My main profession is not an author. Looking at my book sales emphasizes that fact. Writing isn’t a difficult task for me to do, good meaningful, clever writing is much harder. Making the time to do it is my biggest obstacle. I can sometimes get on a small roll and focus through the daily requirements of being a physical education teacher and jot down a few lines during lunch or between classes. As I’m writing this blog with five coaches’ bullshitting about their weekend bets, kids needing locker combinations, and general chaos.

Most nights after teaching a zero-period class and spending two plus hours in the one-hundred-degree Bakersfield heat at football practice after school, the last thing I want to do is write. Drinking a cold beer and watching the next episode of whatever series I’m dialed into always sounds much better.

I do always seem to be thinking about the next chapter or wherever my story might take me. I find my mind wandering while I’m in the shower, driving to work, and almost always while I’m trying to go to sleep. I will finish reading (I read every night) and as I snuggle into my pillow my thoughts always go back to my book. Most times sleep comes within only a few minutes, but I almost always remember the path and can write down my sleepy ideas the next morning.