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Some authors tackle difficult and controversial subjects without any inhibition, where others may tend to shy away from sensitive topics.

I had to walk a fine line in The Circle of Friends, Book IV…Mike and present some heavy issues in a realistic but uplifting manner. Not only that, but I had to view these circumstances from a male point of view.

To help understand the subject matter of this book, here is the back cover synopsis:

A prisoner of guilt for so long…

Mike Taylor is the epitome of stability. His family is proud of his academic and athletic achievements at Georgia Tech, and despite the temptations of college life, he has maintained his moral standards.

When Danielle enters his life, he realizes he can no longer hide the past. Will she be able to reach him or is Mike past the point of redemption?

Those are some tough issues for a young man in college! However, my purpose was not to focus on the acts but instead concentrate on how these events affect Mike mentally and emotionally.

For those of strong, spiritual faith, abortion is viewed as a terrible sin. By placing this incident in Mike’s past, I created a deep-rooted conflict within his character. He allowed a relationship to escalate into a pregnancy that resulted in an abortion. The entire situation went against Mike’s personal beliefs and sent his moral compass into a tailspin. Only after the fact did he fully comprehend what he’d done. Horrified by his behavior, he refused to forgive what he perceived to be an unpardonable sin.

While most stories would follow the woman in this situation, I wanted readers to understand the effects of such guilt on a young man’s conscious. The incident occurs in Mike’s past, but the ripples of that decision continue to affect his core being many years later. The guilt shapes him into the person we meet at the beginning of the book. Shame has caused Mike to bury his terrible secret from view. His vow to avoid repeating his mistakes results in a character that hides behind a shield of celibacy almost to the point of playing martyr. Unaware of the truth, his family and friends view his behavior and moral convictions as honorable, adding another layer of guilt. Unable to confess or forgive himself, Mike’s past has become a heavy burden to bear.

Lust is a desire that many men battle, as they are wired to respond to physical stimuli. This played a key role in Mike’s past and present situation. He’s aware that these feelings are what got him into trouble in the first place and attempts to control his urges. To a certain degree, he’s been successful. Mike restrains himself physically, but suppressing his thoughts is another matter. Concerned he might act inappropriate around a girlfriend, he fixates on an unattainable person – his best friend’s wife. Mike values and respects Matt and Sarah and knows he would never tarnish their relationship by acting upon his desires. Unfortunately, this does not prevent him from obsessing over Sarah. These improper thoughts and feelings only add further shame.

Viewing this scenario through the eyes of a young man actually prevented the story from becoming too heavy. Mike is reserved and unemotional by nature and this helped to balance the character. I further lightened the atmosphere by focusing on his progress and eventual success in overcoming his guilt. The resulting story is not a dark tragedy but a triumph of the human spirit.

And I think we can all relate to that hope-filled aspect!

About the author:

L. Diane Wolfe, professional is speaker & author who is best known online as Spunk on a Stick. You can find out more about Wolfe and her writing at www.thecircleoffriends.net and www.spunkonastick.net