Hi, I’m Len Gizinski, author of “The Metal Within.” Yep, it’s really me; I don’t have any ghost writers or web managers, so I’m really here, and I’m delighted you’re here as well! (No, I don’t know who you are as you read this, but you don’t know who I am, either, so we’re even!) Since it’s my blog, I figure I’ll go first, and share some of the story behind the story…

To begin with, I was born in Bethlehem, PA., and spent most of my life on U.S.A.’s “East side:” Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Michigan, and places in between. I joined the US Air Force shortly after graduating from high school, and became a Christian while serving in the United Kingdom. While I didn’t model Jack after myself, he and I share some history in that I, too, was born again “riding around with a rifle under my seat, looking for trouble.”

I met my wife in 1985, who was raised in Washington (We met in Tennessee… go figure!) I am still madly in love with her, and it’s no accident that Handsight’s wife is also named Samantha. Together we’ve raised five kids, and are truly blessed to watch their continual growth and development into the awesome beings they are becoming!

So, what exactly is The Metal Within?  For me, it isn’t as much of a book as it is a story, or more precisely, the intertwining of several separate stories of normal people living in a desperate future. It started as a role-playing game I was going to run back in the 90’s. Jack, Corey, Susan, Josanne, and Melissana all had their start as would-be player characters, and I worked up the world background, created the first several scenes and character backgrounds as to how the characters met, and the long-range direction I hoped the game would go. While the game was never played, I liked the background so much I kept the notes.

After drafting the first chapter or two and fleshing out a couple later scenes, I considered writing the plotline out as a full novel, but I kept putting it off. Lack of confidence, busy-ness, and not really being sure I could responsibly write the story all took their tolls. After years of considering and praying about whether to pursue writing it off and on, I not only felt more confirmation to go ahead with it, but actually an urging conviction that I should write it. Over Labor Day of 2015, I had the pleasure of discussing my reservations about writing the story with someone who worked at a bookstore. This person so awesomely gave me the final confirmation to go ahead and write the book that both she and her husband earned a heartfelt place in the dedication. Highly motivated, my wife and I returned to our Pacific Northwest home and I began to write. On Memorial Day of 2016, I had the first pass of the story completed as well as the over-arching plotline that I’m estimating will span between seven to ten or twelve books.

So, that was my turn! Now that you know a little about me, feel free to let me know a little about you! Have you read the story? If so, who’s your favorite character? What’d you like best? By all means know you’re welcome to join my mailing list, ask questions, and let me know what’s on your mind.

Oh yeah – and as always, Enjoy the Ride!!!