Spiegel Im Spiegel
– Arvo Pärt
Benjamin Hudson, viola
Jürgen
Kruse, piano
Absolutely beautiful piece of music. Pärt
composes some of the most chillingly beautiful music in my humble opinion. (Some may recognize this as the trailer music
for the 2013 film Gravity.)
I am so sorry for the title of this blog post... blame
placed later.
Moving on.... There are too many people in my life to thank
every single one in a single blog post.
So I thought I’d just tell a story.
On a regular trip to the mall with friends, I found myself
at the Gay and Lesbian section of the Barnes and Nobles. To clarify, when I say section I mean the
single shelf holding about twenty different titles, ten of which were Gerri
Hill novels.
I found a couple m/m titles and I was intrigued, but far too
afraid to actually buy one. Of course
mall trips were frequent and so unsurprisingly I found myself in the section
again. After probably the fifth or sixth
time visiting the section I finally got the nerve to grab the book. It was Riddle of the Sands by Geoffrey Knight (so you can see why I was nervous with a
cover like that!!).
However my nerves didn’t hold and I told my friend I wasn’t
going buy it. That was when she took the
book (and my cash) with an exasperated smile and purchased the book for
me. Christina did more for me that day
then I think I’ve realized until recently.
I went from reading those books hidden with larger textbooks – to
proudly telling friends and family that not only do I read the genre, I write
in it. I am so utterly thankful to
Christina for being there for me.
Now I have the opportunity to take this further. With a short story coming out soon (appearing in the Christmas Delights Anthology,available for download on December 1st) and a full-length manuscript
being put together choppy sentence by choppy sentence, I’ve really spread my
fabulous wings. So I’m also so very
thankful for RJ Scott who’s given me this opportunity, helping to open these
doors and give me a chance to really pursue this avenue.
Then of course there’s Tony (the person you can blame for
approving the title of this post). Tony
(like Christina and others) will likely be mentioned on this blog regularly, so
get used to them. We talk nearly every day
despite the 2,264 miles between us.
Sometimes we just trade stupid stories and laugh or we’ll recount entire
episodes of shows that the other doesn’t watch (most recently him recounting
American Horror Story and me various hockey games). It doesn’t really matter. His voice is something that’s gotten me
through some of the hardest times of my life (including just a few months ago). I can usually trace a turn from darkness to
light to a phone call with him. He puts
up with me chattering about the novels I read and write, and he only sometimes
teases me when I get a little too cheesy.
Finally I am eternally grateful for my wonderful
family. Though it’s not the first time,
I am saddened that I can’t be with them this holiday, but I will be soon! J My ever-supportive parents have pushed me
further than I ever thought I could go.
I can’t even imagine where I’d be without them. My brothers are my lifelines, the two guys
that have been with me through every move, four continents and twenty-four
years. And now with their lovely wives
(my new sisters) and their children I am so blessed to be in the company of
wonderful people who help my dreams come true just by being there and supporting
me.
Love,
Chris
