VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 16, 2009 — "The major theme of this book is life in general, or, more precisely, what we run into along our journey," says Bud Gilham of his new book, "It's a Buddy's World" (published by AuthorHouse).
"It's a Buddy's World" is a collection of Gilham's short stories, essays and articles, many of which have been published in newspapers and magazines. Writing articles on specific topics led him to draw from his personal experiences for inspiration, and he added his own details, along with those of other people he knew, to create material that all readers can relate to.
Gilham has divided "It's a Buddy's World" into two halves. The first half contains stories and articles that deal with relationships, family and love. The material is optimistic and hopeful. "The running theme is to laugh as often as you can, and worry as little as possible," Gilham says. The second half's subject matter is more dark and complicated, detailing various traumatic life events, their impact and their consequences. Gilham writes about the loss of a loved one, aging, depression and suicidal thoughts. "The message is, you will survive even though at times it seems you will not," Gilham says of the second half of "It's a Buddy's World."
One of Gilham's favorite essays in "It's a Buddy's World" is "Spiral to Hell," which details a downward spiral of emotions into hopelessness, despair and suicide, as captured in this excerpt:
I have nothing left now, nothing. I slip and slip deeper and deeper into the black hole before me. "No," I whisper with raspy voice and aching lungs, lungs that no longer work a heart that has stopped and forsaken the body. "No," I plead in a whisper. Why? Why did the word not come? What did I do that was so wrong? Eyes fog over, mouth fills with bitterness, soul begins to die, and the spirit is gone. "Oh God, I am so sorry." The words are barely audible as my being slips into a dark cold nothingness. "Sorry?" The hot breath in the place my spirit once lived. "Ha, you are sorry! When were you ever sorry you pompous, little weasel of a creature! You conceited, self-righteous imbecilic sack of flesh!" My mouth cannot move to answer, my throat closed with a slimy foulness of retched bile. I have lost, I have lost.
Bud Gilham was born in the small coastal community of Powell River in western Canada. As a young man he joined the Canadian Armed Forces and then worked in the forest industry. After completing his university education, he worked several jobs including counseling, teaching and sales. He currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia and teaches English as a second language.
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