It was the summer of 2002. I remember spending it on the internet playing games. Now, that might seem like a long time ago. I guess it was. And a lot of things were different back then. The internet and video games back then definitely were. A lot of things were also the same. Like school, and making friends. Sometimes things like that are easy, sometimes they’re hard. I started Middle School that fall. When I made a new friend who also liked playing computer games and being on the internet, I thought the rest of the school year might be fun. But that’s a promise that life couldn’t keep.
This is a promise that was kept! Readers of this blog will certainly remember this story I originally wrote for NaNoWriMo in November of 2023. It shall remain up here on this site as a first edition, but feel free to show your support by picking up this updated version as an ebook or even in paperback form. I’d love if you could drop it a rating on Amazon as well. You can pick up the ebook free starting tomorrow and going all week!
Why suddenly publish it like this? Well, if you’ve read my bio here on this site, you should know that I work at an elementary school. However, none of my stories out there in the wild would be quite appropriate for young readers, both in reading level and content. And so I decided to write something tailored just for them. I even went as far as to talk to the librarian at my work to see how to go about certain themes and topics for the book.
I can’t forget that there’s a lot of me in this story– my experiences with early 2000’s technology, games, the internet, as well as lots of characters based on my real friends and people I knew during my schooling.
Most of all, I wanted to publish it through Amazon because I can use their service to make me a real, physical book I can bring into my classes and show off. Basically bragging rights, having something with your name plastered on it. And of course, to allow others to enjoy this story.
Happy Holidays and Enjoy!
-Sandwich Sean
Fifty Shades of Grease Publishing 