One of the things I love most in life is watching people bloom.
I mean, really bloom. Not just survive. Not just get by. I love seeing people step more fully into who they are, discovering gifts they did not know they had, or maybe gifts the rest of us did not see coming.
More than 30 years ago, when I worked for Alberta Environment, the department hired a consultant named Bob. He was a programmer, and we hit it off right away. He was bright, capable, and easy to like.
Funny little side note: shortly after Bob started, I took a Turbo Pascal course at N.A.I.T., and Bob was actually my instructor.
He was a pretty good instructor, too, but let’s keep that between us. I do not want this post going to his head.
At one point, we even took coastal sailing lessons together with our spouses, which still makes me smile. Life has a funny way of weaving people together for a season, then carrying them off in different directions while somehow keeping the thread intact.
A short time later, our careers diverged. He moved on, I moved to Calgary, and life kept unfolding. But we stayed in touch.
At one point, Bob was even recruited by Microsoft. Yes, that Microsoft. But in one of those quiet decisions that says a lot about a man, he chose family over Microsoft. He chose what mattered most.
That alone tells you something about his character.
Fast forward a few more years.
In 2010, I began writing A Warrior’s Heart: The Awakening, and I have continued writing ever since. Somewhere along the way, Bob decided that being a computer programmer was not enough and took up blacksmithing.
Because obviously being good with code was far too ordinary.
And I have to admit, the man impressed me.
How does the computer geek I knew suddenly start creating beautiful swords and knives? Not clunky hunks of metal that vaguely resemble a weapon, but real craftsmanship. The kind of work people commission. The kind of work that makes you stop, look again, and say, “Well, now that’s just unfair.”
So now Bob’s résumé includes computer programmer, blacksmith, husband, father of two daughters, and apparently, overachiever.
And now, just to make things even worse for the rest of us, he has added one more title:
Author.
What makes this even funnier is that Bob kept it a complete secret.
He never told me he was writing a book. Not a word. And I am fairly certain he especially did not tell me, because if he had, I would have been all over him about promotion, launch strategy, and getting the word out. But that is a different conversation, and probably a different post.
The point is, Bob wrote a novel:
The Convergence Protocol: First Contact Was a Mistake, The Kethari War: Book One
And once again, the man surprised me.
It is a freaking awesome book.
I am not finished with it yet, and I am already loving it. The story is smart, engaging, and seriously well done. You can feel the imagination behind it, as well as the discipline. Writing a book is no small feat. It takes commitment, vision, persistence, and a willingness to keep going when the excitement wears off, and the real work begins.
That is one of the reasons I admire this so much.
I love seeing people bloom into new expressions of themselves. I love seeing them take what has been quietly living inside them and bring it into the world. It is one thing to have talent. It is another thing entirely to do something with it.
Bob has done something with it.
Over the years, I have seen him as a programmer, a sailing companion, a family man, a blacksmith, and now an author. And I have to say, there is something beautiful about witnessing that kind of unfolding.
So Bob, my friend, well done.
You kept the secret.
You wrote the book.
You pulled it off.
And annoyingly enough, you did a really good job.
I am proud of you, and I am genuinely thrilled to see what you have created.
And next time, maybe tell me a little earlier so I can help stir the pot.
If you are looking for a great read, check out The Convergence Protocol: First Contact Was a Mistake, The Kethari War: Book One by Bob.
It is well worth the ride.
If you love discovering gifted independent authors, and especially if you enjoy science fiction with imagination, tension, and a strong story at its core, I encourage you to check out The Convergence Protocol: First Contact Was a Mistake, The Kethari War: Book One. Support a good man, a fine craftsman, and now, annoyingly enough, a very talented author. Pick up a copy, give it a read, and if you enjoy it, leave a review and help others discover Bob’s work too.
