The Beginning of Kira. . .

Photo courtesy of Jessi Smith

I've already told the story about about how I re-discovered my love for writing.  It all started in 2013 during a conversation with my brother Michael on our way back from Disney World. Three years later and I published my first novel, ANOM: Awakening through Amazon.

This story - the story of Kira, the Rainbow Princess - has a very different beginning.

Kira started in 2015. It was right around the time when I was finishing up ANOM. I had already poured 2 years of my writing life into that first book -working on it when I could in bits and pieces, drips and drabs. The whole process felt like a marathon - so huge that all you can really focus on is the step immediately in front of you - but by 2015, I could see the finish line. I spent more and more time at my computer.  There was a new urgency.

And my family was great! My wife Vanessa, my son Aidan, and my daughter Fiona all showed me a tremendous amount of patience.  They never complained about my writing, but instead they would encourage me to keep going. They were proud of me - for what I was trying to do - and I wanted to do my part to earn that pride.

Then, one night, my 7 year old daughter asked me to write a book for her . . . how could I say no?

"Okay, sweetheart," I said, "What do you want your book to be about?"

"Rainbows. And unicorns. And princesses."

And so Kira, the Rainbow Princess was born.

I wrote the book with my kids and for my kids.  I would type out a chapter, send it to the printer, and then there would be a mad-dash to see who would read it first.  We finally settled on taking turns.

Every line of the book has been read (and critiqued) by both Aidan and Fiona.  And some parts of the story even come straight from their imagination!  Everything from character names (like Snugg, the Teddy Bear and Fred, the Zombie) to Kira's hair color (Pink, of course). 

Kira, the Rainbow Princess is a middle-grade fantasy novel and the first of a seven book series. If everything goes according to schedule, we plan on releasing in late November.  I can't wait to tell you more about it in the weeks and months ahead!  Stay tuned.

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