Peace on Earth

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on May 7th, 2012

My brother Ricky enjoyed writing poetry. 28 or so years ago, he sat on his bed and wrote a poem he titled, Peace on Earth. He wrote this poem in less than an hour but I’ll remember it for a lifetime.

There was peace on Earth,

At its birth.

But things have changed,

Everything is rearranged.

Peace is gone,

Everything is wrong.

People did it,

But they won’t admit it.

If we help one another,

And work with each other,

We can change the Earth,

It can be a second birth.

Categories: Uncategorized

Bullying and Suicide

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on May 7th, 2012

My brother Ricky committed suicide 28 years ago. He was only 12 years old.

Ricky Mills was born in 1971 in Austin, Texas. According to our mother, Ricky was very sick during his first few years of his life. He eventually got over his sickness but he remained rather small for his age. Ricky and I were very close. We shared a bedroom, clothes, toys, and friends. We even took baths together when we were really young. Even though we spent a lot of time together, Ricky enjoyed time along. It wasn’t uncommon for Ricky to lay on his bed and stare out his window. Sometimes I would tease him and call out his name to break his trance. But it was no use; Ricky would remain in his out-of-body experience for hours. Ricky loved to spend time by himself but he also loved to be the center of attention. The neighborhood kids and I built Ricky a large tree house in the empty lot next to our house. This tree house became Ricky’s stage. We would sit below the stage and watch Ricky conduct magic tricks, tell jokes, and even tell us about his adventures with his imaginary friend, Griffin. Ricky and Griffin (A legendary creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle) would travel the universe and meet other civilizations. Of course, those civilizations were much more civilized than ours. We just couldn’t get enough of Ricky’s stories. We loved to see him up there on that stage and Ricky loved it just as much.

But there was a dark side to Ricky: bullies. Half way from our house and our elementary school lay a creek that we must navigate through in order to get to school. This is where the bullies from an adjacent neighborhood would wait for Ricky. These bullies never set their sights on me but they would go straight for Ricky’s face. One after the other, the bullies would hit and kick Ricky. Ricky would just stand up and get knocked down again.

Eventually, Ricky’s stories at his infamous tree house became darker. Instead of happy stories of traveling to new worlds, Ricky’s stories transformed to how Earth of being polluted and humans were destroying the Earth.

Ricky’s stories became frightening and so did he. Ricky would pretend to shoot himself in the head with an imaginary gun and hang himself with an imaginary rope. One day he wrapped the telephone cord around his neck and pulled it tight enough to make himself pass out. A few months later, he climbed onto his tree house and wrapped a small rope around his neck and jumped to his death.

Why would such a young child commit suicide? According to his suicide note which I found on his bed, no one cared about him and he was sick of all the bullying. 32 percent of high school students report they are or were bullied at one time of another. More alarming is the fact that over 50 percent of suicides are due to bullying. Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 12-18 year olds in the United States. If that isn’t bad enough, for every suicide, there are 100 suicide attempts.

Suicides are 100 percent preventable. That’s right, 100 percent preventable! There are countless organizations designed to create awareness about the dangers of bullying and give emotional support to those who may be contemplating suicide.

Suicide Hotline (Find resources in your local area)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

I wish I could go back in time and stop the bullying. But I can’t. I’ll just live with that guilt. But we can at least help stop current and future bullying by educating ourselves about bullying and suicide. Please join the fight and help stop bullying and the suicides that could follow.

Categories: Uncategorized

Meet Charles

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on April 26th, 2012

Charles

Hi, my name is Cindy. I’m a journalist for Dawson Middle School. For the next few weeks, I will interview random students and faculty members for the school’s weekly newspaper. The first interviewee is Charles Ruddle.

———-

Cindy: Hi Charles, my name is Cindy. I’m a journalist for our school’s weekly newspaper. I would like to ask you some questions about yourself. Let’s get started. What is your full name? Do you have any nicknames?

Charles: My full name is Charles Ruddle. My nickname is Brainy but now that I’m 11 years old, my friends don’t call me that anymore.

Cindy: Brainy huh? Why Brainy?

Charles: It should be obvious why my nickname is Brainy. I’m always the smartest person in the room.

Cindy: Wow, you sure are full of yourself.

Charles: Hey, if you got it, flaunt it. I can’t help it.

Cindy: Whatever. What makes you so smart?

Charles: Well, while you and everyone else play video games, I sit at my desk and read books.

Cindy: What do you like to read?

Charles: I can list them but I’m sure you never have heard of them. But generally, I like to read adventure and mystery books. I also like to read science books.

Cindy: Science book? Why science books?

Charles: I want to be a scientist when I grow up. I want to be the one to discover the cure for cancer. Everyone will love me and maybe my picture will replace George Washington on the dollar bill.

Cindy: OK, let’s get back to reality. Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Charles: No. I’m an only child.

Cindy: No brothers or sisters! You must get bored at home.

Charles: No, I never get bored. I just pick up a book and read. Or I play with my best friends, Mark and Bruce.

Cindy: Yea, I know. You, Mark, and Bruce are the biggest bullies in the school.

Charles: Ha ha ha. Bullies? We’re not bullies! We’re just conducting a service to the school?

Cindy: What? Conducting a service to the school? What service are you providing when you three beat up a fellow student?

Charles: We’re merely weeding out the weak students. See, according to Darwin’s theory of natural selection, the weak loses and the strong survives.

Cindy: So I guess you think you’re one of the strong ones?

Charles: Of course. Just look at me.

Cindy: So just because you are “smarter and stronger,” that gives you a right to bully other students?

Charles: Yes. It’s only natural, according to the theory.

Cindy: How do you feel when you beat up someone?

Charles: Good. I like being dominant over other people.

Cindy: I hope someday you get a taste of your own medicine. But let’s go on. Who are your best friends?

Charles: My best friends are Mark and Bruce. I have known them since I was in Kindergarten. We’re known as the “Unholy Three.”

Cindy: Hey, the whole school knows that! But for the sake of this interview, why are you three known as the “Unholy Three?”

Charles: Ha ha ha. We cause a lot of trouble. We bully other kids and we make as much trouble as we can for our teachers.

Cindy: Who gave you that nickname?

Charles: Mark’s mom. She thinks we are worse than any nightmare.

Cindy: OK. I have a few more questions. What is your favorite game?

Charles: I like board games. I like the game Snakes and Ladders. It’s full of adventure and you need a lot of skill. I always win because no one can out-smart me.

Cindy: Again, you are so full of yourself. Let’s continue, what is your best feature?

Charles: My brain! I love being able to think things through. My brain is just as smart as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s muscles are strong.

Cindy: I had a feeling you would say that. So what is your least favorite feature?

Charles: Hummmmmm. There isn’t anything bad about me.

Cindy: I had a feeling you would say that too. One more question, what do you think about friendship? Is it important?

Charles: Friendship is the most important thing in the world. You must be loyal to your friends. Friends are forever. Friends must always be there for you and you must always be there for them. I would do anything for my two best friends, Mark and Bruce. I would lay my life on the line for them and they would do the same for me.

Cindy: OK Charles. Thanks for the interview. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Charles: Thanks Cindy. Will this interview appear in the school newspaper?

Cindy: Yes.

Charles: OK, but you better not make me look bad. I’ll be looking for you if the article is bad.

Cindy: O, Charles. You’re such a bully!

Categories: The Crawl Space

Plot vs. Characters

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on April 24th, 2012

What plays a more significant role in a story, the plot or the characters? This dilemma has plagued writers just like the nature vs. nurture dispute has plagued scientists. The answer: it depends. I know that’s a copout answer but it’s true. Some authors and readers claim a gripping plot is the most important ingredient of a novel while others claim the characters come first. For example, the plot in an action/thriller probably outweighs the characters but in a romance story, the characters almost certainly outweigh the plot.

In my book series, Branching Plot Books, the focus is on both the plot and on the characters because the plot relies on the characters and the characters rely on you – the reader.

For example, in The Crawl Space, the reader is asked if Charles should save his own skin or risk his own life to save the life of his friend Mark. Whatever the reader chooses, the plot changes directions and the characters adjust accordingly.

So, what do you think is more important, the plot or the characters? It’s your choice in the Branching Plot Book series. The Crawl Space, the first installment of the series is expected to be released by midsummer 2012. Keep coming back to www.branchingplotbooks.com/blog to learn more about the characters and the plots that await them. About once a week or so, I’ll post character profiles to the blog. So study up on the character profiles because your knowledge of the characters will determine their fate. Their future is in your hands!

Categories: Branching Plot Books

Reader Views Book Trailer for The Empty Lot Next Door

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on March 18th, 2012

Back in 2010, Reader Views produced a book trailer for my first book, The Empty Lot Next Door. If you’re not familiar with book trailers, it’s the same as a movie trailer but for books-not movies. In the next few weeks, Reader Views will start production on the book trailer for my next book, The Crawl Space. I’ll post the book trailer here once it’s complete. In the meantime, here’s the book trailer Reader Views made for The Empty Lot Next Door.

Categories: The Empty Lot Next Door

Branching Plot Books – The Reader Controls the Action

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on February 26th, 2012

When I was a young boy, I would speed my summers poring over books of all kinds. Each time I completed a book, I wonder about what else was possible in that book; what other twists and turns could have made the book more interesting or enthralling; what other courses of action could the lead characters have taken. “One day,” I would say to myself, “I’ll write my own books.”

I just completed my first book in the Branching Plot Books series. Branching Plot Books are like several different books merged into one. Depending on the reader’s state of mind, he or she can choose what course the book takes. This way, the reader – not the author – controls the characters and plot. The reader ultimately controls the outcome of the story.

The best thing about Branching Plot Books is that they allow each reader to give life to their own imagination. In this manner, the reader transforms into the author of the book.

Categories: Branching Plot Books

It’s Your Book – It’s Your Choice

Arthur M. Mills, Jr.

Posted on February 26th, 2012

How many times have you read a book and didn’t like the ending? How many times have you read a book and thought you could have written it better than the author? Don’t think of me when you answer that question! How many times have you read a book and the main character did something you didn’t like or agree with?

In the multi-part novel and movie trilogy – The Lord of the Rings – Frodo and his sidekick Sam were attacked by that foul creature Sméagol. Frodo decides to spare Sméagol’s life much to the displeasure of Sam. Well, we all know how the story turned out but would it have turned out differently if Frodo chose to kill that freaky creature? Would Frodo be able to destroy the ring without Sméagol’s help? Would you have killed Sméagol, let him go, or forced him to be your guide?

But one thing is for sure. As the reader, you have no say on how the plot changes and finishes. Your role is to just sit there and read while the author makes all the decisions. You can yell all you want at Frodo and warn him not to trust Sméagol but Frodo can’t hear you. Frodo is just words on a page. He has no heart, no brain. He just follows his master-the author.

In the Branching Plot Books, you are not just the reader you are also the author.

Don’t like the direction of the story – change directions.
Don’t agree with the main character’s tactic of fighting the monster with a small dagger – then tell him to fight with a sword instead.
Don’t want to be the main character – then be the sidekick. Better yet, be the antagonist!
Don’t think opening the attic door is such a good idea – then choose to go down into the basement instead. Still think that is a bad idea – then run outside.
Didn’t like the way the story ended – close the book and re-read it and it will turn out differently.

It’s your book – so it’s your choice. Stop reading books that force you to think, feel, and behave like the author. Read books from the Branching Plot Books series to take charge of your book. After all, you’re the author.

The Crawl Space, the first book in the series, will be published in early 2012!

Categories: Branching Plot Books