February 25th, 2020 – The Four Year Anniversary of As Fierce as Steel
The Four Year Anniversary of As Fierce as Steel
Originally shared on The Gold & Steel's Facebook page, which can be found here
To my readers near and far,
Four years ago today, after five years of writing and editing, The Gold & Steel Saga premiered. The day I received that first copy was one I will simply never forget, and if you had asked me back when I was still in high school in the early 2000's, I would have told you it would never happen. That kid back then did not have the confidence to even try, despite it being one of his dreams.
It took a lot of personal growth to get to a point where I was comfortable not just with writing, but simply with being myself. For me, that growth came from a team of pro wrestlers/trainers at the Can-Am Wrestling school and some of the best fellow trainees a guy could meet. By the end, their combined efforts took a scrawny kid with no self esteem and produced an adult who was ready to take on anything.
I set to work writing the story that I had always wanted to write. That story, while still worth telling in its own right, only sets the history of the world I built. That's because in the process of writing my original story, I discovered a better story set eight hundred years after my original story took place, and that is what became The Gold & Steel Saga.
In the process of writing the new story, my friend Stacey urged me to not give up and kept at me to keep writing, and I did, even if the words only came in bits and pieces at times. While it took five years, a great deal of patience from my family and friends, many late nights, and more coffee than is probably recommended for any one human to consume, I finally had a complete book.
It's been a roller coaster ride of highs and lows since I first held a hardcover, tangible copy of my first book. I released a short story collection called Legends & Tales Volume 1, attended sci-fi conventions as an author in three different provinces, made a plethora of great friends and connections, shipped books to as far away as Australia, and most importantly, I reconnected with the woman of my dreams, built a house for us with the help of my dad, and she and I have made a life together. She is my everything, and I love her more than anything.
I also could not have done it without an enthusiastic group of friends, family, and supporters. Believe me when I say that the efforts by those who have reviewed my books and taken the time to share them out on social media has been nothing short of flattering. It means more than you could know to a first time, unknown author trying his hand in the often crazy world of publishing. (Pro wrestling is a wild industry in its own right, but it got nothing on publishing)
To my friends and family, especially my immediate family and friends like Gerry O'Neill, Stacey, and everyone else who has taken the time to share, review, and talk about my book to others, thank you for your support and friendship.
To Kyra, thank you for loving me, never giving up on me, and always having my back. You are my inspiration, my muse, and the best part of waking up every day. I love you.
To those who have even just read the book, to the store owners and managers who have (and still do) have it on their shelves, thank you for letting me be a part of your world.
To Christina and Erin, thank you for being a part of the Gold & Steel team and helping bring my stories to life. Your artwork and editing (respectively) are top notch and Gold & Steel would not be what it is without your efforts. I would also like to welcome Rebecca of atrtink covers, who has joined the team as the latest artist. You may recognize her artwork from Legends & Tales Volume 1, and I'm proud to announce that you will find her work on the forthcoming The Worth of Gold.
Speaking of that, it took four years since As Fierce as Steel came out, but I can finally say that The Worth of Gold is nearing completion. It's so close I can feel it. It won't be ready for Sci-Fi on the Rock this year, and unfortunately, neither will I, as an author, but I am already looking forward to next year, and I'll be ready for that one. In the meantime, I may have a few other fairs and conventions on my list, so stay tuned as they come about. Rest assured, when The Worth of Gold is ready, you will all know when and where it will be making its premiere, I promise.
Christopher Walsh
The original, copy #1, first edition of As Fierce as Steel