✍🏻 To Kill a Fox

A quick note on the abandoned artist name James "Fox" Higgins

I took on the Fox monicker in 2009. My then-wife gave it to me. It became the totem animal of our marriage and I took it on for good luck in my artistic life. That marriage ended in 2023 and I find myself unable to continue using the name for reasons so personal I will have to leave them to your imagination.

But what about the activities of The Artist and Over-Thinker Formerly Known As James Fox Higgins? I hear you ask. First, I will refer you to the about me page, in particular the past interests section. If you a find a favourite topic I used to talk about listed there, you might be disappointed to learn that I will no longer be going there on this SubStack or anywhere else. A man can only do so much, and I’ve learned the hard way which channels are healthy and unhealthy for direction of my energies.

It does behove me to offer a small statement on the key areas that would be of interest to former James Fox Higgins Show listeners and former Champions of the Light.

Politics

I still have political views. And I still have multiple perspectives in dissonance because there’s so much I don’t know that I can’t in all humility be sure of much out there. Other than this: the discussion of politics on the internet cost my personal and spiritual life far too much for me to want to do that again.

I am not called to be a political activist, and I am still a student of life and history, so my views are constantly developing and refining. I invite you to enjoy the political intrigue of my book series The Ghosts of Men, into which I synthesise all of my observations and learning about various political perspectives and pressures in the world. There you can enjoy something more meaningful and thought-provoking than me jabbering on camera about today’s news, which of course will be tomorrow’s litter-tray lining.

Advice for men

I stumbled into advice-giving as my following grew and as I sought the advice and insights of smart men in my interviews. I was trying to coach myself into being the man I wanted to be, and it was premature and unwise of me to try and present myself as any kind of teacher on the subject of manhood and how to be a father, husband etc. I am always eager to share what I learn with others, but it’s not enough to understand a concept to be able to teach it with authority. True teachers live what they preach. I’m still figuring fatherhood out, and my marriage collapsed, so… 🤷🏻‍♂️

So my last bit of advice is this: live truthfully, to yourself and to those you love, and speak your heart often.

And if you catch me giving advice again, give me a virtual slap! You can glean profounder lessons from my fiction and songs, I hope.

Preaching my faith

I thought I was being called to ministry and mission work, but God had other plans. I still believe, I’m still a Christian who trusts entirely (and leans more heavily upon that ever) my loving Creator, and my faith still informs and inspires my creative work. But this season is clearly a time for me to be developing my personal relationship with God and practicing the daily walk of life in Christ. I am not seeking to speak exclusively to Christians with my art. I seek all curious minds, whatever your faith, or lack of it. I started out writing these books and songs as an atheist - perhaps you’ll enjoy the journey my characters and melodies take with me over time to faith. But as to my personal faith and the preaching of my beliefs; it will be limited to songs and stories only. No essays, sermons, biblical analysis, or talk shows about faith here from me. My personal walk with the Lord will be a private matter.

In closing

I’m here to be real as an artist, crafting and presenting under my real name, offering all my work. I’m focussing my energy on the crafts and abilities that are of most value to others and most salubrious passions of mine. Primarily, that is my music and my books. I’ll miss some aspects of those other endeavours, but not enough to take them up again. I hope you’ll stick around and enjoy James Alexander Higgins; the real deal. Me and my work!