The Descended: an Ohio-set fantasy fiction novel

You can’t beat free!

Check out Michelle’s debut novel for free on Amazon for July 21st!

Maybe it’ll suck you in, maybe not…but for free, what do you have to lose???

I see so many people talk about supporting local, and/or small businesses…Michelle fits right in there as both!

And if you’re in Ohio–specifically northeast Ohio–you’ll likely recognize some locations that add a personal, localized touch we rarely get here, compared to the usual world or NY/CA stages.

You’ll also find her very approachable and ready to engage, online and/or in-person; whether you’re wondering where the conception of the novel came from, specific details found within, or what her favorite dish is!

(Psssst…! If nothing else, ask her about her own Princess Donut and how Dungeon Crawler Carl has impacted her life!)

OK, that’s my social-media-“pitch” here.

But given that this blog isn’t about ads, promotions, and stuff like that in general…whatsay we make this a bit more personal.

I read.

Not REMOTELY as much as I did—and could—as a kid, but I read quite a bit. And by “read” I’m talking about “leisure,” cuz in this day and age, just “reading” seems to encompass SO MUCH MORE than reading for leisure.

Wayyyy back in the long-ago in junior high/middle school…I got involved with the school paper. I think I may actually have been “drafted,” I can’t quite recall—but I was involved.

Then in high school, I again got involved with the school paper. Between that, and the ‘90s’ depiction of Clark Kent and Lois Lane—as reporters, as people, where it really was that “Clark Kent is who he is, Superman is what he does”—I was firmly convinced that I wanted to be a journalist.

Then 1997—and Princess Diana—happened, and I realized that I did NOT want that, though I enjoyed my involvement with The Searchlight through high school graduation.

College—undergrad—was a whole other thing and while I knew several folks that worked for the BG News, I never did. Somewhere late in the BG years, I came to the conclusion/realization that while I wanted to write, I wanted it to be ME. My writing, my own personality and authenticity. I wanted to share my thoughts, MY story. Me. I wouldn’t want to “stick to the facts and just the facts.” I didn’t want to share NEWS, I wanted to participate.

I wound up getting involved with comixtreme.com writing comic reviews (later it morphed into cxPulp), and that ultimately led me to a good dozen years or so of steadily maintaining my own comiic reviews (and related topics) blog.

But back to cx—in early grad school, I saw a notice somewhere about a deadline for applying to work for the Daily Kent Stater. It was that day, and the idea of at least working for their entertainment department, struck me as a good way to “get involved” during my time as a student. So, long story short, I applied, was accepted/”hired”, and got to do some reviews work that was actually published IN PRINT.

But probably the most lasting impact of my all-too-short time with the DKS was that it introduced me to a young woman who was initially just another face at the DKS, to an EIC, and somehow into the 2020s, she had become and been a friend and we were still in touch all these years later.

So last year, after several years of her sharing tidbits or anecdotes or incidental slice-of-life moments that included this book she was writing…it’s in print! AND electronic! AND (for me) best of all, AUDIOBOOK.

Fast forward through a buncha stuff, and here we are. July, 2026. For today-only (July 21, 2026!) you can get the ebook for FREE! Not a joke, not a hoax, just an author who believes in her work and wants to reach as many people as she can.

So why are you reading this rambling from me on a blog called ‘The Life of Walt’?

I got to listen to the book on release last year. I got to enjoy the book. I’m revisiting the book, knowing there’s even more for me to pick up on another run through.

Michelle had the unenviable fortune to be the source of my first book after the Dungeon Crawler Carl series.

But with her interesting story, localization (The book takes place here in Ohio—and a couple key scenes in particular are places I know myself, I drive through or past!), and authentic characters, she pulled me in. What was this group that Audrey found herself sheltering with? What did they actually mean to her and her life? How were things ready to impact her life, even if aliens had NOT fallen outta the sky?

As I said at the start of this post…check the book out. It may not be for you, but you hardly know unless you give it a try. And for the rest of today, at least, you have the chance to get the ebook for free, removing the price barrier to curiosity.

And even if you’re reading this after July 21st, I still recommend the book, especially if you’re able to get out to one of a number of events Michelle attends as an author and you get to meet her in person, hear some of her stories behind the book and from her life, and get the book from her yourself.

Alternatively, you can visit her site where you can buy the book and have it personalized AND shipped directly from Michelle herself. https://flyingsnakepress.com/

Me?

I’m proud of my friend, and excited to see her author-journey continue and grow!

Anniversaries, time passing, and 4.5 years later

Wow…over two years(?!?) since my last live post here!

So many drafts and thoughts and partial posts and intended-to-posts and such.

Today–June 30–mere hours beyond the 4 1/2 year mark since Dad. On this side of that mark, now headed toward the ‘holiday cluster half’ of the year, and Dad’s birthday, and…the 5 year mark.

5 years…that’s half a decade.

That’s old enough for conscious memories that persist–asking Mom in the kitchen in Detroit “Will I ever be 5 again?”

That’s long enough for massive changes in life, situation, circumstance, and so on.

In the 1980s, that was the length of time the Legion of Super-Heroes jumped ahead.

And probably most significantly (to ME) in the usual over-thinking/inner-thinking/way MY mind goes…Five Years is the time the Companions of the Lance spent apart, travelling the world of Krynn, before reuniting at the Inn of the Last Home in Solace.

I first discovered Dragonlance in 1995, with this first novel–Dragons of Autumn Twilight. I was 14 at the time. Five years…was more than a THIRD of my ENTIRE LIFETIME at that point. I had NO frame of reference in my own actual, lived experience for having an established friend group, spreading out across the land for five years and then reuniting at the end of that time-span.

And now, here I sit in 2026, 45 1/2 years old, and headed at that slide onward to 5 years…since losing my Dad.

I’ve been volunteering with Griefshare for a couple years now, after attending for several sessions prior. Last night we talked about “secondary losses”–those losses associated with someone you lost, but beyond that actual person. Secondary losses may include the loss of a confidante, loss of the person that took the trash out, loss of one’s encourager, one’s example, and so on. Countless things. And they can be both immediate and future.

Specifically, it came to me last night that among other secondary losses, I lost the opportunity to get to see my parents retired and traveling. To get to see them revisit Branson, or various New York travels, or just WHERE EVER they would decide to go. To make memories.

And then ultimately, to get to come back and share them with me.

I’m facing stuff with an ex-employer that I can’t help but wonder at Dad’s thoughts on. I know how I feel, and at least some of MY internal motivations. I wonder if Dad would agree, and/or what he’d advise, and so on.

I know that this situation is looking unlike anything I’ve ever faced or taken on before in my life; and I have to wonder if I’d feel so strongly if Dad was still here, or how his continued presence would influence my course.

Finally–and it just popped back into my memory as I sit here typing this post–I’m re-hit at something Dad had said, I believe it was around this time in 2021 (5 years ago…) when he was talking about some of the realities of things going on, and musing, and whatnot.

“If I could live five more years…”

So here we are. After Dad fell in April 2017, that evening I got home from work and found him laying on the floor by the kitchen…that could have been it. Just over 4 1/2 years after that, we celebrated Dad’s 71st birthday, which he proclaimed to be his best one ever, spent with me and Mom, going out to eat, and just being together.

…two months later, he was gone.

Now again 4 1/2 years later…that’s stirred up some other thoughts/emotions/feelings that I certainly did not plan on unearthing when I started typing tonight.

Keith Anderson, Northern Lights, and ‘that’ episode of Young Sheldon

Again it’s been a long time.

Six and a half months, actually.

I’ve typed a number of “blog posts” in notepad, but I’ve gotten out what I needed to in writing for myself, and not gotten around to posting.

Since my last post, finished out that fourth cycle with Griefshare.

Went through the fifth.

And now, started a sixth.

But while I think I’ve thought it each time since that first cycle in 2022, this time I think there’s something different in store. Something I noticed in that fifth cycle, but more apparent (to me) for this one. We’ll see how that plays out…

I recently had a Keith Anderson song come up in my itunes-on-random that “hit” me in its way.

“I Still Miss You.”

I’ve talked to friends
I’ve talked to myself
I’ve talked to God
I prayed liked hell but I still miss you
I tried sober I tried drinking
I’ve been strong and I’ve been weak
And I still miss you
I’ve done everything move on like I’m supposed to
I’d give anything for one more minute with you
I still miss you
[…]
I never knew til you were gone
How many pages you were on
It never ends I keep turning
And line after line and you are there again

This past Friday night, a friend called me and told me to “Step outside and look up.”

Puzzled, I stepped outside, and he told me I was looking for the Northern Lights.

Visible here in Ohio.

I couldn’t see ’em…but partly wrote it off as being light pollution on the street, and trees in the way and all that.

I almost “gave up” at that, but he encouraged me to take a drive to see ’em.

I was going to tell Mom I was heading out for a bit, but realized that was dumb. Like the Eclipse, she’d appreciate it, too! So I got her, and Daisey, and we drove to Osborne park. I figured it’d be dark and we could get in, see over the lake, and be back out before any “trouble” from any “enforcement” of the dusk closing time to the park.

We by far were NOT the only ones with that idea.

It turned out to be an impromptu “community event” of sorts.

Nothing official or organized (at least from our part or aware of), but the parking lot was full, and the “cliff” overlooking the lake was full, with more people working their way up to there as others cycled out.

We couldn’t really see anything noticeable (later turned out it was a lot more visible via iphone photography). But for what was to be seen, we saw.

And Daisey was such a good girl, even with all the strangers about…and even a couple other dogs, too.

I don’t know that the park was handicap-accessible…or certainly not at night. I’m sure to the ballfields and such there’s sidewalks/paths that Dad’s power chair could’ve used. Come to think of it, though, if we’d had him along it would’ve been the “manual” chair, so I would’ve made it work.

Got back about midnight, Mom and Daisey went to bed. I stayed up…and wound up watching a couple more episodes of Young Sheldon.

I’d discovered that I was further behind than I realized, AND saw that we (were) a week away from the season (series) finale. So I wanted to be caught up, to “be part of” the experience of watching the finale this upcoming week.

I’d seen stuff before about the folks making the show knowing that a pivotal event was going to have to be “dealt with.” And there’s been talk of a spinoff-of-the-spinoff (Young Sheldon as a spinoff of Big Bang Theory) with George (Jr.) and Mandy.

I figured I knew where the final episode would be going/what was likely to at least be offscreen at some point.

I was NOT prepared for it to happen with the May 10th episode.

Part of the episode was Mary insisting everyone be ready for the staged family picture; and the reluctance of the kids (and even her husband, George Sr.).

George offered to drive Missy to school, but she opted for the bus…so he left that morning as any other morning, to head to the school himself for work (he’s the football coach). “Be here at 4!” Mary tells him as he heads out. He agrees, albeit reluctantly.

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR YOUNG SHELDONG SEASON SEVEN EPISODE TWELVE!!! Skip ahead to “END SPOILERS” lines below if you want to avoid details.

SPOILERS

The family’s shown getting ready for the photo, in matching outfits. They’re just waiting on George.

A knock at the door…it’s Tom and Wayne (Principal and assistant coach, respectively). With bad news.

George had a heart attack.

“He’s ok, right?!?” Missy asks.

He’s not. He’s gone.

We see Mary, Missy, and Connie break down…as Sheldon further inside sits down in shock.

The episode ends.

…

I didn’t expect it there. Then. With that episode.

Since it would have to be addressed, despite retcons and seven seasons turning George into quite the beloved character and father figure (compared to the ignorant, dumb a-hole TBBT made him out to be), I’d thought for sure the way they’d “address” the elephant in the room was to imply it at the very end…but let it happen off-screen…just after the finale, or however long after the finale…but after the show, and before whenever George and Mandy picks up.

But “it” happened offscreen, and that’s that.

END SPOILERS

It wasn’t until SATURDAY night then that I realized why the episode was “sitting” with me as it did. On the surface I took it as a foregone thing, one of those things you KNOW is coming, thanks to the story in question being a prequel and already having seen the show it’s a prequel TO.

And then it hit me just why it was sitting so heavily with me…

Duhhh.

Taking to Youtube Search, I found several videos recapping/discussing the episode…but seemed like it was all surfacey hollywood-type sites…nothing “personal” from anyone. And saw a “thumbnail” of an image from some preview of the upcoming finale that just…gut-punched me.

So much more I could say, get into. Thoughts and discussions recently with friends. Self-realization. Finding myself closer than ever to accepting something I’ve railed against (for myself) for years.

But this is getting long, I’m getting tired, and it’s Sunday night with a full work-week ahead, and things’re getting busy.

Hopefully I’ll get back to writing more regularly, even if only for myself.

Time, as always, shall tell, though.

Also in the past 6 1/2 months, adopted Lucy. Sarah no longer yowls and hisses at the mere presence of Lucy…though she does make it known she does not appreciate being tackled and grappled with.

More later on Lucy…