“Another day in ENDWORLD has ended.”

Posted on by The Madchronicler

Inspiration is funny. I’ve said that and written that many times over the course of my life. It’s an indisputable fact that all writers understand. There are days… Stretches where you just don’t have it. Days when the story is there, but you are simply unable to put it on paper. Maybe you’re tired. Preoccupied. Burnt out. Drunk. Stoned. Loving. Fucking. Weeping. Watching “Squid Game.” Whatever you’re doing. As hard as you try you just can’t properly find the words you need.

Contrary to this, there are days when your story just flows. When inspiration grabs you by the balls, squeezes and forces you to write. Those days… You have no free will. You’re being held captive by your muse. Your only job is to keep going, regardless of what is happening around you. Time slows like it does in Endworld. And when you can break away–whether to sleep, eat something or refill your water cup–you’re left with the worst case of artistic blue balls you’ve ever had, along with a gnarly five o’clock shadow.

A week ago, yesterday, I wrote about finishing HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD before August 20, 2025… My 50th Birthday. It was a personal goal I tasked myself with not because I was under a deadline, but because I didn’t want to cross the half century mark of my life with my 30 plus year, labor of love incomplete. At the time I wrote that blog entry, linkable HERE if you want to give it a read, I did not know how long it would take me. Much of the story was already completed so August 20th seemed reasonable, even with the myriad of additions, subtractions and revisions I and my always reliable beta readers had proposed. Shortly after I wrote and posted that blog entry, I started re-re-RE-rewriting it. And last night? On June 29, 2025, shortly after 11PM EST, I read over page 215/word 130,947 in the document opened on my computer, and in a moment of sheer relief and visible sorrow, I understood.

The ENDWORLD Series was done.

There are likely a few people reading this, right now that are scoffing at that and scratching their heads. Didn’t you complete HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD four years ago? Technically yes. I did. But anyone who has ever written a story knows that the first draft is never the last draft, and even then–as I explained to my youngest minion #NatNatBoo last evening–I knew that the story wasn’t done. As thrilled as I was to have completed a draft, I knew it needed revision. I knew before my beta readers even got their respective hands on it that there were things about it that just didn’t work. It was short for one thing–less than 200 pages at that time–a length that was bolstered in part by a Forward, “What is The ENDWORLD Series” and an Afterward, “What was The ENDWORLD Series” that… spoiler… remain a part of it. I knew when I started re-re-rewriting it in 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic that it was going to be shorter than the other, two books, due largely in part to the most common concern people expressed about Books One and Two. “Too long.” “Too repetitive.” But sub-200 pages seemed too short. My fears were confirmed as the first of my readers came back to me with a laundry list of notes on what it was missing, a handful of suggestions and the simple statement that it needed “more.” You know who you are, Beta Reader 1, and if you’re reading this right now, thank you.

So, I toyed with it. Over almost four, additional years as Beta Readers 2, 3 and 4 expressed similar sentiments over the months that followed. My deepest thanks to them, as well. But it wasn’t until one week ago yesterday that I decided it was time. And that decision… That moment was the product of a number of factors in addition to my self-imposed deadline that I will not launch into here–maybe I’ll blog about them another time. As you can likely imagine, I’m a bit fried at present, but I needed… I need to write this to bookend the process that started last Sunday.

Here’s the thing: Writers know when the moment is apt. Very few of us are Stephen King, able to pop out 2-3 books a year. Most of us are lucky if we complete one novel over the course of our life. I can now say that I’ve completed three, and I know this, even before I start editing again and ship it off to my real editor, because in that moment last night, when I read word 130,947, I knew what every writer that has ever completed anything, whether it be a novel, a short story or a poem et al knows. I felt it deep, within my soul. My story… the narrative which has been an integral part of my life for over 30 years, was complete. Every plotline was where I wanted it. Most if not all of the dialogue was as I’d heard it in my mind–yes, friends, I hear voices in my head–and my main character’s ending, as it had been many moons ago when I first wrote it, was… right. One of the biggest aspects of the story that I toyed with over the years was his ending, for reasons that will become abundantly clear when you read it. In the end I decided to stick with my original plan, and how that will play with the people that eventually read it will likely cause a spirited debate. Or it won’t. I’ll leave that for you to judge.

What now? That’s a heluva good question. I think I’ll take a day or two off after I post this. Watch the end of “Squid Game” with my minions who have recently returned from a cruise with their mother. I’ll likely reach out to my editor and my cover artist, and if they’re both reading this right now hey guys! Guess what? I’m done! And if you’re still game I’d love your assistance one more time. You know who you are, and I’m excited to hopefully conclude this journey with you both, once again by my side. I may reach out to Beta Readers 1, 2, 3 and 4 again, as well. Or I may ask others to step in this go ’round. I honestly don’t know. From my perch atop my home in Swarthmore, PA right now I’m looking out, over my neighborhood and the world beyond it. I’m watching a shelf cloud move slowly in my direction and I can hear the distant sound of thunder. I feel… within me for the first time in many years–when I first came up with this idea and typed the closing sequence from Book One on a long, blue library card at my then-place of employment–a degree of peace that has been sorely lacking from my life at points over the last decade or so. It’s a peace that comes with completion. I’ve more to say on that… much more, but for now you’ll have to wait to read the book.

HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD. Book Three of The ENDWORLD Series by Frank Marsh. Coming soon.

FM.

“Once more unto the breach.”

Posted on by The Madchronicler

The title of this composition is a line from “Will” Shakespeare’s play, “Henry V.” King Henry spoke those words to his troops to encourage them to flood the “breach” in the Harfleur city wall (Harfleur being a city in France) which… They did. Yet those words hold a deeper meaning for me this ungodly hot and humid evening in Swarthmore, PA. They’re echoing in my mind as I sit here, typing on my Jetpack app because my computer is currently processing a hundred or so updates. Not my new PC, but my old one. The one I was using when I completed and self-published CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD over six years ago. It was the same PC I was using when I started writing HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD that same year. I finished the initial draft of that book back in 2021. It is now 2025 and I’ve barely touched said story in four years. Oh, I’ve toyed with it–as every writer does–but life, work et al got in my way.

No longer.

In just under two months, I am turning 50. 50. WOW. There was a time I never thought I’d reach 45, nay 50. When life throws you lemons sometimes you are unable or unwilling to make lemonade. Sometimes it’s easier to embrace a distraction or five. And I’ve had plenty of those over the last, four years. I am not bitter, nor am I upset or angry at myself. Divorce is… Hard. Don’t let anyone EVER tell you differently. Kids and their lives take up a lot of time when you’re a single parent. You don’t have much time to think about yourself, nay the book series you’ve been working on for over 30 years. Yet through it all… Through the nights spent sitting outside a dance studio in my car, or squeezing errands in between kid activities, something always felt like it was missing. My mind kept returning to William MacNuff and his brethren. His FRIENDS. It kept returning to where I left them six years ago and again, four years ago in the pages of a novel only a handful of beta readers have read. His story… MY story, begged me for completion. And yet I dallied.

No longer.

It is time, friends. I have just under two months until my 50th Birthday. I need to complete The ENDWORLD Series before then. Fortunately, the damn thing is basically done, and what I need to add/subtract has been on my mind for the better part of the last four years. Whether I’ll be able to complete AND publish it by August 20, 2025 remains to be seen. Survey says? Unlikely. I haven’t reached out to my editor, nor my cover artist yet. But I’m sure as shit going to try. People have been telling me for years that there comes a point in life when you have to start thinking about yourself. I guess this is a PART of what I am doing now. Yet it’s not just about me. I’m thinking about YOU, as well. Those of you reading this post did something for me that I am and will always be beyond grateful for. I put something out into the universe (as a good friend told me recently) and you read it. You spent your hard-earned money on it. Many of you enjoyed it. To deny you the end of William’s story is selfish. You deserve to know it as well as I do. So, let’s find out how it ends together, shall we?

I have teenage daughters, so I love a good selfie. Here’s one of me, right now. Will this be my new author photo? Probably not. I’d wager no one wants to see me rocking a tank top, much less marvel at my crow’s feet, receding hairline or my blonde/brown/white Van Dyke. I have a photo selected for my author one. Multiple photos actually (no spoilers guys and gals; sorry). But I wanted to capture this moment, here at the start of the end of all things The ENDWORLD Series. I’m relatively sure about that statement with one caveat: HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD is the end of William’s story. Whether there are other stories beyond it I do not know. I have ideas, but I’ll keep the cart BEHIND the horse at this time. We’ll see what the Muse inspires in the days and years to come.

One last picture. This is the room where it’ll happen and the computer it’ll happen on. This may look familiar to some but not to all of you reading this. When I first moved here to Swarthmore, PA, I set up this area in my living room to be my writing station. This is different than my WORK station which is… Much more elaborate–lots of tech and lots of knick-knacks. But when I think back to where I was sitting when I typed those infamous, first words in ENDWORLD – A Novel–“It’s difficult to remember a time when my life had meaning”–this feels RIGHT. Simplistic. A return to something that I once was and have not been for many, many decades. Just me, a computer, a charging station for my phone and a glass of Liquid IV (I’m far beyond glasses of sugared up iced tea and hot dogs now; my body is simply not built to process them anymore). We’ll see how the kids react to me usurping their living room.

So? What’s left? Nothing save for a computer restart and the opening of my WIP. The rest will WITH LUCK be committed to the annals of self-published, literary history. Fingers crossed. Prayers prayed. I chose the title of this piece because that quote, “once more unto the breach” has been haunting me for a few weeks now. But I didn’t choose it because I am a king, planning to rally my troops to take a city… ANY city. I chose it because that guy I once was–the once-English major–interprets it as someone or SOMEONES facing a particularly daunting task after a previous attempt has been made. I’ve made many attempts to complete The ENDWORLD Series over the years. As it once was. As it is now. As I hope it will be forevermore.

Time to get to it. Wish me luck!

FM.

A Question of inspiration, here at “the end of all things”

Posted on by The Madchronicler

A bit of an ominous title, yes? Do not worry. I have not returned from a year and a half away from this website to say “thanks but no thanks.” To those of you that have navigated here over the last year plus looking for the inevitable HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD update don’t worry: It is coming. The above-referenced “end of all things” is, of course, the end of The ENDWORLD Series: The trilogy that took me almost 30 years and multiple revisions to complete. In the immortal words of Doctor Stephen Strange, we ARE in the endgame now. There is not much left for me to do save for finish cleaning and formatting the book, submit it for a final edit, send my cover concept to my artist to complete and thereafter? Publication.

To my always wonderful Beta readers? Thank you. Your feedback has as before and always been integral to my process. To those of you that have read Books One and Two and are waiting patiently for Book Three? Thank you, as well. It seems that for the most part, people have enjoyed William MacNuff’s story. I could do, and have seen others do way worse than 13 positive 4-5 star reviews on Amazon and two bad ones. And to those two folks that pinged me for 1 star? Thank you. It is humbling to know that The ENDWORLD Series does not resound with everyone. Mayhap if I do go on writing after this–and I certainly hope that I do–the next thing or things I write and put out for public consumption will be more to your liking.

I mused on my blog this past weekend that I had a revelation about the inspiration behind these books. If you’d like to read the whole post you can link it HERE, but to sum up? Book One was inspired by my childhood and early adulthood, the friends I found there and the love I discovered, and eventually lost. Book Two was inspired by my marriage, subsequent fatherhood and dissolution of the former a few years ago. Book Three though? It is informed by my past but not inspired by it. It is inspired by my future. The inevitable question of “where do I go from here?” With this new revelation in mind, I look forward to jumping into what remains of my final clean/format and giving you, at long last, the end of William’s story.

Is it the last ENDWORLD story? I honestly do not know. Only time will tell if there is more of that world, remaining to be written but that which I set out to do so many many years before this will be concluded with the words “The End.” No more “To Be Continued” or “To Be Concluded.” HEAVEN is William MacNuff’s last dance, and you will once more get to read it from his point of view.

There is something that I have been meaning to do, and it seems to me a necessary step to take before wrapping up this artistic odyssey that I have been on for a good portion of my life. These words speak to those of you reading this, or hearing about this that haven’t been a part of my life for a long time. Hopefully, you know who you are. Without revealing names and making anyone feel uncomfortable I want you to know that even now, “at the end of all things” I think about you. What you inspired. How you encouraged me to tell this story. What you were to me for so long and in many cases what I was to you. I pray that you have all found happiness and contentment. However things ended and whatever our final words, spoken to each other were–whether they were accompanied by a hug, anger or silence–know now and always that none of this would have been possible without you. This story? What started as a Wonder Years/Terminator mash-up with a bit of Huck Finn thrown in was as much created by you and your presence in my life as it was the archetypes that I modeled the characters, both machine AND human upon. Late night phone conversations. Embraces that I never wanted to end. An “I love you” spoken with the most plutonic of intentions that in one or two cases grew into more. Moments shared by sun and moonlight. Songs sang and one or two danced to. Those moments will live within my heart, soul and mind for the remainder of my life. Every time William said, and will say “je’taime” in the pages that remain he wasn’t simply speaking to one person. He was thinking of ALL of you. Hence my final dedication, revealed here for the first time in The ENDWORLD Series:

For you. Gone, but never forgotten.

Je’taime.

No lie: I labored over it a bit. Actually a LOT. But in the end? It seemed a fitting coda given where this story came from and the things that inspired it. A fitting way to acknowledge the myriad of people that made this possible and continue to do so. Our group of adventurers may not be as big as it was, once upon a time…

…because all good stories, and even some of the bad ones begin as such…

…but mayhap there will come a day when I do get to see some of you again. I hope you are well. I hope you are happy. I hope you feel the same peace within you that I feel, writing these words right now as I prepare to jump in and complete my own, literary journey. Here, at the end of all things related to The ENDWORLD Series.

I remain, and always will remain yours, as you remain mine.

Je’taime.

Frank.

An Interlude

Posted on by The Madchronicler

One of, if not the most enduring ironies of being a writer is that despite spending pages upon pages, developing characters the act of writing itself is a very lonely one. Sure, there are the voices in your head that spill out, onto the page in various forms but much of what we do is done in solitude. One of my earliest memories when it comes to the writing process is hearing about Dante, and how he wrote “The Inferno” alone, by candlelight in his chambers and went blind because of it. I am not blind, and hopefully never will be, but I cannot deny that the majority of what I have written over the course of my life has been written from within the confines of my own, lonely chamber. Despite what has always been and remains a wonderful support system of family, friends and loved ones in the end? Writers are a solitary species. We travel a lonely road. And now is no different.

Earlier this afternoon, I finished my initial edit, read and revise of HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD despite a nasty stomach bug that snuck up on me, overnight and robbed me of the chance to see my wonderful “lady friend” Heather. I’ll make it up to her. To you, dear. I promise. Said edit/read/revise knocked it down from 209 to roughly 200 pages. For anyone keeping track that is easily the biggest, initual hack job I’ve ever done on a WIP. It’s not that I didn’t like all the pork I cut out. I did. But there’s a degree of trepidation, inherent in having too much “filler” in this one. People, myself included desire an ending. A solid one. And that is what I intend to give them and myself. Streamlined. The last part of HEAVEN is, and was always planned to be extensive. Plot lines wrapped up. Answers to questions that have remained enigmas since Book One. I’ve still got a ways to go to get to the already-written ending. But I have, most certainly reached the beginning of the ending and because of that? I find myself feeling more alone than I ever have before throughout the almost three decade long process of writing, re-writing and re-RE-writing The ENDWORLD Series. That’s where I am mentally this bright and shiny, late-Winter, Sunday afternoon. Physically my stomach is doing somersaults so BRB. Sorry if that’s TMI. LOL. #TooManyAcronyms.

Back and better for the moment, I find myself once again ruminating on how this trilogy of novels has evolved over the years. I’ve written of this before and won’t belabor you with it again. I find myself filled with a mixture of excitement at what lies ahead, but weariness at what I’ve left behind. The final part of HEAVEN begins against a similar backdrop from how ENDWORLD – A Novel began. No that’s not a spoiler. But it illustrates how cyclical a process the writing of these books has been. I started the first book in solitude, and I’m ending the last one in the same. Self-imposed. Also cyclical. I don’t know when I’ll start writing Part Five. Maybe tonight… Maybe this week but SOON. I need too. Because I’ve given myself a deadline to complete it. And the voices in my head are counting on me to finish telling their tale. One in particular. When I start… It’ll be quick. A long-form writing sprint to the end. The convergence of multiple stories into one. One final confrontation. This may be the first book I complete within a year (thanks, ‘Rona) and it should be. Because the time to move forward is upon me. Other adventures await and I can’t wait to get to them. So? Buckle in guys and gals. Past the present exists my future, but to get there? Much like my hero, I need to face my past. EVERYTHING that inspired or anti-inspired me. Full circle to finis. Finally.

So? As I prepare to close out what will likely be my last blog entry here, or over on Random Musings pre-finishing HEAVEN, I’d like to take a quick moment and say “thank you.” Thanks to my amazing support system for understanding and encouraging me to follow this story through until the end. Special thanks to Heather who has been listening to me talk about this moment for the last year. I love you sweetie. Thanks to everyone that has read, critiqued and enjoyed The ENDWORLD Series in one of it’s many incarnations over the years. I may not speak with all y’all on a daily basis anymore, but you remain with me. My own, mental peanut gallery. Always. There’s a good possibility that I’m going to go semi-dark for the duration of this on social media. I need to embrace the above-referenced solitude and exist in my own, proverbial, creative void with just my characters as company. You can always find me though. If you need me, reach out and I’ll be there. PM, text, phone or “other.” But for now? This is Frank Marsh, kind’a signing off. #AmFinishing #HEAVENANDENDWORLD #TheENDWORLDSeries

In Which I Force Myself to Stop Writing HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD and Write… Something Else, Albeit Something Related to HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD

Posted on by The Madchronicler

Endings have never been easy for me. Once upon a time…

…because all good stories begin as such…

…I wrote a blog post, over on my other site (linkable HERE if you want to check it out) about this topic. I wrote it at the tail end of my once-life as a husband and the beginning of my NEW life as a single dad. “Single Dadhood” I called it then, and I still call it now despite the fact that I am NOT single, and haven’t been for close to a year. A relationship doesn’t alter my Single Dadhood status. My kids are still my responsibility when they’re with me and mine alone. And I wouldn’t trade that at this juncture for anything in this, or ANY Skew.

But I digress. Anyone who knows me as either a writer, a person or both knows what I’m presently doing. As of last night, I’m 85 pages… Balls deep into HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD, Book Three of The ENDWORLD Series and the conclusion of William MacNuff’s story. The end of an idea that I’ve been mulling for almost three decades that has evolved, over the years into a much larger concept than it originally was. What was once a cross between “The Terminator” and “The Wonder Years” with a little “Tom Sawyer” and “The Adventures of Huck Finn” thrown in for good measure has become something much, much bigger. Alternate realities. Spirituality. And I am grateful for what it has meant to me in the past and what it means to me now. So the idea that sometime within the next 300 pages or so I’m going to be finally putting it behind me is… I’ll not lie, a “tough pill to swallow.” Because endings have never been easy for me. Apparently almost 45 years of life has done little to call that into question.

How do I… How do WE deal with an end or endings in general? I guess every soul approaches it in a different way. Some ARE able to embrace a conclusion and move on quickly. Others? For them it takes time. That’s me. An “other.” Which is probably why I’m preemptively writing about it now and not before I compose the final chapter of my story. I know that I simply need to enjoy the ride… Let my fingers do the talking as they stroll across my keyboard, at times more furiously than others. I’ve pissed off a LOT of keyboards in my life, no sarcasm intended whatsoever. And I know that THIS keyboard… This story will not be my last. But before I can move onto the myriad of other tales that are and have been festering in my head for decades, I need to complete my first one. So I guess, in essence, HEAVEN is its own version of a Gateway. A door leading from one Skew… One story to another.

Don’t worry all. I’m not going to Stephen King or MCU this sh*t. There’s no shared universe in my mind. Just a bunch of one-off tales that I want to write that have been and are being… well? Cock-blocked by The ENDWORLD Series. And I will. But before that happens I need to embrace THIS ending. The next scene I have planned to begin on page 86 is my first calculated risk in HEAVEN. So I’m forcing myself to pause for a night and ponder it before diving in. Sleep. Perchance to dream? I hope so. Because I want it to be RIGHT. Because the people out there that have read and supported me throughout this process deserve an ending that pulls no punches. Zero plot holes. I plan to leave no proverbial, literary stone unturned. Twelve bullets and MAXIMUM EFFORT. Not to mention a couple of swords sheathed upon my back. F*cking Deadpool. It… He NEVER gets old.

There’s an argument that can be made that The ENDWORLD Series, and my laser focus upon it for almost 30 years is nothing more than me, pointing at myself and saying “see ME? See what I’M doing?” I know some folks reading this right now feel that way. It’s inevitable. I knew what I was getting into when I opted to write mainly in the First Person and declared The ENDWORLD Series an “autobiographical fiction.” To them… To ANYONE that thinks I’m doing this to get attention I’ve got news for you: I’m not. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I write because I love doing it. I write for the one person that I can impact… Engage for a couple hundred pages and come away with a smile of enjoyment and fulfillment upon their face. It’s not about fame or money. It’s about creating something that can and hopefully WILL stand the test of time. I grew up reading books: A pear-shaped kid who got lost in the words penned by any number of mad geniuses. Books allowed me to escape everything from bullying to heartbreak. And writing books… Writing in general has had the same effect. It’s a natural extension of who I was into who I am today.

So for all of you, or the handful of you that have been waiting I’ve got good news: It’s coming. Faster than I expected and while I refuse to predict length, or how long it’ll take me to finish it I will tell you that, barring something catastrophic, it won’t be six years. It might not even be two. But when I’m satisfied with it… When it’s ready and worthy of being the closing chapter for not just William, but all the other characters that populate his universe you’ll see it. I look forward to that day more than you realize. Thank you, as before and always for your love, support and interest in my story. The fact that it found an audience is next to my children being born the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me and… God. It’s amazing. Humbling. I’m speechlessness folks. And that doesn’t happen very often.

Goodnight, all. Tonight I rest. Tomorrow night I jump back in. Page 86 is calling…

FM

Midnight Musings on How I Got Here, and How to Continue

Posted on by The Madchronicler

Many of you, reading this do not know the story behind The ENDWORLD Series. Not that such a thing should apply in this world of writing and writers, of inspiration and the like that I’ve existed in for as long as I can remember. But here’s a little known fact about it: It was written initially as a fictional reaction to a non-fiction series of events. From it’s earliest days, when someone asked me what I was writing, I told them it was a “fictional autobiography.” When I started writing it, I was in love. And when I finished the first draft of it, not the one that I published seven years ago but the first, FIRST draft I was STILL in love. But that love was not returned. So it remained a story. As badly as I wanted it to be real it wasn’t. William, then Roland was me. And Maria was HER. And that was it. Finis.

When I decided to retool it back in 2011, I did so initially as a reaction to me, not being able to finish my MA in Education at Drexel. Much of that was by choice despite what many, over the years have come to believe. Yes, there were other factors that influenced my decision to walk away but in the end? It was MY call. Every decision we make in life has risk and reward. I knew the risk of walking away, but I also knew the reward and in truth? I would not be the man I am today… The father I am now had I continued along that path toward my dream of being a teacher. Do I regret it? Yes. I’ll admit that herein. But I may have regretted it more had I “stuck.”

Re-writing ENDWORLD was a way to fill a sudden gap in my heart and soul. My dream of being a teacher gone, I needed SOMETHING to replace it. So? I wrote. I dialed back to my basest instinct and re-told an evolved version of my original autobiographical fiction. And because of that… Because I poured so much into it it grew. It changed. It became about not just love but spirituality. I saw between the words of the original story a little-acknowleged belief system and a world… Worlds… An entire UNIVERSE that I needed to explicate. The final product was… Long. WAY longer than the original. It was flawed and a bit pretentious. It was repetitive but beneath the flaws, it was good. Very good. Maybe not great but as first novels go, I was pleased with the result. And as it went “live” and folks began to read it and like it my heart swelled with gratitude. I was a writer. A self-published one yes but the distinction, then and now has grown blurry. The book was a bit less polished than something published by Random House but it was professionally done. I went to great pains to make it so and that, along with my decision to self-publish it? I never regretted it. Not once. I still don’t.

And then? I started re-writing Book Two of my ENDWORLD Series. And within six months I was within 150 pages of done it. Once again, life threw me a curve ball. One at first. Then two. Then three. And then a flurry of them and I had to put CHILDREN aside. The decision to do so was yet another risk/reward, watershed moment for me and my life. Sadly, after a couple of years the risk far overshadowed the reward and the end result–one possible outcome which I saw early on but fought tooth and nail to prevent–still happened. Did I regret putting CHILDREN aside? No. I still don’t. Because in the end, I picked it back up and completed it. And the end result was very much an autobiographical fiction, albeit a more evolved, more adult and deeply personal one than the original ENDWORLD had been. CHILDREN was and, I still believe is the greatest thing I’ve ever written. It has flaws. Contrivances. But as second novels go, I couldn’t have been happier, given what anti-inspired it.

Which brings me to now. To HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD, Book Three of my ENDWORLD Series. Have I started it? Yes. I have. About three or four times and the last one was the one that “stuck.” The remainder of the tale is outlined to evolve from it. But finding the inspiration to compose it eludes me right now and THAT friends… THAT is what I am presently grappling with. This, like everything else has risk and reward. But there is less of the former, for the first time EVER and more of the latter because really? What have I got to lose?

I’m generally pretty content these days. Maybe that is the issue. I mentioned previously that ENDWORLD and CHILDREN were written from places of anti-inspiration. So much of what I have written in my life comes from those same, deep and dark places. And considering how CHILDREN ended my hero isn’t exactly in a warm and fuzzy mindset presently. He’s broken. Angry. He’s confused and dangerous. How do I reconcile that with who I, Frank Marsh am right now? Maybe not a living and breathing facsimile of a smiley face but close. Closer than I’ve ever been. Aye, Shakespeare. There’s the rub. How do I complete my tragic hero’s story when for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m an unwilling participant in a f*cking tragedy?

I think the answer to that question is simpler than it seems. In short? I just do it. I find my inspiration… Seek out my muse and just GO. I’m not Stephen King. The only expectations I set are the ones I set for myself. At my core I am a perfectionist and anything short of that is unacceptable both for me, AND for you. So why wait? Why not just do it? Finish the story that I have 95% outlined in my head and on paper and finally… FINALLY be done with it?

I don’t know. I don’t know why I hesitate to do the one thing I need to do. Mayhap all I need to do is just sit down and let the words flow. I can always adjust and correct later. I think I’m close. I’m near to making that comitment. I know that now, and I owe a sincere “thank you” to my good friend Tim Jackson for helping me to realize that over the last 48 hours. Booyakasha, Marine. RESPECT. For anyone who is wondering YES, Tim is the person that Tim Redfield is loosely based on in the books. Not a villain in real life. Oh no. Far from it. He is a good man and a faithful friend. Maybe the one Joe or Josephine Schmoe out there that is about as close to me in personality as… Well? Me. And HIS story… Tim Redfield’s? The remainder of it will be told in HEAVEN. And it’s fascinating, folks. I promise you that.

So? Strap in gang. Let’s do this. Time to read over everything that I’ve written too date first and then GO. But? You’ve made it this far. You’ve read my oft times inane and insane ramblings both now, and in the past and because of that? I owe you some love. And a bit of a surprise. That said, I give you THIS. The opening of HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD. It may change a bit but probably not a lot. It strikes the right tone. It’s not a ton… I don’t want to give away the farm, but I do want you to see and know that in the immortal words of Freddy Mercury the show does, and WILL go on.

Goodnight all. Sweet dreams.

The sea has no memory.

I’m not sure where I heard that before. Some pre-Administration author or poet wrote it. Someone whose name was lost along with so much of what existed before. Before the Administration. Before the machines. Before Tim Redfield, alias Lord Lynk. Before I lost my best friend, turned lover turned the mother of my daughter. Her name flashes through my road weary mind as I stand here, my tarnished boots in the sand, staring out over the endless expanse of water that stretches out to the horizon before me beneath a gray, late Fall/early Winter sky. Not a dreaming python, and not deadly if you provoke it. But peaceful the way it undulates hypnotically before me. Somehow… someway I understand, and I close my eyes/feel the way the chilling, sea breeze blows against my cheeks and whips my long, mostly white hair out behind me.

The sea has no memory, I whisper to myself, and feel a moment’s respite from the nagging pain of hunger in my gut and the way my mind drifts like a fallen leaf, or a piece of wood upon the water.

I open my eyes. It is hard. More difficult than it ever has been before because I am tired. So tired. Time has passed. I am unsure of how much as time has no meaning here. A day… a week… a month, year, decade, century or millennia is infinite. Forever. Everything else dies but time? It marches ever onward like a dutiful humachine, it’s only purpose to taunt us… it’s only meaning to give a vague, sense of structure to the All. In the end? Laughable. “Only to die, as all must in time, the demise of a fool to fact.”

Remelius Vincent really knew his shit, sarcasm fully intended.

FM.

July Promotions for ENDWORLD – A Novel and CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD!

Posted on by The Madchronicler

Good Afternoon Everyone, and Happy July! If you’re anything like me you’re looking forward to a month full of days off, beaches, mountains… whatever your chosen destination! Even a staycation if that’s your thing.

Who doesn’t love reading a good book while relaxing? I pride myself on bringing one or more with me when I head for points north, south, east or west. That said, I’m running a couple of promos this month in celebration of my favorite month of the summer!

The first? I’m dropping the price on the CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD eBook, across all platforms for the month of July to $1.50 EACH! If you’ve been meaning on picking up a copy of my latest novel and Book Two of The Endworld Series, now’s the time! Links to buy can be found on the “Where to Buy” page of this website so click HERE, or head on over and check ’em out!

To sweeten the pot? I’m also going to bring back my FREE BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW promo from a few years ago. Both books–CHILDREN especially–are in need of reviews and if you’re willing to write one, I’m willing to provide you with a free copy of either book in whatever format you choose, including paperback! Yes, that’s how serious I am and how confident I am that you’ll enjoy this story. If you head over to the “About Me” page of this website you’ll see the various ways you can reach out to me. Don’t hesitate to do so! Click HERE. I’d love to hear from you!

Lastly, and perhaps MOST exciting: Beginning on Saturday, July 6th and and running through Sunday, July 10th, Book One of The Endworld Series, ENDWORLD – A Novel will be FREE… yes, I said FREE on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. E-format only. If you’re a paperback person like me there is a way you can get your hands on a free copy. See the above paragraph. All you have to do is write a review. Good, bad, indifferent or just “meh.” Whatever you choose!

That’s it! Any questions, concerns et al you know where to reach me. Thanks as always for your patronage! Have a terrific month!

Best,

F.

A Quick, CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD Launch Day Postmortem

Posted on by The Madchronicler

So I posted this across my Social Media footprint a few moments ago, and I wanted to throw it up here, as well. As near as I can tell, CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD is now live in all formats, both electronic and print. I’ve updated all the links on the WHERE TO BUY page, linkable via the main menu if you want to go and check it, and them out.

To everyone that has reached out to me, congratulated me, purchased a copy of either ENDWORLD – A Novel or CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD et cetera THANK YOU. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Those of you that picked one or both up, I hope you enjoy it/them. I ask only that you pass on your impressions as you read and finish it, i.e. review it! Indie publishing is not easy, and reviews are the lifeblood of an Indie author. The more reviews a book gets on Amazon, Barnes and Noble et al, good or bad the more recognizable it becomes. And if you have any questions, complaints et cetera reach out to me directly and I’ll get right back to you. Check out the HOW TO CONTACT ME page (also linkable via the main menu) if you’re interested.

That said? Thank you…. THANK YOU again. For supporting me and my dream all these years. I’ll have more news to announce soon, but for now? The hard part is done. And I guess I’d better get to writing HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD, huh?

Have a great evening, everyone.

F.

CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD – A Quick Hit

Posted on by The Madchronicler

At approximately 1AM on April 23rd, 2019, six years to the date when I published ENDWORLD – A Novel, I finished reviewing all versions of the sequel, CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD, and ordered my final proof of the paperback version. Assuming the print version looks the way it did in the previewer, it is done. The e-versions will be priced at $2.99 and should be available for preorder within the next 24 hours at all of your standard, online retailers. The print version will be $15.99 and will be available for the same as soon as I review the proof and click “publish.” The book will OFFICIALLY RELEASE across all platforms at 12AM, EST this Saturday, April 27th. Links to follow as soon as everything goes live but folks? It’s time. #CHILDRENOFENDWORLDishere

Good Evening, and Goodnight.

F.

CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD – Cover Reveal!

Posted on by The Madchronicler

Good Morning, Afternoon or Evening everyone! I hope you all had as spectacular a holiday as I did. I got to spend 90% of it with my minions, Cara and #NatNatBoo, and while I spent the better part of Thursday and Friday sick with either a Flu or Strep Throat, I… WE made up for it Saturday and Sunday. Playdates were had, candy was ingested (a LOT of it by everyone including me), gatherings were attended and… It was just downright awesome. I’ve spent so much of my recent life in a funk, trying to figure out the Why, the How… You know the litany. It was nice to finally just… Live. And enjoy.

And–in the midst of my revelry with my friends, their minions and mine on Saturday afternoon–I got a text. And that text? It was from my cover artist, Catalina. It was a picture. THE picture. You know the one of which I speak. I’ll talk about my reaction in a bit and a few other items but at this time? I see no reason to make you wait any longer. My friends, family and oft times casual readers? My “Social Media-Verse” as I often call you? With Cat’s blessing, I give you the cover to the forthcoming second book of The Endworld Series, CHILDREN OF ENDWORLD:

You’ll likely see this image a lot over the next few weeks, months and–if I’m lucky–years. I’m not a soothsayer or a “philosophiser” as White Goodman once said. I have no idea what will happen once this book goes live… No idea how it will be received. But this cover? It is everything… EVERYTHING I wanted and then some and Cat? I know you’re reading this and if I haven’t told you enough at this point? You are amazing. Incredible. You saw my vision, sketched out on piece of yellow legal paper what feels like a lifetime ago and you made it breathe. Sing. F*ck… Whatever! It’s unbelievable. Folks? If you want to check out Cat’s other work, pay her a visit on her Instagram page HERE, or at @itssketchcat. Please!

When she and I first discussed this years ago–on a slow afternoon at good ol’ CareersUSA, long before first her and then I FINALLY “got out”–it was just that: A discussion. CHILDREN was still in the early stages then but I had… Ideas. This was one. There were others but over time, this was the one I always came back to. When I officially asked her back over Christmas of last year and she officially accepted though? I don’t know. Seeing this now, I feel like we were both put there, in that sh*tty little office under the proverbial thumb of a… Let’s be honest, here: Tyrant–for a reason. Kind of like with Amy my editor: We were meant to reconnect back in 2009-2010, right when I first started retooling Book One after a number of long and at times eventful years. Folks? Whether you believe in Providence or not I do. And to have people like Amy and, now Cat with me on this journey? It feels like just that: Providence. Partners, friends… Everything. And now? I’ll stop rambling. Because you’ve probably got questions.

For obvious reasons, I can’t answer them all. Spoilers, sweeties… Spoilers. But ask them anyway. Check out my contact page, linkable in the above menu and reach out. I’ll do the best I can. Probably the most obvious one is: What the f*ck is a “Voodoo Tree?” Well? I can tell you that it’s a real thing. A real landmark in a real place. And if you remember Book One, you likely remember it. If you don’t, there’s no need to go back and reread the whole thing. Just check out the last chapter and the epilogue. It doesn’t appear until then. And whereas it does not have a ton of significance in ENDWORLD I promise you that it is crucial… Integral to not only CHILDREN, but HEAVEN AND ENDWORLD as well. And that? That’s about as far as I’m going to go into it. You’ll just have to check out CHILDREN in a week or so if you want to know more. A week or so? Yeah. That soon. I’ll touch on that more in a bit.

The other question that I’m guessing is running through your mind is why a hand drawn cover? There are two reasons for that and the first is that it simply looks better. Hand drawn equals art, and I am… We are all artists. Whether we write or draw, make music or sculpt, write Haikus or create comics we are what we are. And as such we support each other. If I can showcase another artist in the process of making my own art then I’m going to.

But the second reason? It’s a bit more vague. When I was a kid and I first started reading, I remember books like “The Hobbit” and “Bridge To Terabithia.” I remember reading them when I was my daughter Cara’s age and marvelling at the look of their covers. It was what drew me in. “Someone drew that” I would think to myself and I’d read on. This cover… Reminds me of what I felt like when I first discovered the written word decades ago. So it’s a callback. To my youth. To yours. And if there’s a cover that inspired you the way they did then and the way this one does for me now? I’d love to hear about it. Feel free to reach out. Again, check out my contact page. I promise I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.

And that? That’s pretty much it! I guess the only question remaining is WHEN? Damnit, Frank, when are you going to go live with the book? Well? I’d love to get it out there by next weekend. And I’m going to go for that. It could make for a long week but you deserve it. You’ve waited long enough. So more details to follow. Once I run everything through their final checks I’ll be able to lock down the publication date. And you will be the first people who know. I promise.

Thank you all for your time, support and… Well? Just thank you. Thank you again for everything. As my alter-ego the Madchronicler is fond of saying, booyakasha. Respect. Talk to you soon!

F.