Wild Hearts

End Note

*This endnote has been updated several times over the years since publication to reflect the state of newer books and projects. The latest update is from October 2019, following the remaster of this book.

And so Aiden's story is done, but perhaps not quite, as you shall see later on.

It's kind of bittersweet. Nothing in life is ever fully happy. Aiden and Ryder don't have the conventional happy ending—we know Ryder is leaving soon, and who can say what happens after that? Isaac faces real, life-threatening endeavours, and Corin's family drama hasn't magically disappeared because she wound up in hospital. This choice to leave these elements grey makes for a more realistic world, but I felt I could leave the story on a high note. This story was about a pure love between two young souls, and so I wanted their final adventure to be joyous, giving Aiden that life he so deserved. Despite what happens, he has friends now, and things can improve.

Why the choice to depict a character with autism, and all his various conditions? I like trying to champion breaking down the different stigmas in society. We need to talk about these things, and realise these are just aspects of people, but not the whole picture. I knew Aiden had to be a bright and emotional boy who viewed the world in a unique manner. The choice to endow him with these qualities came about as a way to shine a light on an issue I felt passionate about. Just like with Fletcher's Tourette's in Finding the Pure Note, or depression, I am pushing to the forefront these rarely talked about stigmas in society, and showing that really, beneath these scary and oppressive labels, these are real people, and no less deserving of your love.

I don't have what Aiden has. I definitely feel I have several of his symptoms, which did help, and I feel like I am undiagnosed with ADD, though depression and anxiety are definitely diagnosed and so it really does help to draw on many of these different factors. I didn't seek to write a story focusing too heavily on all the ways a child with autism has to deal with it. Certainly that comes through at times, but I thought it best to leave it to those more qualified than I. This is why I would never publish this traditionally. I always feel like I can do so much better and I would much rather publish one of my later books which features more diverse characters and voices and draws on the experiences I made over the years. I did my research, read stories from real people, from families, and I hope it is enough to get a sense of what it is like, and that you know Aiden is a beautiful, loving soul no matter what condition would seek to hold him back. For me, it was first and foremost about creating a story of love and friendship, that transcended whatever mental or physical conditions a person has, a love of a more innocent nature than what I have written before, and what is coming next (again more on that soon). This is a shorter story than what I've written before, so it meant I had to focus more on the relationship between Aiden and Ryder, and Aiden with his friends. Through them, we come to know more about his condition, but mostly, we see that he isn't always defined by this, and that's what I hope people take away from this story, and any of my others.

We all have the capacity to be kind, amazing people. Aiden struggled, a lot, but he was kind, and as he said there at the end, that's all that matters. Often he is too slow to make a move, too afraid. In a story where they seek new adventures, it is no accident he struggles the most to take more chances with their love. Moments where a kiss is natural, where there could be more, but Ryder holds secrets of his own, and they are both learning more about themselves in the end.

I've really enjoyed watching people's rollercoaster of emotions as they question if Ryder is real or not. When Ryder takes Aiden to the skate park at the start, he says the place felt like part of who he was. That might sound like something a spirit would say, but really it ties into his history and how skating is the only thing that gives him some semblance of normality. That is made clear by the end but is also expanded on in a separate project. Again, more on that later.

I feel a strong elation as each new story comes into fruition, is tweaked, played with and life is breathed into these characters, and even the places themselves. Certainly, Hell has a life all its own, enough so that I became endlessly fascinated with it, forming its history, the custodians of this limbo between worlds, the stories that it could tell. Aiden saw a few of those, but Hell has a lot more to share.

And so it is that I can announce here that I have written and fully released Isaac and Connor's book. As Hell took shape, so too did Isaac, then Connor, and I knew Isaac was my next protagonist. You get a sense of him here, but you don't have the full story. Isaac is dangerous, far more so than Aiden even realises. He's broken, smeared in the dirt, and running. And still, he is raw and brimming with lust.

Hell featured so prominently in Wild Hearts, and we know Aiden views himself as Isaac's little brother, so it only makes sense he plays a pretty vital role in this upcoming story, so that isn't the end of our food-loving, quiet and overly-caring friend. Corin, and of course, Connor feature heavily, and Ryder has some darker shades to reveal.

Once I knew I had these characters, and the history behind Hell, I started tinkering, and soon had a large document detailing the history of Hell, and how these two very contrasting characters come to meet and face great adversity. As the story took shape, it was clear it was a counter-harmony to Wild Hearts, the other side of the story, what you don't see in the shadows. These stories complement each other in really fascinating ways. You get the light here, but the gritty, terrifying dark there. But like yin and yang, they need each other, and Isaac needs the light of Connor, Corin and Aiden. So for those wanting to witness the rise of Hell, the broken Isaac in his story of redemption, and are open for a more adult story, Isaac's story is out now, complete, and is titled:

In Hell We Dance

I said it was an adult story, so be prepared for a sensual, dark and sometimes confronting story about lust, lies, and how we need someone to hold our hand in the darkness of nightmares, and lead us to a better tomorrow.

Want more Aiden and Ryder?  

Got two exciting projects for you to check out!

First up is my new short story collection, Outcasts. I take four outcast characters from across my books and delve further into their lives, and offer a chance of redemption. The first story is Ryder's. Set two years after Wild Hearts, this details a time where the two boys are in each other's lives again—just how, you'll have to see by reading! I don't have a sequel planned for Wild Hearts, so consider this short story the official continuation. To find out about Ryder's past, check out my profile!

WHAT'S EVEN BETTER! The beginning of the story I wrote for a short story competition, and now I just found it has been published!!! The boys are published! I'm sure Ryder would crack open a beer, take Aiden to their favourite restaurant, and Aiden would be geeking out the whole way, unable to contain his excitement.

However, that does mean I have had to remove that opening chunk, which I have now replaced with a brand new beginning. So I definitely suggest you check that out to see how my published story continues!

The final story is Corin's, so definitely check that out if you want to see a deep dive into that character!

My other major project is Autumn Leaves. Set in a boarding academy in Canada, the kind and artistic Oscar struggles but makes many interesting friends, including the far too out of his league Nick. It is so exciting to write a romance story in a boarding school setting. I hope you give it a shot. For a taste of their love, read the short story: A Watercolour World which inspired it.

Autumn Leaves is about Oscar, Connor's little brother, but Connor also plays a key role in that story. Starting from the chapter, Dreaming in Colour, Oscar and Connor have gone home to visit their parents during the school break. After a fight that takes place in this chapter, Connor storms out, needing to be away and see old friends. It's been four years at this point since Wild Hearts, and he goes to visit a now 19-year-old Aiden, and 20-year-old Ryder—a glimpse of their lives a little further on from Ryder's short story in Outcasts. So consider this an even more extended continuation XD. If you want to read about these two boys, go ahead and jump to that chapter, but I encourage you to read Autumn Leaves as well. The next few chapters have these bonus segments at the end from Connor's perspective and some more closure for characters like Corin as well. I really hope you pick up the book and give it a go.

Thanks for reading everyone! I hope you enjoyed! Let me know what you thought. I'd really love to hear from you. :)