By
T. M. Brown
Five
years ago, my wife urged me to retire from the nine-to-five daily grind to
write a novel that our grandchildren would enjoy reading. The first weeks
entailed countless hours of investigating the basics — the what and how
— of creative writing. Eventually, my inquiries led me to a God-sent
relationship with a writing coach and editor, Kari Scare from Three Rivers,
Michigan.
Thankfully,
technology bridged the 900 miles that separated us. With Kari’s guidance and
ample supply of red ink, I nurtured the original premise of a story. Word after
word, page after page, revision after revision, Sanctuary, A Legacy of
Memories emerged thirty months later. Though a few painful bumps and
bruises left their mark along the way, I now proudly enjoy sharing about my legacy
of love to my grandchildren.
Of
course, one book is never enough. Thanks to the insistence of my earliest
readers and my new author-friends, a year after my first novel launched, Testament,
An Unexpected Return, the sequel, continued the saga begun in Sanctuary,
A Legacy of Memories, and the third and presumably final installment is
being written. Each features Theo Phillips, a recently retired publishing
executive, and his wife, Liddy. Their journey began after they vacated their
suburban home near Atlanta seeking to return to South Georgia, near their
small-town roots. However, Theo and Liddy discovered their inquisitiveness, as
they seek to settle into their Shiloh home, thrusts them into the midst of
scandal and dark secrets surrounding a tragic death. In the sequel, Theo and
Liddy become unlikely victims of a former resident’s mysterious return and
reckless scheming.
Now
what? Over the holidays as I began writing the third installment, I pursued a
vital third question about crafting novels - why. An author must come to
grips with the motivation and internal message that each story tells. After
some soul-searching, I realized the events surrounding one of my characters had
played out a true-to-life, relevant role within the main story. Without revealing
too much of the story, Megan succumbed to being coerced into making a
choice only a woman can make, but she learns in the story choices have
consequences, and most often unintended and far-reaching too. No matter how
hard anyone buries such a dark secret, eventually it surfaces to the light. I
tried throughout the story to reveal a truth we should all realize, God knows
all our secrets. He knew we would make the decisions we did long before we
created them. Megan comes to realize that one can compound a lousy choice with
more poor decisions that hurt others, but more often than not, God exposes our
secrets to begin the healing process of a broken and contrite heart.
So
why did I write the stories I have written and likely will continue to
write? To inspire my grandchildren and readers alike to examine their choices
in life and how those choices have impacted their relationships with family,
friends, and most importantly with God.
To
emphasize this message, throughout February, all my royalties for books sold in
Coweta County, GA — where the inspiration for Shiloh began — and on Amazon so
others can participate, will benefit Coweta Pregnancy Services, Newnan, GA. The
campaign is duly entitled, “Megan’s Pledge.” Below is a link to find out more
should you wish to take part.
So,
why do you write your stories? I pray you may agree — “The testament
of a man lies not in the magnitude of possessions and property left to his
heirs, but the reach of his legacy long after his death.” Theo Phillips
T. M. Brown is a Southern boy at heart,
although he's lived and traveled in many states far removed from his beloved
boyhood roots in Georgia and Florida. He returned to North Florida several
years ago while his two sons were still in school and enjoyed traveling
throughout the South for business. After his youngest son went off to college,
he ventured to New Orleans to complete post-graduate studies. The last fifteen
years, he has preached, taught and coached in Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and
Florida until his wife and he relocated outside of Atlanta where they have
since retired to write, travel, and spoil grandchildren. Presenting author at 2017 & 2018 Decatur Book
Festival, 2017 Milton Literary Festival, 2018 Dahlonega Literary Festival.
Suspense Book 2017 finalist, Reviews & Interviews. Member of the Atlanta
Writers Club, Georgia Writers Association, Chattahoochee Valley Writers Club,
Georgia Writers Museum. and Broadleaf Writers Association (ATL). 2018 Best Book Award Finalist from
AmericanBookFest.com for Sanctuary, A Legacy of Memories. Shiloh Mystery Series: Sanctuary, A Legacy of Memories
(Jan 2018); Testament, An Unexpected Return (March 2018); Purgatory, A
Progeny's Quest (TBA2019).http://tmbrownauthor.com/megans-pledge-aids-local-pregnancy-services-center https://www.facebook.com/TMBrownauthor/
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