Why I Wrote The Billy Chronicles
I’ve written a lot over the years—novels, a self-help relationship book, an illustrated kids book, a best-seller book about childhood recollections, plenty of published plays, and stories that wander into the odd corners of human behavior. If you look me up on Amazon, you’ll find book titles like A Kid Grows in Brooklyn; Tyrus Carson’s Ride; I’m Wrong. I’m Sorry. I Love You, and Barnaby Brain. Most of my work leans toward humor, because that’s how I make sense of the world. People are funny. Life is funny. And if you pay attention long enough, you’ll see that even the serious moments have a comic edge.
The Billy Chronicles grew out of that same instinct. Based partially on experience raising five kids, and trying to grow up myself, Billy showed up in my imagination as a kid who doesn’t quite fit the mold—curious, thoughtful, and often just a step or two away from trouble. He’s not trying to be funny, but he is. He’s not trying to be profound, but sometimes he lands there anyway. I’m told by early readers that the story reminded them of their childhood—the way childhood actually feels: confusing, surprising, and full of moments that make more sense years later.
What I enjoyed most was letting Billy tell the truth as he sees it. Kids have a way of cutting through adult nonsense without realizing they’re doing it. They ask the questions we’ve stopped asking. They notice things we’ve learned to ignore. Or notice them in a different way. Billy does all of that, and he does it with a kind of sideways honesty that made me chuckle as I wrote.
The Billy Chronicles carries pieces of the world I grew up in—neighborhoods, characters, and oddball situations that stuck with me long after I moved on. If you’ve read my other books, you’ll recognize the same mix of humor and heart. If you’re new to my writing, Billy is a good place to start. He’s got a lot to say, and he says it in a voice that’s entirely his own.
I’m grateful to Ash & Creed Press for bringing The Billy Chronicles into the world of readers. And I’m grateful to readers who take a chance on a story about a kid faced with a serious problem who’s just trying to figure things out.
Aren’t we all?
