Subject of Interest:
The Empty Lot Next Door
May 15, 2024
SPOILER ALERT: This journal entry analyzes the contrasting approaches to physical confrontation between my brother Ricky and me and how these differences reflect deeper aspects of our characters and the world around us. If you're trying to avoid spoilers, it's advisable not to read further until you've finished reading The Empty Lot Next Door. Reading this journal entry may reveal important plot details that you'd rather discover on your own.
A significant difference in our responses to aggression is a recurrent theme in our story. Ricky, my older brother by 18 months, consistently chooses a path of non-violence, an admirable stance yet deeply troubling in many ways. I have observed numerous occasions where Ricky, faced with physical threats, refrained from fighting back. Whether it was Andre’s unrelenting attacks, Carlos's bullying, or the more frightening physical abuse by our older brothers, Dan and Felix, Ricky remained passive, stoically accepting whatever came his way.
Ricky’s commitment to non-retaliation, grounded in our religious upbringing and personal convictions, raises critical questions about the effectiveness of "turning the other cheek" in real-world scenarios. His approach, while peaceful, often left him vulnerable and, in many instances, only invited further aggression. It's a method preached widely, yet its practicality in the face of relentless bullying and abuse seems questionable.
Contrastingly, my approach evolved differently. Initially, I found myself paralyzed, unable to fight back against the terrifying supernatural forces I encountered, particularly Candle Face. But as the story progressed, a change occurred within me. The relentless bullying and violence that surrounded us, coupled with the reality of Ricky's suffering, sparked a realization that sometimes, self-defense is not just a right, but a necessity.
This realization came into focus during a confrontation outside my babysitter, Mrs. Hemenis' apartment, where, for the first time, I chose to retaliate physically against a bully. This moment marked a significant turning point, shedding light on the potential necessity of self-defense in certain situations.
The contrasting responses to bullying between Ricky and me are reflective of broader societal debates on how to handle such situations. While the prevailing teaching in many schools, where I have been invited to speak, advocates for a non-violent approach like Ricky's, my experiences and observations led me to believe this is not always the most effective strategy. In practice, not fighting back often results in continued, if not escalated, bullying. This stance is something I have passionately argued for during my presentations, only to be met with scolding and criticism from school personnel, leading to a lack of further invitations, even from the elementary school Ricky and I attended – Dawson Elementary School in Austin, TX.
The irony here is stark. While Ricky's approach aligns with current teachings, it did not prevent his suffering. In contrast, my evolving stance, which includes the option of physical self-defense, is often dismissed or condemned, despite its potential to deter bullies. This contradiction is a critical point of contention and highlights a significant gap in the current understanding and handling of bullying.
The story of Ricky and me is an emotional exploration of the complexities of dealing with aggression and bullying. Despite its noble intentions, Ricky's steadfast commitment to non-violence often left him more vulnerable. In the end, he took his own life. In contrast, my journey towards embracing self-defense as a viable option demonstrates the necessity of considering alternative approaches. These contrasting experiences underscore the need for a better understanding of bullying and the methods to combat it, one that recognizes the value of self-defense while upholding the principles of peace and non-violence.
Is Candle Face real?
This is a complex and deeply personal question. On the one hand, there's the possibility that Candle Face is a manifestation of my childhood trauma, a figure created by my mind to cope with fear and emotional turmoil. On the other hand, the consistent details, physical evidence, and shared experiences with others suggest that Candle Face may be a genuine supernatural entity. Whether Candle Face is real or a creation of my psyche, her impact on my life has been undeniably profound. Ultimately, the answer to this question is up to you.
How are you able to communicate with the dead? Are you a psychic or medium?
I don’t consider myself a psychic or medium, although many in the paranormal community believe I have some kind of gift, perhaps one that I haven’t fully tapped into yet. Unlike those who claim to communicate with any spirit, my ability seems limited to connecting with Candle Face’s victims and Candle Face herself. While I’m not sure how this works, the connection is strong and focused on these particular Lost Souls, allowing me to share their stories and seek justice for them.
Do you use AI to create your content?
From October 2023 to around March 2024, I personally wrote the short descriptions you see on Google and social media platforms when my web pages or journal entries are shared or found in search results. These descriptions are those brief, 160-character summaries that pop up beside the URL. It was challenging to condense complex ideas into such a small space.
By March 2024, I began letting Wix, my website host, handle this task for me. Their AI generates these summaries much faster and often with more precision than I could manage within that tight character limit. It was a practical decision to let the system take over this small aspect of my work, allowing me to focus more on my writing and investigations.
The web pages and journal entries themselves are entirely my own. My writing encompasses a wide range of topics, including the testimonies of the Lost Souls, my investigations into Candle Face/Isabel, my books like Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona and The Haunted Handbook, as well as other works and research. Everything I write is rooted in my decades of experience in writing (over ten books in 15 years) and my 30+ years of expertise in intelligence analysis, missing persons cases, and human trafficking investigations. The core content you read always comes from me.
By early March 2025, I decided to create a Shopify account to sell copies of Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona, The Haunted Handbook, and to look for caretakers for The Scrolls of Souls. It was a tremendous amount of work to manually transfer all 130 journal entries from Wix to Shopify and recreate the Google SEO titles and descriptions for each entry. Shopify’s blogging platform also required a summary for each journal entry. Summarizing my work was taking around 30 minutes per entry, which became overwhelming and unsustainable.
To streamline the process, I allowed AI to create the summaries for me by uploading each journal entry and letting the AI generate the SEO descriptions, summaries, and ALT text for images. Here's a clear breakdown of what is AI-generated:
- Some journal entry titles.
- Nearly all SEO journal descriptions (up to 160 characters).
- Nearly all summaries (which are only available in the backend and not visible to the public).
Everything else you read comes from me, whether it’s documenting testimonies from the Lost Souls, researching Candle Face/Isabel, or writing my books. The AI simply handles the tedious, mechanical parts of the process, leaving the writing, storytelling, and investigations entirely in my hands.
I review all AI-generated summaries and descriptions to ensure they accurately represent the essence of my writing. My decision to use AI for these backend tasks is about maintaining efficiency and allowing me to focus on what truly matters: writing, storytelling, investigations, and giving voice to the Lost Souls, protecting the Fugitives, investigating Candle Face/Isabel, and exploring new projects. Your experience as a reader is shaped by my work, not by AI.
Why did you end the podcast?
I decided to cancel the Candle Face Chronicles Podcast for two key reasons. First, while the Get Haunted Network is a fantastic community for paranormal entertainment, it wasn't the right fit for the serious and important nature of my work with Candle Face Chronicles. The network's lighthearted tone didn’t align with my mission.
Second, the friends and family of one of Candle Face's victims reached out and asked me to stop discussing their loved one on the podcast because it was causing them too much pain. Their request made me realize that my work, while well-intentioned, was unintentionally hurting those who are still living and grieving.
These reasons led me to end the podcast, but I remain committed to continuing my mission to uncover Candle Face’s origins and methods with a renewed focus on compassion and respect for the living.
Why did you stop using www.candleface.com and start using www.branchingplotbooks.com?
I have had the branchingplotbooks.com domain since 2012, but I transferred the domain to Shopify to use it as my storefront. I needed to do this because Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona can't be published or sold via Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing because of its spiral binding requirement. The same goes for The Haunted Handbook.
I decided to sell them, along with most of my other books, on Shopify because it allows me to provide a more streamlined and reliable experience for my readers. It also enables me to have full control over my work and how it reaches my audience. Additionally, all my books are still available on Amazon (paperback and Kindle), except for Isabel: The Forgotten Daughter of La Llorona and The Haunted Handbook due to their unique binding requirements.
I also chose to use Shopify’s blogging platform, keeping all books, my journal, and the shopping experience located in one place.
I plan on keeping www.candleface.com up for the interim, but it will likely go down as well, or at least be redirected to www.branchingplotbooks.com. In the end, I want my work to be more streamlined and easier for the paranormal community and my readers to find my work, read and help the lost souls, protect the fugitives, and care for the Scrolls of Souls.
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