A to Z II - W is for Wake

Holy crow, kids. We are nearing the end of the month and the end of the alphabet! Today's letter is w. W is for wake.

Wake? You ask.

Yes, wake. If you've ever spent any time boating, you might have heard of the term, wake. A wake is the waves a motorboat leaves behind as it is speeding along. See picture below.

What does that have to do with Trajectory?

Well, in life, we all leave a wake. Some good, some bad. We all leave a ripple effect, if you will, right? We touch people, and create some kind of an impact on the world around us. Same principle. I'm just going on a bigger scale.

Joe, for all that he does and all that he is, leaves not just a ripple effect, but a wake behind him.

The streets of Detroit are safer, but people are still affected by those he has shot.

Michael was an incredibly unhealthy and unstable person, but he didn't necessarily deserve his fate.

There is a huge effect touched by many because of Joe. It's not all bad. It's just very broad.

That wake seems to come full circle at the end of the story, which is how and why he ends up back at Claudette's apartment, begging for her acceptance.

The world around us - indeed, life itself - is like water. Moving, ever changing, free, malleable. We have the potential and the power to move it and cause a ripple effect, or even a full blown wake effect based on our words and actions with those around us. It is up to us to decide if we are going to make it good or bad. Joe's story in Trajectory  can be an example to us all.

A to Z II - U is for Unique

Wow! It's Wednesday already! It's another day deeper in my personal A to Z challenge. Today's challenge is the letter u. U is for unique.

Unique is applicable to Trajectory in a few ways.

It is unique in that it is my first story with a male lead.

It is unique in that it is my first story with a bisexual lead.

It is unique in that it is not your typical love triangle story.

It is unique in that it is not just a love story.

It is unique in that it is not just a police story.

It is unique in that the characters are all very human: flawed and yet perfect. Deep, dark, emotional, each driven by their own hopes and fears.

There are many layers to Trajectory, and I have done that purposefully. I wanted to create a story of intrigue. Not just an LGBT story. Not just a SWAT sniper story. Not just... I wanted to create a story that was going to entertain, but also one that was going to make you think. Think about life. Think about the difficulties and perspectives that someone in Joe's position might have. Think about how much damage one unhealthy person like Michael can cause. Think about the importance of our relationships, like the relationships between Joe and Pete, and of course, Joe and Claudette.

Trajectory truly is unique.

A to Z II - P is for Pete

Welcome to another installment of my personal A to Z challenge. Today's letter is the letter p. The letter p is for Pete, of course.

Peter is a vital character to the story of Trajectory.

Without Pete, Joe would be an absolute wreck. Pete is Joe's rock. He is his confidant, his touchstone, his sanity. Pete gives Joe clarity, serenity, logic, insight...he's everything Joe needs to help him gain perspective. He doesn't judge Joe. When Joe feels completely alone in this world, he always knows he can count on Pete.

The two met in the Marines, and they quickly forged a good friendship.

After the Marines, they returned home to Detroit. They joined the Detroit Police Department together, and they both made the SWAT team. Through it all, their friendship remained strong as ever.

In the end, one fateful call changes everything between Joe and Pete. Nothing could ever take away that friendship, nor the importance of it to Joe.

Pete is a wonderful guy. Without him, Joe would never be - and could never be - the man that he is.

Pete is truly Joe's rock.

A to Z II - H is for Hope

Welcome back for another installment of my personal A to Z challenge. In contrast to yesterday's letter g for gravity, today's letter is h, which stands for hope.

For as much gravity and darkness as there is in Trajectory, there is also a lot of hope.

Though his job is scary and stressful, there are times when it ends peacefully.

Though Joe's relationship with Claudette is strained, it isn't over.

Though his relationship with Michael reaches an unfathomable apex, Joe gains an incredible good support from his SWAT team teammates from it.

Though Pete's story is tragic, there is that hope in that his legacy will be carried on by his son.

Yes, there is a lot of gravity in this story. There is a lot of hope, as well.

A to Z II - G is for Gravity

Wow! We are one week in in my personal A to Z challenge, which brings us to the letter g! G is for gravity.

Trajectory is a rather dark and very serious story. There's a lot of gravity to it.

There's the gravity of Joe's job.

There's the gravity of Joe's relationship with Claudette.

There's the gravity of Joe's relationship with Michael.

There's the gravity of Joe's relationship with Pete.

This is one story with A LOT of gravity.

A to Z II - F is for Frankness

Hi kids! Today, we delve a little deeper into my personal A to Z challenge. Today's letter is the letter f. F is for frankness.

Joe is a former Marine, and a cop. His position on the SWAT team requires him to tell it exactly how he sees it. Joe cannot help but to be perfectly blunt and frank.

Some might find it offensive, calling him tactless, or maybe even inconsiderate. That's not the case at all. He's simply an honest man. He does not lie. He can't lie - because of his strength of character, and his job.  He is honest. He pulls no punches. He calls it exactly how he sees it.

For people like Claudette and Pete, Joe's frankness is an endearing trait. They love his honesty. They know his heart is always in the right place. They know they will never find another person more loyal or more honest than he.


Michael, however, does not appreciate Joe's bluntness. Joe doesn't hold back, Michael wishes he would. Michael is too sensitive and insecure to fully accept Joe's frank speech. Joe's honesty also means that Michael doesn't always hear what he wants to hear. That is something that Michael doesn't handle well. Not at all.

Whatever your opinion on frankness, it is a very strong trait of Joe's. Good, bad, or indifferent, that's just who he is. Frankness is just one of Joe's many strong qualities.