The Lost Boy

Earlier this morning I was overwrought with tears and searing pain after finishing this book called "#Masterpiece: Created Anew in Christ" by Mike Jonkers. In one of the chapters it mentions one shouldn't live a life where you feel you have to prove yourself to anyone including yourself. A river of tears flowed from my eyes when I read that passage. My heart broke and the shattered pieces were being knitted together by the hands of One who spoke creation into being. I went closed that passage and felt this incredible being lifted from my shoulders. I mulled over that passage for several minutes and then wrote about it in my journal. I spent most of my youth and most of my twenties feeling that I have to prove something to the outside world. Raised by a single mother made me feel like an outcast. I shut myself off from the rest of the world and focused on the only area where I could excel in: academics. Doing well in school and being praised by my teachers caused my classmates distance themselves from me. The awkward silence and brusqueness compounded my feelings of loneliness and inadequacy. I self-medicated through isolation, binge watching TV for hours at a time, overeating, and undereating. I did all that could to smother the silent cries and pain buried in my soul. I spent my whole time on autopilot going to college and grad school to prove to the world and even myself that I am worthy of so much goodness in my life. I was growing more and more disconnected from life. I was becoming more passive, afraid to raise my voice. I would lift my eyes to Heaven and asking God what does He want with my life. I would sit in the center of my bed waiting for a answering to from my life. I was becoming more passive, afraid to raise my voice and scream to a deaf Heaven about my purpose. I was growing more restless and resentful of my peers who found their purpose and passion early on. I thought God's divine providence and favor were reserved for those deemed worthy. By worthy I meant came from a nuclear family, handsome, maneuver through social settings with great ease, and had everything together. A sea of emotions coursed through me. One was happiness and the other envy. I probed their secrets to early success and they said, "God". "God?" I scoffed. I stood there speechless and frustrated by their response. I read the book and found myself feeling somewhat relieved there wasn't a backdoor to success. I read the above referenced book by Mike Jonkers and was pleased and healed by his writing. He mentioned that you in Christ are enough. When you remain connected to the Father you will not suffer from restlessness and anxieity. God will lead you to where He wants you to be. Don't be concerned about what the world defines as success or happiness. Both are relative yet are worlds apart. Happiness changes based on external circumstaces. Success is defined in terms of acquiring worldly goods that money can buy. Joy in the Lord is our strength. In God we can do anything. Remember that whenever you feel lost.

Beethoven Symphony No.5 (Full Length): Seoul phil Orchestra

I love classical music because it's inspiring.

Plans For The Day

People say 'hope is not a plan' or 'a goal without a plan is just a wish'. It says a lot about all of us who have hopes and dreams but have no idea how to make them a reality. Many articles I've read through my quest to be successful as an author is to write down your goals on paper or post them on social media. One thing I am going to do is take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. If the door you want open doesn't, find one that is because it will lead you to where you want to go. There are several verses that come to mind about making your dreams a reality. One verse is Habakkuk 2:2 which reads, "Then the Lord answered me and said: "Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it." Another passage with a similar theme is Acts 2:17, "And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream visions". As someone who gets lost in his thoughts and has to voice them on paper, writing my goals and aspirations keeps me in check and stay on course to reach a certain destination. Remember that when you stumble across my blog.

Spiritual and Emotional Disconnect

I went through these past few weeks on autopilot. It was in those brief moments when I wasn't being assailed by angry customers I asked myself a myriad of questions. One question I asked, "Where am I going? Who do I want to be?" I felt a sea of doubt wash over me as I studied my coworkers who complained about the job, its duties, and the pay. I will refrain from going further because I know what's it like to have holes in one's pockets. The more I came to work and went home I thought about the missed opportunities in life. One thing I am learning is to trust God more and more. After some encouragement I am wanting to know more about the Father's plans for me. So my advice to those of you who are reading this blog don't neglect to plug in the Source of all that is good and the one who redeem what can be good.

In addition to my attempts at trusting God more and more with my life I am close to finishing A Prayer For Murder. It's being edited as we speak and other ideas for the next chapters are swimming in my head. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds and comes to a grand conclusion. I have also come across new ways to promote my books through Goodreads, Pinterest, my site, Kboards, Facebook, and Twitter. There are so my avenues to promote one's books but there are so many resources out there and I'm learning how to use them. Enough of sounding preachy I am pleased to announce that chapters 1-28 are finished and more is on the way. Chapter 29 will include a bt of an emotional uptick that can change everything for the characters. It's best to outline and add in what level of emotion you want to infuse and have readers walk away with.

Grace: Getting What We Deserve Least

Grace: Getting What We Deserve Least: Twenty years had passed since the time Judah and his brothers sold Joseph into slavery. He had no way of knowing that Joseph had risen above a series of misfortunes to become the prime minister of Egypt. During Joseph’s rise to political power, he engineered a massive government food campaign to store up grain reservesa href='http://www.faithgateway.com/grace-getting-deserve-least/' title='Read more' .../a

The Importance Of Saving Oneself

We live in a world that is completely saturated with sex. We can't escape it. Scantily clad women are seen on various commercials selling liquor, cars, food, and various Internet websites. Most of this note is based upon a class I took at 10th District a few months ago. It was an informative class that opened my eyes about sex. For those of you who know me, I can be a prude. I don't like to talk about sex unless it is about having sex when one is married. I despise sex in the context in a locker room manner. More importantly, I believe and know it's very important to abstain until one is married. I am not judging anyone who has had sex before they were married. I am not judging anyone who is unmarried having sex. Sex is not what it used to be. Sex is no longer a beautiful and loving act between a man and woman. It's seen as something that must be done quickly. Let's delve into some of the things most of us have seen and heard at a young age.

Young men are taught as young boys never to say no. Some boys are taught by older men that you become a man by the number of women you have sex with. Young girls are taught by some women that for them to be successful, one must lie on her back. People who teach lessons like this will receive their just due from the Lord above. Abstinence is seen as a weakness. Fornication is seen as strength. Sex is not what it used to be. A person shouldn't sow their oats because they can. We can do everything we want, but all things are not helpful (1 Corinthians 10:23). In fact, most of the young men my age who have had sex wish they didn't.

First, let's talk about how fornication is harming our bodies, a temple for the Holy Spirit as 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. Our bodies are vessels for the Holy Spirit to dwell in while we're on earth. Since we are now born-again Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus sent it down to comfort us and guide us after His ascension. Since we are God's people, we are to act godly. Being godly is simply putting on God's nature. We should strive for perfection. God is not a man where He should lie. Neither is the Father a human being who would have sex before marriage. Our bodies should be pure, holy, clean, and undefiled. It's hard for the body to function as a holy temple the residue of another person being on us. Let me explain that. At 10th District, my teacher and his wife mentioned that when one loses their virginity before marriage, the person you were with is on your mind, heart, and spirit. It's hard to shake that person off of you since you are tainted by having sex with that person. Now, that you know that premarital sex taints your whole person, let's move on to how it can rob you of peace.

Second, Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter that has so many verses in it about the dangers of walking in lust. When we choose lust (not only lust for sex), we lose peace. Verse 6 tells of the perils of being focused on satisfying our mortal bodies. We lose peace and will die by making the flesh our god. The word death not only means dying physically, it means dying in other possible ways. If a guy and girl have sex, they may experience temporary joy once the sexual act is finished. However, peace will be stolen moments later. Peace is robbed when both parties worry about how to cover up their misdeeds. Both of them will worry about how they will appear to the public. The guy will have to worry how he'll appear to his friends. The girl will worry if the boy she was with will tell of their indiscretion which could make her out to be a whore. One's peace of mind is stolen. A second example of peace being stolen is if the girl believes she is pregnant. She has to worry about the stigma of being labeled as a single mother. She has to worry how her parents will accept the news of her pregnancy. The guy she is with has to now worry about finding employment, paying for child support, and taking care of this child. Children are not cheap. One moment of sinful pleasure can detour us from the plans God has for us. My final example of peace being robbed is one having sex with someone who is extremely promiscuous. One has to worry if a person caught something which is incurable. Lust has a heavy price.

Let's look at the opposite. When one doesn't give into lust, that person has peace. I'm going to brave with all of you, I'm a virgin. I'm the dreaded V-word. I'm not gay; I want to clear that up. I'm not ashamed of it and don't consider myself weak. God is refuge and fortress in everything (Psalms 46). I have peace knowing that by not having sex I will never have to worry about getting a girl pregnant. I won't have to calculate the exorbitant cost of childcare ranging from doctor's visits, diapers, formula, and clothing. I won't have to worry about a woman who got pregnant on purpose in order to take of herself rather than the child we conceived outside of wedlock. Also, I won't have to worry about going to family court trying to schedule visits with my child. I don't have to worry about catching an STD that can or can't be cured. I went to college, and have been tempted at times. However, God always makes a way of escape for us as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Lust will always wrestle with our soul as is mentioned in 1 Peter 2:11.

Many of you are baffled as to how to overcome the lust of the flesh. If one continues to run after God, the appetite of lust will be dwindling as we continue to listen to God's voice. God's voice can be heard when we read and study the Bible. His voice can he be heard in the wise words of those who love Him and make God the head of their lives. Satan will always get us distracted from our Christian walk by throwing things that we were delivered from. Sin has greater prices that must be paid for. However, our sins have been paid for by the Blood of Jesus Christ. The price for sin has been paid for. Remember what Romans 12 and 1 Peter 4 says. Both chapters say that we shouldn't be in the world, yet we must live in it. We should never be entangled with the trends of the world; we are just pilgrims traveling in it until we see Jesus face to face.

In conclusion, I want to throw some interesting facts for you all. People who abstain from sex have higher self-esteem, more fidelity, no residue from prior sexual partners, joy, peace of mind, less worries, and people who abstain from sex until marriage get divorced only 2% of the time. Lastly, people who live together before they get married get divorced 70% of time. This information comes from various sources. Look them up if you don't believe me. A real adult makes Jesus Christ the head of their lives as is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:3. A man isn't man based on his anatomy. The same applies for a woman. Verses which talk about lust include 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 6, 1 Peter 2, Galatians 5, Hebrews 13, 2 Timothy 2, 2 Corinthians 6, 2 Corinthians 7, 1 Thessalonians 5, Ephesians 5. God bless all of you. Continue to walk in God so the flesh can die.

Take Me As I Am

I had and have so many thoughts running around in my head about the images we as a culture are inundated with on a perpetual basis. I believe the majority of us are believed into thinking our individual quality of life will improve if we have the hallmarks of success. Those hallmarks included tailored clothes, new car, a spacious house in a neighborhood that projects an illusion of security. That frame of thinking bothers me because success is relative, subjective with no clear definition except for what we’ve been hoodwinked into believing. Is the owner of a 20-year-old Mazda Prism drowning in a sea of despondency as opposed to someone who drives a Bugatti? Why as adults are we forced to project this exhausting façade of perfection to ward off the glum, pitiable expressions from outsiders who feel that we hadn’t hit this alleged mark or claimed this illusive prize?

As I neared the end of my shift a few weeks ago, I thought about this post and how it should be phrased? Fantasy or reality, huh? Both are polar opposites yet sometimes they bleed into every facet of our lives. We look at magazine articles where the women are crafted into these flawless beings with toned legs, flat stomachs, long hair, and perfect skin. They chafe at these images and bristle when members of the opposite sex expect them to live up to a standard society mandates. Men look at these glossy images expecting our future wives to have no flaws, tangible or otherwise. They spend every waking hour smoothing away their various idiosyncrasies, their strength, and determination so they don’t scare off a boy pretending to be a man. They are to morph in this hollowed out, plastic, cardboard version of herself.

Men succumb to the pressure of living up to expectations women yearn for a husband. He is to have a chiseled face, light colored eyes, six-pack abs, a piercing gaze, light stubble, and muscular arms – basically your average, airbrushed cover of Men’s Fitness. This man is to show no weakness, no emotion, and remove any doubts, worries, and concerns his doe-eyed, fragile, and helpless damsel has rattling around in her mind. As a young man who is still maturing, I find this superficial definition of masculinity untrue and downright insulting. As a gangly, awkward, and acne-ridden teenager I didn’t measure to what a teenager girl would define as handsome, cute, or marginally attractive.

I sit here at my computer thinking of the litany of images that demand who and what I should be. I still wrestle with the notion of what I’m supposed to off my future wife when I meet her. Am I supposed to project this image of a retired, strong-willed monolith who buries his true character to mask his eccentricities, frailties, and other flaws we try to hide behind a faltering veneer of strength.

Why all this subterfuge? It’s simple: fantasy. Some say fantasies are unhealthy, keeping us from facing the grim realities of life. Some also argue that fantasies keep us from progressing because we don’t want to admit that we are afraid of what a new phase in life brings. If fantasies are so dangerous, why do we indulge our insatiable curiosities by reading books, watching movies, or traveling to new places?  One would say fantasies create a buffer that cushions us when we are greeted by crippling disappointments. If we are honest with ourselves fantasies gives us something to dream of, look forward to, and learn how to handle the inevitable curve balls life can hurl in our direction. In my opinion, fantasies have helped me shave off the excess baggage life has tried to nail on the cross I am charged with carrying. Every person has a moment of doubt, where they question if they have the fortitude to climb another mountain after wading through a valley where they were stripped of the essential or inessential. The inessential being the boundaries and definitions imposed on a society whose images sell a fantasy to make money. Fantasy or reality? Where does one begin and end? When we learn that God is perfect. He offers perfect love and perfect peace without a price except His Son Jesus Christ

The cure for a broken heart

A broken heart is something we all have experienced, but want to a cure for it. Some listen to songs, watch movies, eat, and listen to others who haven’t gotten over a relationship which ended badly. The above mentioned solutions may assuage the pain, but are simply Band-Aid solutions which are temporary. However, the scars are still there, the pain comes back, and are still searching for answers. We lose sleep and often become allow our broken hearts to make us bitter. I know of someone who can heal our broken heart who is Jesus Christ. He literally died from a broken heart while being nailed to the Cross. There are scriptures and insights which I am about to share with you when it comes to dealing with having one’s hear broken.

Being broken hearted occurs when finding romance or getting over a bad breakup. I want to shatter that long held myth. People have had their hearts broken when not looking for romance. I have had my heart broken when being bullied for wearing glasses, braces, and being on the honor roll in junior high school. I have had my heart broken in high school by feeling less than my male classmates. I felt ugly, boring, and unworthy of the attention and blessings which were coming my way. In college I’ve had my heart broken when friends who I was there for weren’t there for me. I’ve had my heart broken after college when looking at Facebook albums of fellow Tech alums living the dream life and possessing all that I wanted. I remember when I worked at Chase, I sat at my cubicle during my fifteen minute break, and God was saying, “Chris, you need to give me your broken heart. It has nothing to do with me with romance, but being wounded by others.” I remember I read a familiar passage from the book of Psalms. The Father told me to chapter 51 and 147. In the former, I remember it saying that God us to surrender our broken heart. In chapter 147:3, it says that God can heal a broken heart. He can heal it if we give it to Him.

Holding on to a broken heart cultivates certain fruit within us. This fruit is dangerous and includes bitterness, jealousy, envy, and hate. We are bitter over our past and it not working out the way we expected. We become jealous when we see those we love be blessed by God in multiple areas of their lives. We become envious by thinking the grass is greener on the other side by not being grateful for what we have. We become hateful and want to see others fail because we are so miserable in our lives. All of the above is dangerous and towards the end of 2009 I learn that go. It wasn’t easy, but I had to give it up.

I recall several instances of being in a position where dangerous fruit was starting to grow in my spirit. I remember seeing Facebook photos of myself with my mentor, his wife, and two sons who I call my “little brothers”. I began to feel sorry for myself because my parents divorced at an early age, I never saw a template for a loving Christian marriage, and wanted that in my life. I became jealous and hateful. I began sending hateful messages to my mentor just to spite him. My mentor rebuked me for placing him and his life on a pedestal. I recalled an e-mail he sent me in August 2008 saying, ‘My life isn’t perfect, but I serve a perfect God.’ I allowed Satan an open door and not ask God for peace in my life. I couldn’t believe I began to fall back into old ways of thinking.

I started to pray and asked God why does my life seem hard? I read Psalms 16:11, Matthew 11:30, Colossians 3:8, Hebrews 12: 1, and 1 Peter 2:1. After the above mentioned verses, I was slowly delivered. I stopped thinking that my mentor’s life and the lives of people I went to college were perfect. I know that there were times where their lives seemed barren and hopeless, but they overcame. I overcame obstacles that I thought were insurmountable during college. Towards the end of 2009, I asked to take all of my broken heart. I asked Him for peace over opportunities that I thought I would work out during and after college. I asked Him for a better than I one I have, yet still be grateful for the present. Giving all of your broken to the Father’s hands is the key. We can turn to our Advocate, Jesus Christ, who understands all that we go through (1 Corinthians 10).

Christopher Hunter, author: From Your Eyes To Your Ears

Christopher Hunter, author: From Your Eyes To Your Ears: I'm pleased to announce to you all that the audiobook for Engaged To Be Murdered is now available as an audiobook. I want to personally...

From Your Eyes To Your Ears

I'm pleased to announce to you all that the audiobook for Engaged To Be Murdered is now available as an audiobook. I want to personally thank Thomas Fellows who served as the narrator and Glenn Koster who was the initial narrator but had to back out due to personal reasons. The audiobook is found at Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. For those of you who want to turn your writing into an audiobook visit ACX. The website provides assistance in the form of email and phone calls in order to make the process seamless. Upload a sample of your writing and select the voice type you want. The matter of royalties and payment are explained on the narrators' profiles which makes the process in creating an audiobook even easier. Reach for your dreams and never cease to make them a reality. Everyone believes dreams coming to fruition are the privileged few. A dream coming true is God's gift to you and using it is your gift to the Father.

Christopher Hunter, author: Witness For The Prosecution

Christopher Hunter, author: Witness For The Prosecution: Last Thursday morning I was sitting in my car mulling over me twenty-eight and being single while those closest to me are dating or are ma...

Witness For The Prosecution

Last Thursday morning I was sitting in my car mulling over me twenty-eight and being single while those closest to me are dating or are married. I was so depressed and resentful towards my peers who are married, engaged, or dating someone with the intent of marrying them. A friend, brother in Christ, in my Bible study told me to focus on my relationship with Christ which sustains me in moments when life appears bleak. After receiving a series of encouraging text messages I was prodded by the Holy Spirit into reading 1 John 4. It is a chapter I frequently read during my senior year at Tech and after graduation when I was scrambling for work. I also learned from that powerful chapter that in order to recognize one has to be renewed in the love of God exemplified in Jesus Christ on a daily basis. Retreat to the Bible for refuge so the Enemy won't distract you or keep you from reaching your fullest potential by planting seeds of fear and doubt in your heart and spirit. Resentment comes from looking at others, but contentment comes from focusing on God. If you don't believe me, read 1 Timothy 6:6-10. It's easy in this word to cover the lives of others, but be careful. One doesn't know what trials a person endured in order to receive a well paying job, a nice car, spacious home, or an attractive spouse. Guard your heart and put it in the Lord's hands. 

As my period of introspection drew to a close I perused 1 John 5 which gave me a powerful sense of clarity. I was at my church Mt. Zion or at Bible study at the Wesley or the Table when the latter verses of that chapter spoke to me. I was talking to a friend who was so overwrought with depression and envy regarding the difficult spot his life is in. He lamented the choices he made in his life like we all do at some point in his life. As we finished our talk I looked at verses 6-13 which says 'the witness of God is greater than the witness of man'. Affirmation, purpose, a reason for being alive are what fuel us. Everyone wants to find their calling in life which can be difficult in a world that confuses purpose with socioeconomic status. I don't know who dictates social norms but God causes us to triumph in every circumstance. Don't purposefully put yourself in a difficult situation to receive a prize because you are tempting God which His Son warns us not to do. In order for a full harvest to happen a seed has to be planted, the soil must be tilled, and watered. Pressure makes diamonds and they never lose their brilliant luster. Stay blessed everyone.

One Step To Emancipation

Independence Day honors the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, by the Continental Congress. This document announced that the thirteen colonies are a new nation no longer under the control of the British Empire. This blog has nothing to do with our nation's history but the notion of freedom. My favorite word in the English language is emancipation because it means one isn't under the control of a domineering force. I was controlled by fear which causes torment as it is mentioned in 1 John 4:18, one of my favorite books. When God planted writing in my heart I feared what it meant. I wasn't a literature major nor did I attend a liberal arts college on the East Coast. Sometimes God places a desire in our hearts that pushes us out our comfort zone and allows us to be fully used for the purpose he has for our lives to bless others. For any gift that God has blessed you with use it for His glory so you can fulfill your calling hear on earth. One doesn't have to publish a novel, amass a large fortune, start a family, or become famous in order to make a difference. God will use where you are if you ask Him for guidance if we ask. A friend and brother in Christ told me that all of us are one step away from a major blessing or breakthrough. Let faith liberate you from any situation or person that is preventing you from fulfilling your destiny. It's never too late. Be blessed and relish in your independence from sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Follow your dreams and help make them a reality. Don't be on your deathbed and regret not pursuing your dreams. There's no sin in failure. The sin is if you never try.

Updates

Good evening my fellow bloggers. I'm sorry for being neglectful; please forgive me because I have been busy with work and drafting ideas for the second book I want out for the fall season. Sorry far the draft for book number two is going well. Could some characters I've introduced be responsible for a crime that has yet to commit. If you have any ideas let m know. Stay blessed and wrapped in God's love. Any gifts you have be sure to use them to glorify the One who has bestowed them you.

Too Long

Good evening my fellow bloggers. I've been busy crafting the latest entry into The James Ellis Mystery Series. The ideas flowing down to me like manna from Heaven is a gift, putting them all together into a cohesive, thrilling, and enjoyable mystery is the challenge. It's a challenge I welcome with open arms. For the past week I have been busy reading a book called Plot & Structure by James Scott Bell has prevented me from being my own harshest critic when it comes to drafting ideas for A Murder Among Methodists. I hope God is pleased with how I'm exercising this gift and using it as a way to spread His word that Jesus loves us and is the perfect sin offering. Anyway, the audiobook to Engaged To Be Murdered I'm praying comes out later this month in time for the 4th of July. My 28th birthday has been exciting and taught me a lot about what I worked last year and doesn't work in this new chapter of my life.

Updates on book 2

Finished drafting chapter 2 for the second book. Wish me well everyone since I'm falling in love with this new book and characters I'm introducing.

Who is Miguel Rodriguez?

“Who is Miguel Andrews who helps James in his amateur investigation?” That will be explained in this posting.

Background of Miguel Rodriguez

Miguel Alejandro Rodriguez who was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and emigrated to the United States when he was four years old when his older sisters and parents, Antonio and Selena. They settle in Carrington, Louisiana when Miguel is five years old. It is in kindergarten he becomes friends with James and Corey who share a love for cultures other than their own. Miguel excels in sports like Corey. He participates in cross country, soccer, and track. While participating in track, he shatters local and state records much to his and the community’s astonishment. He attends Clinton University majoring in psychology. His goal is to become a marriage and family counselor after reading books written by James’s parents and spending time with them. He furthers his education by attending grad school to get his masters in marriage and family therapy. The spontaneous and mischievous Miguel’s function is to come up with an assessment of the victim and killer. He is very protective of James whose naiveté and willingness to help the police can be seen as a way for people to take an advantage of James. He possesses a wry and deadpan sense of humor. He is very close to his friends whom he regards as the brothers he always wanted but never had.

Who is Corey Andrews?

“Who is Corey Andrews who has found himself enmeshed in murder?” I’ll explain all of that in this latest post.

Background of Corey Andrews

Corey Andrews is the oldest son of Amy and Nick Andrews who live in Carrington, Louisiana, as a realtor and computer analyst, respectively. Corey participated in sports at Carrington High School including cross country, football, track, and basketball. He is protective of his younger brothers Liam and Ryan who share his love for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Due to his athletic prowess, he is awarded an athletic scholarship where he attends Clinton University where he majors in accounting. During his sophomore year he starts dating Amanda Lancaster whom he eventually proposes marriage to during their senior year. Months after graduating from Clinton University Amanda is murdered shattering Corey whose life has been upended by this terrible loss. The once gregarious Corey finds himself struggling to find some semblance of normalcy after Amanda is murdered. He struggles in his relationship with James whom he resents for being the hero, but slowly accepts that the nature of their friendship has changed. As the series progresses with each novel God blesses me to write, the reader sees evidence of Corey’s personality returning. I don’t want to give away too much in order for you all to enjoy the follow-up to Engaged To Be Murdered which I am working on right now.

Who is James Ellis?

“Who is James Ellis?” is a question readers of my books might be asking. As I stated ad nauseum I began writing in the spring of 2012, months after receiving my masters in business administration from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Rather than describe the supportive friendship Miguel, James, and Corey share, I am going to talk about them individually in terms of their personality, background, and opinions on different matters including them occasionally stumbling across a dead body. In the following paragraphs I am going to explain how the characters show different sides of my personalities.

Background of James Ellis

James Matthew Ellis is the youngest of three sons born to William and Mariah Ellis. James’s parents are highly successful relationship experts and bestselling writers whose success afforded them the opportunity to live comfortably in the small town of Carrington, Louisiana. Due his family’s affluence, it allows James to easily make friends from different walks of life. One would assume that James would feel very relaxed socially and emotionally, but he like everyone has his share of insecurities. His older brothers, Neal and Drew, are very attractive who had no trouble finding acceptance in high school and garnering the attention of the female population. James had very severe acne, braces, and found himself being looked as the ugly duckling among his parents’ children. Now as a 22-year-old his insecurities gradually fade away when he enrolls and graduates from Clinton University. 

Personality

James is the most naïve out of Miguel and Corey. Unlike Miguel and Corey who were athletes in high school and college, James has a strong passion for learning which is evidenced by him being named ‘Who’s Who among High School Students’ and the dean’s list at Carrington University. He majored in computer information systems and participated in several organizations such as the Association of Information Technology Professionals and Union Board. He is an introvert unlike Corey and Miguel. However, James is beginning to show interests in expanding his social circle when he attends grad school. He wants to carve his own niche for himself without being in the shadows of his parents and equally successful brothers. James’s interests are different from most adult young adults. He loves reading, journaling, listening to classical music which helps stimulate his mind, and a yearning to strengthen his faith.

Crime Solving

Given that James has lived in Carrington for his entire life he, members of the community are more willing to share information with him than others. James’s sleuthing is based off of one of my favorite TV characters Jessica Fletcher. Like Jessica, James hardly believes the most likely suspect is the one responsible for the crime even though they had a strong motive or an intense dislike for the victim. James remembers conversations that might seem innocuous yet are vital to the police arresting the guilty party.
 

Creation and Naming Of James

The first, middle, and last names of the main character are special to me. James is the middle name of my godfather. The middle name of Matthew is one that I have always had such a strong attraction to since it is the first book of the New Testament. Ellis was my great-grandmother’s last name whom I was blessed to have in my life until I was nineteen years old. Not a lot of people can say they knew their great-grandmother. Unlike myself who is the oldest of three children I thought it would be interesting to make James the youngest. He wouldn’t feel pressure to set a great example as the oldest, struggle to find his identity as the middle child, or play the mediator between his older and young siblings.

Good News

Copies of my book are being downloaded left and right on iTunes and is spiked on Amazon regarding their Kindle Lending Library. The response I have received from the book has been overwhelmingly positive. I will say that I have had to some major edits which consumed my weekend and even bled into my day at work. I'm sitting in my car during my lunch break making sure this last minute revisions for the eBook and paperback are perfect. I've also had people mention wanting to publish their works and they've asked me how I was able to do that. God is opening doors only He can.