I was blessed recently to have a conversation with Tracey from Releasing Trauma, a survivor’s podcast. We talked about grief, loss, healing and life after, especially from a man’s perspective and the expectations placed on men after trauma.
Two questions:
What advice would you give to someone going through trauma and grief?
What would you do differently in your own grief journey knowing what you know now?
Let me know in the comments and go give the episode a listen.
If you haven’t go give a listen to my conversation last week with Meghan on Judging Meghan.
Available on Apple and all major podcast platforms.
I have sent out my most recent newsletter just today and it can be viewed here.
It is a great way to keep up to date and be one of the first to hear about exciting events and happenings. My memoir is now available in both print and e-book formats.
As I navigate the publishing waters and my upcoming #memoir I find myself often at the edge of this proverbial cliff wondering if I truly have the wings to fly.
The doubts assail me that my story, the good and bad, the pretty and ugly will soon all be out there for everyone to see (read.) Not to mention is it any good and does anyone really want to hear my story. Will it make a difference? To just one?
To paraphrase lyrics from the TSO song Epiphany – when you stand at the edge of a cliff and your mind wonders if you should take one more step.
Your mind often says you won’t but your heart says you might. #Quote #Motivation #LiveYourDreams
I am choosing to take that step, into the unknown and a future that is fraught with fear but also the possibilities. Touch one life and you just may touch the world, ripples ya know!
PS – I will be revealing the cover of my memoir 𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙧𝙮 next Tuesday, July 27 here on WordPress and across all my other social media accounts, watch for it!
Just this… where the premise for my memoir ‘𝘾𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙮𝙨 𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝘾𝙧𝙮’ started over three years ago. Ideas slamming into my brain and hastily scribbled on a 3×5 card.
I dived deep into my past and the pain to write my story over the next few years. Encouragement came in numerous ways from family and friends. I signed with Christian Faith Publishing (@christian_faith_publishing) last fall to publish my manuscript. Now my story has been edited, formatted and the cover design completed, to be published very soon for the world to read.
Cover Design Teaser!
Never give up on your dreams no matter what. God gave you those dreams for a purpose to make a difference in the world. 👊 #LiveYourDreams
Title page, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮 – 𝗘𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 from my upcoming #memoir ‘𝐶𝑜𝑤𝑏𝑜𝑦𝑠 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐶𝑟𝑦.’
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆…”
A journey of carrying grief and healing while navigating personal and societal expectations around men and grief. Currently in the cover design phase and to be published later this summer.
Thank you all for the support and encouragement. The manuscript has been moved forward to the formatting stage, first for the hard copy and then the digital copy. The above and image is another one line, no explanation, and no context from my upcoming memoir > Cowboys Are Not Supposed to Cry.
I have completed the ‘shitty’ first drafts and edits of each novel of the series – ‘The Chronicles of Faith.’ Each book was completed in 30 days during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November where the goal is write 50,000 words. If nothing else NaNoWriMo motivates you to get a story out of your head onto the paper.
I wrote the first book:
‘The Beauty of the Stars’
Back in 2014 and then let it sit. My wife and daughter both persevered through reading the rough, I mean rough, first draft and encouraged me to continue the story. (Truth be told I didn’t let them read it for a couple of years, it just sat collecting dust.)
Thus, in November of 2018 and 2019 I wrote the next two books in the series:
‘The Stars are Falling’ and,
‘The Judgment of the Stars.’
The title of the series ‘The Chronicles of Faith’ came to me for few reasons. One, I love Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis. Second, I have always loved the idea of writing a series myself. Third, the main character’s name is Faith and she, as well as other characters each go through their own journey of faith.
The Chronicles of Faith – book quotes
Beauty is all around and our pain distracts us from seeing the truth. (The Beauty of the Stars – Coming soon Book 1 of the series ‘The Chronicles of Faith’ by Mark Wayne)
Falling is inevitable and only fatal if we choose not to get back up. (The Stars are Falling – Coming soon Book 2 of the series ‘The Chronicles of Faith’ by Mark Wayne)
Judgment finds us all, the only question is when and how. (The Judgment of the Stars -Coming soon Book 3 of the series ‘The Chronicles of Faith’ by Mark Wayne)
Faith is a loner and she knows she is different. As an evolving drone technology is unleashed on an unsuspecting populace she longs to find connection. Charles Davidson, head of The Group, is intent on building an empire, letting nothing stand in his way. Faith and Charles are both driven and their fates intertwine in ways neither understands.
Supernatural powers are driving an agenda of epic proportions. Forces of good and evil collide inside the human hearts of two people who seem to have nothing in common. Others join Faith in her quest to kill Davidson, while each is forced to answer the questions of who they are and are they good enough? The destiny of each hinges on the challenging choices that each must make, especially Faith, and the consequences of which affects them all.
Please note this is also not the actual cover.
So What’s Next?
I am leaning towards self-publishing the book series in the near future. If you have any advice or resources for me I would welcome that. Please either leave a comment or email me at info@markschutter.com
In the meantime I am hard at work writing, actually editing my memoir. The book captures my experience of grief and loss as a young man. The book will be for anyone who has experienced loss and who hasn’t? Grief will touch us all and changes everything.
Stay tuned for future updates on both my novels and my memoir.
Mark Wayne - Author and Warrior 