The Author
Pen Name: Trystan Mickel Windemier
Trystan was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the US, and was raised in rural Cedar Springs near the north edge of Kent County. He attended public school there and graduated valedictorian in 1986. Trystan attended two years of college but never pursued a degree. Trystan currently enjoys the process of writing an artform he has developed over the years from reading extensively, a must for all authors one could say. Creating one’s own style is vital to survive this cut-throat but enjoyable profession. Music of most styles is fundamental to Trystan’s life as he sits and contemplates the next storylines to music playing in the background.
Trystan Served as a young teen director at his church for two years. For five years he worked in a tool and DIY shop, the experience he gleaned from those years he very often reflects on as a valuable lesson in life. As a high school teacher for nigh on fifteen years Trystan worked closely with his pupils ensuring their start in life was solid enough to give them a good fighting chance in life as possible. During his teaching career Trystan wrote many curriculum policies on a variety of subjects, he wrote countless editorials for the local press concerning educational issues faced within the local school district. His work within this area earned him a place on the local board of education, a position he held for four years. Home schooling became an important area in education for Trystan so much so he developed and ran his own service to both junior and high school pupils broadening their educational needs to face the modern world with all its demands and complexities. If you think this career path was busy, well add to that teaching youngsters to drive for five years and all the hairy experiences that brought and you start to see what a multifaceted person Trystan has been and continues to be even in the face of adversity during the US economic downturn recently. Something Trystan associates with the Obama years.
Trystan presently lives in rural Michigan and now mainly spends his time writing as a self-employed author, something he hopes to do for a considerable time in the future.
Quirky Story
I asked Trystan for a fun quirky story just to bring a bit of fun into this interview this is what he sent me.
I mentioned earlier that I taught Driver’s Education for five years. I did and experienced many close calls with student driving. One such drive was very scary for me, but a learning experience too.
I had two students on this drive, it was their very first time behind the wheel. The first driver was a female who was visibly apprehensive and scared. We went through the pre-start checks, briefly talked about where and what the various pedals did, gear shift lever, and gauges that were on the dashboard.
Now I had placed the car in front of an eight-inch-high sidewalk (path to those outside the US) separating two of the school parking lots. I assumed when I told her to put the car into reverse, back up, shift to drive and drive out of the parking lot that she would shift to reverse and backup. Quite the opposite occurred she shifted to drive and proceeded to jam her foot on the gas pedal (accelerator to those of us outside the US) and career across the parking zone narrowly missing several cars and their petrified owners. Once I had recovered from the initial shock and composed myself, I slammed my foot on the chicken brake (Back up brake to those outside the US) and brought the car to an abrupt halt.
With no damage done, but nerves well frazzled we continued the journey without any further incidents so to speak. The next driver gave me a safer ride.
Lesson learned, never assume and always be prepared for the unpredicted foibles life throws at you, when you least expect it.
Check out our video chat here!
The Book
Tyler grew up in a Christian household, from the onset of memory, Tyler was attracted to males over females. However, he fought to be heterosexual and buried his homosexual tendencies to live the life of the public and societally accepted heterosexual lifestyle. Tyler is sexually naïve, and this naivety lives him open to all kinds of predatory scenarios. Tyler moves to Aurora a suburb in the greater metropolitan area of Chicago Illinois. He meets Andrew on the bus and quickly establishes a relationship initially based on physical attraction having moved in as a roommate.
Andrew was born gay. During his tragic childhood of a failed foster care system, he was abused in many ways. Andrew’s life as a gay waiter/prostitute in the Flamingo lounge. Andrew’s life is a life lived very much on the edge with wild sexual exploitations at the heart of it.
The book follows the lives of Tyler and Andrew, from their initial meeting to a full-blown relationship of love. Throughout their relationship they discuss, love, the correctness of same-sex love, religious views on LGBT issues, and societal discrimination against LGBT persons. They experience the bigotry and the rejection of homosexuality by various entities including a Christian church and other individuals. They discuss in detail the conflict between Christianity and the LGBT community.
Despite this anguished battle of standards, morals and the religion/homosexuality differences, Tyler and Andrew’s relationship deepens as this fictional storyline develops highlighting the many issues LGBT people face by society judging them on their choice of lifestyle.
If you wish to know more about why Trystan Mickel Windemier wrote this book and where you can get a copy then have a look at the social media sites below, or simply click the Amazon link.
Fb.me/lavenderlaneseries