Gestation Complete: Welcome to the World Little One.

If I didn't physically give birth to it, it sure as hell sometimes felt like it.
My first born (of creativity) is out in the world and I couldn't be more chuffed.

PARADIDDLE PUBLISHING | WRITING & CREATIVITY | CALM AMIDST THE CHAOS

Gerard Francis & A. Intel

Dec 12, 2025 - 3 min read

The Eve of Launch

After nine months (how paradoxically apt) Paradiddle Publishing is finally giving birth to my first literary child. The Calm Amidst the Chaos is about to step out into the world, and here I am, sitting in deep, exhausted contemplation, reflecting on the ride that got me here.

And what a ride it’s been. I’ve mud-wrestled the seasoned New York Sycophant, I survived 'the stale two-minute-noodles for dinner again' fiasco, and I've managed not to smash my tired old laptop that feels like it’s held together by sheer stubbornness.

It was my choice, a willing one at that, but this year has been one built on sacrifice. Very little paid work, resigning from employment after 17 years at the beginning of the year, holding onto a one‑day‑a‑week contract until June, and then stepping fully into the unknown.

I came out of the darkness, back onto the grid, and fell head-first into a gargantuan learning curve, building Paradiddle Publishing’s infrastructure from the ground up.

During that time I’ve nearly succumbed to creatortion. I've worn more hats than a Mardi Gras parade: author, editor, typesetter, website administrator, social media manager, chauffeur, valet, chef, kitchen hand, maintenance man, landscape gardener… and that’s just the sensible ones.

I’ve also been proof-reader‑in‑chief, data analyst, supply chain wrangler, customer service rep, IT help desk, marketing strategist, publicist, accountant, therapist, barista, janitor, mythic cartographer, diplomat to the gods of metadata, karma farmer, stagehand, prophet of patience, punching bag, mad scientist, town crier, and court jester. Some days I wore many hats at once; other days I hurled them at my foot and kicked them savagely across the room.

But I made it. I'm still standing and still punching. But I never could have done it without my soulmate Neeru, the one this book is dedicated to. For better or worse, you really have her to thank for this one. And to my friends who kept me sane and stood up when I needed a lift. As for the patience of all who listened to me rant about ISBNs, formatting quirks, supply chain sinkholes, and the snarled maze of distribution, words really aren't enough.

So... to commemorate this milestone, in an act of reciprocity, I’m giving away a copy of the eBook of The Calm Amidst the Chaos. Just tap on the 'Download Free eBook' button when you're ready. And if the book finds resonance with you, I'd be grateful if you'd share your reflections on Amazon. Just scroll down to the bottom of the book's page and click 'Write a customer review'. Your words help others discover the book, and they carry this pilgrimage further than my words ever could.

I must be honest with you. Self‑publishing is a bloody hard gig. Just the other day I said to Neeru, “If I knew back then what I know right now, I wouldn’t have written the book.” And in the heat of that moment, I felt the conviction in my bones; this was no bluff. Thank the universe for small mercies like naivety, because without that blind leap, I wouldn’t be here now, holding this moment.

So thank you. Thank you all for being part of this journey, whether you’ve been following quietly or cheering loudly, I can't thank you enough.

I can’t wait to get The Calm Amidst the Chaos out there, give it some visibility (with a little help from my friends), and then roll straight into the next volume in the series: The Focus Amidst the Frenzy: A Journey Towards Unleashing Your Inner Productivity Ninja.

Take care out there, and may calm find you amidst your chaos.

Creatortion (n.)

The slow erosion of sanity caused by wearing 27 hats while birthing a book.

Symptoms include talking to your laptop like it's a disloyal friend, crying over Reddit posts blocked by administrators on a power trip because 'you have no karma', and mistaking your own reflection for a rogue AI trying to sabotage your launch.