Still Writing, Still Believing: Notes from a Quiet Friday

 

October 10, 2025 – Orlando, Florida

It’s Friday again. Another week winding down, and I wish I had more to show for it. Progress on the deluxe edition of The Jim Garraty Chronicles—the omnibus collecting Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, and Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen—has slowed to a crawl. Not a single edit this week.

Part of the blame falls on Kindle Create, which seems determined to mangle my subheadings. But if I’m honest, the deeper culprit is doubt. Why release the collection now, when sales of the individual books have been... let’s say, modest?

Back when I was writing Reunion: Coda, especially through that frigid New Hampshire winter, I held onto hope. I imagined fans of Reunion: A Story rallying—leaving glowing reviews, spreading the word, giving my writing career a gentle nudge. Some did. A few loyal readers picked up Reunion: Coda in hardcover, paperback, and Kindle formats. But overall, sales have been underwhelming. And yes, it’s dimmed my spark a little.

Still, I’m moving forward—quietly, but steadily. I’m chipping away at two Garratyverse projects: audiobook editions of all three stories, and the deluxe omnibus. Once those are wrapped, I’ll keep writing. There’s at least one more Jim Garraty story waiting in the wings. I’m a storyteller at heart, after all.

Right now, I’m banking on the audiobooks to reach a wider audience than the print editions ever did. All three are in production, and the producers genuinely seem to love these stories. Brandon Padilla, who’s narrating Reunion: A Story, sent me this update Wednesday night:

“Hi Alex! You’re a truly inspiring character, and learning about your story and how it all began has motivated me to push my voice-over work to the next level. I’ve even changed my approach to this project and bought a new microphone. I’ve re-recorded many sections of your book with it, and I think you’re absolutely going to love the result.”

That kind of dedication means the world. Even if sales lag, the emotional resonance is real. And that’s what keeps me going.

So yes, I’m still here. Still writing. Still believing that persistence—and maybe a little luck—will eventually pay off.

If you’ve read Reunion: Coda, I’d love to hear what stayed with you. What moments lingered? What felt true? Your reflections help me keep going—and remind me why these stories matter.