With a simple nod, he returned to his desk, collapsed in his squeaky chair, and downed nearly a full cup of coffee in one gulp. Lost in a world of hesitation, I surveyed the wall to take in the biographical edit. Two minutes passed in a whirl of contemplation. “You can bowl for Jesus all you want, kiddo,” said Mister Mister Sir, now standing behind me, pinching my shoulder in a tight vice of fingers. “But you damn well better write about it afterward. Weirdness breeds entertainment and I’m pretty sure you’re gonna breed just fine.” With that, he walked out of the room. I’m not sure at what point in the month Scott vomited on my shoes, but I know that it was about the same time I decided I wanted to be a writer when I grew up: if not for Mister Mister Sir and his biographical misunderstanding, then for my wardrobe. I wanted to wear nice clean, warm slippers all day, somewhere free of random vomit and the gag-inducing smell of sawdust. It’s a good thing I can write.
Zachary Steele is the author of Anointed: The Passion of Timmy Christ, CEO and Flutter: An Epic of Mass Distraction. He has been featured by NPR,The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publishers Weekly, Baby Got Books, Shelf Awareness, and was nominated for the 2010 Sidewise Award for Alternate Fiction. Currently, he is hard at work finalizing The Storyteller and the Shadowheart of Darkness, a middlegrade fantasy, while at work on his next MG project, The Kindred. You can follow his ramblings on writing and life at http://zacharysteele.com/. 57 | T h e B l u e M o u n t a i n R e v i e w I s s u e 4