About Me
Vincent Price once said, “A man who limits his interests limits his life.” I’ve never been one to stick to just one thing, and my work is all the richer for it. I’m L. H. Jones, a neurospicy artist with an insatiable love for stories, especially those that thrive among the odd and whimsical.
Born in the Melting Pot:
I grew up in the California Bay Area at a time when the streets were a patchwork of rich, vibrant cultures that danced and collided in a tapestry of everyday life. It wasn’t just a parade of chain stores and bars but a bustling canvas of genuine charm and character. Imagine a lazy Sunday morning unfolding like a well-worn novel. You go to the local café, where the barista knows you by sight, if not by name, and genuinely asks, “How are you doing today?” Then, you take your coffee and walk up the street to wander through a mom-and-pop craft shop, or an antique shop in which every shelf holds lost snapshots of local history. Each place had soul and every item had a history.
As the day unfolded, you could stroll to the old theater, its colorful posters a patchwork of headshots of local thespians who pour their hearts into every role. The theater’s velvet seats might be a little worn, and the smell of buttered popcorn mingled with the faint musk of history, but it was the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of drama and dreams.
These experiences were more than just pastimes; they represented the heartbeat of community. In that world, the mundane became magical, and the ordinary was infused with a sense of wonder and possibility. This was the place where I learned to appreciate the beauty which exists in the overlooked world we all took for granted, until it was gone. The details and the depth in the seemingly simple and ordinary, setting the stage for the stories I would later create, inspired by the rich, eclectic tapestry of my surroundings.
The Journey Begins:
My love of stories began as a child, forever enchanted by Shelley Duvall’s Fairytale Theater rendition of Rumpelstiltskin. That magical moment ignited a lifelong obsession with narratives, turning every film, television show, and book into a feast for my imagination. Like E.T. discovering Reese’s Pieces, I devoured each story with an insatiable hunger, dissecting words, character arcs, and subplots as if they were pieces of a grand puzzle. Each narrative became more than just entertainment; it was a playground where I explored the labyrinthine depths of human behavior.
Growing up in a neurospicy household where masking was as routine as breakfast, my emotional landscape often felt like a pressure cooker. Watching shows like Clarissa Explains It All, and The Wonder Years, in which kids were the narrators of their own stories, I was able to find solace in my own storytelling. My stories became a refuge, a sanctuary where I could wrest control from the chaos and forge a semblance of order.
The summer before sixth grade marked the beginning of my writing journey. My notebooks became a chaotic blend of short stories, impassioned rants about the absurdities of school life, and doodles that could have earned Daria Morgendorffer’s reluctant approval. This creative outpouring wasn’t just a hobby; it was a lifeline, a means to navigate and make sense of the world around me. Through every scribbled page and hastily written tale, I honed my craft and discovered the power of storytelling as a means of understanding and transformation.
Rediscovering the Passion:
As the responsibilities of adulthood swirled around me like a chaotic storm, I found solace in the hum of audiobooks. My days were consumed by the mundane rituals of life, and though I was often lost in a sea of obligations, I discovered a new addiction—one that fed my soul with the same fervor as a midnight binge on classic horror films. Audiobooks became my escape, my sanctuary from the relentless grind. Yet, it wasn’t until I was nearly swept away by the currents of routine that I was reintroduced to one of my early loves: writing.
For a decade, I had been a massage therapist, a profession that demanded my physical and emotional energies. But then my body rebelled, and I found myself penning articles for Massage and Fitness Magazine. Kneading knots by day and delving into the nuances of wellness by night, I helped others understand and improve their well-being. But the real transformation occurred when I made a pivotal decision to shift from writing for someone else’s byline to crafting stories for my own soul.
Now, I’m on a quest, not just to discover my voice, but to share it with the world. This journey combines the lessons learned from my past with the excitement of new discoveries. Each word I write is a step towards uncovering the deeper mysteries of storytelling and embracing the importance of self-love. It’s about staying true to my own perspective, refusing to let others dim my thoughts and words simply because they differ from their own.
Embracing the Madness:
Starting this blog feels like leaping off a cliff with a parachute I’m not entirely sure will open. It’s a peculiar blend of terror and exhilaration, with just a hint of controlled insanity. For years, impostor syndrome had me in a relentless grip, whispering that my musings would barely make a ripple in the vast ocean of the internet. Voices from my past seemed always determined to ridicule me and beat me down, constantly haunting my thoughts. Would there be a point if my words were left to be either insignificant echoes lost in the abyss, or shrapnel for those wanting to spew vitriol and hate.
But seeing others similar to me succeed, eventually gave me a moment of needed clarity: “Why not give it a shot?” If countless others can venture into the online wilderness, creators that I feel a connection to because they allow me to feel seen and safe, then perhaps I could do that for others. So, armed with nothing but passion and a keyboard, this blog is my tentative step into the unknown, my way of cautiously testing the waters while keeping tethered to solid ground. It’s a chance to say, “Here I am, world—let’s see how this unfolds.”
If you’re joining me on this journey, be prepared for a few wobbly moments and the occasional stumble. This is an exploration into uncharted territory, and while the path ahead is uncertain, I’m ready to navigate it with a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism. After all, if my love for dark fairytales has taught me anything, it’s that even the most unpredictable journeys can lead to surprising discoveries.
Art, Health, and the Beautiful Chaos In Between:
I have a million interests, each more eccentric than the last, creating a life that resembles a vibrant collage where chaos and color intertwine. From music and movies to tattoos and fiber art, my passions form a constantly evolving mosaic. My decade as a massage therapist deepened my appreciation for anatomy and kinesiology, alongside a knack for quirky health tips that feel like they belong in a whimsical guide to “Things You Never Knew You Needed to Know.”
When I’m not engrossed in crafting my next story, you’ll find me diving into an array of eclectic hobbies, much like Veronica Mars diving into another mystery. My pursuits span from running an Etsy shop and designing graphics for stock image sites to dreaming up whimsical coloring books. Each creative project adds a new layer to my vibrant mosaic of interests, reflecting my love for storytelling and exploration.
As a devoted audiobook listener, my headphones are a constant companion, feeding my brain stories through an auditory I.V. Jumping from one subject to another, piecing together inspirations and ideas with detective-like curiosity, my ADHD is both a blessing and a curse. It fuels creativity but can also lead to overwhelm. My creative spark is a natural high that carries me away on a wave of inspiration—until I forget where I put my water bottle—again. But these quirks are part of the rich tapestry shaping my creative journey. In the end, this beautiful mess of interests and oddities makes the adventure worth every twist and turn.
Join the Madness:
Welcome to my corner of the internet, where curiosity meets creativity and the unexpected is always around the corner. Whether you’re here for the tales of dark legends, the curious ramblings of a writer’s mind, or just to see what unfolds next, I invite you to stay tuned. Think of this blog as your noir mystery sidekick, guiding you through my ever-expanding universe of stories and thoughts. Together, let’s explore the twists, turns, and occasional surprises that make this journey uniquely ours.
