Never Fear Never Give Up by BJ Neblett

 Never Fear Never Give Up by BJ Neblett

I have often quipped that "The trouble with writers is they aren't as smart as their characters." Cleaver saying notwithstanding, I have come to believe in my own words. Many of you already know of my writing habits and how I listen to my characters tell their tale. I believe that many great writers produce works in much the same manner. And I am constantly amazed at the wisdom of my characters when I read over what I have just written... or better put, what I have just transcribed. You can read many of these bits of wisdom right here, as from time to time I post some of my character's quotes.

While working on chapter four of Planet Alt-Sete-Nine: War Of The Wizards, the third book in my contemporary speculative fiction series Planet Alt-Sete-Nine, I was privy to some sage advice administered by a pair of wizards. The advice they shared with me has great importance and impact on the world we live in today, a world marked with frustrations at nearly every turn. Yes, there is a light at the end of the long dark tunnel, and we will emerge a bit worse for the wear but better for it. Yet, we sometimes spend so much time concerned about the why, that we often stumble trying to get through the what.

Here we are reminded by the Grand Mage Illume of the greater powers over which we have no control: 

"Change, sired by the unexpected and spawned by chance, remains nature's single greatest mystery, its secrets jealously guarded."

Change is inevitable. Be it good or bad or indifferent; deliberate or accidental or unaccountable, change is the single biggest driving force in our lives. We fight it, but in the end, we must surrender to its capricious whims.

But fear not. There is a grand purpose to the universe. And though we may wander at times, we are all on the proper track. In the words of the Great Wizard Inhodu: 

"Our destinies were set in the heavens long before the suns and stars were born. You must remember that everything has its purpose, and everything happens for a reason. I am here for a reason. As are you, and you and you. Each person’s purpose is as different as the individual pursuing it. Yet they all point to a single grand reason. Every occurrence is a link in a chain of events, constantly moving towards the grand purpose. It is a purpose much greater than any of us.  Sometimes an occurrence causes a break in the chain. You may alter your future, choose a different path. But your destiny is set and cannot be changed. It is the nature of things to right themselves and to continue. Destiny will win out.”

So fear not my friend. Choose your future and keep your eye on your destiny. You are on the right path, though it may not seem so at times. Never fear and never give up. We will all get through this together.

Peace

BJ

Signed Book Offer And The Anniversary Of A Milestone In My Life by BJ Neblett

 Signed Book Offer And The Anniversary Of A Milestone In My Life by BJ Neblett

Check below for a special offer!

2021 marks the 5th anniversary of my memoir about growing up in the early 1960s being published. Ice Cream Camelot was a labor of love and cathartic cleansing which took a lifetime to come to fruition. The result reached far beyond my expectations, a touching, funny, poignant profile of a young boy struggling to come to terms with the turbulent times in which he lived. But my high school friend Doug stated it better in a review he penned for me.

Words Fail Me… Almost

by Doug See

 My last contact with Billy was in 1973 if memory serves me. I found Ice Cream Camelot quite by accident and never dreamed BJ had this wonderful talent for expression. I grew up three blocks from his boyhood home and shared the same Little League field, rode my bike on the same streets, but did not connect with him until the 9th or 10th grade when he began going to public junior and high schools. We shared many of the same passions: guitars, girls, records, and the same fears: nuclear devastation, getting caught skipping school, losing friends—all a part of growing up in the ’50s and ’60s. Senior year, we cruised to high school in his old convertible, the leather and chrome glistened as we listened to Bob Dylan, the Stones, and The Doors. The floor of his father’s garage was a minefield of auto parts. And he never shared the pain of the event from a couple of years earlier that occurred in our idyllic little subdivision. Billy had more demons hiding behind his cool sunglasses than I ever imagined.

I bought the Kindle version of Ice Cream Camelot after rediscovering BJ through an on-line high school connection site. It never occurred to me that my high school hometown buddy would end up writing the 50’s and 60’s version of The Catcher in the Rye. Actually, BJ’s book has it all over that tired old tome in my greatly prejudiced opinion. It’s an amazing childhood story that most guys, and women, in my generation will relate to. It gripped me immediately and held my senses so tight that I could hardly put it down. I felt like I was back home in Lawrence Park reliving my own pre-adolescent feelings, pains, joys, wonders, unanswerable questions, and sensations as we all faced the looming future. The writing is powerful, descriptive, no punches pulled, just brilliant.

Billy, I lay awake nights with so much guilt for not clearing out the used razor blades in the wall behind the medicine cabinet. Maybe one day, we can go back and make that right….

 Thanks for the kind words, Doug. 

If you haven't had the chance, check out Ice Cream Camelot on Amazon or anywhere books are sold. It is available in print as well as all popular ebook formats.

If you would like a personal sign copy of Ice Cream Camelot, simply head over to my website bjneblett.com click the Contact Us button at the top, and let me know. I'll send you info on payment and collect your mailing and other info.

By the way, 2021 marks a few other anniversaries in my life... but you'll have to read Ice Cream Camelot to discover them!