Challenges – Love On The Divide

by A.L. Boyd

I have never met Eric Arvin in person. I only “knew” him through his books, the Goodreads MM Romance Group, and that amazing videos with TJ Klune. I had been following his story through the surgery, so when Kate Pavelle sent me a message asking if I was interested in writing a short story for the anthology know as Kickass, I said sure. My story in the Kickass anthology, Love On The Divide is based in my home state and near my favorite National Monument. I got the inspiration for the story from the Continental Divide Trail that runs through out the state of New Mexico. I have driven or hiked much of the El Malpais area through volunteering with the Park Service and while I was a wildland firefighter with the BLM. Knowing that the area terrain was quite difficult and fully of danger, I knew it would be the perfect setting for my story. 

Eric’s life struggle inspired me to write this story about challenging situations. Everyone faces challenges in life, It may be a small thing like loosing a loved one, or it may be bigger like a health issue. How a person deals with those challenges has a profound impact on the person’s life. If one just gives up, things can spiral out of control. If you fight, or struggle through the tough parts in life, you gain something important. 

My main character Justin starts out with a challenge being that he’s smaller than your average man, but he doesn’t let that become a hindrance in his life. His doesn’t let his smaller size stop him from being able to help people in many different ways. He shows us that you don’t have to be the biggest or the strongest in order to make a difference. Ron, the other main character has a challenge of his own. He may be taller, but he’s the bookish type now hiking the Continental Divide Trail. He’s learning new things like how to put up at tent and how to survive in wilder terrain then his own city streets. 

During the writing of this story, I also ended up with a major challenge in my life. I was nearly finished with my rough draft way back in April, when I got a phone call from my hubby, that we needed to get home ASAP because our house might be on fire. Well I came home to basically nothing but the clothes on my back, my hubby and almost all of my animals. At first I was devastated, I had no home, no computer, no notes, not even any clothes. I messaged Kate and told her that I might have to back out of the whole thing. Really I could have at that point as I had a good excuse. But I’d been saving my work on Dropbox and had access to the document at my work and on my tablet that I had taken with me that day. As way to calm my scattered nerves, I sat down and started editing the draft, then adding things in here and there. Soon I was searching out beta readers. After several messages back and forth with very helpful betas, I finally knew that I would be able to finish and submit the story in time to be added to the anthology. 

I don’t write on a regular basis. I’m not setting out to become the next great novelist or even a famous author. I write when a story moves me. I wanted to donate this story to help Eric. Working on the story of the little guy who saves the day was the thing that kept me strong during my own troubles. I hope the story inspires others as well. I can’t wait to read all the other stories in the anthology. I watch Eric’s video’s on his Facebook page and hope that one day soon he will be off the ventilator and on to even better things. 

About Kickass Anthology

Against bad odds, he persevered. Wit, grit, and guile pulverized his scary opponent into a sad pile of dust.

Eric Arvin is Kickass.

Even a kickass hero needs a hand from a secondary

character, and Eric needs that extra power boost right now. This anthology is a volunteer effort organized by Eric’s fans and fellow writers in order to help him raise funds and help cover the cost of his high-tech recovery. His wicked sense of humor is intact, but his body needs a bit of help.

These stories are meant to inspire. They’re a warm hug, a wave from afar, a wink and a nod. Discover new authors and graphic artists as you, too, get revved up to slay whatever ails you!

A Note from the publishers: KICKASS ANTHOLOGY was produced in order to raise funds for the medical recovery of our friend and colleague, author Eric Arvin.

All artwork, both written and graphic, was donated free of charge. All proceeds will go directly to Eric Arvin and his family.

Available at: Amazon

About A.L. Boyd

A cartographer by day, A.L. Boyd spends most of her free time with her horses, gardening, or reading. Becoming an author happened by accident. She never intended to be a full time writer, but sometimes the stories just pop into her head so she sits down to write them out.

Her other published fictional work is Crest Ridge Vacation. It is another short story originally written for the 2013 Love Has No Boundaries event hosted by the MM Romance Group on Goodreads.

I was volunteering behind the scenes as an editor for the event when a prompt became available for the third or fourth time late in the event. As soon as I saw the photo, a story popped into my head. I decided to take on the prompt and write the story so it wouldn’t get dropped altogether. I am currently expanding the story and adding in more details. I may publish a revised edition of Crest Ridge Vacation this next year. I’m also working on a couple more stories that may end up novella or novel length when done.

Find out more about A.L. on her Goodreads or Facebook.

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