Hey everybody,
So you might have noticed that
I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks. My apologies, but a lot has been
going on in my camp that isn’t writing related but has most definitely had an
effect on it.
First off, on Monday, June 8th,
2015 I quit the job I have had for the last three years as a corporate security
specialist with a company contracted to amazon. I did it suddenly. I finished
out my shift, called my supervisor and told him I wouldn’t be returning. I
showed some pretty great restraint by not just walking off the job that
morning. I have to tell you, even though it wasn’t my style to leave a job
without doing the full two weeks’ notice, it was the best decision I could have
made for myself given the circumstances. A huge weight has been lifted from my
shoulders.
It was like leaving a three
year long abusive relationship.
Now, that being said, I didn’t
leave without a plan in place. Not a lot of people know, that for the last
year, I’ve worked three jobs. My full
time Monday through Friday security job, I’ve been a full time author and I
also did part time weekend / seasonal work for another security company.
Well, when I left the
aforementioned Monday through Friday gig, I immediately went to work for the
second security company full time. The schedule was a hard shift from having to
be awake at 06:00 to having to be at work at 06:00. Additionally, I went from
doing corporate security to a much more attention intensive position as
security at a cargo facility. Port security and Corporate security, while both
security positions are two completely different animals. It’s like comparing a
lion and a tiger. While both of them are cats… yeah.
So I’ve been at the new job a
full week as of yesterday. I’ve already pulled at least one double shift and
worked at least one of my days off, and I have to say. I am much, much happier here. I feel like I have
purpose again. I am respected and appreciated by my supervisors and my
coworkers. We take care of each other out here and it’s a beautiful thing… it’s
just been requiring a lot more of my time until I settle into the new groove of
things.
I know I owe three of you swag
packs and I am hoping to get them out by Friday of this week (June 19, 2015)
and I am so sorry for the long delay. I will begin picking up on making
takeovers and more appearances both online and in person, likely starting in
late July / early August, just to give myself plenty of breathing room.
I have several completed books
that are working their ways through the editing process. Books that are set for
release all the way up through January of 2016, so I have time to get back on
track with planned writing projects soon and there won’t be any interruptions
in publication. (Basically: Don’t worry, your entertainment reading crack
supply from A.J. Downey will go uninterrupted.)
I miss you guys. I miss talking
with you and interacting with you on a daily basis and I promise you, I am
still here. If you need or want to message, I will still always answer. I just
might take a little longer to reply.
That being said, I feel really
excited, almost exhilarated about this new life change of mine. Changing jobs
is sometimes a scary prospect, even more so when you do things like take a pay
cut to do it, like I did. Still, in the long run, this will be much better for
me, mentally, emotionally and by default from those two things alone,
physically. I’m looking forward to the new adventures ahead with this new
company and with my writing, so stay tuned. I may go quiet but I am, for sure,
not going anywhere.
Much love,
XoXo
A.J.
