Introduction to “Flecks of Light” by Joe Stimmel

by Joe Stimmel

Hello, I am Joe Stimmel.  I would like to give thanks to whatever energy led you to reading my book, Flecks of Light.  If the energy that led you here was you, thank you.  If the energy that led you here was some other force, such as a professor making you read a book (or a passage) for a college course, I feel that it is fair that I thank what led you to read it, rather than you just reading it.  

I thought that it would be appropriate to be gracious, as this is my first novel (and very well could be my last) so I wanted to get the thanks out of the way.  Enough of my semantics, let’s talk a little bit about my work.  

The story takes place on Earth, in New York, during the lovely year of 2018.  We follow the characters of Spruce (the protagonist, best friend of Greg), Greg (the antagonist, best friend of Spruce), and Heather (a woman)[1].  That’s all I want to say for now because I really want to talk about my thought process about a certain character (potentially spoilers?).

At the end of this book, I plan on killing Greg.  I don’t know how yet, or if I’ll even go through with it, but I’m about 70/30 that Greg is going to die.  He is pretty charismatic (as I made him that way) so there is still time for that big teddy bear to win me over.

I won’t kill him myself, of course, I’m just the author.  The characters around Greg are the candidates for who might kill him.  It could even be a character that I haven’t mentioned yet… but it would be weird if a not main character killed the second-billed guy… 

The environment too, I suppose, could also be what kills Greg.  The environment.       

Does Greg deserve to die?  Clearly, I am leaning towards yes, but, I think there is an argument for no.  I do think that I am putting enough in the story for you to draw a conclusion, but I’ll give you some information on Greg to see if you think he should die[2].

In preschool, Greg made fun of kids (literally behind their backs) when their pants sagged down and you could see their underwear.

Greg has six people in his life, other than family, that he frequently tells that he loves them.  The feeling is mutual for five of these people.  The one who doesn’t love him used to love him, and even said it first, but doesn’t love him anymore.  

Greg cooks in large portions so that the people he lives with always have the option of having some food without feeling like they’re taking all of his food.

Greg has only watched “The Office” because he wanted to impress his crush.  He did not end up dating this girl.

Greg is a very talented singer.  He has won the Henderson award, been an ISAN finalist twice, and performed at the Bellegrounds Ballroom on several occasions (these accolades are not real in our world, but very real in this world).

Greg is frequently the shoulder that Spruce leans on when he is going through a difficult time.  Greg is more than happy to be there.

Greg yawns loudly.  Makes a real fuckin’ meal out of yawning.  Just lets that baby ride for everyone to hear.  Stop what you’re doing guys, Greg has to yawn[3]!

So what do you think?  Should I kill Greg?  Of course you can think whatever you want to think about the situation, but I hope that wasn’t enough to make you think his death would be ok.  I mean, I gave you no context for any of that!  Some of the nice sounding stuff may be sinister, some of the bad sounding stuff may be completely justified, what do you know!?  Even with all of that information, you know next to nothing about Greg!  Haven’t you been reading the footnotes[4]?

As of writing this, I don’t know if Greg dies so we’re rocking in the same boat.  Perhaps you, the incredibly intelligent person you are, could build a time machine and come to my present and we can talk about what we think should happen.  I am self-assured with all of my ideas, but I’d be willing to hear out the thoughts of a time traveler.

Well, that’s all I feel like saying.  My publisher told me I should have at least three pages of the introduction, but I’d rather not force it[5].  So… yeah… that’s it.  I hope you enjoy, let me know on Instagram @joe_stimz, or say it to my face if you see me.  See you at the epilogue! 

[1]  In the context of the story, the protagonist’s name is Spruce because his real name is Bruce and he really likes plants (get it?).  Spruce thinks this a dumb reason for a nickname, but he likes the sound of it.  In the context of me being the author, I looked up shades of blue and there was a gray/blue color that was kinda ugly called, “spruce”.  I didn’t know it was a color until I looked this up, but I thought it was a cool name for a protagonist.  The other two do not have a fun reason for why they are called what they are called, in the story or in real life.  We don’t hate the names, that’s why the parents of the character’s and I picked them.  Yes, this was interesting enough for a footnote.

[2]  I am not putting every detail about Greg in this story, as that would make for a boring story (trust me, I created him).  Keep in mind I know more than you ever will about the character of Greg when deciding if he should die.  

[3]  I apologize for cursing in the introduction, but this was the only way I could convey my anger for Greg’s fucking yawning.

[4] I apologize for yelling at you, that was not in character for me.  I promise not to yell at you again.

[5] Suck it Dave.