Happy Holidays!

It’s amazing how much can change in a year.

People can come into our lives and dramatically alter everything in them. Our life can take a whole new direction simply based on kind words from someone.

That’s been my year. I found that I actually don’t really completely suck at writing. I’ve had friends and family tell me that words I wrote actually brought them to tears. That is, for me, very heady stuff.

When Eden Winters read something that I wrote and told me that I *could* write…well, it was one of the proudest days of my life. As a child I was told that I was wasting my time trying to write because it would never amount to anything. Yet here was this woman, an established author, telling me something I wrote moved her. Encouraging me to follow what was my dream. So I did.

From a short story came the framework for Pitch, my work-in-progress. Several people read it. My mom, Marc Fabris, Lis Craig, Give-A-Rush, Michelle and Sean from work, Seymour James, Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, Kc Wells, Sjd Peterson. My best one? Eden Winters! She who got me started on my journey actually helped move it along. Each and every one of them was nothing but kind and considerate. Pointing out places that I could tighten the story, showing me the differences between showing something happening and telling that it happened. It’s with this in mind that Pitch might be my very first published work. I’m already indebted to these people and if Pitch ever does get published? Oh my god, I don’t know anything that would make me happier and I have every single one of them to thank for it. Because without them there would be no Pitch. There would have been no Nuttin’ For Christmas. None of my characters would ever have escaped from my head. So thank you, truly and sincerely, to each and every one of you. You’ve changed my life and I’m grateful to all of you.

In my long-winded and roundabout way, what I’m trying to say is don’t give up on *your* dreams. Get in there and keep trying. Don’t let naysayers tell you that you can’t. Will you succeed? If you’ve tried then you already have.

My very best to you and your family for the holidays,

Will

 

Nuttin’ For Christmas by Will Parkinson

Nuttin’ For Christmas by Will Parkinson

“Oh I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas,
Mommy and Daddy are mad,
Oh I’m gettin’ nuttin’ for Christmas,
Cuz I ain’t been nuttin’ but bad.”

Eli Avery ignored the music in the background and checked the list again. It just couldn’t be true. It simply couldn’t. All these years and his name was still there? How could it be? He had to fix this. He just had to make it right.

“Beebs,” Eli began hesitantly, “I need to take some time off. Is that okay?”

Beebs Twilliger, Eli’s supervisor looked over his square-rimmed glasses and peered down silently from the catwalk. His gaze made Eli uncomfortable.

“Again Eli?” Beebs groused. “You do this every year. What’s so important that you need time off now? You know we just finished the holiday run and we need to start gearing up for next year. You’re the only one who ever asks for time off. Can you tell me why?”

Eli sighed and rubbed a hand over his cheek. He knew this was going to happen. It’s just that now might be his last chance to make sure that next year, the last year, his name wouldn’t be on the list. He shuddered to think what would happen if that came to pass.

“Beebs, really, I just need some personal time. I’ve got something I have to do and it’s really important.

“Oh Eli” Beebs whispered softly, casting a look that simply dripped pity, “Please, tell me it’s not about him again. You can’t let this go on. You can’t help him. No one can. He’s a lost cause.”

Eli felt his face heat.

“No!” he spat. “He is not a lost cause! I can fix this, I know I can. I just need time. Please Beebs. Give me some time.”

Beebs carded his hand through his long gray hair.

“I’ll give you till the next run, Eli,” he murmured. “That’s all. If you don’t fix this before then you’ll have to admit it’s useless and never speak of it again. Do you promise?”

Eli’s grin grew enormous.

“I swear to you, Beebs. Thank you!”

He bolted toward the door, grateful to have this chance. He wouldn’t mess up. He couldn’t. The love of his life depended on it.