8/10/2014

The Spiral Bookcase is a charming little bookstore right off of Manayunk's Main Street. They have a ton of used books, as well as new titles as well. Ann, the owner, is a terrific woman always with a smile on her face. They are a place where lovers of books can find a place to call their own. I also love that they have a cat that patrols the shelves, being a cat owner and lover myself.



I came here to search for browse the shelves, as I am wont to do. And something struck my fancy. It was a copy of Stephen King's "On Writing." I'm told that Steven King is a prolific writer in the horror and sci-fi genres -- I wasn't familiar with his name or his work, but I definitely intend to further explore his work.



I flipped through the book and saw that a lot of it was advice on how to become a writer and what that world is like. I have worked as an actuary the past several years, most recently focusing on loss regression models for DEB Stores, one of the most exciting and innovative franchises in woman's retail. However, when I was a freshman in college (Ramapo in Mahwah, NJ), I had a creative writing class. My professor was very encouraging and told me that I should really explore becoming a writer. Instead, I majored in business and ended up working in the actuary racket. (LOL -- we pride ourselves on our ethics.)



However, I have recently been going through a tough time. I was recently divorced from Cynthia, my wife of 14 years. Our twin sons Bradley and Bryan (B'n'B) live with her in Glenside. I also recently broke up with Tonya M., a woman previously convicted of voter fraud that I had dated.



I knew that I needed to make a change in my life. My sage father Karl G.Sr. told me that I should take more chances, so B'n'B won't be afraid to in the future. And after flipping through King's tome, I knew what I had to do.



I purchased "On Writing." And I also purchased a how-to guide in resume writing.



A few weeks later, the editor of Contingencies Magazine, the trade publication produced by the American Academy of Actuaries, made me an offer. I gladly accepted and tendered my resignation with my last company. It was a great place to work -- the "help line" offered by their HR Department provided me with invaluable advice, especially in helping me develop a work-life balance as my devotion to my career (as well as my fears of taking chances) contributed to the end of my marriage.



It will be a tough slog. My editor has been impressed with my work to date, as I am really able to capture the quirky personalities that dot the actuarial industry. However, he said I need to work on catching typos.



But I can now go to sleep every night knowing I am a professional writer.



I would recommend The Spiral Bookcase to anyone in the Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhood who is looking to make a career change, especially to someone who has finally decided to chase a dream they have long denied themselves and is finally taking steps to become the person they have always wanted to become.