The Man Behind the Masks: A Story of Transformation From…

…Aiden Jasper and Nevada Bird

Ever heard of Aiden Jasper and Nevada Bird? They’re both authors, each with a distinct voice. Aiden Jasper weaves tales of fiction, while Nevada Bird crafts insightful non-fiction. But here’s a secret: they’re the same person. I am Michael Yong, the founder, and the man behind both names.

Who am I? For a long time, I felt like nobody. Life has a funny way of changing you, sometimes in ways you never expect. My story begins a month before the world changed with the pandemic. I left my job, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing. Then, a year later, life threw another curveball. My partner’s health began to decline, and suddenly, I found myself in a completely new role: caregiver.

Imagine going from carefree to caregiver overnight. No training, no manual, just the overwhelming responsibility of caring for the person I love most. I was a spoiled brat turned caregiver. It was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim. I wasn’t prepared. There were no classes on how to handle this, no expert advice readily available. I had to learn on the fly. Each day, each challenge, became a lesson. Every small incident, every unexpected turn, forced me to adapt, to learn, to grow. It was a trial by fire, a journey of constant learning and adjustment. This is my story of transformation, a story that began with two pen names and became a testament to the power of resilience and love.

I wasn’t prepared. There was no grand plan, no foresight. It was a process of reacting, of learning on the fly. Take, for example, the times he’d lose his balance and fall on the carpet. Each fall was a jolt, a stark reminder. It wasn’t until after several of these incidents that the realization hit me: he needed a walker. The same went for the bathtub. It wasn’t until I saw him struggle, unable to get in, that I understood the urgency of installing grab bars. I was slow, too slow, in recognizing these needs. I was so busy being a spoiled brat turned caregiver.

The quiet moments were the hardest. The weight of the situation would settle in, and tears would well up, almost every day and night. My partner passed away a few days before Christmas in 2022. But if I’m honest, the worry, the tears, started long before that. They began in 2006. Why? Because I loved him. Watching him grow older, seeing his health decline, filled me with a deep, gnawing insecurity. I knew, deep down, that someday he would leave me. And even now, long after he’s gone, the grief still comes in waves. It’s a constant ache, a reminder of the love I had, and the loss I now carry.

But even amidst the love and care, a nagging voice whispered doubts in my ear. Did I do enough? Could I have done more? The weight of guilt and regret pressed down on me, a heavy blanket suffocating me, stealing my breath. I knew I needed to find a way to cope, to process these feelings. I had to do something.

And so, this self-help guide was born, forged in the fires of remorse, a tribute to the man I loved. If it ever sees the light of day, this book, my first, will be dedicated to him. For eight months after he passed, I was lost. I threw myself into DIY projects. Wallpaper, floor stickers—I became obsessed. Those stickers were a fascination. I covered the kitchen and living room tables with them, and even used them on the cracked laminate floor, a temporary fix to hide the damage. The bathroom, too, became a canvas for my sticker art. Anything, anything at all, to keep my mind occupied, to distract myself from the gaping hole his absence had carved in my life.

Then, slowly, I began to explore. Online courses in publishing, affiliate marketing…and then, I discovered writing. It became a lifeline, a new passion, a way to channel my grief, to heal. But the road to publication has been anything but smooth. I envisioned this book being finished by now, a tangible testament to my love and learning. Instead, every turn I take seems to lead to another obstacle. The journey has been challenging, to say the least.

My life felt fractured, a puzzle with missing pieces, a circle that could never quite close. And as if the universe was determined to test me, a string of misfortunes followed. My savings were disappearing fast, leaving me scrambling for any way to stay afloat, to keep my head above the rising waters of financial panic.

Then, I saw it: an online ad promising the dream of working from home. Desperate, I took the bait, only to discover I’d been tricked. It was a sham, a fake company hiding behind a familiar, trusted name. The job seemed simple enough: write product reviews and earn commissions. But the recruiter conveniently left out one crucial detail: the commissions were paid in cryptocurrency, a fact that only came to light after I’d already signed on.

The situation quickly spiraled into the absurd. The more I “reviewed,” the more I had to spend. It made no sense. Why would I pay for products I was supposed to be evaluating? The truth soon became clear: this wasn’t about reviews at all. A positive review meant I was obligated to buy the product. And not just one, but multiple, bundled together! With each passing day, I found myself sinking deeper into this strange and deceitful trap.

In my naiveté and anxiety, I felt lost, unsure of what to do. I blindly followed the instructions of my “trainer,” who repeatedly assured me that every penny I spent would be returned, along with bonuses and commissions. Desperate for money, I didn’t question it. I kept making deposits, shuffling funds from one account to another, until my entire savings were gone. Then, when it was time to collect my earnings, I hit a wall. My unfamiliarity with cryptocurrency transactions left me stranded. My trainer vanished, and a few days later, the company’s website disappeared with her.

I was too ashamed and confused to report the scam to the bank or the police. I didn’t even know how to explain what had happened. Weeks later, I lost access to my online banking. My survivor’s pension was deposited into that account, and I was completely cut off. After five years of near-isolation at home, the thought of facing a bank manager to explain my situation was overwhelming. I was lost, adrift, still struggling to find a way to earn a living online.

My partner had been my anchor, the head of our household. He took care of everything, shielding me from the worries of the world. I didn’t have to think about finances or responsibilities; he handled it all. And don’t get me wrong, I contributed too. I managed the household chores—the dishes, laundry, and cleaning—the tasks he disliked. We were a team, each playing our part.

Here’s a little secret: sometimes, my partner could create a monumental mess in the kitchen. His cooking routine was a spectacle in itself. First, the CNN news had to be on, blaring from the TV. Then, he’d relax into a comfortable stance, humming a tune, maybe even doing a little dance as he cooked. Picture this: sauce dripping from the frying pan, a trail of culinary chaos in his wake. He was always creating something, a culinary masterpiece in his own mind. I’d watch him, a smile playing on my lips, wondering what delicious disaster he was about to conjure up. I guess I still had a role to play, cleaning up after him. I had no idea how incredibly lucky I was to have him then.

Everything is so different now. I grew up in Malaysia, surrounded by family. Then, in 2001, I moved to Canada to be with my partner. For 47 years, I’d never lived on my own. Now, my savings are gone, and I’m relying on credit cards to survive. Despair overwhelmed me, plunging me into a dark abyss. I even tried to end my life, twice. Luckily, I didn’t succeed. Both times, I took too few sleeping pills. I just felt dizzy and sleepy for four days and nights, then I was back, as if I’d returned from another planet. Somehow, miraculously, I’m still here.

A dear friend, deeply worried about me, understood the pain of loneliness and grief. He’d walked a similar path, having lost someone close to him. He offered a practical suggestion for my financial woes: renting out the master bedroom. I hesitated. The thought of sharing our space, our sanctuary, felt wrong. But after careful consideration, the stark reality of my financial situation sank in. I desperately needed extra income, and I needed it now.

Taking that first step, preparing the room for a stranger, was the hardest thing I’d done. It was a time capsule of our life together, untouched since he was here. Packing up his belongings felt like erasing pieces of our shared history. This room held so many happy memories. Every piece of furniture, every object, seemed to whisper stories of our time together. Each item I moved, each space I cleared, felt like another small death, another piece of him I was losing. I’m a sentimental man, I admit it, and the emotional weight of it all was almost unbearable.

So, I began to map out my new path, my first real career. I developed a business model, did my research, and returned to an old love: writing. In January 2024, I picked up my book project again. For months, I’d been consumed by guilt, replaying my time as a caregiver, wondering what I could have done differently, how I could have been better.

Every article I read, every piece of advice I found, felt like a judgment, a reminder of the things I hadn’t done. Each word I wrote for the book was tinged with pain, a reflection of my regrets. I think that’s why the book was taking so long. Whenever I hit a writer’s block, I’d distract myself with other projects. I started writing scripts for my YouTube channel, crafting social media posts, designing my website, and even handling the marketing and promotion for my upcoming book release. Anything to keep busy, anything to avoid confronting the pain that fueled my writing, and anything to help me get my book out to the world.

I’ll be honest, without the help of AI tools like OpenAI’s Chat GPT and Gemini, publishing a book in English would have remained just a dream. English is my second language, and this book is truly me, raw and unfiltered, written in my own words. Though, I did use AI for a final grammar check.

I also dabbled in affiliate marketing for six months, but it was a dead end. No sales, no commissions. So, I’ve put that on hold until I finish the book. Right now, all my energy is focused on writing, specifically fiction. I love crafting short stories, letting my imagination run wild, without worrying about market trends or demand. I know it’s probably not the smartest business move, but it’s pure enjoyment, a hobby I desperately need right now.

By the end of 2024, I finally achieved something, something I’m incredibly proud of. I call it “Project One: My Writing Experience As Self-Publishing on KDP.” The fruits of my labor are two books: Nevada Bird’s “Love and Caregiving for LGBTQ+ Couples in an Age-Gap Relationship” and Aiden Jasper’s “A Gay White Christmas Tale” series, which includes “Whispers of the Frosted Pines,” “Laughter Against the Snowflakes,” and “Frostbound Spirits and Alien Hearts.” They’re all available on Amazon, both as ebooks and paperbacks.

Great news! Join our club and receive two free gifts: an e-flipbook copy of Nevada Bird’s “Love and Caregiving” and an ebook copy of Aiden Jasper’s “Whispers of the Frosted Pines”! But hurry, this offer is only valid until Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025.

Missed the free offer? No worries! Sign up after February 14th for our newsletter and stay updated on “Project Two: My Real ‘Live’ Work-From-Home Experience.” I’m giving affiliate marketing another shot so I took a full course in December 2024. I only finished a few lessons before pausing to focus on book promotion and revamping my business plan. I plan to resume my studies in March. “Project Two” will document my journey as a Learner-in-Progress in the world of affiliate marketing. I’m determined to make it work! And, of course, I’ll continue writing both fiction and non-fiction along the way.

Stay tuned for updates on Facebook and Instagram! Club members will get exclusive early access to my new book releases, before they’re even available on Amazon Kindle. Whether you loved the book or not, your feedback and reviews on Amazon are invaluable.

Thank you for your incredible support by purchasing my books on Amazon and Kindle. As my beloved partner used to say, “Thanks a million!”