Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Well, it's here. That magical time of year when everyone seems to be a bit nicer. People hold doors for you, smile and say "Merry Christmas," or "Happy holidays." It makes you wonder why people can't be so nice all the time. After all, it really doesn't take too much effort. Ah well, I'll enjoy it while it lasts, and I'll try to remember to keep my end of the friendly deal up during the coming year!

Here's a favorite from my youth--Bing Crosby & David Bowie singing The Little Drummer Boy (Peace on Earth). Amen to that!



Anyhow, I'm done with work for an entire week (won't think about what will be waiting for me when I get back). Now it's time to relax. The in laws are coming for Christmas Eve, and we're going over to my parents' on Christmas day. Then, the kids stay at my parents' house for a few days, and Stephanie and I get some alone time. Yay! That means a trip to New York to climb the Empire State Building (47 years and I've never been inside the darn thing), and celebrating Stephanie's mother's birthday on the 27th.

I'm also looking forward to getting some major writing done on the second book. I've finished the first two chapters, started the third, and outlined the third, fourth and fifth chapters so far. The way is clear to make some major progress! I'll let you know how I make out.

Finally, I'd like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas/holiday, and a safe, happy, healthy 2012! Thank you all so much for your support and interest in the months since I started this blog and launched the book. Without you, I wouldn't have been half as successful as I've been.

I'll leave you with the ending of a great film, It's a Wonderful Life. I think Clarence's note to George sums it all up. Enjoy!



A Very Productive Weekend

Hello, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! The extended Thanksgiving weekend turned out to be a quite successful one for me. First off, I was able to sit down with my family for some great food and conversation. Then, I sat down with Kate Endria for an in depth interview. She gave us fascinating details about her life growing up and the history of her village, Calendria.

Then, I heard from two local papers that I had sent press releases and books to. They're going to interview me for articles that will appear December. I received a list of questions from one this morning. So that's some nice publicity. It will be nice to get the word out.

The thing that I'm happiest about, however, does not involve the current book. I began work on the next book in the Deliverers series. In fact, I didn't just begin, I wrote the first two and a half chapters! Now, for me to do that in a couple of days is just spectacular.

It was a great feeling to have the words flow so easily. Plot situations revised or fixed themselves easily, like right after I put the original thought down. So far, it seems to be a lot easier the second time around. We'll see if that continues. I'm hoping that it does. I'll keep you posted.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

 My nine year old son would never read more than a few chapters of my book before it was published. Now, I know what you're thinking. That's hardly a ringing endorsement. You're right, and it used to bug the heck out of me.

I took to pestering him, "Don't you want to finish daddy's book? Don't you like it? Please read some more." I bothered him so much that I began to wonder who the child was, him or me. Insecurity can be a powerful thing.

I'd wonder, hey, if my own child won't read the blooming thing, what child will? Finally, I came right out and asked him why he wouldn't read it.

"Because," he said, "you just want to be famous."

That brought me up short and made me think. Was that true? Well, of course I'd like kids all over the world to read my book and to enjoy it. If that were to happen, then I guess there would be a certain amount of fame involved. But is that why I write, to be famous?

I know some writers who are almost compelled to write. They're not happy unless they're writing. That always kind of bothered me, because I am not compelled to write constantly. Now, once I start writing, it's a different story. Once I start, the compulsion kicks in.

But, if I don't start, I don't have the compulsion. And too often, I don't start--too many things get in the way. I think that it's not that I don't have the passion to write, it's just that I'm a lazy writer.

Take for example my second book. No it's not written yet. I've been kicking around an idea all summer, but I hadn't nailed anything down. I let things get in the way--the artwork and layout for the first book, our summer vacation, stuff at work, my Lions Club.

This past weekend, I sat down and finally ironed it out. Well, I ironed most of it out. Now, I can start writing this weekend, and we'll be on our way. Because once I get down to writing, the compulsion will kick in and there will be no stopping. No worries!

And, I shouldn't have been worried about my son. As soon as I got the proof copy, he sat down and read the book in a couple of days. He loved it. I guess his comment was just an excuse because my manuscript wasn't a book to him. But he made me examine why I write--and why I don't. And that's a good thing.