Writing & Marriage

Stan Lee's wife died. 

Those are the words that fell from my wife's lips today. It's a heartbreaking statement. Not because I'm friends with Stan, (I do love the man, but I don't know him.) It's heartbreaking to hear as a husband and a creative soul. Stan and Joan Lee had 69 years together. That's 69 years of fights, 69 years of kisses, and many more countless things he's thinking about right now.

Yesterday I had a reader tell me I owe it to my readers to put out the best book that I can, and that what's out now isn't that. I wanted to act as if it didn't bug me, but my wife could see through the tough guy mask. She grabbed me by my face and told me I'm an amazing writer. She reminded me of all the good things people have said and reminded me that this is just my first year. I took the leap this year to write full time and it hasn't been all that fun (Writing has been amazing! Marketing, pitching and selling, that all isn't too fun.) 

Yet, through it all my wife hasn't doubted me. She cheered when my paperback came in the mail. She held me when my father died and I couldn't string together the words, "I'm okay," much less write a book. She kept pushing me even when I didn't want it or when I thought I didn't need it. She kept pushing me forward. 

I've been married for four years and in that time I've felt like I was drowning many of a time, but when I thought I would never see the surface or never get a bit of air back into my lungs. My wife pulled me back to the land of the living. She's my lighthouse in the storm as I sail through this crazy creative sea. So it's heartbreaking to hear that another creative sailor lost his lighthouse. I'm sure Stan had years of fearing he was drowning, only to be pulled from the waters by Joan. 

My heart goes out to Stan and the rest of Joan's family. I don't know the pain that he is going through and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. She's in a better place now, smiling down on you, and making sure the waters remain calm.