Giving Birth (or more appropriately, I’m back!)

How the Creative Process is Like Giving Birth (and I am ready to write here again)

The creative process is like giving birth (kind of). I know I'm walking on thin ice, but bear with me. While there may not be a single creative act as physically demanding and excruciating as pushing a baby out of your body, there are many other similarities between the two. Ideas gestate and grow within a person over time, taking on the unique personality and characteristics of the one carrying them. Watching the creation develop can be a weary and burdensome endeavor, but there's also excitement and anticipation. When the creation is finally pushed into the world, there's a profound sense of joy and celebration, particularly for the mother.

Every time I write a book, I think about the parallels between the creative process and giving birth. I often wonder why I continue to write when the process is so grueling. I suppose, like a mother, the love of what's produced must far outweigh the pain. That's the only way I can explain why I'm crazy enough to keep writing books. Perhaps the joy of the creative process can only be experienced when you've suffered for it to be birthed into the world. This tells me that the creative act is only ever the result of self-sacrifice.

I wasn't intending to write any of that; it just happened. I really just wanted to let you know that I'm back! After thousands of hours of note-taking, crusty-eyed 5am mornings for six months, and draft after draft after draft, I'm finally done writing my next book. It's entitled "And So By Fire," and it's the sequel to my 2021 novel, "What Can't Be Hidden." The launch date is July 11, 2023, and it will be available at your local bookstore and everywhere online. I'll let you know when that time comes.

In the meantime, I'm planning to start writing here again very soon. As a gift to all of you who have subscribed, I'm giving you a sneak peek of my first teaser trailer for the next book. The teaser will come out at the end of the month, but I want to share it with you first. Also, if you'd like to be on the launch team for this book, just send me a note, and I'll tell you what that entails.

I look forward to continuing our conversation.

Peace,

Brandon