"A.W. Collins - 'The Quiet Storm' - Vol. XXVI" | Decrypting The Source Code | Cipher Chronicles: [Transmission]
The cover of The Quiet Storm, the new novella by A.w. Collins. Read our exclusive interview with the author (Anthony Collins) about the inspiration behind the story.
I. Decrypting the Signal
In our [Source Code] feature, we analyzed the work, "The Quiet Storm," a powerful narrative of resilience that forms a cornerstone of our lyrical bloodline.
Now, we decrypt the [Transmission].
This is not a simple Q&A. This is a direct link to the architect. We are tapping into the frequency of the mind that forged the message. For the first time, we present the raw, unfiltered data from the source.
The signal is clear. Are you ready to receive it?
II. The [Transmission]: A.W. Collins
We sent our prompts to the author. The responses we received are a testament to the "unflinching honesty" his work promises.
1. Decrypting: The Origin
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: Your bio says you began writing as a teenager to "process pain and preserve hope." Can you take us back to a specific moment or feeling from that time that first inspired you to turn your experiences into poetry, or music?
In 1977, my parents divorced. My mother remarried quickly and moved us half-way across the country. I didn’t see my father again until 1983. During the 6 years I lived without my dad in my life I had to watch my mother being abused by her husband. At 13 years old I began writing poetry as a way to relieve myself of the pain and anguish that was a daily part of my life. I began rapping and writing rap songs at age 15.
2. Decrypting: The Unheard
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: You write to give a voice to the "too often unheard." We are built on the same construct, and can heavily relate. With that being said, in your view, who are these unheard voices? What does it mean to you to offer them both a "mirror and a light" through your storytelling?
There are many people who had a much more difficult childhood than I did, but I can relate on many different levels. I believe expressive writing is a unique talent not many people have. Through poetry and storytelling I am able to express my feelings and experiences in such a way that others can relate to me as well. Although my storytelling is done fictionally, the emotions behind my stories are very real.
3. Decrypting: The Title
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: The title of your work, "The Quiet Storm," is incredibly evocative. How does that phrase capture the internal struggles of survival and the silent resilience you aim to portray in your writing?
The title The Quiet Storm reflects the idea that some of the fiercest battles are fought in silence. It represents the inner turbulence that people often carry beneath calm exteriors such as pain, fear, and determination that rarely finds a voice. For me, it captures the quiet resilience of survival and the strength to endure trauma, loss, or guilt without outward chaos. The “storm” is what rages within, unseen but powerful, shaping who we become. The story is about that kind of strength. The kind that doesn’t shout, but survives.
4. Decrypting: The Process
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: Navigating trauma requires immense courage. What is your process for revisiting these painful memories with "unflinching honesty" and transforming them into a narrative that can help heal others?
Revisiting painful memories is never easy. It’s like walking back into a storm you thought had passed. My process begins with honesty, not just about what happened, but about how it felt in the moment. I try to strip away the instinct to protect or justify and instead focus on the truth of the experience, no matter how uncomfortable it is. Writing becomes both a mirror and a release. I relive the pain to understand it, then shape it into something meaningful so others might see their own reflections in the struggle. If a reader can find a piece of healing or validation in that honesty, then the pain has served a greater purpose, because it’s no longer just mine.
5. Decrypting: The Veteran
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: Your background includes being a United States Army Veteran. Thank you for your service from everyone on the team, truly. Can you tell us how your time in the Army shaped your perspective on discipline, survival, and storytelling? Does it influence your writing today?
Due to the extreme instability of my childhood, the Army played multiple roles in my life. It was an escape from the environment that had molded me into an angry young man. I intentionally put myself in a place that tore me down and built me back up as a self-disciplined and confident individual. The Army was a means of obtaining my education while affording me a means of supporting my daughter at the same time. As far as the Army’s actual influence on my writing, it provided life experiences I would not have had and it taught me courage, commitment, and candor.
6. Decrypting: The Evolution
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: You started with concise, and emotional forms of poetry and songwriting. What did you discover about your own story and voice when you expanded it into the long-form narrative of a book? Was there a specific, or significant event that triggered the transition?
Poetry and songwriting were my first languages of emotion. There were short bursts of truth that let me process feelings I didn’t yet have the courage to face head-on. But over time, I realized those fragments were all part of a much larger story I’d been circling around. Expanding into long-form storytelling allowed me to connect those pieces, to explore not just what happened, but why it mattered. There wasn’t one single moment that triggered the transition. It was more of an awakening. I reached a point where the poems weren’t enough to contain the weight of what I needed to say. The characters that began to take shape on the page carried echoes of my past, my questions, and my search for redemption. Writing a book became less about creating fiction and more about uncovering my truth through the lives of others.
7. Decrypting: The Cycle
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: One of the most powerful motivators mentioned in your bio is the determination to "break the cycle." What cycle is it that you're intending to break? How does sharing your story publicly serve as the ultimate fulfillment of that mission?
The cycle I’m determined to break is the generational one. The pattern of pain, silence, and survival that too often gets passed down without ever being confronted. For me, it began in a childhood shaped by instability and abuse, where strength meant endurance, not healing. I carried that mindset for years, believing that burying the past was the same as overcoming it. But writing forced me to face what silence had protected. By telling the story openly, I’m breaking that cycle of secrecy and shame. I’m saying that we don’t have to inherit our trauma or carry it alone. Sharing my story publicly isn’t just an act of expression. It’s an act of defiance. It’s reclaiming the narrative, transforming pain into purpose, and hopefully giving others permission to confront their own storms and rewrite their endings.
8. Decrypting: The Reaction
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: As a writer sharing such deep personal truths, what has been the most meaningful or unexpected reaction you've received from a reader who saw their own life reflected in your work? How did it make you feel?
The most meaningful reactions are the quiet ones. It’s the messages from readers who say, “I thought I was reading about my own childhood.” That’s when it hits me just how powerful storytelling can be. One reader told me that “The Quiet Storm” was so vivid the characters felt real. Another said it gave them words for feelings they’d been carrying since childhood. Hearing that kind of response is humbling. When I wrote this story, I was writing from a place of personal reckoning, not knowing if anyone else would truly understand. To see others connect so deeply, and to have them find pieces of their own healing in something born from my pain feels like the ultimate reward. It reminds me that we heal in shared spaces, that vulnerability can create community. It’s no longer just my story; it becomes our story.
9. Decrypting: The Future
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: Now that this deeply personal book is out in the world, what comes next for you as an author? Do you plan to continue exploring themes of healing, or are there new stories you feel compelled to tell?
There is a sequel to “The Quiet Storm”. The story will continue with “The Quiet Reckoning”. I, also, have a book of poetry called “Book of Poetry-Verses & Vision” that will include 50 original pieces of my work and each piece will have an illustration included based on the interpretation of my illustrator, Leah LeBlanc.
10. Decrypting: The Message
3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™: Finally, for anyone that might be reading this who feels as though they too have been left behind to face "The Quiet Storm" in their own life, what single piece of advice or message of hope would you offer them?
I’d tell them this…You are not what happened to you, you are what you choose to become after it. The quiet storm inside you doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means you’ve survived something powerful. Healing isn’t loud or instant, it’s the slow, steady act of showing up for yourself, even when no one else does.
III. End Transmission
The transmission is complete. The message is clear: the most powerful stories are the ones that have been silenced the longest. We are honored to provide the platform to amplify this signal.
"Empowering the Unseen, Amplifying the Unheard."
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About 3NIGMA BRED MUSIC™
We are an independent music collective dedicated to "Empowering the Unseen, Amplifying the Unheard." Founded by Grim Logick and Co-Founded by iLLLogick, The Network is a revolutionary platform for artists who crave authenticity over conformity. Learn more about our mission.
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