Tag: fiction

Just about Anything

Father’s Day: A Reflection on Legacy, Imperfection, and the Quiet Work of Being a Dad

Joseph R. Meyer

Father’s Day has always felt complicated to me—not just because of the holiday’s history, but because of the men whose shadows I’ve walked in. My father worked hard and was physically present, yet often emotionally distant. Now, as a dad to my thirteen-year-old daughter, I’m trying to write a different story: one built on presence, gentleness, and the quiet, everyday work of showing up. This is a reflection on legacy, imperfection, and why the real reward of fatherhood isn’t a single day in June, but the small moments that quietly shape a life.

Education and Learning, Just about Anything, Mental Health, Writing

When the Workplace Becomes a Battleground

Joseph R. Meyer

Watching my wife face discrimination and disrespect in the workplace has become a daily weight I carry. What some people dismiss as “just a job” has taken a real toll on her — and on our family. This is what it feels like to watch someone you love walk into a toxic environment every day.

Just about Anything

Alien-Squatch Wars: A Sci-Fi Thriller Redefining Myth

Joseph R. Meyer

When I was nine, I carved a Bigfoot cutting board in woodshop and watched Harry and the Hendersons until the tape wore out. Decades later, that same fascination with the unknown inspired my upcoming novella, Alien‑Squatch Wars — a cinematic sci‑fi thriller where myth collides with something far older, stranger, and more dangerous. The sky is listening. The corridors are closing. And somewhere in the static, three tones keep calling.

Just about Anything

Are We Becoming Gilead? A Christian Reflection on The Handmaid’s Tale and America Today

Joseph R. Meyer

Margaret Atwood’s Gilead isn’t prophecy — it’s a warning. As a Christian viewer, I see how faith can be twisted into control, and how silence lets injustice grow. This reflection explores what The Handmaid’s Tale reveals about power, free will, and the moral crossroads facing America today.

Crowd of people walking between buildings with large blank billboards overhead at dusk
Just about Anything

Silent Nation: When Life Starts to Look Like the Fiction We Fear

Joseph R. Meyer

Life imitates art more than we realize. As systems of control grow quieter and more sophisticated, the line between dystopian fiction and everyday reality becomes harder to ignore. This is why I wrote Silent Nation — because silence has become one of the most powerful tools of control in modern society.

Stack of old leather-bound books emitting glowing magical swirls on wooden desk
Just about Anything

Publishing Journey: Evolving as a Writer with Technology

Joseph R. Meyer

I’m sharing this both as an update and as a reminder to fellow writers: your work can keep evolving, and better tools can help you get it closer to what you meant all along. My writing journey continues every day. I’m at a strange point right now: I’m writing regularly, publishing in different genres and… Continue reading Publishing Journey: Evolving as a Writer with Technology

Cracked Statue of Liberty holding torch with flame and tablet, stormy sky with lightning and red city skyline in background
Just about Anything

Gilead, Dystopia, and the Slow Boil of Control

Joseph R. Meyer

Dystopias aren’t frightening because they’re imaginative—they’re frightening because they feel familiar. Watching The Handmaid’s Tale, I kept thinking: the scariest part isn’t how Gilead begins. It’s how quickly people learn to live with it. Why Gilead Feels Plausible I’ve finally stepped into the world of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale. I’m currently watching it on… Continue reading Gilead, Dystopia, and the Slow Boil of Control

Just about Anything

Discover The Menagerie Locket and Folklore Books Releases!

Joseph R. Meyer

Introducing the Second Edition of “The Menagerie Locket” Welcome to March—a time for new beginnings and fresh projects. I am excited to announce the release of the Second Edition of “The Menagerie Locket,” which will be available on March 17th. This book follows my previous work “Pox” and marks my first venture into the realms… Continue reading Discover The Menagerie Locket and Folklore Books Releases!

Just about Anything

Why ‘The POX’ Fans Will Love This New Edition

Joseph R. Meyer

Revisiting a Not-So-New Story It gives me great pleasure to introduce a NOT so NEW book, which may sound unusual at first. What does that mean exactly? “A Shot in the Dark,” releasing in January 20th, 2026, is actually the original version of my debut novel, “The POX,” which was published in 2023. What Sets… Continue reading Why ‘The POX’ Fans Will Love This New Edition

Just about Anything

Why ‘A Shot in the Dark’ is Essential for Fans of ‘The POX’

Joseph R. Meyer

Revisiting a Not-So-New Story It gives me great pleasure to introduce a NOT so NEW book, which may sound unusual at first. What does that mean exactly? “A Shot in the Dark,” releasing in January 2026, is actually the original version of my debut novel, “The POX,” which was published in 2023. What Sets This… Continue reading Why ‘A Shot in the Dark’ is Essential for Fans of ‘The POX’