Welcome to my writing – the reality based Young Adult fiction of Wilson James

Improbable. Unlikely. But not impossible. Adventures that inspire, according to my reader feedback. 

That’s what I write. Stories such as Sons and Brothers in Seattle, the tale of an older teen trying to provide a better life for a younger sibling and his own young children. A reader told me that this story truly mirrors much of his own life. I am awestruck to hear that, and amazed by the courage of the young man who actually lived the story.

All of my stories tell of young courage, and tenacity, and support of friends and family, and love. My books are meant to be an expression of what can be, even if it often is not.

In my books, I focus on themes such as courage, family, friendship, and the importance of doing what is right. I want to help young adults to see that they have the power to make a positive impact on the world around them, and that they should never be afraid to stand up for what they believe in.

I take my inspiration from the lives and deeds of real young people. Some I’ve known personally, or have watched from a close distance, and some I simply know of. The thread that binds them all together is they’ve shown that they can achieve the unlikely in spite of the challenges they face. In spite of the resistance of many adults around them. In spite of the naysayers who doubt. 

These young people have identified a dream or at least a goal, and have worked to make it happen.

So I take my lead from all of them. I use their example to create stories, with the hope that others will read, and find some part of the story that can help them in their own lives. My rationale for writing these novels is to empower, inspire, and encourage young adults to be the best they can be. I believe that stories can have a powerful impact on people's lives.

I know that some readers have found inspiration in the stories I write, and I take great comfort in that.

I set out to honor those whose lives were examples to me and my writing, and I hope that I will have done them justice. I also hope to honor my readers with the best stories I can create. Thank you for reading.

Wil

On Fathers' Day, the ask: What kind of a Father?

A Reprise of my most-read Blog Post, in honor of Fathers' Day

As a person, I have observed many examples of ‘fathers’ and regrettably more bad than good. It's complicated, of course, as is so much of human existence. But, in the end, I believe a good father does the best he can - but also strives to learn and improve. If I have regrets in this life, it might include that I was not as good a father as I wish to have been. I hope that I am improving. I hope I am becoming more like the best of the fictional fathers I have created. 

As an author, I have often created characters in a father role.  In certain of my books, the father is described after his death. In Playing the Baseball Card, the protagonist describes his father as a man who ‘made sure that his children were the most important part of his life.’

In Aiden’s Arrival: Honor Before Gold, a now-grown son describes a man who assumed a father’s role by marrying a women with two young children.  “None of us; my mother, my sister, my nephew, my niece; were related to our father and grandfather by blood, but that didn’t matter to him.  He showed us, by his example, that family is about loving people, and caring about people, and living together in a supportive way.  Not always in harmony, but always caring about your family more than anything else.  He lived that kind of life, and today we carry on with that legacy.”

In Zac and the Reluctant Prince, Book 1 of the Prince David series, the father is described this way:  “The example of his life teaches us the lessons of responsibility, obligation, commitment, dedication, loyalty, patriotism and also compassion.  In his life, he strove to be the best son he could be, the best husband he could be, the best father he could be, the best officer he could be, and the best man he could be.”

If you know your father, what do you think of him? If you knew your father, how do you remember him?

I believe a real father is one who looks into the eyes of his children, and says to them, “My life improved the day you came into my life, and my life gets better every day that you are still in my life.”  I also believe a real father is the kind of role model I’ve described in the excerpts from my books, above. 

If you have the chance to be a father, or if you are a father, how do you want to be remembered? 

To all fathers, everywhere, Happy Fathers’ Day.

... Wil ...

Reality-Based Young Adult fiction adventures by Wilson James, author -- The Author's View of What and Why

It's been a while since I published anything new, and I still have hopes to do more, especially as I have some ideas for sequels, and new books. Even as I sometimes wonder if I did the right thing, in the end I'm still glad that I wrote and shared my stories.

My writing

I started writing some years ago and made the decision to publish back in 2009. I suppose, initially, my impetus was to use fiction to change non-fiction events. I saw things happening, in the world, and I wondered what might have been. How might the event have turned out differently? It was, in a sense, my attempt to insert my own “if only” or “what if?”

Generally, as a rule, my fictional view of events turned out to have a happier ending, and that thinking pervades throughout my books. Of course, there are tragedies, as well, but overall the story endings conclude on a positive note. That is, of course, how I hope life would always be. Fiction is whatever we want to make it. In our fictional world, we can do anything we want.

I also know, alas, that life does not turn out that way. I have, in my writing, tried to base my stories on some reality. I can say that all of my characters are based on real people, young or old, and their actions are based on real accomplishments.

The books

The various books encompass a variety of activities, events, and characters. They all stand on their own. In many cases, I have had ideas for sequels, but other new stories always seemed to get in the way, and none of the sequels have been finished.

The common themes of the stories are those of courage, accomplishment, tenacity, faith, love and mutual support. The stories tell of those who persevere against unusual or unreasonable odds, but almost always with the strength of family and friends. It is that ideal, that we can accomplish things together and achieve goals, that I would hope readers take away from the books.

For the future

The books have reached tens of thousands of readers, and it is my hope they will reach many more. I also hope that they will have some kind of positive impact on some who may read them, and perhaps give a few readers strength by giving examples of how things could be. More than anything, though, I would wish the stories are read and enjoyed, in the current day and long after I am gone.

Life is complicated

As we go through this life, we sometimes take moments to thing about our lives -- how we live, and how we deal with the world around us. Certainly, I have done so. And, yes, the characters in my books have done so. Perhaps, then, it is appropriate to conclude this post with this thought: "We cannot change many of the things around us, in our lives; but we can change the way we feel about those things."

Many thanks, and

Happy reading.

Wil