023 Enough talk of failure. There was some victory, too. As we end another month of retrospect and introspect, I want to talk about the triumphs from the year I released Them and Us. I made a list: 1. It only took me one book to realize I can do anything. By that,Continue reading “Final Thoughts On Us, and Them”
Us: How do I love failure? Let me count the ways
April 17th, 2023 I’ve mentioned several times that the story of my book, Us, is the story of failure; but today, I want to count the ways. Because I’m an eternal optimist, however, failure is always only half of a story. The other half is a lesson, an annoying ray of sunshine as a bookendContinue reading “Us: How do I love failure? Let me count the ways”
Axol Review!
April 12th, 2023 I’m officially an Axol-Head. I got introduced to the work of 14-year-old Landon Shepherd by his parents, Jennifer and Justin; he’s an incredibly talented artist and storyteller, and I couldn’t be more fortunate to have been able to feature some of his artwork in my graphic novel, Brushfire: Wave 1. Not oneContinue reading “Axol Review!”
Them: Heroes, Villains, Humans
March 31st, 2023 I spent most of my youth trying to shock people. I think a lot of young people, especially boys, do. When I think of those moments, that era, the many times I said or did something for the sole purpose to shock, I cringe so hard I form permanent wrinkles on myContinue reading “Them: Heroes, Villains, Humans”
Calling All Artists! Brushfire Fan Art Part 2
March 14th, 2023 Calling all artists! When I was growing up, I was obsessed with fan art pages published in real comic books. It made me feel like, one day, that could be me. In Brushfire: Wave 1, I got the opportunity to have my own fan art page, and in Wave 2 – I’mContinue reading “Calling All Artists! Brushfire Fan Art Part 2”
Them: Review of a Review
March 13th, 2023 Ah, reviews. They can be inconsequential; they can be essential. They can make or break a thing, or deconstruct and remake it again. However you feel about them, they’re not going away. And as much as I hate to admit it, getting a review confirms to me that something I’ve created isContinue reading “Them: Review of a Review”
Raising Them
March 8th, 2023 Ugh. I’m going to take a break from a week in which I finally got back my stolen car, nearly two months after the incident, only for it to try to kill me and have to be returned for further repair, to keep talking about my debut novella, Them. In what placeContinue reading “Raising Them”
A Conversation Between Writers, Coming Soon
March 5th, 2023 I love seeing my friends do big things. My good pal Shaun Thibodeau is running his own Kickstarter to fund his first book, and I thought it would be a wonderful time to talk to him about writing, creativity, and the Kickstarting process. We’re going to be doing a LIVE chat onContinue reading “A Conversation Between Writers, Coming Soon”
The Den 