Well, it has been awhile since last I updated my profile, so I figured now would be a good a time as any.

On a personal note I live in the South of the United States. It's a bit backwards in some regards, but their devotion to faith easily outshines any other part of the nation; I've lived in several parts of it. I recently got married last December on the Winter Solstice. It was a simply affair done at the courthouse. That says much about how I want my life now; simple.

I make donuts for a living and the process is hard enough to challenge me, always trying to improve, and at times slow enough so I can relax. It is a nice blend of physical labor and mental acuity. In the past I've worked as a dishwasher and fast-food manager, nothing special about that last one, trust me. And for a year or so helped my grandfather build houses. I was young and he was in his mid-seventies. Yeah, he's a pretty healthy man.

Every funeral I've attended I have been a paul-bearer. It has nothing to do with my closeness to the person being buried, but more to the fact that I'm a guy. Men have muscles and can thus lift the casket. I say make the damn thing lighter.

My wife is a big part of my writing. She is basically my beta. On a smaller note she acts has a muse. No, she does not ignite the passions of my imagination, but is more of a grounding effect on me and my writing. With her about I actually sit down and write.

The Eternal Legend: This was my first attempt at an epic story. It was in these pages I explored horror, romance, battles, and character development. Plot unfortunately went to the wayside. There was a plot...it was just unfocused until the end. I got pretty good at horror scenes and political intrigue. The battles still need some work, and from the many reviews I'm apparently pretty good at characterization. For those wondering if you should tackle it? If you can stand awkward sentences and glaring grammatical mistakes then go ahead. Otherwise steer-clear. Sometime in the future I am wanting to do some editing to it and tighten it up, but for now she'll have to stay the way she is.

One of my proudest achievements with this sucker is that every friday for fifteen months straight, minus the four times I didn't, I updated it with a chapter, roughly 4000 words long. Not an easy feat I assure you.

The biggest thing about The Eternal Legend is I actually finished it. You see, I've been writing now for ten years. I had one story I did in High School that I never completed. Too many OC's. I would start something then never finish it. Then I went through my old writings and found the first five chapters of the above. I sat down, edited them and changed my original plot and thus the Eternal Legend was born. That stands as a large testiment for me. It was completed.

A Respite From the Sword: Yep, you're not blind, it's not down there. I removed it some months ago because I was greatly disatisfied with it. The imagery and writing were solid and I concentrated more on descriptors than in my first work. It was also meant to be a short romance, but I had no idea where it was going, nor how to wrap it up. Also, the chapters were more snapshots than actual tale. I've toyed with the idea of finishing it, but it's at the back of my mind.

Revolution's Eve: My next large epic I'm working on. For some that have read The Eternal Legend then read this, you may see a drastic increase in quality. I took a class in basic grammar before I started writing it, after The Eternal Legend. It helped me to focus my writing and to work on clarity. The biggest factor was the fact I sat down and worked on the plot itself and where I wanted to take it. It's a pretty non-traditional Harry Potter story. Yes, I see you rolling your eyes and shaking your head. Note, I did not say original, just very non-traditional.

The characterization I think is strong, though loosens in some instances. The first chapter throws a lot of people due to the language used and the long winded sentences. It was a style of writing I was practicing, using more descriptors in the prose itself instead of just in a few sentences. I think it worked to a small degree, but I ended up I confusing the reader and making it harder to read and grasp. In the later chapters, around 6-7, I've gone back to a more simplistic style.

I've gone back over the first three chapters and addressed a few issues and tightened the writing where I could. Now that the move is over I can finish this retro-editing. A few things fixed is the trip south in chap 2, trimmed it. The interaction between Harry and Hermione in chap 3. The way the dursley's talked in chap 1. Things of that nature. The magic I have established, the plot, and the locations I will stick to.

If you happen to read it, leave a criticism. I'm always searching for ways to improve as a writer.

Also, unlike the Eternal Legend I do not update every week. The balance I have found is to update every three weeks with a chapter that is about 10,000 words in length. Usually, its closer 12,000. So to those that worry this may go unfinished or fall to the wayside, fear not. For like my first fic I will complete this thing. It's become a pretty big part of my life and consumes a lot of my thoughts. Of course, these are just words in the wind and only my finishing the story will justify them. :).

"Honestly, this just shows you're an arrogant, misbegotten pus-filled twit with confidence issues. Deal with them somewhere else, not at . And go choke to death on a glob of your own spit. It'll be good for you, and as Dr. Manhattan says, 'life is a vastly overrated phenomenon.' Particularly yours." --Author Withheld.

I like this guy! Oh, and he's referring to me in that quote up there. I did something for shits and giggles and that was the response. LOL. By the way, man's a damn decent writer, a lot better at setting the tone of a story than me.

"Everyone dies. It's whether or not you die fighting or die crying that defines who you are." What do you guys think about this quote, pretty profound yes? I think so.

"Jesus Christ and the cross he was nailed to wearing a pink tutu!" Forgot who said this, some guy online, but I'm fucked if I remember from where. I liked the blasphemy of it.

Now, since I went dredging through my old works, and I mean old...like a decade ago old. I found some of my poems. I know right, you guys want to see them! Most are pretty bad as can be expected, but I think a few were note worthy if I fixed them up. This one in particular I like and thought was very clever; one has to enjoy an ego every now and then.

Playful Strings:

A celestial harp to which I am played.

Ringing, resounding, I am displayed.

A prize won through taunting eyes;

fallen for coy smiles and padded lies.

She plays me well, upon those golden strings.

Hatred and malice is what this brings.

But those heavenly eyes I cannot flee,

and those angelic features haunt my dream.

She sways her hip, I come begging.

She taps her toe, I am pleading.

How can I escape this lust-filled feeling?

I stand my ground and send her reeling.

Her eyes water, and my heart breaks.

Her lips tremble, that's all I can take!

To her I plead, 'Take me back!'

She smiles and baits me through her lack.

What that is she knows I desire.

Knowing only she can quench my fire.

I know it too and am forever her pawn

with strings attached let her play my song.

Yeah, it's not profound or deep, but I liked the premise and the fact it rhymed well.

If you read this I hope you have taken a good lesson from it, that author's works are much more interesting than the author's themselves.

--byl, out.