Finding Your Path In Life

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Find a path is not always so easy

Sometimes people are surprised to learn that I've not been a Freemason for a very long time.  I was raised a Master Mason in 2005.  I was in my late thirties, I'd been married for about seven years, I was very accomplished in my job, I had a good reputation, owned a home, new cars, and we had a lot of very good friends.  In other words, we'd been pretty successful in life so far.  But there was something missing, and I just couldn't put my finger on it.  I was looking for a new path in life, but I really didn't know where to look for it.  My fascination with Freemasonry is finally what made me wonder if that wasn't where the answers lay.

I couldn't have been more right about that, and it didn't take long to figure it out that path forward.  One of the first things I learned in a Masonic Lodge was the difference between being accomplished and needing a purpose.

Freemasonry's goal is to make good men better.  I think a lot of that is helping Masons find a purpose in life.  That purpose varies from Master Mason to Master Mason, but I know for a lot of us, that purpose usually involves making the world a better place.  Some work helping children grow up strong and healthy.  Some work with veterans.  Some work with the elderly.  Some work to help shape our young people today.  Some work within their communities to make those places better places to live.

Most Masons know that a life without a purpose is a life unfulfilled.  And the main difference between an accomplishment and a purpose, is that a purpose usually makes a positive difference in the lives of others.  And that is at the heart of what Freemasonry is all about.

My life has never been the same since I joined a Masonic Lodge.  I can never go back to the person I was before I became a Freemason.  I would never want to.  I think I've learned the true secret of Masonry.  It's that the secrets of Freemasonry aren't hidden within the walls of a lodge, they reside in the hearts of men.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and continues to be a regular contributor.  He is the author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series.  He is member of Homer Lodge No. 199, and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL).  He is a member the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, the York Rite Bodies of Champaign/Urbana (IL), the Ansar Shrine (IL), Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL).

 

Author Todd E. Creason Announces Hiatus

It's true. I'm in the process of wrapping things up now.

Over the next couple weeks, I'll be finishing up a few projects (one with my good friend and Brother Master Mason Michael Shirley), and then I'll be shutting down for what could be an extended leave from writing.  I do plan on continuing to post on The Midnight Freemason as long as the interest remains, but I'll probably cut down on it a little bit (and I've asked a few friends to guest post on occasion as well).  But there won't be another book for quite some time.

I've been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'd be foolish to pass it up.  I never finished my bachelor's degree.  I've worked on it on-and-off for years, but recently I was given a tremendous incentive (and the opportunity) to finish it.  It will take me approximately two years--and depending on how this goes, I may not stop with that. We'll see what happens.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to be both a full-time employee, a full-time student, and a part-time writer (and lets not forget husband and dad in there, too).  It's been a very difficult decision to make.  I really enjoy writing, and hopefully, the idea of getting back to it will push me to finish up as quickly as possible.

I realize the timing is a little odd with the recent release of my fifth book A Shot After Midnight.  But with the new book, many have asked me what I'm going to be working on next . . . so now you know.  I'll be working on me (and many would argue I could use extensive work).  And, of course, in this most recent novel, I left a hell of a cliff-hanger!  Be patient.  Believe me, the next one is the best story I've come up with, in fact, it's the story I've been working up to with the previous two novels.  The next story in the Twin Rivers Series has been the goal of these novels from the very beginning.  I knew where I was going from the first book--it's an idea I've been toying with for nearly 20 years.  If you read the first two novels carefully, it's all there. There will be a lot of surprises in the next one. I promise you, it will be worth the wait.

I'll still be around, just in a reduced capacity.  And I'll still be here, so be sure to continue to stop in.  I'm very pleased to tell you that March 2012 was my best "hit" month since I started.  I enjoy this, and I'm certainly not giving this up.  Who knows, fewer posts may be a positive thing--as my wife is so fond of pointing out, a little of me sometimes goes a long, long way.

And thank you all, for your support, your comments, and your emails.  I'm not done yet--I'm just getting started.  I'm just going to take a little time to smooth some of the edges on that ashlar.

~Todd E. Creason

Book Update: A Shot After Midnight Now Available In Paperback

Although the Nook and Kindle editions have been available for nearly a week, the paperback copies of A Shot After Midnight are now available at Barnes & Noble and Amazon.  Buy it at Barnes & Noble, and you can save 2 cents off retail!  You better move fast--a deal that good is not likely to last.

It's been interesting watching over the last few years as e-books have become so prevalent.  Actually, about 80% of you are reading my books on your Nook or Kindle--that's exactly opposite of what was true three years ago.

So I have a little more news for those of you hi-tech readers that are playing with your new iPads this week.  Both of the Famous American Freemasons books, and A Freemason Said That? (my collection of great quotes from famous Freemasons you so often see on here) are available at iBookstore.  Be sure and check that out.

Fun stuff, huh?

~TEC

Novel Update: A Shot After Midnight Now Available For Nook and Kindle

Even though the print copies are a couple weeks away, the NOOK and KINDLE versions of A SHOT AFTER MIDNIGHT are now available for download!  And remember, this is the second book in a series: the first novel ONE LAST SHOT is also available for NOOK and KINDLE, and of course in paperback!

Moon & Son Publishing (2012), Paperback
280 pages, ISBN: 978-0-9831156-1-8

A SHOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
Levi Garvey returns in a flawless addition to author Todd E. Creason's Twin Rivers series.

"Nothing ever happens in Twin Rivers." That's what the residents of the small Illinois town always say, but as Levi and Tori had learned in their deadly encounter with Police Chief Doug Malone two years earlier--the past has an ugly way of coming back.

When Ray Billings retires from the police force in Savannah, Georgia, and takes the job as the new Twin Rivers Chief of Police, he believes it's going to be a gravy job.  And the part he is looking forward to the most is renewing his long-time friendship with Levi Garvey. But Ray barely has a chance to settle in when the crack of a rifle shatters the peace and quiet of Twin Rivers and sets him and the Garveys on a life-and-death hunt for a killer who has returned after nearly forty years to silence the last witnesses in a decades old bank robbery.

ONE LAST SHOT
Moon & Son Publishing (2011)

And in case you missed the first novel . . . 

ONE LAST SHOT 
Levi Garvey thought he was just going home for a class reunion.  He had no idea he was about to stumble upon a dangerous secret that would change his life forever . . .  


The best-selling author of two novels, Levi Garvey, is at a crossroads. His third novel has been widely criticized as a flop. His celebrity lifestyle is falling apart, but he fears there isn’t another book in him. Because the creative well has gone dry, he realizes it’s time to figure out the next phase of his life.

Levi heads home to the small rural town of Twin Rivers, Illinois, for the first time in two decades to settle his grandmother’s estate and to attend his 25th high school reunion. It isn’t long before he’s reunited with the only woman he’s ever truly loved, Tori Buchanan. Then the unexpected happens. He gets the spark of an idea. As he works on it, he knows it could very well become his next novel.

But as Levi researches this new novel, he stumbles upon a decades-old secret—a secret that will inexplicably change his life and the peaceful little town of Twin Rivers forever. 

~TEC

Author News: Todd's New Novel To Be Released Spring 2012

My fifth book A SHOT AFTER MIDNIGHT is almost ready for publication--it should be out (hopefully) by the middle of April 2012.  I'll give you the official back cover treatment first, and then I'll tell you a little more about it.

Moon & Son Publishing (2012), Paperback
280 pages, ISBN: 978-0-9831156-1-8

A SHOT AFTER MIDNIGHT
Levi Garvey returns in a flawless addition to author Todd E. Creason's Twin Rivers series.

"Nothing ever happens in Twin Rivers." That's what the residents of the small Illinois town always say, but as Levi and Tori had learned in their deadly encounter with Police Chief Doug Malone two years earlier--the past has an ugly way of coming back.

When Ray Billings retires from the police force in Savannah, Georgia, and takes the job as the new Twin Rivers Chief of Police, he believes it's going to be a gravy job.  And the part he is looking forward to the most is renewing his long-time friendship with Levi Garvey. But Ray barely has a chance to settle in when the crack of a rifle shatters the peace and quiet of Twin Rivers and sets him and the Garveys on a life-and-death hunt for a killer who has returned after nearly forty years to silence the last witnesses in a decades old bank robbery.

ONE LAST SHOT
Moon & Son Publishing (2011)

So this is another installment of the Twin Rivers Series.  The first book One Last Shot was published in April 2011.  Whether I'm writing about Famous American Freemasons or writing fiction, I seem to think only in multiple volumes.  And I'm sure this novel isn't the last story from the small town of Twin Rivers.  

This one is paced a little differently from the first book. In the first book, I tried to trick the readers into thinking at first they were reading a pleasant little story about a man returning to his hometown after 25 years, getting back with his one true love--and living happily ever after in quiet rural contentment.  Of course, just about the time the reader was waiting for the love story to begin, I tossed in a hand grenade, and everything went to hell in a hand basket.  So this time around, there was little question what kind of stories I like to write, so I just went ripping into it.  

The whole cast of character is back in this one (except the ones that didn't make it through the first novel obviously)--and many new characters, too.  My Freemason friends were a little disappointed the first book didn't offer much about Freemasonry--they won't be disappointed this time as the cover might allude (we like that word allude).  But I will tell you up front, Freemasonry is only a backdrop in this book, and not a part of the story--I'm not Dan Brown, and I have no interest in ever doing that.  But this was a fun book to write, but by far the one that has challenged me the most.  It just about didn't happen, if it weren't at the constant prodding from my editor (mom) that it was a great story it would have never been finished.

I'd like to give special thanks to Brion Sausser.  He's a very talented artist, and he did the amazing cover for One Last Shot (and if you bought the first book, you know that the back cover was just as impressively designed as the front.  So obviously, I called him again, and he certainly didn't disappoint me on the cover for A Shot After Midnight.  In fact, he took a much larger role in the project this time.  He not only designed the cover, but he also did the interior design as well--and it looks great!  He's also designing the e-book versions for the iBook, Nook, and Kindle editions.  So be sure to check out his website at Book Creatives.  He's great to work with, and offers a full range of services, from book design, to marketing, to website creation.  


So that's that story.  Watch for it!

~TEC

Author Update: I Could Use Some Help!

The good news is, my second novel is nearing completion.  A Shot After Midnight should be released some time in April.  Of course, there will be more on that topic later--much, much more I'm sure.

The bad news is, I'm so busy seeing to all the details of that project, I'm having a tough time keeping up The Midnight Freemason blogs just lately.  So, I'm asking for your help.  If there is something you'd like to post, I'm looking for some guest contributors. I posted a few guidelines here--be sure and read those.  That should tell you what I'm after, and what the readers of the blog seem to enjoy.  If you have questions about whether something would be of interest or not, please feel free to email me at webmaster@toddcreason.org.  When you email me, if you put Midnight Freemason as part of the subject, it would be a big help (I get a few emails). 

So share something--tell me about an event you attended. Does your lodge have a unique story?  Share a personal insight or experience you've had as a Mason. Some trivia about a famous Freemason. Point me to a video. Pictures are great too.  Hey, everyone loves the Mason jokes, too.  Have a little fun with it.

Upon acceptance, I'll tell you the exact date it will post.--you'll have about a week to tell all your friends before it goes up. Make sure you include your name, lodge, and other affiliations with your piece when you submit it, so I'm sure to get it right when I post the piece.

And also . . . Even if you don't want to write a piece yourself, if you stumble across items of interest, send them my way--my surfing time has been seriously impeded. I'll still give you due credit for providing it.

~TEC

Author Updates

I had a very busy weekend, and a busy week coming up, so The Midnight Freemason may be a little light on content this week.  I usually type those blog entries up over the weekend and schedule their release throughout the week.  Didn't happen last weekend.  But I thought I'd give you a few updates on my projects.

-A Shot After Midnight, my second novel, and a sequel to One Last Shot, is through the first editing round, and that process was a monster.  It should be easier going forward.  It's right on schedule for a Spring 2012 release.  I'm not planning on giving out many details about it, or what it's about until we're closer to release.  I will tell you I plan on enlisting the talent of Brion Sausser again for this book cover. 

-I finished a limited book tour, and I've got some books left over.  If you want autographed copies contact me at webmaster@toddcreason.org and I'll get them out to you.  There aren't a lot, so if you want them, it's on a first-come-first serve basis.  I won't be ordering additional copies.  I'm working on getting a an online store set up on here so you can order autographed copies through Paypal.  I hope to get that up and running over the weekend.

-The Midnight Freemason blog is finally taking off--I think I've finally found a formula that works.  I'm getting tons of emails from all over, and believe it or not, we've got more than 350 Twitter followers!  Thanks for your support.  As I've said many times before, if you run across something interesting you think would be good for The Midnight Freemason blog, send it my way.  As you are undoubtedly aware, I get my material from many sources--keep it coming!

I should be able to get back to regular posts tomorrow.  Sorry for the interuption in service.  In the meantime, I noticed the One Minute Mason has been busy--you can get your trivia fix there until I get caught up.  I also noticed there are a few new podcasts at Whence Came You  you can listen to. 

Thanks again,

~TEC

Famous American Freemasons: Volume III

I think I finally got it!  I've had a breakthrough!  It looks like this project is a go. . . finally.

It always starts the same way.  I start with about a hundred and fifty names of worthy Famous American Freemasons written on business cards, and a bulletin board.  I've sometimes spent weeks narrowing that list down to just thirty names.  I'll change up the categories, I'll take a few names out of the mix, sometimes I have to go back and find some more names. When I finally get those names and categories finalized, I tack those names down, and hang the bulletin board on the wall in my cave--but the names and the categories often continue to change even as I'm researching and writing the book. 

It's not as easy as you might think, because there are a few things I like to do in each section of the book.  I like to include a couple names in each category everybody knows well, a couple most people are familiar with but don't know that much about, and maybe one name few people would know--but should.  And I also like to cover several different eras in American history in each category too.  So basically, I make it as difficult on myself as possible.

I've had a terrible time getting this volume to work out to my satisfaction, and had pretty much given up on the idea there was ever going to be a Volume III.  In fact, I've made it widely known there wouldn't be another one. That's part of the reason I took some time off the midnight shift.  I decided to take a little time to sit back and try and decide what I was going to do next.  Another novel?  Take up another Freemasonry topic to write about?  Or finally finish the the Famous American Freemason series I started back in 2006? 

The decision is made.  I'm going to finish the Famous American Freemason series next.   

But that won't be the next book out.  I've got one done now.  I finished a novel over Memorial Day, A Shot After Midnight.  It's a sequel to One Last Shot.  We're just beginning the editing process on it.  It will be out in Spring of 2012.  So I'm shooting for a Fall 2012 release for the final volume of Famous American Freemasons. For some reason, I seem to finish fiction in the spring and non-fiction in the fall. 

So within the next month or so, my sunny blog will go dark again, the moon and stars motif will return, and the midnight shifts will resume.  I should be well rested, energized, and ready to tackle it by then. 

If you have a favorite Famous American Freemason I haven't written about yet, please feel free to email me at webmaster@toddcreason.org.  As I said, that line-up will go through some changes--it's just a starting point.  In fact, a suggestion a friend of mine made was the key to getting this line-up to finally work--it lead me to a whole new category I hadn't explored in the series yet. 

~TEC

I Took a Little Break

I decided to take some time off, about a week.  I needed it, but I'm back now.  I should be back to a regular posting schedule later this week.  It's been awhile since I've posted any updates, so I'll tell you about a couple things I've been working on.

Behaviorally Challenged
I've got a new blog called Behaviorally Challenged I started without much fanfare a few weeks ago.  The readers of The Midnight Mason seem to be looking for stories about Freemasonry, American History, or news about my books (in small doses).  You just didn't seem to appreciate my humor, so I decided to dedicate an entire blog to those little things I find amusing.  And people are beginning to notice it.  Check it out. 

New Novel: A Shot After Midnight
I finished it over the Memorial Day holiday.  I'm going to let it sit for a while before I begin editing, in fact, I may just let it sit all summer.  It's a great story.  I really love the way it turned out.  The novel takes place in the same town, and with many of the same characters that were in the first book (and a few more).  So anyway, it's on track for a Spring 2012 release. 

That's about all I have.  Enjoy your summer.

TEC

Book Announcement: A Shot After Midnight

Best-selling author Levi Garvey and his new wife Tori, first introduced in Todd E. Creason’s debut novel One Last Shot, are back, along with a few other familiar faces. It’s been nearly two years since Levi and Tori’s deadly encounter with Twin Rivers Chief of Police, Doug Malone, and life in the small town of Twin Rivers has returned to its usual quiet pace. But it’s not to last.

On a clear and quiet spring night, a single shot echoes across the town of Twin Rivers. It’s not long before the body of Andy Miller is found dead in his living room. Shot through a window at long range with a high-powered rifle. Andy Miller had been released that day from prison after serving 38 years. He was imprisoned for his involvement in the 1973 armed robbery of the First National Bank of Calloway, where a police officer was brutally gunned down.

Fraught with twists and turns, A Shot After Midnight is a riveting sequel to One Last Shot that readers will find impossible to put down until the last page.

Todd E. Creason's A Shot After Midnight will be available from Moon & Son Publishing at major booksellers everywhere in 2012.