Building From the Bullet Hole

It’s a truism that author’s write what they know, and Geren Krelle - the main character in my novel – is well known to me after all, I created him. It wasn’t until after the writing process was complete, though, that I came to realize WHY I knew him so well. In many ways (most, if I’m being honest), he is the me of my past.

Krelle’s emotional journey in this story mirrors my own over the past decade. Take a listen to find out how and why, and why it tells both our stories well.

Like Krelle’s Inferno, I wanted to share a prologue for Building from the Bullet Hole (it’s the author in me!). This episode is a quick overview of the WHY and WHAT (to expect) during the first season. I’m thrilled that you’re willing to come on this new journey as I lay the foundation of how Krelle’s Inferno ultimately ended up being an accidental autobiography.

This isn’t about entertainment; it’s about connectedness - with ourselves, with each other, and with the reality that have more in common with the generations before us than historical film footage and photos portray.

Welcome to Building from the Bullet Hole.

Now that you've (literally) heard Chapter One of Krelle's Inferno, take a listen as JDK answers questions about the book from Stacy Heller, his friend and a connector-extraordinaire. Learn more about where the book's title and characters originated, JDK's writing process, and hear about some of the locations readers will visit in the book.

It's a freewheeling discussion that includes everything from crashing airplane metaphors and fashion critiques to not-so-oblique references to one of JDK's favorite musicians and to a visually-challenged, pint-sized, and beloved right fielder with an overactive imagination and a massive crush on a lifeguard.

Now you GOTTA listen, right?

Hey there, all you cool cats and kittens! Grab a snack, a beverage of your choice, get comfy, and settle in to listen to the first chapter of my novel. It's like an old-time radio show, but without the campy studio-manufactured background noises and cheesy accents. Instead, it's me in my campy, ramshackle blanket-fort reading my own words! I’m so excited for you to finally meet Geren Krelle, get a sense of his character, the dilemma he faces, and the world he must confront.

Enjoy!

Whether in a written story, the annals of history, or in life, the smallest of developments can produce immense consequences. How we respond to them often then tells the story of who we each are. In this episode, I talk with Julia Cannell, the Executive Director of Airway Sciences for Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to helping underserved children and teens discover and tell their own stories through aviation and aerospace. Julia also is a big part of my own story, as she came to my assistance at a crucial moment early in my rebuild. We talk about various elements of Krelle's Inferno, talk about several female characters in the book (including one of the greatest pilots of all time - who somehow isn't a household name), and taking responsibility for our past stories so we can write new, healthier ones in the present. What story of yours is most worth telling? It's a question worth asking...