This week, we finalized Spencer, a sequel to the critically acclaimed novel Aaron released in October 2012. A list of readers, authors, and editors had clamored for a sequel since Aaron found his “happily for now” nearly a year and a half ago. Since then, Aaron has filled his time by reviewing television shows, movies, and books on his blog A F*cked Up Kind of Life. He’s been watching porn as part of his therapy, and toys with the idea of reviewing those scenes as well, but can’t quite find the right words. It’s been five years since Aaron Downing first whispered to a scared little author about monsters in the dark, and he’s stronger now, his voice louder, more sure.

I’m very proud of the progress he’s made, and how he can sit tall and proud in the interview chair, where he cowered in it during our last interview in 2012. This interview is dated February 2014, just after the events of the novel Spencer.

JP: Hi Aaron, it’s great to see you. How’s school?

Aaron: I had to take a little time off recently, but for the most part, it’s going okay. It’s taking me forever to get through all the classes because I can only take a few at a time, but I’ll get there eventually.

JP: Tell us about your blog.

Aaron: When I first started working with Dr. Thomas, he wanted me to journal about my experiences. Kind of like, keeping a diary, but it sounded like something a teenage girl would do. You know, like it should have ponies and princesses on it or something. Well, my life certainly wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine, and my handwriting sucks, so I decided to do an online blog. The more I wrote, the more I wanted to write, so I just started posting whatever. I like it, it makes me feel like I’m contributing or something. You know?

JP: Yeah, I do. It’s like what I do with my books. I contribute.

Aaron: Exactly. Except I don’t have the attention span to sit down and write a whole book. I’ll leave that to you.

JP:  A few years ago, you and I sat down and talked about your experience. Those talks turned into the novel Aaron. How do you feel about that project now?

Aaron: I read it. Once. It hurt to see myself as other people see me. In my head, I have certain assumptions about people’s perceptions, but to watch the pain and devastation I caused. But then, you wrote me Spencer. You wrote me Spencer, and suddenly, it didn’t hurt quite so much. I knew when I came to you, that you would help me. I saw your monster too, and I thought maybe we could help each other.

JP: Then, the three of us sat down and decided to write another book together. Can you tell our audience about that process?

Aaron: The response to my story was more than I ever dreamed it could be. So many people came out on blogs, and in reviews to talk about how my story affected them. And JP, you kept getting those emails from people who had PTSD, or had been through what I had, and they said I helped them. I never thought that telling my story would help other people. That made me feel better.

When we started Spencer, I didn’t know if they would still like me. I mean yes, I was getting better, but who wants to listen to a guy whine through two books? I think you did a great job of balancing out my recovery with the obstacles we had to overcome.

JP: How do you feel now that it’s over?

Aaron: Relieved, I think? I don’t think the reality has set in that it’s really over.

JP: Do you think you’d ever want to do another?

Aaron: I don’t know what there is left to tell. I mean, we’re still going to struggle for a while. I may struggle the rest of my life, but do we really want to talk about it again? Maybe if something significant happens, we can try again. I like talking to you.

JP: I like talking to you too, Aaron. You can talk to me anytime you want. Even if we just write a little interim story about how you’re doing. Your progress is my progress. It means the world to me.

Aaron stands from his chair and bridges the gap between them. He’s so tiny that JP doesn’t even have to stand up for the hug he bestows on her. His whisper of “thank you” warms her heart.

Aaron: A Survivor Story

I can’t describe what it’s like to want to scream every minute of every day.

Two years after a terrifying night of pain destroyed his normal teenage existence, Aaron Downing still clings to the hope that one day, he will be a fully functional human being. But his life remains a constant string of nightmares, flashbacks, and fear. When, in his very first semester of college, he’s assigned Spencer Thomas as a partner for his programming project, Aaron decides that maybe “normal” is overrated. If he could just learn to control his fear, that could be enough for him to find his footing again.

With his parents’ talk of institutionalizing him—of sacrificing him for the sake of his brothers’ stability—Aaron becomes desperate to find a way to cope with his psychological damage or even fake normalcy. Can his new shrink control his own demons long enough to treat Aaron, or will he only deepen the damage?

Desperate to understand his attraction for Spencer, Aaron holds on to his sanity with both hands as it threatens to spin out of control.

Purchase Aaron from Dreamspinner Press.

Coming Soon on March 21st from Dreamspinner Press: SPENCER

It’s been nearly five years since Aaron woke up in the hospital so broken, he couldn’t stand the sight of his own face. The flashbacks no longer dominate his life, but he’s still unable to find intimacy with his lover, Spencer Thomas. With time, patience, and the support of his family, his therapist, and his loving partner, Aaron has figured out how to live again. The problem is, Spencer hasn’t. His life has been on hold as he waits for the day he and Aaron can have a normal relationship. Hoping to move things forward for them both, he takes a job as a programmer in downtown Chicago, leaving Aaron alone.

Reeling in the wake of Spencer’s absence, Aaron receives another shock when his attackers are caught.

Now, he must testify and verbalize his worst nightmare. Publicly reliving his trauma without Spencer at his side destroys his precarious control. But he finds someone who can understand and empathize in Jordan, who watched his brother cut down in a school shooting. With Spencer gone and the DA knocking at his door, Aaron seeks solace in Jordan, and Spencer will have to risk everything to hold on to Aaron’s love.