Dad | Writer | Farmer | Tech Guy

Howdy, I’m J. Scott. And I’m a tech guy (former IBMer, Googler, Automattician, and Microsoftie). More importantly, I’m a dad who writes about morality and ethics using fairy tales (Dark Harp), entrepreneurship drama (The Day Life Breaks), and kids playing baseball while angels and devils watch from above (Knights of Legend). Those in my stories often make poor choices. And try to overcome impossible odds. Sometimes, they manage. Other times, they don’t. Yes, life is a journey.

On Writing

It’s both an itch and curse. I published my first novel, Knights of Legend, under my name after eight years of work in 2012. The hardest part might not have been the writing. To think, 500 words per day translates to 180,000 words a year–the length of two full two-length novels. For Knights, most of the time I spent in the editing process, there were twelve drafts. This was a long road. And I have many people to thank, including friends, family, college professors, and an editor who trimmed about 50,000 words out of the book. For me, this book is lean and mean. But in the end, compared to the writing process, the confidence of putting yourself out there is the hardest part of the work. Since then, I’ve kept up the habit finishing the Dark Harp. A tale of a King, Queen, Dark Wizard, and two magical instruments that changed the Kingdom of Silver Throne. And The Day Life Breaks. A parable about life and work.

I also journal and write articles for news sites and keep a newsletter (do yourself a favor and subscribe). And I have a few new projects in the works. There is joy in writing; keep it going.

Anything Else?

Yeah, I still believe in the American Dream, that baseball is the National Pastime, great speeches are history’s time capsule, and that telling stories remains an important part of our culture.