July 17, 2021
Well hello friends, fans, and curious onlookers!
Welcome back from this – whatever the hell it is – which we have endured over the past 17 or so months. I hope you are all starting to come around as well. Although there does seem to remain a degree of global uncertainty regarding what is going on with covid vaccines, lockdowns, politics, et cetera.
Like many of you, I have been a little messed up since the covid struck back in March 2020. Also, like many of you I have managed to maintain the façade of a normal person – whatever a “normal” person is…
Just remember – it’s okay to not be okay.
I’ve seen the best and worst of humanity over the past year and a half. I cannot believe how divided the world has become. Every possible issue has been politicized. Let’s try to get back into a collaborative and communicative state of mind as we start this “New normal.”
You might want to check out my newest blog post “April 2020.” I wrote it in May 2020 – it’s not necessarily a brilliant piece, but the perspective that I had back then compared to now is unbelievable.
I have managed to keep busy with my work.
I was honored with the title “Author of the Month” by Author World Connect in March.
I had three short stories published in an author compilation book, also by Author World Connect.
I have two more short stories that are going to be published in another compilation by Author World Connect coming this autumn.
Recently I’ve been writing short stories and experimenting and branching out with different writing styles. I am putting together a compilation of my own work that I hope will be ready for 2022.
I’m re-emerging as a new and even more optimistic person than I ever was!
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We are planning finally having an official book launch in late September – it will depend on the state of the covid and any government restrictions.
We also plan on having presentations at some of the local libraries and bookstores.
We will have more info on that posted so that you will have plenty of time to mark your calendars. It will be a great time – we have some exciting plans in the works. (I’m not going to leak and secrets yet… but stay tuned!)
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As you wander about the pages of this site, you will discover that I have posted a new short story entitled “My Best Friend.”
And as a bonus, I have written three story “teasers.” If you would like to read the entire story, all you have to do is sign up for my email list on my Contact page on this website. I promise I won’t spam you to death with messages.
Please check out this site every few weeks to find out more regarding the exciting things that are happening!
As always, thank you for your time and for reading my work!
Brian A. Plank
February through mid-July 2020:
Hello Covid-19 – welcome to the world!
I slowly lost my creative spark as the virus spread across the world. Unlike the US, here in Ontario, Canada the response to the virus was pretty good, at least in my opinion. I didn’t know anyone who had caught it. We were all glued to our homes under a lockdown until about late May, as the summer approached.
Although I believed that I was mentally and emotionally fine, I learned that being under a lockdown for a few months had messed with my head – the entire world had changed. It messed with everyone’s heads in some ways.
I did manage to write a couple of blog posts, but I was advised that they were possibly too controversial at the time. I have posted them here in the Blog section.
July 11, 2020:
My first novel, The King Who Would Be Man was published and made available to the public.
July 11 through mid-November 2020:
As expected mostly friends and family purchased the book. It was also passed around by readers – we are in a pandemic – who has the money to buy a book when they may be fretting over their mortgages? The reviews and response has been amazing. Unfortunately, if I bought a book for a friend or acquaintance they weren’t able to leave a review. I understand why – if I spent my own money and gave the book to a person it could be perceived as a form of buying a good review. I suppose that could be considered unethical. I promise that my intentions were pure! I just want people to read and share my work.
We planned an official but small launch party for mid-September, but due to the Covid-19 concerns we put it off. We made a trial video, however, we decided to hold off. I surprised myself that I spoke quite well in front of the camera. I think that I always knew that I could be an excellent orator if I was passionate about the topic.
Like millions of others, the pandemic and state of the world politics really did a number on me, psychologically and emotionally. Unknowingly, I was increasingly falling victim to the virus indirectly – they have been calling it “Covid Fatigue.” I experienced a minor psychotic break, and fell into a deep depression.
Mid-November to the Present:
I won’t discuss my personal thoughts on politics – at any level – suffice it to say that I felt very tense and was living in a fog of Fear mixed with a complete lack of Hope. What was happening was disturbing, and worrisome – if not outright frightening.
Just as a few of us predicted, we entered the second wave of the Covid-19 virus as autumn arrived. We here in Hamilton, Ontario are not under lockdown yet; Toronto (an hour northeast away) is… We are expecting a long, lonely winter.
With all of the developments over the past month or two, my writer’s block finally came to an end! I have endless ideas and thoughts that I am working on for my second and third books.
I have been further exploring the philosophies of morality, ethics, and good vs. evil.
I have also been writing a lot about childhood and teen years – it has been a very positive experience.
December 2, 2020:
I’ve finally got my website up and running!!
