Journals [Introduction]

A few years ago, someone I know began to suggest that I write a book. At the time, my friend was trying to convince me that I should write my story. And why not, my life has been an incredible rollercoaster of pain, trauma, love, life, and death. But, doesn’t that describe everyone’s life? And that was my response, “why would anyone want to read my story?” I went on to add something about not being vain enough to believe that any person would want to read about my life.

But, the seed of writing had been planted. At that moment, I realized that someday I would not only write a book, but that book would be published. Quite profound considering that at the time I had absolutely no writing experience. There’s more to my predictions, but I’ll cut it off there for now. Anyway, I didn’t write a autobiography. I’ve written a fictional fantasy novel. The first in a series of at least three, book number one has been finished for a few weeks. It’s off to the editor, and then we’ll see what happens. I have high hopes, of course.

Besides the novel I have recently finished, I’ve been working on a few additional projects. I’m grateful for discovering [vanity has nothing to do with it]. The biography will have to wait. For now, I’m going to continue posting small pieces of my life.

Joseph Shanklin

August 8, 2020