Stu Jones just blogged. It's the second time in as many weeks. And that's weird for him. Perhaps it's Thanksgiving bringing a well spring of emotion to the surface. Or maybe he's just chomping on his nails while an important beta reader for Vesuvian reads our latest novel, It Takes Death to Reach a Star, so he needed to keep busy. Whatever the reason, he blogged.

The question he posed, and then provided his own view on, was: why do we write?

Stu's take is a noble one. Some of us have a magic inside. We crave to write, to express ourselves. To tell that story that crouches like a tiger inside, waiting to explode into the world. I agree that for some, this may well be the case.

But it's not why I write. At least not anymore. When I was younger, I wrote because I enjoyed telling stories and writing descriptive prose. How could I make the reader see what I'm seeing, or smell what I'm smelling? I covered topics from the Bushido to the dangers of being  an over-bearing parent.

Children of the Fifth Sun was a labor of love, some twenty years long. Ideas and thoughts that had been gathered from countless non-fiction books. I saw it as précis on the human condition; the experience of loss. But more than that, it was cathartic - selfish even. The protagonist reflects very specific parts of me. And with the end of the book, came the end of a chapter of my life. 

I was sure I wouldn't write again. I had told my story. I was done. I had no more.

And then I had children. 

They changed my perspective on life - on everything. And when I re-examined why I write, it became crystal clear. I wanted something to leave behind. Something that my kids could pass down to their kids. Sure, if I make money or even a movie from my work, I'll be happy. But that's not why I do it. I do it for my children. Even way back when, I did it for the children I thought I may one day have.

When I'm dead and gone, no one will care what day job I had, or what clothes I wore. But, for as long as they exist, my books will be pieces of me that my children, and their children, can hold. A piece of me lives in Kelly Graham, and in Demitri Stasevich. Forever.

Now, I am less compelled to put onto paper every thought that I've had. Every spark of inspiration. Now, I only pursue those ideas that, to me, have a greater message for my children.

I write so that one day my children will be proud of me.

So, the last few months have been crazy. Very crazy. From August until now, I have vacationed in Italy with two kids under two (not fun), had a drunk guy crash into my car, suffered shingles, hired an au pair who left after 14 days, hired a new au pair, been demoted then promoted (don't even get me started on company restructuring), travelled to Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Vienna, Boston, LA, Boston again and Chicago.

In amongst this, I finished the first edited draft of it Takes Death to Reach a Star and completed its associated website with Stu Jones, worked with a band on a special project, and attended Stan Lee's comic con 2016 to represent Vesuvian Media Group and promote our Q1 book releases.

There's a tonne of stuff happening in the background, but I'll fill you in on that later.

In the meantime, I thought I would give a bit of detail on Comic Con, as it was an amazing experience and great place to boost awareness of the Vesuvian Media Group.

Held in LA, over three days (28-30 October), Stan Lee's Comic Con attracted 80,000 people to the convention center. From comic books fans to Star wars fans, it was wall-to-wall Nerdvana. And over at booth 941, the Vesuvian Media Group in collaboration with Squid Black Comics were touting their wares.

Over the course, we had a vertiable smorgasbord of content to show the cosplayers. Thommy Hutson, author of Never Sleep Again (THE critique of the Nightare on Elmstreet Franchise) and Vesuvian client came to do signings. As an extra treat, he brought along the star of NOES, Amanda Wyss, to sign copies of their new movie on blu-ray The Id.

Mr Sam Shearon stayed for the full three days to promote his new Vesuvian adult colouring book: Mr Sam Shearon's Creepy Christmas.

Of course we also had posters and postcards showing of our Q1 2017 releases from Vesuvian Books, including: Southern Gothic, The Scythian Trials, Killing Jane, Blackwell, Loween, Children of the Fifth Sun.

Creator of Squid Black Comics, Michael Patrick Duggan brought with several of his comic book authors, including The Animation Emancipation and The Things We Fear. In addition, his good friend and movie director, Nicole Jones Dion also paid a visit!

Local media came down to interview us all, which drew quite a crowd vying to see what all the fuss was about.

On top of that we got to meet Dita von Teese, the Women of Wrestling and the cast of Aliens! All in all a fabulous time. Next years should be even better.

You can see the whole event captured in a convenient photo album here.