Book signings planned for Nov. 23, Dec. 7 at McDonald’s locations
A.J. Sims is known by many area residents as the friendly face in the McDonald’s drive-thru window, taking their orders and providing their beverages and food orders, brightening their days with an ear-to-ear smile, whether the weather is serving up sunshine, rain or snow.
The employee of Scott Family McDonald’s has enjoyed assisting customers and working as a crew member for the past 12 years, first at the north Bellefontaine location, 1127 N. Main St., for a number of years, and more recently at the south Bellefontaine location at 1780 S. Main St.
What many customers might not know is that A.J. is a published author of a family-friendly science fiction and fantasy series. He always keeps a notebook in his back pocket, which he pulls out during his breaks at McDonald’s and his downtime outside of work to write down a plethora of ideas, outlines and narratives for his next piece.
His friends, family and local customers all influence the development of his characters in the stories and the plot lines, the 32-year-old noted earlier this month.
“I am the sum of everyone I meet. I always believe that someone knows something that I don’t. Every single person has an idea or a spark that makes me say, ‘I didn’t know that or I hadn’t thought about it that way,’” he said.
“I enjoy my job because I get to interact with so many different people each day.”
During October 2019, the 2011 Ohio Virtual Academy graduate published his first book in his series, The Stanford Universes, titled “The Warrior’s Code”. Then just last month, he published the second book in the series, “A Warrior’s Code II: Displaced in the Shadows.” Both books are available on Amazon.com.
This weekend, A.J. takes a break from his usual duties at the drive-thru window to host a book signing at the north Bellefontaine McDonald’s location from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, with copies of the books available for sale as well.
Then Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to noon, A.J. also stages a book signing at the south McDonald’s location.
The author, who loves C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia and The Screwtape Letters, along with Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal, related that journaling and writing his stories also is mentally soothing, helping to calm his anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
He said the first book in his series started as a short story, originally written about 14-15 years ago while he was in high school. However, A.J. found that the characters “had a much bigger story to tell” so he set to work on this book.
Throughout the writing process, he collaborated and gathered ideas with his sister, Rebecca Snyder of Toledo, during early morning coffee meet-ups, along with virtual meetings with his friend and fellow author Jenn Williams of New York, whom he met through Bible college.
After penning outlines and then a draft of the stories in his notebooks, A.J. said he sat down to type his second draft, and his father Anthony E. Sims lended much appreciated assistance in the editing process of both books.
In the world of the Warrior’s Code, geared for ages preteen and older, elves live in tribes based on their color, from red to green and yellow. The reader is soon introduced to one of the main characters, Aldrin, the Last of the Green Elves.
“Aldrin is on a quest to save his tribe. They have all been wiped out and he wants to rescue them,” A.J. explained. “Along the way, he meets Zachtia, a Red Elf, and they become friends. Each tribe generally are enemies.”
Aldrin does an act of kindness by rescuing Zachtia, the pregnant wife of the Red Elf Dairlo, from a Purple Elf attack, and promises to escort her to her home.
The duo embark on this journey together and also meet new friends, like brave Endia of the cowardly Yellow tribe, and new enemies, such as Barin I’har, the brattish son of a nobleman. They also gain “a new outlook on life and its strangeness,” A.J. said.
“Jails, mines, labyrinths and time rifts all test the elves and bring them closer together, helping them realize that, to survive on this journey that began with a promise, they must work together and blend their unique ways of thinking and abilities. A testament to the fact that all are unique, and all can learn something new from the other.”
Two years ago, A.J. started the second book for his Stanford Universes series. “A Warrior’s Code II: Displaced in the Shadows” takes place a day after the first book ends. It is a tale of love, loss, and the enduring strength of the warrior’s spirit.
The story again follows Aldrin, who is haunted by the ruins of his past and driven by a need to protect those he loves. Alongside Endia, they form a bond forged in the fires of battle, but their journey is far from over. Summoned by Gardener to Council City, they uncover secrets that could change the fate of their world forever.
As Aldrin and Endia navigate the treacherous corridors of Council Towers, they encounter powerful allies and sinister forces. The discovery of a dying Accat Stone—a mystical source of the city’s protection—thrusts them into a mission that will test their courage, loyalty and the strength of their hearts.
His father called the books, “captivating” and related that those who might not naturally gravitate toward science fiction or fantasy novels are pulled along by the engaging plot lines and characters of A Warrior’s Code I and II.
A.J. is excited to conduct the local book signings and encouraged others to pursue their writing goals and other dreams.
“Always be fascinated and always be curious,” he said.