Memorial Day is a time of remembrance, and as some have said, to be grateful for those who lived and gave the ultimate sacrifice that we might see a better day.

I was fortunate on both my time in Afghanistan and in Iraq that the units I was with came back with everyone. Other units around us were often not so fortunate. Whether Soldiers or Marines or Sailors that lost their lives, whether it was bullet or explosion or accident, there were far too many that didn’t come home.

Stretching back to the revolutionary war, there are many who have given their everything for a brighter, better future. Remember them, today. Be grateful that such people lived, and pray that there are those willing to make such sacrifices in the future.

I generally try to stay positive on my social media posts. Sometimes there’s no pulling the punches, though. I figure brutal honesty is the best way to go with this.

For me, there’s been a lot of stress. My wife was diagnosed with cancer the day after Christmas. There’s been a lot of waiting, we’re still waiting. Insurance (ha, ha, “free” insurance with Tricare, it’s *sooo* great), doctor’s referrals, first available appointments, then waiting in doctor’s offices. Calling insurance people and continuing to call them until I finally got someone who could help. Becoming a nuisance until we got seen.

This isn’t an ask for help, we think we have things settled at this point (even got congress-critters involved, like I said, government insurance, so much fun). I just want to provide context for those who know me and those who read my stuff and wonder what the heck, why aren’t there more books out?

We don’t know much at this point about my wife’s diagnosis. She gets her CT scan tomorrow, we should know more after that. Prayers, positive vibes, and happy thoughts are all appreciated. We already know she’s in for surgery and radiation treatments. We’ll know more soon.

I’m spending time with my wife as much as I’m able, because she needs the support. She’s the most important thing in my life and, quite frankly, everything else falls off in comparison.

I mostly stay sane by keeping busy. Working. Writing. I’ve been writing Substack articles, working 12-ish hours at the day job (I laugh, because my work phone just buzzed again and it’s almost 10 pm here), and writing in the evening and mornings.

Over the holidays I put together an slightly-obscene amount of gaming terrain of which I’ve released some Youtube videos.

For those looking for the next installment of a series, I’m working on stuff, I promise. I have to be careful because the stress I’m under bleeds into the writing, and I don’t want a “fun” story to become… well, a horrorfest.

I am done with one novel and 80% done with another. I have 2 novels sitting with publishers. I’ll get more done as I can. Sorry it’s not more of a cheery update, but I’m saying little prayers for happier posts in the future.

Hey everyone, I’m happy to announce that I have a short story in the newly available Giant Stompin’ Robots anthology from Raconteur Press!

https://amzn.to/4dYi06Y

You like your mecha with a side of alien invasions? It’s in here. Illicit gangs trying to fix heavy mecha demolition derbies? Done. Brave pilots standing between shrieking chaos and everything they hold dear? Good reader, if there was a Heroism Buffet, this anthology would be the restaurant your friends were rolling you out of every weekend. So plop yourself down at your favorite table, pour yourself a stiff one of sake (or soda if you’re the same age as the plucky teenage hero with bright hair) and prepare to be entertained by Giant…Stompin’…Robots!