How This All Started
I started "Rules For A Greattastic Life" on January 25th, 2019. But the idea that set me on the path to this series happened long before that. Let me explain:
I grew up next door to four girls. I refer to them in this series as August, Arden, Aspen, and Arlo "Kid" Anderson. Though we didn't get along at first, the girls and I developed a friendship, and they grew to become my "sisters."
We got ourselves into a ton of predicaments throughout our preteen/teen years. We did all the things normal teenagers do. We fell in love and dated people, we had movie nights, poked fun at each other, and fought a lot. And while those things are almost mundane, the personalities of both myself and my "sisters," added a layer of ridiculousness that I've never experienced in other situations. After each of our adventures, we would go back to my "sisters'" house and tell their parents what had happened. When we would finish telling the story, their mom would always say, "You guys should have your own sitcom!"
In the last installment, I talked about my brother Ryan's band, Cousin Simple and I explained why I wanted to write it. However, I posted it strategically directly before this installment. I posted it then as opposed to any other random time because I wanted it to be fresh in your minds. I wanted you to know that all the things I'm about to say have not affected my present-day feelings for the band! I love them, I love their music, and I always have. Unfortunately, when they started in 2017, I was in the midst of an identity crisis.
While I was confident and outgoing during my high school years, I was grappling with the reality of my autism under the surface. I was continually asking myself questions along the lines of, "Am I ever going to be able to be successful in life?" In the middle of my junior year, with senior year and graduation quickly approaching, these insecurities peaked. It was at this time that Cousin Simple came into being. All of a sudden, my baby brother was not only a "rockstar" but on the road to success! To cope with these rising insecurities, I started talking to my "sisters" about them.
One evening in September 2017, Arden and I drove to a place called "Alum Creek Dam," mostly because we were bored. We got to talking, and she could tell that I was feeling insecure.
"Mitchie," she said, after I told her what was going on that day, "You're such a good storyteller and you've been saying for years you've wanted to write a fiction book…you know how my mom is always saying we should have our own sitcom? Why don't you just write a book about our adventures?"
I thought about it and decided it was a good idea. So I started writing a book about our present-day life and when it was necessary, I would flashback to our childhood. However, it's nearly impossible to create a cohesive story in the present day (in a book format, at least). It would never end. After a year of trying to write a book that way, I deleted the whole thing, decided to write a book about my childhood, and created Rules For a Greattastic Life, to replace the present-day timeline.
I'm telling you this now because I have finally finished the rough draft of the book. I have gotten a group of people together who will help me peer edit it. I'm hoping to have the editing done by Christmas, so in 2021 all I have to worry about is publishing. I'm hoping that the book will be published sometime next year!
Have a Greattastic day and be safe!
J. Mitchie Ulibarri
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