As I write this, July is just around the corner. Since my last post, we have spent time in the mountains west of town and a few most enjoyable days with an old friend in the Wyoming and South Dakota Black Hills.

 

Writing

As always, I find myself writing new material when I should be finishing the editing process on several other works. Oh, well! I'm enjoying it. Most of my writing  I now do on the deck during the day. Nothing beats sitting outside and enjoying nature and the sounds of a small town when I am creating – or, as I am now, drinking iced tea and eating a muffin.

Since my last post, I have written about 2,000 words (new words,  not edited rewrites). I consider that not too bad, considering the amount of running we have been doing.

 

Is Writing Hard?

That was a question once asked by a fifth grader. My answer – "No, not if you have something you are passionate about, then it can seem easy."

So many young or beginning writers attempt to write for the market. Find the best-selling genre and write like the top pros. That is a bad idea in so many ways. Write what you want and about what you want – happiness, not cash. If you are great and the book is terrific, success and money will find you.

 

Book Sales

I have not done anything other than what I always do, advertising-wise, but for some reason, my book sales are pretty brisk, at least for me. Thanks, everyone!

 

Health Update

I did show up for my six months after the surgery appointment. Exrays show significant new bone growth from C3 to C7 – that's good. The new bone helps tighten all the new titanium and makes my neck more stable and safe. I can start playing golf again in three months, although I can hit half shots now. That will be a nice milestone.

 

 

Writing Quote of the Day

All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There has been nothing as good since."

Ernest Hemingway

 

Today's Photos are from our trip to the Black Hills  Lots of forest road travel – lovely!

170 Year Old - A Christmas Carol - The Story

 In the past few weeks I have watched all or parts of several versions of the Charles Dickens story, “A Christmas Carol.”  Some newer movies kept the Dickens title and others have been renamed, Scrooge or Scrooged along with many other names that relate to the original story. Dozens of other short stories, books, television programs and movies are loosely based on the Dickens tale.

Dickens wrote the story as a commentary on greed in Britain at the time. His character Ebenezer Scrooge, became one of the most well know names in all of literature because of the story and likely because he was such an uncaring person throughout the first part of the story and changes as his life is revealed to him.

Dickens wrote the 80 page novella fairly fast, starting in September and finishing six weeks later in early December. Publishing it 170 years ago today- December 19, 1843 it became an instant success. The only problem was that Dickens needed money and hoped to make much more on the book than he did.

Dickens, “The Christmas Carol.” Has been continuously in print for 170 years and still sells well, especially around Christmas, throughout England, America and numerous other countries around the world.

Merry Christmas! 

Corner of Our Family Room