I started writing The Crystal Crux back in the early 1980s and thought it would be a small 100 page short story at most. As the years passed, however, and I worked on it more and more, expanding the tale, digging deeper into the characters and histories, the whole tale grew considerably.
The ten-day adventure could not be confined to one book and 100 pages.
The opportunity to self-publish arrived in 2018.
I peddled a few things around to publishers but got nothing back. My wife says I can be an impatient man when it comes to some things, and I learned quickly that I was impatient when it came to waiting around to hear back from publishers, if they responded at all.
I said the heck with it and decided to do this thing myself. And it has been an adventure in learning.
I learned a lot along the way about myself and my skills at writing. I think I tried too hard at first to write like the classic fantasy novelists, especially Tolkien. And then I started reading everything I could get my hands on for inspiration, and some if it influenced me in a way I wasn’t pleased with. In the end, I began to find my own voice and how I wanted my books to sound when read. That is why I went back and re-edited the first four books. The editions of Betrayal, Blue Grotto, Cold Knight and Shimmer that are available to the public are second editions. Only the supporters who got onboard early on have read the original first editions or have copies of the first editions. Beautiful is the only book in The Crystal Crux series that is a first edition only.
Beautiful arrived on store shelves on October 29, 2023.
It took me 5 years to write these 5 books.
5 long years where I had to step out of my life and enter this fantasy world, put my feet in their shoes and become them, guide them to whatever fateful end awaited them. I did hours and hours of research and rewrites, editing and re-editing. I axed whole paragraphs and chapters. I reinvented characters and eliminated others. I built towns and cities and moulded landscapes. Drew maps. Studied maps. And all the while, minutes after patting myself on the back for some minor success, I would turn around and beat myself up for procrastinating or not finding the proper words.
It was a constant fight. And I think I won.
At the end of the day, I am very pleased with what I have written. And I learned that I can’t possibly please everyone with my stories. I’ve had people tell me they are great. I’ve had people tell me they are ok. I’ve had people tell me they are awful. The compliments and criticism are all over the board.
Only one voice matters.
Mine.
I have to read them and like them. I have to love them. And I do. I don’t fret anymore about how I worded things or wish I had done something a little different here or there.
It’s done. And I am satisfied.

The Crystal Crux series contains 181 Chapters.
The best part of this is looking back at all these chapter titles and knowing I know exactly what is happening in every chapter. And I can remember what I was thinking when I wrote each of those chapters.
I hope other people who have read the series have a similar memory of the books, that they made an impact.

I recently released a Greek Mythology novella called Ares In Chains. This will be the first in the Shades of Myth Series. All the books in this series will be novellas, short and easy to read books.
I have a bigger project in the works, another full-size novel which I am not placing a deadline on yet. I’ve been working on it for quite some time along with several other projects. This one has most of my attention right now. I will keep my readers notified as things change.
As you look at the list above, I got to ask which book stands out the most to those who have read the entire series? Are there any chapters which really resonate or hit you when you read them? I have my personal favorites. A few are still difficult for me to read.
(Looking at you Attack!)
Until next time – Keep reading and stay inspired.