Kevin on the book

Maybe inspired isn’t the right word. I had become disheartened and disgusted at the chaos, divisiveness, and hatred I saw nearly everywhere around me on a daily basis. The only place I wasn’t seeing it was within my immediate circle and community, though it even crept in there on occasion.

Yet, I also saw a path out of this crisis based on decades of professional, military, and life experiences. As I explored this path, I realized there were numerous tools and principles that could counter the forces tearing at society and our nation. The lessons I had learned, and was continuing to learn, and had been teaching to others for decades, held the key.

It dawned on me that these lessons could be a catalyst for battling the distrust and hatred that seemingly dominated our nation. That, then, was the driving force behind the writing of my book.

Honestly, I’m trying to reach everyone. I do, especially, want to help those who have been most harmed and held back by the completely avoidable challenges in our country and so many communities. I want them to discover and develop the tools and traits that will allow them to pursue their potential and best lives.

Yet, it is not enough to help those most in need of help, because we as a collective society need to become part of solving our greatest challenges. That will require Americans of every type to become part of the solution. We need those already living great lives and even their best lives to join the effort along with those doing well and those facing the greatest hardships.

Superhero Nation is a book of introspection; it requires readers to engage in reflection and self-assessment continuously. Consequently, it required the same from me throughout the writing process. That means I was constantly being “surprised” by new thoughts, ideas, and realizations as well as by new perspectives about existing thoughts, ideas, and beliefs.

I can’t remember surprises that were more significant or of greater magnitude than others. Rather, I came to expect these ongoing surprises, so to speak. It is my hope that the same happens for readers. They may initially be surprised by things they’re learning from my book, but then this becomes routine and they start anticipating the “surprises.”

The most rewarding part of writing Superhero Nation has been noting, on a daily basis, circumstances where the book’s principles would address a challenge or make lives better. I see them in ongoing interactions with friends, in situations around my community, and in news stories from my state, our nation, and the world.

I continually feel a validation in the book’s lessons and guidance that reinforces how crucial it is to share these with the widest possible audience.

The overall message—truly the main theme—of Superhero Nation is that the fate of our country and democracy is in the hands of everyday citizens like those reading the book, but that to contribute to preserving our nation and democracy requires that each reader pursue their best possible life.

It seems paradoxical, but in this case, being selfish is the most generous thing we can do for our community and country. The caveat is that we must do this with our values leading our actions and decisions and being deliberate about using our personal power and holding ourselves accountable.

The shift I hope to inspire and guide for every reader is how they view themselves, their capabilities, and the role they play in their community and nation. Our country’s challenges, small and overwhelmingly large, can only be overcome by the collective efforts of us as individual citizens.

For that to occur, we must each first develop a strong and honest sense of self. We must truly understand who we are at our core along with our core values. Then we must see how we can wield our personal power and our personal responsibility to make our community stronger and more resilient. That, in turn, is how we make our nation stronger and more resilient.

Preserving our nation and democracy begins with each of us, as individuals, understanding our own incredible strengths and capabilities.

I want every reader to understand they will always have power over their mind, heart, spirit, and values, unless they choose to cede that power to others. Yes, for many it’s far easier to say that than to actually wield that power, but that is the purpose of the book; to provide the tools, systems, and guidance for anyone to do exactly that.

In addition, there are many who don’t even realize they’ve ceded their personal power, and the book will help them see all the hidden and intangible ways others are unduly taking their power.

I think Chapter Two was the most fun to write. It’s amazing how many lessons related to Superhero Nation’s principles are present in the creation story from the Book of Genesis in the Bible. Consequently, those sections seemed to fall into place. There were even a few connections I really enjoyed but took out during revisions. They may show up later in follow up posts after publication.

And while Chapter Two was fun to write, my favorite chapter to write was the first chapter, which also, essentially, became the last chapter I wrote. Of course, I had a first chapter from the get-go, but I was never satisfied with it. Yet I also struggled to revise it in ways that really worked.

Then, just as I was finishing all the revisions and preparing to submit the book for developmental editing, the event that became the centerpiece of that opening chapter occurred. I certainly didn’t realize that’s what was happening, in part because it was a very difficult event. Yet it was also one filled with grace and love.

I realized the incredible strength and resilience of the people around me at that time and that they all were reflections of the very principles laid out in my book. And suddenly, I knew what was needed in that first chapter. I felt the presence of many people inspiring what became the new Chapter One.

The first and last chapters were the hardest to write. The first because I know how important it is to draw in every reader to engage and connect with them, yet I absolutely didn’t want to use any tricks or manipulate readers in any way. I also wanted to provide a strong and honest taste of what was to come in the rest of the book.

As he did so often in my life, my best friend saved me at the last minute, though certainly not in the way I wanted (no spoilers here; you’ll have to read the book or at least the first few pages). I hope the final result is worthy of Tom’s efforts to inspire me.

The final chapter was hard to write for related reasons. I believe so strongly in the principles, lessons, and guidance contained in Superhero Nation, and I wanted the last chapter to put an exclamation point on the preceding chapters. I also wanted to provide one final dose of inspiration to readers.

Yet, again, I was struggling to achieve that. It wasn’t until I received the developmental editing feedback that I figured it out. There was a story from an earlier chapter—coincidentally, about another friend of mine—that didn’t fit there, so I took it out. Then I realized it was just what I needed to wrap things up, along with a few other changes.

My life’s purpose—my ongoing mission—is to help every person possible pursue their best life as part of a supportive community with the long-term goal of fulfilling the potential and promise of America. That means I am now working to help others discover, develop, and implement the principles and lessons from Superhero Nation.

Toward that end, I am establishing a nonprofit organization to coincide with the launch of the book. The Superhero Nation Foundation will help individuals, communities, and organizations implement and grow the principles and lessons from the book.

I will also be writing, but for now that will be focused on blogs and other posts that further contribute to the principles from the book and my ongoing purpose and mission.