The Hiatus

Did it really take me nine years to write a second book? Yes and no. I actually wrote Los Endos in about six months, but it took me almost nine years to start the work! Why? It's very simple: procrastination and a lack of discipline.

Upon completing As Alien as Apple Pie back in 2015, I celebrated a big win in my life. A dream come true! I wrote a book and got it self-published! Of course, I, as well as family and friends, asked the obvious question: what's next?

Los Endos took many forms originally. I had multiple smaller (intentionally), and quite more fantastical, follow-up book ideas. Two story constants always to mind as I brainstormed: a sullen girl struggling to find purpose in a dark world, and a young boy kidnapped by two bumbling criminals. The girl story was more about this slightly fantasy version of real life, complete with extended dream sequences. It was also much darker in tone and featured more explicit scenes. The kidnapped boy story was a slightly science fiction tale set in a sort of post-apocalyptic world, where a race of gray people where treated like cattle. The boy was a gray person, and the kidnappers took him in hopes of selling him off for parts. Quite dark as well.

I eventually combined the ideas into a more traditional post-apocalyptic story that featured more lead characters. But, I never really knew what to do with it other than a few chapter ideas, and it didn't do much to stick out from so many other stories from that increasingly popular genre. I went back and forth on story approaches many times over those nine years. Nothing grabbed me.

Cut to 2024. It was a year I decided to pursue discipline in many aspects of life. One was to get back into reading, and another, get back into writing! I had dozens of ideas, including what would become Los Endos, I just never did anything about it. I never disciplined myself to write consistently outside of some journaling. And I let life prevent me from further pursuing my dream.

I got the best ever inspiration to write again after reading some John le Carré, specifically his George Smiley trilogy. Even though I'd read a lot of le Carré back in my teenage years, I never really soaked in his style until the early months of 2024. The way he wrote so densely, yet so loosely. The way he interrupted the narrative, just to give you a more comprehensive feel of the world you were inside. Plus, his mix of humor was spot on. I loved it.

That was the big spark that got me writing again. I also figured out the hook I needed for Los Endos. I was set. Flash forward a few months, and here we are. The release of my second novel! Thank you God!

So, what's next? Not a nine year hiatus, I can tell you that! Los Endos was a great little primer to get me going. My more ambitious ideas can now come out to play!

Look forward to my dream project! The first of a series of crime novels set in a futuristic, yet retro city. Coming in 2025: The Absolute Zero!