Writer's Blues

8/13/10 - Friday the 13th and it's raining. How appropriate on the last day before my daughter has to leave for grad school. No time for moping of melancholy, though. In fact, it is precisely on days like this that I have to kick myself in the butt and move in a positive direction. Yes, I will miss my little girl, but she is embarking on an exciting adventure, and I should be excited for her, not sad for myself. Onward and upward.

And while we're looking forward, I want to respond to those of you who have e-mailed and written, asking if there will be a sequel to Condemned to Freedom. I have moved about 30,000 words in that direction, although sometimes it seems as though I'm working backwards--last year at this time, I had 40,000 words toward the sequel. I like to think I'm tightening up the work.

That's what I like to think, and it is true to an extent. But another part of the truth is that I haven't written in a couple months, and I also like to think I had several good excuses for not writing: There was Laura's graduation from Hamilton College in May, our van breaking down on the way home, helping Laura get ready and take off for an archaeological dig in Spain, Ethan's Little League season, the family's vacation in Martha's Vineyard, Little League All-Stars and two home run derbies, Brian's computer screen breaking and the adventure of getting that fixed without having to take out a second mortgage, shopping for a new car, remodeling our kitchen, helping Brian with his decision on a college major, bringing Laura home from Spain and helping her get ready for grad school, and remodeling our bathroom.

OK, are you buying it? Let me tell you this, the sequel has some of your favorite characters returning. It also has several new characters to torment Randori: an old custodian is given to malaprops and mystery, a powerful new school board member who wants to turn the district upside down, an egotistical state senator, and a dynamic new school district administrator. So, nine days from now, on Sunday August 22, all of my summer responsibilities and distractions will be gone, and I will once again be tapping away at the keys.

Enjoy the rest of your summer. I hope you are having as much fun as I am. --John

Burning by ...

Monday July 19, 2010 - Location: Hell!

Anyone who questions the reality of global warming should have spent the last month in Central PA. Oy-freakin'-vey, as my great friend Sandy Paul might say. I look out the window and think, my, how nice it looks, and then I go out and I'm hit with a a wave like Bilbo Baggins must have felt when old Smaug scorched his little hobbit butt.

I went to the track last Friday (I have to go to the track anymore; I need a soft surface and my knees don't like surprises, like rabbit holes and sharp stones) and was all set to move my body for an hour. Just as I was finishing up, an old friend joined me and asked me to walk with him. At the time, it was 1:00 in the afternoon, 94 degrees, but with the humidity it was pushing three digits. So, naturally, I said, "Sure!" with a broad grin that only an over-the-hill jock can muster when he doesn't want to show any sign of weakness. Forty-five minutes later, I was thinking, You know, enough with this whole 'death before dishonor' thing! In all, I went over six miles, lost 5 pounds of fluids, and when I started getting goose bumps, I had another thought: What an odd thing: I wonder if I'm dying.

So, here I am today, considering doing the same thing all over again. But then again, I'm safe here in my air-conditioned living room. I'm sure that if I stepped outside and caught a blast of that old dragon's breath I'd change my mind right quick. We'll see.

4th of July: Free as the Breeze

We had a high of 94 degrees today, and it took a welcome breeze to save me as I toiled over our new, old-fashioned charcoal grill (a little more work, but the flavor of charcoal grilled food can't be beat). It wasn't the new grill that thrilled me today, though. At first, it was just the sensual pleasure, feeling the light buffeting on my face and arms.

But then I looked across to my neighbor's home and saw his American flag flowing proudly, unfurled almost straight out in that breeze. And on this July 4th, I was reminded that it was people like my neighbor Bernie, my father-in-law Pete, and my father Vince--all World War II veterans--and my dear friend Paul Demcoe, a Vietnam vet who died way too young, and the thousands of other men and women who fought in the heat and the cold, in the rain and the snow, on all terrains and in the most adverse conditions.

All that sacrifice, just so we can feel free as the breeze.

Accuracy in Academia

Whenever I think about the journey I'm taking with Condemned to Freedom, I am humbled by the support I've been getting from unexpected places. Mal Kline is the Executive Director of the Washington, DC blog "Accuracy in Academia" www.academia.org/ and 35 years ago, in another life, I was his guidance counselor and football coach. Mal is bright and erudite--and he is a true, by-damn William F. Buckley Conservative. We always got along very well, but our political views ... there was a respectful but obvious chasm between them, and he was always 100 per cent honest in both his agreement and disagreement with my views and values.

After Mal graduated, our paths diverged and I lost track of him. Then, through the magic of Facebook and the recent publication of my book, and there was Mal, as always honest but supportive, ready to give his unvarnished opinion of Condemned. I think it's fair to say that I was a little nervous when he was reading the book. After all, his critique would be read by thousands, if not tens of thousands, and some heavy hitters both inside and outside the Beltway would see the judgment of this well-respected blogger on the little murder mystery by an unknown author.

Well, today he published his critique, and it was overwhelmingly positive. As soon as I can figure out how to do it, I will include it on my site, but meanwhile, check it out yourself on today's edition on his website.

Cultural References

For those of you who have read, or are reading, Condemned to Freedom, I placed quite a few cultural references in the book. Start with the names of the characters, but you can move on to others, minute and trivial, that provided me with a little diversion as I wrote. Another is the name of a hospital that appears. More hints to come. Enjoy!

Newark to Dublin and Points Beyond

Yesterday, Jamie and I drove Laura to the Newark Airport to fly to Dublin, Ireland for several days before she moves on to an archaeological dig at El Miron in Spain. (I will leave the comparisons of Newark to Dublin and Northwestern Spain to your imagination.) Aside from missing my only daughter and fretting over her flight and other travels, I must say that I admire her independent and adventurous spirit. Hard to believe when I remember the toddler who got stage fright at her first gymnastics show.

It reminds me what wondrous creatures children are. Just when you think you have them figured out, they will amaze you and fill you with joy.

And then I remember what her room looks like--envision the devastation of a tornado--and I realize the true meaning of yin and yang.

Memorial Day

Just a quick note. Today, as we remember departed loved ones and military men who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, let's also take a moment to remember fallen police, firemen, and all safety officers, neighbors who put their lives on the line every day to make us safe and secure in our communities.

Rest well, brothers and sisters, and thank you.

John