This version of my online “journal” began anew in 2015, and I’ve been writing with some regularity since then. In 2019, I revisited and updated the entire catalog. By 2024, I decided it was time to start publishing my work in book form, beginning the process once again. This is how The Reluctant Pilgrim series was born.
In January 2024, I began recording audio versions of my earliest posts, a mix of poetry, observational musings, and short essays. Some evolved into video clips as well. The idea was to enhance the content while revising it to be more evergreen and enduring — incorporating more fitting images and photographs, and linking occasional music. However, I paused that process when something else began bubbling beneath the surface.
Throughout the year, other creative projects exercised my writing muscles in various ways, and I continued writing new articles as usual. Along the way, I recorded a few audiobooks, which reminded me just how much effort that process entails. Interestingly, I also dabbled in light book editing. Plain text editions of works by an author I wanted to explore further needed reformatting and fixing — issues caused by rough PDF-to-text conversions of translations from another language. I took on the task to make them easier to read on my Kindle, which sharpened my eye for detailed proofreading, spelling, and punctuation.
Then, in the autumn of 2024, while backing up my website posts and pages, I realized I might have enough material for four or five volumes if I limited each to around 200 pages. The only logical place to begin was with Volume I, titled Ashes and Ascent, and to see how things unfolded from there. Happily, as of January 2025, it is complete and published — now available internationally on Amazon in print, eBook, and soon, audiobook formats.
The name of the book series originates from a three-part album project that has long waited patiently for my love and attention. I plan to rectify that oversight this year. While the two projects are only loosely related, the music — for the most part — was written, performed, and produced in the years leading up to 2015. This stands as a testament to just how long the project has been gestating, awaiting a concerted effort to bring it to completion. The progression mirrors aspects of my life story, starting with Runaway, then Wander, Fleshwound, and, finally, The Reluctant Pilgrim. Woven into these records is my 20-year journey from 1994 to 2014. So, to commemorate ten years of this ongoing writing adventure, and turning a new page in my life, 2025 will bring forth music projects interspersed with volumes of the book series.
Here’s the blurb and sales pitch (which will live on the Books page):
In The Reluctant Pilgrim: Ashes and Ascent, the universal journey of self-discovery unfolds in poetic reflections, thought-provoking prose, and soulful essays. Through themes of vulnerability, authenticity, and transformation, this first volume invites readers to explore the ashes of doubt and resistance while rising into the ascent of clarity and truth. Each page offers a quiet challenge to look inward, embrace the unknown, and uncover the wisdom of life’s subtle yet powerful lessons.
Genres or Categories:
- Self-Help / Personal Growth
- Poetry
- Spirituality
- Philosophy
Topics Discussed:
- Inner Work and Emotional Healing: Vulnerability, self-awareness, and authenticity.
- Personal Growth and Transformation: The dynamics of choice, perception, and self-discovery.
- Philosophical Reflections: Exploring dualities, societal constructs, and human potential.
- Creativity and Artistry: Pursuing passions and finding one’s voice.
- Spiritual Insights: Energy, interconnectedness, and awakening to a deeper truth.
Authors of a Comparable or Similar Style / Genre:
- Jeff Brown — Love it Forward
- Garret Kramer — True Self
- Derek Sivers — How to Live
Buy It on Amazon
That’s the general gist of it. Ten years in the making, followed by two months of intense updating, editing, and revising for Volume I to come together. I’m looking forward to diving into the next ones.
Thank You
At this point, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been with me at various points along this journey. To my friends and family who have patiently and quietly supported me and helped me get back on my feet time and again — thank you. It’s been an interesting decade and more, and those who came into my life and crossed my path have undoubtedly shaped my writing, growth, and transformation.
Love your life