I’m thankful for The Brotherhood of Dwarves. That book will always represent to me my rebirth as a writer. Graduate school killed my creative drive and stifled my voice, so when I began writing the book, I hadn’t written much of anything in three years. The reason why the first couple of chapters are the way they are is because I was unsure of myself, taking baby steps out of the gate to get my bearings and find my voice. Other than superficial polishing, I’ll not change those chapters because of what they mean to me.
Overall, Brotherhood is a good book. The story is tightly contained, the characters are real, the plot twists are solid, and the climax is powerful. By the middle, I had knocked off all the rust and had found my voice, and some of the writing in the second half really crackles. It’s not perfect and has some flaws, but in total, I’m proud of it as a story.
Brotherhood may never receive the attention it deserves, and the series may never be successful, but I will always be proud of the accomplishment of finishing the manuscript, polishing it, getting it to print, and promoting it. I accomplished something special with it, overcame a lot of odds along the way, and created something my children can be proud of.
I’m grateful for that book, for the journey of bringing it to life, and I will always be thankful for the feelings of accomplishment and fulfilment the book has given me.
Big Owl's Tree 