Free Writing and Cemeteries

Hi, guys! What's shakin'?

I've been busy: writing, taking care of family, teaching, taking care of fur babies, grading thousands of

papers each week, and playing video games (mainly playing video games). The point is...I've been living life. While I've been living life, my first book has been living in the world. My contract with KDP is up, and I've made a decision. I want you to give you a choice! I want you to be able to read my first book for free. So, from now on, you'll be able to read "Deleted" on the platforming site of your choice (JukePop Serials or Tablo Publishing). You can still purchase an eBook or paperback copy if you'd like, too. See? There's that choice. If you want a solid copy, you can still buy one. If you want to read for free, you can do that, too. Just remember to vote or comment so I know if you like it. So, why am I doing this? Well, "A" writing is meant to be shared and "B" because I just want to! Enjoy. :)

I've been working on "The Devil's Got Dirt", too. When I wrote my first novel, I didn't do so with much intent. Don't get me wrong, I intended to write a novel. I just didn't really have a reason for doing it other than thinking it was fun.

Life has taught me that you can use fun things for real merit. Hang with me, I have a point in all this, but let me set you up with a little back story first. I used to teach for the county public schools. I was the first person in my family to go to college and graduate, and I always felt like I had something to prove to the world. So, I worked really hard. I got my degree (painstakingly). I kept a good GPA. I wore myself out and spent over fifty thousand dollars in the process. No one ever told me I wasn't going to be able to do the job. I taught first grade. I loved it. It was awesome, but I got sick. A. Lot. I still do. So, I left the classroom for a little bit and worked in a cemetery. (This cemetery! Isn't it sadly beautiful?)

Yep, you read that right. I worked in a cemetery and funeral home combination location. The thought behind that was that I wouldn't be exposed to very many little-kid germs. I loved working there, actually. I eventually had to leave because people were smoking in work areas, and wouldn't you know, smoke is my number one breathing-issue trigger! Still, I learned a lot while I was surrounded by the dead. The first thing being that life is short. Life is a one-time shot, too. Once it's over and someone is gone, you can't get them back no matter how much you beg or cry or plead. So, while I did have fun writing my first book, I've had a bit of a change in heart. I want my books to matter.

I still teach part-time. I love my kiddos. I tell them all the in's and out's of using commas and sentence structure. They hate it. I love it. We still have fun, but I can't give too much. I can't work every day. I still go to the hospital every month. I can't give back to others that way enough. What I can do is write. What I write is what I give back to others, and even if I don't like to think about it, it'll be here when I'm in the ground. Because of that, I want my books to really mean something. I want them to guide and bring life to whoever sits down to read them, because that's what is important to me. So, while I will still have a published copy of all of my stories available for you, I will also post my work for free. I hope you enjoy. Remember that life is not only precious but very short. Write if you love to write. Read if you love to read. Whatever you do, go and love one another!

Much love,

Crystal