Name: Terrill Maldonado

Select your age bracket: 35-40

Desired age of pen pal: I’m not picky. Age is relative and you’re only as old as you feel.

Vocation: Business owner and part-time paramedic. I own a chain of music stores and instrument repair shops. I also work as a volunteer paramedic for the Aurora Skies EMS.

How many pen pals would you like? 1-2

What qualities do you desire in a pen pal? This gave me a lot to think about. I’m always up for new friendships, really. I’m an introvert who has learned to be more outgoing over the years. I guess I’m looking for a friend to help with the loneliness or someone I can talk to about the hard knocks of life. See, Betsy, my first wife, died of cancer a few years ago and I was beside myself with grief. Once I got a bit more grounded, I went on a reality TV dating show, of all things, and hoped to win the Golden Lady. I came in third but the Golden Lady who happens to be Lenora Landgraab is definitely a gem. She’s with a good man now and we’ve remained good friends.

I wasn’t heartbroken or anything beause I was smart enough to realize we didn’t have the spark. The friendship with her and her family has been great and all, but I’m looking for something more. It’s not been easy though. The lady I’m in love with has been through pure hell and sometines I’m at a loss as to how to help her. She’s a packaged deal since she has a little boy but that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. He’s a cute little kid, so what’s not to love, right?

I realize it’s a long-winded way of saying I’d enjoy having a pen pal who’s been there, ya know? Someone with true grit.

Would you like to meet your pen pal face-to-face? Sure, why not! I’ve got a spare bedroom if my pen pal is male, and Aurora Skies is a nice place to visit. I’m also game to travel, so either way works for me.

Describe yourself in a few sentences: As stated above, I’m a widower but pursuing a relationsip with a terrific lady. I’m a low-key kind of guy who rolls with the punches most of the time. My ire can occasionally be raised given the right kind of situation for it. I’m a bit of a workaholic. Until I met the lady I’m in love with, there was no one to come home to, so it was easier just to put in the long hours to keep my mind off of things. I’m pursuing the idea of writing a thriller novel but am unsure if that’ll ever get off the ground. I enjoy reading, but actually writing a book is an entirely different animal.

Hobbies & Interests: I guess I’m what the school kids would call a dork. I was a band nerd, having played the trumpet and other stuff. I picked up guitar as a teenager and like to play and warble those classic rock tunes. You know, like the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Elvis is okay but let’s talk grit, shall we? The Stones is where it’s at. I sorta had this fantasy of being the next Mick Jagger but then I grew up and realized I didn’t have the chops for that kind of life nor the talent necessary. I still enjoyed music though, so I opened my own small music store and repair shop. It grew from there and now I do quite well.

I enjoy reading a good book, mainly mysteries and thrillers. I’m a big fan of Dean Koontz and have been known to read the occasional Stephen King novel. I like tinkering around with stuff and learning about how stuff works. I’m a collector of fountain pens, vintage and modern, Along with that comes ink and nice quality paper to put it to good use. I like traveling to the different pen shows and adding to my ever growing collection. My goal is to drum up enough interest to start a pen club in Aurora Skies.

I’m all for a good healthy dose of exercise. In this day and age, people often suffer from a lack of movement, A good workout is refreshing for both the body and the soul.

Author’s Note: Terrill can be seen in my story As Tears Go By, which you can find under the “Other Works by Me” section on this blog. We’ll be getting to know Terrill a lot more through his letters as well as in the story. I’d wanted to work in my love of fountain pens in my stories somewhere and I think Terrill will make a good start. You’ll occasionally see pictures of pens, which most being are in my collection.