Friday Feature: @xNRx
So it seems that you do keep wanting them, so we’ll keep posting them.
This week we speak to a Proser we really feel that you should be reading and talking to as his work is AWESOME. He’s also very nice and was thankful to be asked to answer our questions. The person under the spotlight this week is Nick Reyes who you can find on Prose under the username: @xNRx
He describes himself in three words as: “Humble. Quiet. Loyal.”
Nick lives in a small town that goes by the name of Paso Robles, which is on the central coast of California. He explains that they are about 3 1/2 hours of San Francisco and 3 1/2 hours north of Los Angeles. “It's a beautiful area and we are known for our wine...so I'm told...but I drink beer.“
Prose jumps straight in and asks what it is that Nick does: “I am actually a Personal Trainer. I've been a personal trainer for close to two years. Before that I spent 8 years in the military and got out in 2013.”
As we do with everyone, we ask Nick what his relationship is with writing. He explains: “My relationship with writing is a very intimate one. I am not one to offer up my emotions and discuss them. I consider myself to be an introvert in every way, and I've been like this for as long as I could remember. I want to say I started writing when I was in high school, which was actually 10 years ago. Lol, I never believed I was any good, but I enjoyed being able to express myself without having to openly discuss with another person. Everything I write is influenced and reflects something in my life that has happened or an emotion I'm feeling at the time. A lot of my writing tends to take a darker tone, especially in my most recent work. And to be quite honest, everything I have written would still be sitting in some notebook somewhere...buried in a stack of books, or a box, or in a drawer...if it wasn't for PROSE! I haven't looked back since.”
We dig deeper and probe him about what value reading adds to his life: “Oh man...that's an excellent question. I don't read as much as I would like BECAUSE life tends to get in the way of all that. I'll admit though that I have grown to appreciate reading so much more now. There's something about reading a piece of poetry or literature and you feel that the author was writing about your life. Not to mention, it makes you have to slow down and live in the moment.”
Prose asks how his work has reflected his life of late and what should we expect coming up. He fills us in: “So far a lot of my work has reflected my life the last 3 years. I've experienced a lot of loss in those 3 years. I went through a divorce...I lost a child...lost a few friends and family members...Fell out of love...fell in love...I've been through EVERYTHING in these past 3 years. As for what you can expect? Time will tell...but I'm excited to be able to share it with everyone on Prose.”
Wow. That sounds like some tough times have been endured. We hope it’s all now on the up for Nick. What has he and does he love about Prose? He waxes lyrically: “Everything. So far I love everything about Prose. And I'm really not saying that, just to say it. Everyone on Prose is absolutely amazing. It's not like Facebook or other social media platforms where, in my opinion, you find a lot of superficial and meaningless things. Everything on Prose is genuine. It's awesome.”
We like to know if Prosers have a certain book they’d like us all to read before we get put in the ground or go up in smoke: “I don't have anything in particular I'd say you must read. Read everything. Everything and anything that interests you. That'd be my suggestion. I know that is a pretty generic answer.”
And on his unsung heroes, if any: “As of late I have really enjoyed reading pieces by Beau Taplin. As I said before, I have read so many of his pieces and thought, "Holy shit this guy has been following me."”
We ask what quote sums him up. He has one. This one: "Everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear. I live by this.” Prose loves that one too, Nick.
We probe him as to whether he plumps for any music in particular when reading or writing. “My mood determines the music I listen to when I write. And I listen to everything! After the Burial, Thrice, Brand New, Angus & Julia Stone, Keaton Henson, Ben Howard, The XX....those are just a few.”
When the Prose Time Machine lands in the grim future without books, Nick opts out: “I'd probably be too shy say anything.”
Upon being asked if he has any Indie Bookstores local to him that he’d like to champion, he replies: “Unfortunately we don't. We do have a sweet coffee shop named Spearhead Coffee, that totally has that Prose vibe to it.”
Sounds like a cool place to grab a cup of Joe. We ask him if there are any other things he’d like to share with fellow Prosers about himself or any social media accounts: “You can find me on Instagram if you're interested enough. Just look for: xnickreyesx”
Thanks to Nick for his great answers and candour. Please find him and follow him. He’s another good one that makes Prose what it is. Check him out as @xNRx
If you are an active Proser who wants to get in on the action, or know someone you'd like to see in a future Friday Feature, let us know at info@theprose.com