Greetings! I'm 55 going on 10, and during daylight hours, the project manager for a small civil engineering firm in Charleston, SC. After 5 pm, I transform into this other guy. The one who wants to get his writing out into the world.  To that end, I've joined this site, in the hope I can learn, trade views, critique, be critiqued, discuss, argue, and grow as a writer. All who enter are welcome, and I hope you stay awhile. As to the motivations driving me, they are newly formed, I'm afraid. I've written many things - college papers, book reports, many findings involving my work. Just never anything fictional. Until last year. That's when I had a bit of a self-awakening.  I'd been attempting to create my whole life. Was a trumpeter in the band, been in a couple wedding bands as a singer, joined the church choir, even did a bit of genealogy, that in itself a very laborsome form of creation. All those things did light a spark in me, but not quite what I was looking for.  So, one day last year, I just sat down and looked for a writer's group. And found Hubpages. It's a writing site, bent more towards social writing, colorful and entertaining author pages, and the like. Many writers, but not much critiquing. More like mutual back patting. Very nice people, and everyone having a ball, but not my gig. I did, however, get some favorable comments obout my writing, so my wife says, "Why don't you forget about all this website stuff, and just write?" So I did. I sat down and wrote. And wrote. And wrote some more. And after four months, I had around 55,000 words and the shell of what I thought was a pretty good novel.  Submitted it to a couple places, for the love of God one liked it, and now, it's available on Smashwords and Amazon!  Just remember, you asked for all this. Now I'm gonna go do what I get paid to do. Come by and say hi... Thomas  

Give me time...I'm publishing my first novel.