In just a few days, the gates will open. The dead will call, the past will stir, and a young novice will take his first steps into the dark corridors of a world few dare to tread. On March 7th, The Novice of Thanatos releases, and with it, a descent into the shadowed halls ofContinue reading “The Novice of Thanatos – A Dark Journey Begins March 7th, 2025”
Category Archives: My Life in China Series
The Boldest Decision I Ever Made (And How It Made Me a Writer)
Twenty years ago, I made a wild, out-of-character decision: I moved to China to teach English. I was a kid with a passport and a loose plan, stepping into a world as unfamiliar as it was exhilarating. That leap opened countless doors for me, but the one that matters most for this space is this:Continue reading “The Boldest Decision I Ever Made (And How It Made Me a Writer)”
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More bitter than sweet
After living with us for four months, my in-laws have returned to China. People were always shocked when I told them how long they were staying with us. Many thought me a saint. They arrived at the end of May and stayed until September 18. It is a long time, but if you’re going throughContinue reading “More bitter than sweet”
Journeys
Staying afloat as an author is a struggle. Every day, I devote hours to ensuring eyes find my work. But If I turn away from my book-selling efforts for a moment, everything goes to hell. My sales, rankings, placements, social media numbers, everything plummets. Amazon has technical glitches, my ads don’t show, my website hasContinue reading “Journeys”
Update- final push
It was another busy but fulfilling weekend with the in-laws. We rented a car, did some major grocery shopping, went to Newport, RI, to do the cliff walk, and spent Sunday morning walking around the historic center of Marblehead, MA. Despite the weather not being entirely on our side, it was a joyous time. TheContinue reading “Update- final push”
Wonton Diplomacy
Last weekend, the in-laws from both sides met. It is always a fun albeit stressful interaction. They don’t speak the same language, but somehow, they communicate with a mixture of smiles and gestures (and with my wife and I selectively translating). They give each other awkward hugs and tell us how good the other pairContinue reading “Wonton Diplomacy”
My Chinese In-laws and San Juan
Our first adventure with my Chinese in-laws was a success. We wanted to offer them a taste of Europe without the hassle of obtaining a European Visa, so we chose San Juan’s old town as our destination. This trip, coinciding with my wife’s birthday, blended cultural exploration and family bonding. We spent four nights andContinue reading “My Chinese In-laws and San Juan”
Hot pot #1
My in-laws have arrived from China, and they’re settling in nicely. It takes some time for four adults to ease into a routine, but we’ll get there—we always do. I’ve been able to make my word count these days, so that is a success! Yesterday’s mission was to buy shorts for my father-in-law and plantContinue reading “Hot pot #1”
Busy, busy, busy
A blog post on a Tuesday—I know, it is not my typical schedule. I’ve been busy—I mean, really busy. As a higher education administrator, this is a crazy time in my day job as we close out the academic and fiscal years. Yesterday was a 13-hour day. Also, my inlaws are coming from China andContinue reading “Busy, busy, busy”
