The Books of 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

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

 A Reprise of my most-read Fathers' Day Essay

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 existance. 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 ...

My "Father's Day" essay -- to all fathers everywhere, "Happy Father's Day" on June 21, 2021

A Reprise of my most-read Fathers' Day Essay - What Kind of Father?

As a person, I have observed many examples of ‘fathers’ and regrettably more bad than good.  On a positive note, a few years ago I was particularly struck by two pieces related to fatherhood, one by LZGranderson at cnn.com, and the other by Dominic Utton at the Mail Online.

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 ...

Life Lessons, Leadership, and making mistakes

 

Leadership is Action, not a position. 

This key phrase is one of the key tenets of my practice of leadership in various positions over the years. Other parts of what I call the secret code of Leadership are: Humanity, Empathy, Communicate about Expectations, Match the style of Leadership to the Team and to the Situation. Of course, there are libraries full of books about leadership (and management), but my secret code has worked for me. 

Life Lessons, Leadership, and life's mistakes

Today, I had the great opportunity to talk to a very interesting group of university students, mostly about Life Lessons, Leadership, and also about making mistakes. I spelled out some of the really bad, and 'maybe not so bad' mistakes I've made in my life -- and how I think making those mistakes made me a better leader and a better person. Part of making mistakes, I believe, is not becoming 'so down' on yourself that you stop respecting yourself and who you are (or, to put another way, getting 'so down' on yourself that you stop liking yourself). I think it's important to put life's mistakes into the right context and learn from them.

Getting is right almost always starts with getting it wrong.  Unless we put ourselves or someone else into danger, the only bad thing about making mistakes is failing to try again.  And again.  And again.  And as many times as it takes to get it right.

That process, of trying it over and over until it works, has been my mantra in life, and in writing.  How many times have we said, or heard, ‘we learn from our mistakes,’ or perhaps, if we’re lucky, ‘we learn from the mistakes of others.’ 

In life, I've seen many people who claim that they won't try something because they can't do it right. Sadly, they end up not doing something that might have brought them joy, or fulfillment,  or a feeling of achievement, or the belief that they might have made an impact, or, perhaps, a sense of peace. 

As a writer, I often read, to see what others are writing.  I read what is selling and I read what is getting good reviews.  I also read what is new, or does not have good reviews, or what might not be selling, yet.  I read what appeals to me.  This is how I learn from others’ mistakes, and successes.

As I writer, I look at my own work.  I put my work out there.  I see which of my books sell, and which of them earn good reviews.  This is how I learn from my own mistakes, and possibly, from my own successes.

Getting it right, as an author, can be a long process.  It almost certainly very unlikely that the first novel we write is going to be a great success.  Almost any author will tell you that they did a lot of writing before they ended up with a work that they were happy with, or that sold well, or that got good reviews.  But, the key is to keep trying.  That means to keep writing.

In my case, I write because I want to write. I write because I need to write. I write what I want to write.  I write for myself.  But; I share my writing in the hope that some will like it, and perhaps, the hope that I might somehow tell a story that will have an impact.  

I should also mention that I wish I could do more writing, as I have more stories to tell -- a number of just-started and partially finished stories that I need to write. Someday, when my primary profession allows me some spare time, I will get back to doing more writing, and making more mistakes.

I hope that I will always remember and realize that it’s okay to get it wrong, if I keep trying to get it right.

Wil

Reality based fiction for Young Adults... welcome to the novels of Wilson James, author

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

Improbable. Unlikely. But not impossible. 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. 

If it is possible for an author to have a 'favorite story', then Sons and Brothers in Seattle is it. In fact, there is a partial sequel written, and I still hope and plan to see it to completion. 

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.

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. I hope to empower young people with the examples in my stories. 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

Where to find the Young Adult novels of Wilson James, author.

Here's a complete listing of where to find the books of Wilson James, author.  The reality-based fiction stories of Wilson James mostly targeted Young Adults, and described adventures about family, loyal, honor, tenacity and courage with various backdrops including sailing, aquatics, downhill skiing, international competition, and success at young ages, set in Europe and North America.

Smashwords - seven of the eBooks are available here, in multiple formats including for Kindle, Nook

Barnes and Noble – seven of the eBooks are available here, for the Nook

Apple US iTunes Bookstore – seven eBooks are available here, for the iPad

Apple UK iTunes Bookstore – seven eBooks are available here, for the iPad

Kobo – six eBooks are available here, in ePub format

 Amazon – some of the print books are now available, with selected eBooks to be available at a future date

Goodreads  – where to find book ratings.

Who is Wilson James, author?

Wilson James was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and in adjacent Canada. He worked in, on, and around the water, and traveled extensively (mostly with his wife) throughout North America and Europe, and later in Asia.  He considered that the title of Papa, used by his children and grandchildren was the most important title he ever achieved in his life.  He also claimed himself to be a sailor in addition to identifying himself as an author of adult and young adult fiction. 

The stories of Wilson James mostly targeted Young Adults, and described adventures about family, loyal, honor, tenacity and courage with various backdrops including sailing, aquatics, downhill skiing, international competition, and success at young ages, set in Europe and North America.

As Wilson said, his books were (and are) about empowering youth.  

• “If my stories helped and still help young people, by giving examples of kids persevering in difficult situations, then I will have been very satisfied. 
• If my stories helped and still help young people overcome their own challenges, and perhaps find some inspiration, then I will have been happy. 
• If my stories helped and still help young people find the tenacity and courage to succeed in their own lives, then I will have been very pleased. 
• If my stories helped and still help achieve some better understanding among friends and families, then I will consider myself to have been fulfilled.” 

Wilson described the ultimate reward for writing.  “If even one young person finds some example in one of my books that he or she can use in their own life, then I will consider that every moment I spent writing those books was the best possible way to spend that time.”