Editor’s
note: This article originally appeared in the September 2014 issue of Walmart
World, the magazine for Walmart associates.
Being a lifelong comic
book geek, military science-fiction fan, and horror movie addict, I always
wanted to pursue writing. I started in 2001, around the time I started working
for Walmart as a Photo Center associate. At my wife’s encouragement, I sent a
short story to genre magazines, and the first replies were acceptances.
In 2009, the Borders chain
picked up one of my books from Permuted Press to be carried in all their
stores. That was the launching point of my career. By 2010, I had an agent and
a deal with Simon & Schuster for my book The War of the Worlds, Plus
Blood, Guts and Zombies. The advance was more than I made in a year at
Walmart, but I never considered leaving the Photo Center. I got to work part
time doing something I enjoyed, and management at my store was fantastic about
giving me time off to do lectures, attend book signings, and visit schools to
get children fired up about reading. As my career continued to grow, I started
writing novelizations of movies, comic books, and a newspaper column.
In 2013, everything
changed for me as a writer. One of my books, Bigfoot War, which had
become a sort of cult hit in the world of horror, was picked up by Origin
Releasing for a feature film with C. Thomas Howell and Judd Nelson. The money
from Origin for the movie rights to my book would allow me to leave Walmart
without worry, but I stayed.
Instead, my wife, who was
a teacher, left her job to stay at home with our children. Why? Walmart stood
by me and helped me provide for my family while I reached for my dreams. I
enjoy my job at Walmart, and I can't imagine my life without my Walmart family.
Plus, I've rather gotten used to helping customers and then heading off to my
car to write on my lunch breaks.
I Have a Movie Deal, and I Still Work at Walmart
