A 1-year experiment

I’ve been talking a lot about the joys of simplicity, seclusion, and anonymity. So then… why the heck am I writing this blog?

Surprise! You’re part of a 1-year experiment.

When I got the last rejection slip from traditional publishers, I knew I still had two great manuscripts on my hands—two manuscripts that were just too spiritual for commercial presses, too commercial for spiritual presses—and if no one would take them, then I would print them gosh-darn myself. 

But the conundrum arose: should I dump them into the world and just get them out of my system, or should I nurture these baby books and help connect them with loving future readers?

I didn’t fit the “novelist” identity anymore and wanted to be done with all of it. But I also remembered the friends who test-read my manuscripts. Sure, they liked the books—but way more importantly, they reported learning so much about compassion and meditation and awakening from the stories. And way more importantly than that, they talked about applying those concepts to their lives and noticeably reduced their daily stress and suffering. 

For a while I agonized about the decision, unable to pull the trigger either way. Then I gave up and talked to the deva divine beings one night, right before bed:

“Okay, angels and guides. Let me know in my dreams tonight—should I dump my books and run, or should I do something more?”

And, well, their answer is evidenced by the very words you’re reading now.

So here’s the plan:

I’ll release one of my books this fall: a retelling of the Monkey King legend, both restructured as a Western narrative and restored to its original Buddhist roots. The other book—a story of karma and rebirth—will be self-published next spring. Along the way, I’ll keep you updated with these twice-monthly posts about my work and my practice.

But I didn’t write a blank check to the devas that night. 

I’d woken up the next morning, rolled out of bed, and grumbled, “Fine, I’ll do what you say… but I can only promise one year.” One year of self-publishing. One year of blogging and newslettering. One more year of writing about awakening. 

When time’s up, I’ll check in again. 

Either my work will benefit others enough to make the effort worthwhile, or no one will care—and I will have done all that I could. And I can just… stop.

Either way, thanks for joining this experiment!

We’ll know the results by mid-March.

“The doors to the deathless are open. Let those who hear show their faith.”
—Gotama Buddha, Majjhima Nikaya 26