Showmaker holds a very special place in my path as a writer. In many ways, it was the first real book I wrote. Sure, there were a good number of trials and failures before it (a few hundred thousand words' worth, to be honest), but it marks the earliest novel I wouldn't be embarrassed to send to a friend to read, even a while after I finished the first draft. It's also the only of my books to earn any kind of outside recognition, as its early chapters won a second-place award in a fairly prestigious manuscript contest in my home state. That one victory, that one ray of recognition, has- for better or worse- kept my lamp burning nonstop in the years since that first draft. If I hadn't won it, I sometimes wonder if I'd have given up on my dream by now. But I'm very thankful that I haven't yet.
The inspiration for this novel began in a shower quite some time ago and reached paper bare seconds thereafter when I sprinted from the shower, still dripping wet, to type down the entire opening scene. I'd been growing tired of writing and seeing grey protagonists everywhere I looked. I wanted to write a hero, a character who people both in and out of the story couldn't help but like, and who did the right thing simply because it was the right thing to do. The sort of person who'd be a cool friend in real life, basically. Thus was born the nascent iteration of Mars Mons- devoted brother, grinning superhero, and my first and only male protagonist. People who read between every line will no doubt be able to see some shadows of the man he'll one day become, but I hope you've enjoyed the first act of his story on its own. Much like Mori, while he won't take center stage in the next book, this is far from the last time you'll be seeing him. The Showmaker isn't the kind of guy to stay far from the spotlight, after all.
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
This story has a much smaller following than my last, but to those of you who continue to read and enjoy my works, I'm very thankful for your continued presence. Like that old award, your readership is a light in the dark that keeps me writing even when life can get a little dull or dark. I hope that you'll continue with me into further adventures with the next hero(ine!) and her stories. There's plenty of tales left yet in the FRAY series.
For those seeking a extra time with Showmaker's cast, I'll be uploading the first arc of what would have been the sequel to Showmaker after today's posts. As I decided not to continue that story yet, please enjoy the bonus chapters as an epilogue of sorts. And who knows? I might circle back around to turn it into a full novel some day.
Until then, what comes below is a short list of thanks and acknowledgements to the people who keep me writing today:
To my friends, who read the early drafts and geeked out about the twists and turns with me.
To my brother, who helped me love the gym.
To the break-room boys at community college, who made me a FGC fan forever.
To the countless authors filling my bookshelves, who helped win me that damn award. Especially P.B.
To my girlfriend, the campfire of my life.
To myself, for persevering.
And to you, for reading what I write.
-hiraeth