While yet in my teens my desire was to one day be a freelance writer of fiction. Then in my early twenties, now married, I became a Christian and my focus in life changed radically. The types of stories I once wrote were no longer acceptable material. I began to attend a school that prepared me for ministry. While yet in my twenties, now graduated from school, the Christian bookstore I worked for transferred me from their Grand Rapdids MI) store to their new store in the western suburbs of Chicago, where I eventually began a bible study with young people who had been saved on the fringes of the "Jesus Movement" that was then in full force (early 70's). That bible study grew into a church. At the same time my wife, Connie, who had recently been diagnosed with MS was getting worse. After pastoring a few years, I had to give up pastoring to attend to my wifes worsening condition, which involved our moving back to Michigan, where here mother could care for her. After a 13 year battle with the MS she died. She was 39. A few years later, circumstances led me to move to California, where I married again. One year into our marriage, my new wife, also named Connie, was diagnosed with bone cancer. She died three hours after our seventh wedding anniversary ended. She was 50. A year later, I began a small church with a small number of people who were either friends or that I had been ministering to. The church stayed small. One reason for this was because much of our focus began to be ministering to those who were the adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, many of whom were "multiple" (had MPD/DID). For various reasons, that church came to an end in the year 2000. Since the time my second wife died I have been through some very difficult circumstances and trying times, including two failed marriages. Because of many of the circumstances I have faced in life, I realize I now have much more to write about than I did in my 20's. Plus I have a greater understanding of people (characters). The desire to write has returned. In fact, I believe the recently spoke to me, telling me, "There's books inside of you." Not only do I still have the desire to write fiction (I am working on a book), I also have several non-fiction articles and or books stirring inside of me. I feel like I am on the launching pad, but that I need help and support from people of like mind and with some background and experience that would be helpful to me.