Why I Disappeared—And Why I'm Owning It.

Back in October 2023, I launched a big creative swing.

I put up a preorder for four new novels — books I was passionate about at the time. I had a plan. I had the vision. And I had every intention of finishing what I started. One of those books, The King of Action Figures, was published. The others… weren’t.

And if you were one of the readers who preordered? You probably noticed that things got quiet. Too quiet.

Here’s the truth: Life has its own special way of taking our plans and forcing us to do something different.

Not long after that preorder launched, everything shifted. My dad’s health declined fast, and I had to put him in hospice care. My family moved to a new home. I stepped deeper into my roles as a husband, a father, and a business owner. And somewhere in the middle of all that — I burned out.

Not just creatively, but existentially. I hit a wall. Hard.

The fiction I was writing no longer felt like mine. I wasn’t proud of it. I wasn’t passionate about it. And continuing down that path would have been a performance — a box-checking routine for books I didn’t believe in anymore.

So I stopped.

I took down my author Facebook and Instagram pages — not to ghost anyone or dodge responsibility, but because those platforms were built around an identity I no longer connected to. Promoting books I wasn’t going to finish felt dishonest. So I deleted them.

But here's where I messed up:I didn’t say anything.

I didn’t send an email. I didn’t explain.I didn’t offer clarity to the people who supported me — especially those who preordered.

And that silence? That’s on me.

So let me say this, loud and clear:

📢 If you preordered those books and feel disappointed, confused, or taken advantage of — I hear you. And I want to make it right.

Whether you want a refund or would prefer credit toward anything I release in the future, I’ve created a simple form where you can let me know what works best for you. No guilt. No catch. Just a straightforward way to honor your support and my responsibility.

👉 Click here to request your refund or credit

I’m still writing — just not fiction right now. My focus has shifted toward nonfiction projects that align more with where I am in life: discipline, process, growth, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, intention. I'm proud of the work I'm doing. And I’m excited for what’s ahead.

But I’ll never be someone who runs from responsibility. I’d rather own my mistakes and keep walking forward — with clarity, honesty, and hopefully, your trust.

Thank you for giving me that chance.

-Andrew