First Line Right Now

As regular readers will note, I'm in the midst of another Dick Francis novel. Why? Cause they inspire me. I love the simplicity. The characters are the driver of the story, as it should be. They're quick, easy, fun, and I'd love to have my books be more like these. 

I doubt I'll ever be as prolific!

Stunned by the Rat Race

A couple of days ago I wrote about the rat race . . . and how at the end you're just the lead rat (see HERE). So, because I have about another week or so to go before my next class picks up and I have to put down reading for fun and pick up reading for texts once again, I thought I'd slip in a few more faves, and I guess rat racing was on my mind. 

I've never read this one, which again, surprises (and delights) me. 

Last Morning Line for a Bit

I’ve been on a morning kick lately (see HERE), so I might as well continue it. 

Why mornings? Maybe because they’re refreshing . . . They’re new . . . It’s a new start. That’s why they are used so often in books, maybe that’s what I need in my life right now. A new start. A refresh.

So, I like this one not only cause I’m such a fan of coffee (I am), but because I’m also a huge fan of watching slow, gray mornings struggle from gloomy to plain dull. 

That’s not a joke. My weekends lately have been made up of writing on the patio, under the pergola, watching the morning arrive with my iPad in my hand and Sadie at my feet. Good way to refresh and restart!

Morning From Last Book

Since I was in the mood for morning quotes (see HERE), I saw this one from the last book I read . . . And thought it would be worthwhile to pop it in here.

The Same Morning as Before

I was going to write another post about this morning (below) but found that I did such a great job the first time I wrote about it (see HERE) that I see no need to do so anymore. 

I love my posts on the morning (see HERE), I really should do a better job of cataloging them. They are so fun to read and to notice, once you start noticing. 

Cutting the Towed Jumper Away

When is it okay to quit on someone? When is it okay to cut away that towed jumper? 

I can tell you from my own experience that although it takes alot . . . (alot alot) for me to quit on someone, it does happen. And it happens when I start to see that the quitting from that other person has become a habit. 

I remember when I was in Ranger School there were two words used I had never heard before . . . Cellulitis and Rubber Neck. Those two words will be a chapter in my biography. There was one that was used constantly in Battalion that I had no clue what it meant for a long while . . . break in contact. A break in contact is when the Ranger who is following another loses sight of the one in front and get's lost. Easily one of the worst things a Ranger could do while on patrol. The thing was it wasn't the Ranger in front's fault, it was the fault of the Ranger behind. If they didn't keep up, they were responsible for that break in contact. I've been dealing with my own form of break in contact lately. 

The hardest school I ever attended was Pre-Scuba school with 1st SFG in Fort Lewis. It was during a break and instead of going home, because Sgt Johnson found out I was going to be hanging around the barracks, he enrolled me in the school. Most of the schools have a pretty high dropout rate, Ranger School, Airborne, RIP. All over 50% fall outs. Pre-Scuba's was the highest of the bunch. 21 students started (7 Rangers and 14 Green Berets). We finished the class with 4 Rangers and 3 Green Berets. 

The reason this comes up is that we were practicing bobbing (see below) and I remember one of the SF Scuba Team instructors told us his views on quitting. "Quitting," he said, "Is a habit. If you start quitting once, it's easier the next time and the next time and next time." These are words I've remembered and a warning I've tried to heed. 

I remember Garbarino, he was someone our squad cut away. Why? Cause he only got worse and worse. He refused to learn. We didn't cut Gutierrez away, he just left. I guess he cut himself away. What about Baldwin? He was the worst of the bunch. He was cut away because he kept quitting, and the more he quit the worse it got. 

I cut someone away recently. Why? Cause their quitting was getting worse and worse and more frequent. First it was just a few days, then a few weeks. This last one . . . about 7 or 8 months. It wasn't becoming less of a habit, it was becoming worse than a habit, it was becoming a part of their life. Usually I treat this blog for my own writing therapy, in this case I hope they read this and they fix things, they stop the habit, that they turn it around. 

We were a pretty strict group, our Ranger Battalion. You quit like Baldwin or Garbarino and you're out. You have a break in contact too often, you're out. An AD, and you're out. But I had an AD, and I stayed around. There were plenty of accidental breaks in contact, and those folks stayed around. It's because we believe in second chances, but only for those who are willing to work on it, . . . those folks who work to redeem and reapply themselves. 

There's another reason I'm exploring this than my own personal life and friendships, this is actually a theme in Sunset Perfect . . . quitting, when to give up on someone, when to cut away, how to redeem yourself. All of these I'm planning on exploring in that novel. 

The question is whether or not they want that second chance. Garbarino? Baldwin? They didn't want a second chance. Plenty of others did. I remember that in those first 21 Pre-Scuba students in the class, five of the Green Berets were repeats, meaning they were taking the class again after having failed once before. That's what I hope I am and what I expect from others, a never quit attitude, and the vim and vigor to work harder the second time for that redemption. 

Elizabeth, Betsy 

Christmas Traditions

My side of the family is huge on traditions, especially Christmas traditions. My wife's side of the family enjoys traditions as well. I went to a school where it is said, "the first time it's a mistake, the second time it's a tradition." So naturally I have a lot of tradition running through my blood. 

One tradition that I have apparently created by myself and for myself is one of running on Christmas day. I've checked through my MapMyRun app and my Apple fitness app and have noticed that for the last five or six years I've gone for a run on Christmas day. 

It's usually between Christmas brunch with one family and (somewhat too formal) Christmas night dinner and skits party, and I looks as though, it's something I need. Maybe all of those parties and things to do and things going on, I like to have a moment or a few miles by myself. 

Today it was 4 miles with some situps at the end. Boy did I need it. Love my tradition!

Duoethnography

My golden nugget this week is about my duoethnography project. My partner and I have vastly different stories and backgrounds. 

I doubt you could find two people with more opposite backgrounds and histories than she and I have. 

Yet, what I found continually amazing throughout our project and our interviews is that despite those differences (again, vast) we both ended up in the same place. For me this shows the remarkable nature of both the human spirit but also of our country which provides so much access and resources for everyone. Despite our differences, my partner and I are on the same path now and working toward the same degrees. 

Regardless of our differences those similarities have overcome the challenges that both of us have faced and instead of the challenges stopping us, we both persevered in our own ways and not walk the same track together. For me, that's a validation that no matter the problems we all might face, socially, culturally, or personally, there is something fundamentally correct about the KSU experiment and the US experience that helps people, like water, find the level that they want. 

Additionally, when considering those differences between me and my partner, I found that we focuses on the similarities and found more and more similarities the more we spoke. Again, a testament to human nature!

Just One More Day . . .

This week I've been following the example of Diane Mott Davidson and posting some recipes. I wonder (as I did earlier) that it was inspired by a cooking class I took this past week. 

I've done a bunch of cooking classes over the years. This was probably the most fun. Not the "best" mind you . . . but definitely the most fun. 

The chef was Chef Dee Dee (see the picture above), and she was super fun. The menu was interseting and very easy for anyone who has taken a "bunch" of classes. 

First we made a cajun shrimp omelette. The omelette was hardly tough. I make omelettes all the time and have since the fourth grade. BUT . . . even I, a super omelette maker, have things to learn. In this case it was liquid smoke. I've never add liquid smoke to an omelette before this class . . . actually it wasn't that bad. An umami flavor. Unctuous even. I would have preferred a teaspoon rather than a tablespoon of it, but it was new and interesting. 

Next we made crab cakes. Whenever I make crab cakes they are never as good as going out. NO MORE! These crab cakes were AMAZING! And so simple! I can't wait to make them again. 

The next thing we made was shrimp and grits. I'm a grits master, so there wasn't very little I learned from this recipe. But the shrimp sauce was fun to make and although it (like the omelette) could have used a teaspoon of Worcestershire instead of the tablespoon, it was still very good. 

The final recipe was banana's foster. I've made this once before, with my grandmother, Muzzie (see HERE for more on Muzzie). This recipe was a touch better. We got to flambe which is always fun, plus the dinner and dessert at the end of the class was a joy.

All in all the class, like I said was the most fun. I've tried HEB Central Market a couple of times, I've tried classes at Sur La Table, and on an on. Chef Dee Dee is the best.  

More CRT

 I wanted to follow up from my post regarding CRT and it's use in schools. Lots in the media right now about it, but this update comes by way of my friend from facebook and my son. 

The facebook friend is a teacher and most of her posts and comments to me in person have been around the lines that it's vital that we teach this to children if only for the chance to reveal to them and to admit to ourselves that racism was not only horrible for the US but is still ongoing. 

Now, I have no problem with the teaching aspect, I'm all for exposing kids to all the perspectives, but I also believe that it needs to be done at the appropriate time. High school? Maybe. College? Sure. Masters and PhD level classes? You betcha. Middle schools? Probably not. Lower schools? Heck no. 

I love the fact that children are the most color blind of society. I'm firmly of the belief that racism is a learned trait. When our first son started school his best friends were every different shade and he saw no issue. He continues in this vein even now. Why teach kiddos who are naturally colorblind to these things to throw on shades and perspectives? Isn't color-blindness what we want to achieve?

There's the rub. 

Many of the proponents of CRT believe we need to make up for past sins by being racist. Brookfield deliberately says this in his book. Henry Rogers (aka Ibrahim X Kendi) says the same thing. Which I think is atrocious and capricious. Who decides when it's enough? Who decides when and how to apply it? 

My son said something interesting the other day, and it made me proud of him. I'm a huge proponent of putting yourself in the other's shoes. Would we want teachers to push a Christian centered view on classrooms because in the past Christians were transgressed against? Or what about Jewish kiddos? Should they get an arbitrary leg up from teachers because of the holocaust? 

Regardless, in my view it should all be personal and not broadcast arbitrarily. If a kiddo comes to me as a teacher and asks for help in a class, I should help them and make allowances regardless of color. I shouldn't help them just because they happen to be one color or another. This is my problem with Brookfields statements. He bases his help and his classes on race alone. 

The CRT claim about classrooms these days seems to me to be more about soft social engineering which I think is wrong no matter the case. Besides are all of the kiddos in US schools doing so well that we can afford to spend a lot of time naval gazing about this? Maybe focus on the fundamentals and get those down so well we become the best in the world before we head off on these social engineering tangents. 

A Recipe in Honor of Archy McNally

I know I posted a couple of my favorite cookie recipes, but because I have been reading an Archy McNally mystery and because Archy is such a lover of cocktails, I offer this from my friend, JuneBotProlly (that's her knee in the pic!).

A Recipe in Honor of Archy McNally

I know I posted a couple of my favorite cookie recipes, but because I have been reading an Archy McNally mystery and because Archy is such a lover of cocktails, I offer this from my friend, JuneBotProlly (that's her knee in the pic!).

Equal parts:

• Vodka
• Kahlua
• Rumchata

Then a splash of cream and 

A splash of Topo Chico for effervescence

I think this is definitely something that Archy would appreciate. 

No promises but this may be the final recipe I post. It's getting to be too hard to weave all of these recipes into a cogent and believable story line!

More Recipes

So, thanks to yesterday's post and Diane Mott Davidson, I've decided to add yet another recipe. This one is a slight twist on the one I posted yesterday, but I thought it was much much better. Especially straight from the oven. 

The foundation is the same, but there are a couple of slight tweaks, I've listed them in blue. 

More Recipes

So, thanks to yesterday's post and Diane Mott Davidson, I've decided to add yet another recipe. This one is a slight twist on the one I posted yesterday, but I thought it was much much better. Especially straight from the oven. 

The foundation is the same, but there are a couple of slight tweaks, I've listed them in blue. 

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of brown butter burned so that there is dark brown fond scraped off the bottom of the pan, then cooled to solidify again. 
• 1/2 cup of Criso
• Cream the above with 1 and 1/2 cup of light brown sugar and 1/2 cup of white sugar
• Add 1 and 1/2 tsp of vanilla and 
• Two eggs beaten
• Add 1 and 1/4 Tbs instant coffee
• Sift 2 and 1/2 cup flour with
• 1 and 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp (fresh) baking powder, and 
• 1 tsp (fresh) baking soda 
• 5 Tbs cocoa powder
• Then, add to the sugar mixture by spoonful.
• Add dark chocolate chips and red and green M&M's, bake at 350 till golden, then take them to work.

I can't wait to try the extra egg yolk on this one. I might try the (suggested) coconut oil too, but that might have to wait a bit. 

Now I just have to find a mystery where I can weave these recipes in in a natural way.

Dick Mott Hannah

So, I only got the most incredible compliment today! My BFF told me my cookies were the BEST! She is the best baker I've ever experienced, so hearing from her that the cookies are the bomb means quite a bit of something! (She does tend to exaggerate, but in this case I'll be happy to take even the exaggerated compliment).

Following the trend started yesterday, the one about recipes in mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, I offer this . . . the (possibly exaggerated) bomb cooking recipe.

Dick Mott Hannah

So, I only got the most incredible compliment today! My BFF told me my cookies were the BEST! She is the best baker I've ever experienced, so hearing from her that the cookies are the bomb means quite a bit of something! (She does tend to exaggerate, but in this case I'll be happy to take even the exaggerated compliment).

Following the trend started yesterday, the one about recipes in mysteries by Diane Mott Davidson, I offer this . . . the (possibly exaggerated) bomb cooking recipe.

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) of brown butter burned so that there is dark brown fond scraped off the bottom of the pan, then cooled to solidify again. 
• 1/2 cup of Criso
• Cream the above with 1 and 1/2 cup of light brown sugar and 1/2 cup of white sugar
• Add 1 and 1/2 tsp of vanilla and two eggs beaten
• Sift 2 and 1/2 cup flour with
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp (fresh) baking powder, and 
• 1 tsp (fresh) baking soda 
• Then, add to the sugar mixture by spoonful.
• Add dark chocolate chips and red and green M&M's, bake at 350 till golden, then take them to work.

The only thing I might try next time is to add an extra egg yolk. I've read that makes them more doughy. I also considered melting chocolate and dipping the bottoms into it (or maybe half of the whole cookie), but I figured that would be too messy to transport. We shall see with the next batch. But, thanks for the inspiration Diane Mott Davidson

Reddit vs NaNo Forums

A part of a writing reddit that I enjoy commenting and discussing on had an interesting question the other day. It's fun because the writers in this group are so young and inexperienced. The NaNo forum has experienced and serious writers. Reddit has youth and inexperience. 

One of the redditors asked if it's okay to steal ideas from other novels or authors. 

It's an intriguing question, and like I said, since it comes from Reddit it's not surprising. You'd never see this question in the NaNo forums. 

The answer is simple, . . . no. The answer is also complex, . . . it depends on what you mean by "steal."

As I read this latest Archy McNally I see so many tie-ins to any Nero Wolff novel (see HERE). The "detectives" in both series are similar, even down to their names. It's obvious that Lawrence Sanders "stole" some of these ideas, but he also made them his own. To what degree is that stealing?

Personally, I'd feel quite flattered if someone took my idea for Vapor Trail and made it their own, maybe put their own twist on it. It happens. It's better to be completely original, but how about taking a good idea and making it more, or making it your own. 

So much of writing is "stealing." The themes are all the same, just retold. Stephen King even talked about this. . . . The Shining is "stealing" a story about a haunted house. Christine is stealing a story about possession. etc etc. Romeo and Juliet's is about star crossed lovers. If I writes something similar is that stealing? 

Silly ole redditors.

Reddit vs NaNo Forums

A part of a writing reddit that I enjoy commenting and discussing on had an interesting question the other day. It's fun because the writers in this group are so young and inexperienced. The NaNo forum has experienced and serious writers. Reddit has youth and inexperience. 

One of the redditors asked if it's okay to steal ideas from other novels or authors. 

Cooking

I baked alot yesterday. Read alot too. Enjoyed a cooking class from a local caterer as well. Made me think of Dianne Mott Davidson books (see HERE). The mystery series that revolves around catering and cooking. I love that it includes recipes of the dishes that are a part of the story. 

I only read a couple then I moved on. The schtick didn't stick. Why not? I think it's because it's one note. . . . on dimensional . . . not new each time. 

It's alot like the Kathi Daily series, where the main character runs a bed and breakfast inn in Maine, and is working to improve it. With my background that series should call to me and resonate . . . but after two, it got stale. 

Is it that they're female authors? Is it that the theme is too predictable? I think it's funny that publishers are constantly looking for the next fresh theme idea and looking for a series. I love that mine are called a "loose series" (see HERE).  I have no compunction to continue the story arc of my characters from my novels. They've lived their adventure. 

In this regard I follow Dick Francis. His characters too only have one adventure. There are two I think who had a sequel. Maybe I'll get to that point. 

Maybe too I'll go back and read another Diane Mott Davidson or Kathi Daley novel and try them again. 

Cooking

I baked alot yesterday. Read alot too. Enjoyed a cooking class from a local caterer as well. Made me think of Dianne Mott Davidson books (see HERE). The mystery series that revolves around catering and cooking. I love that it includes recipes of the dishes that are a part of the story. 

I only read a couple then I moved on. The schtick didn't stick. Why not? I think it's because it's one note. . . . on dimensional . . . not new each time. 

More on Dissertation Writing

Dissertation writing is an interesting experience. In my last class I wrote a couple of chapters of a dissertation on emotion and Virtual Reality. Testing the extent to which VR is effective and adding an emotional element to it to make it more effective is some super cool stuff, in my opinion. But, in this post, I'm not going to get into the technicalities of it, I'll just focus on the writing. 

I've written about my dissertation before (see HERE) and about the surprises I've uncovered since starting this process. The writing of the dissertation is one. 

I have written three novels and each is over 80,000 words long (see HERE). I've already written about how creative writing is tougher than research writing. But what I've found out since, through discussions with my major advisor and others is that the dissertation writing process is really a secondary part of teh overall process. 

My major advisor told me last year to quit focusing on the writing of the dissertation and just read read read. Having written a couple of chapters of a dissertation, I realize that the writing is going to happen somewhat naturally, as a conseuqence of the courses I take. 

Sure, the chapters I just finished were on qualitative research and emotion in VR. My dissertation, if I keep the same path, will be a quantitative analysis of different computer based learning techniques, with VR being just one of them. But I can take the emotion in VR chapters and quite easily re-tool them for my own. 

Constructivism will be a fundamental theoretical framework. The methodology behind the research will be similar. The collection and analysis as well will be very much the same. I see what my major professor meant. The framework of the dissertation remains the same, it's all of the reading that builds up the content of that framework that is so necessary. Like reading Dick Francis or Lawrence Sanders before I start writing novels. 

A Year Later?

I have heard from many people lately about my latest book (see HERE). One was a comment here on the blog (HERE) from my old friendo Kimbo (see HERE), another was at home, several neighbors, and I've gotten ten texts and a couple of emails too. all of them have been quite complimentary and that's fun. But with each contact I get more concerned.

Why concerned?

A Year Later?

I have heard from many people lately about my latest book (see HERE). One was a comment here on the blog (HERE) from my old friendo Kimbo (see HERE), another was at home, several neighbors, and I've gotten ten texts and a couple of emails too. all of them have been quite complimentary and that's fun. But with each contact I get more concerned.

Why concerned?

I published this early last fall (maybe late summer). I got several immediate reviews for it last year right after I published it. Why is it just now that people are learning about it?

First there is the problem with my own marketing. I am not concerned with marketing. Why? I don't really care. This is a hobby for me. It's an outlet. I'm not looking to make money, I'm looking to enjoy life. So, no, I'm not surprised my marketing is so bad. 

I am surprised how slow Amazon's alert process is. Most of these communications are coming by way of the fact that Amazon Kindle just alerted a bunch of people who "follow" me as an author that I've just published a new book. I saw it myself on my Kindle reader the other day. On the front page it said, "Dick has just published a new book!" It went on to describe Stories from the Day and give some snippets. Kim saw it, my neighbors, my family, several people I don't know. It's funny, because it took so long for it to come out. 

If I was an author who cared about marketing and I had hoped to inform my following readers that I had published a new novel, and I had hoped my marketing campaign might go along with Amazon's own alert system, I would have been way off!

I wonder why it took so long for my "follower" to be alerted. Glad they were, but surprised it occurred a year and (almost) a half after.

McNally's Cover is a Let Down

I have to admit, I'm a little let down. I've been compiling these posts with covers (see HERE) for the past few months and really been enjoying it. I was hoping for more out of McNally's Secret. I was hoping for at least a peak at an artists representation of Archie. Instead we get a stamp (which makes sense) another cover that is derivative of the first, then a completely generic cover. Not even a pulp to make me smile!

McNally First Line

I know that I've posted this before (see HERE), but it's worth posting twice . . . if only because I'm reading it again. So, like I said last time, I'm a huge fan of Lawrence Sanders, so naturally, I'm going to like his first line, but isn't this one just stupendous as a first line?

It only gets better from there. 

I'm reading this one now because as I mentioned last week, I'm trying to stay in focus with my writing and get some writing done. A McNally might not be as serious as I would like, it's far more light-hearted than my regular writing and reading, but it's so fun I can't help myself. 

If You Don’t Have Less On Leadership Then You Have What?

So, here’s a bit more on leadership. One reason I didn’t get to write last week, as I mentioned the other day, is that I have been doing end of year stuff, budgets, wages, wage increases, bonuses, stuff like that. Well, I am also doing reviews, and a part of that is assessing my managers and leaders and trying to mentor them. 

One thing I love is the Ken Blanchard Situational Leadership Model. I’ve written about it before (see HERE and HERE for more). It changed my life as a manager and I hope it helps those I work with. 

I like it because it provides some concrete ways that leaders can address and affect positive changes in the troops or employees that we lead. I try to use it constantly for new managers, but what do you do when leaders and managers out grow that?

I am a Vice President now so I have more senior directors and senior mangers reporting to me. I have some with whom I do very little other than ask them, “What help do you need from me?” or “What can I do to help you?” They are that good and that senior. 

Then there are some others a bit less senior who need a tad bit of direction and I need a bit more information from. The one I’m thinking of is moving right on up and is almost at that next level I just mentioned above. 

Then there’s this one manager who is the newest of the bunch. She’s moving on up quick but she needs the most work and help, but in our last review I said, “hey, so I’m gonna start leaving you alone more now to do your own thing, and you just come to me when you need my help.”

She said the best thing that I could have hoped for. She said: “Yeah, doofus, we’ve basically been doing that for weeks! Keep up with this mentorship will ya!”              

High Stakes Cover

Yesterday and last week I wrote about what i'm reading right now (see HERE). The week before that I wrote about the first line from that book, as I often like to do (see HERE for all my first lines and why I catalog them). As anyone who follows this blog knows, I am currently in a phase of liking to see all the different varieties of covers that go along with the books I read (see HERE). 

This first one is what I like best about Dick Francis books. This style. this is what I was trying to mimic with my first series of covers for my own books. I failed. I do still like this style though. 

Funny Ole World of Writing

This week, I didn't have a tone of meetings, so I thought I would have a ton of time to write. I have that writing bug right now, I was hoping to capitalize on it. Sadly, I did not.   

Work piled up quickly. Tons of little things, a couple of big ones, and more politics and personnel decisions than I normally have to deal with. It's the end of the year, and so we are dealing with wage increases and bonuses, and no matter how generous you think you might be, it's never as generous as your employees hope. 

Old School

Now that I've finished old Trav McGee and Nightmare in Pink (see HERE), I've moved on to more Dick Francis. This time it's High Stakes see (HERE). 

I'm really looking forward to this one. I have never read it and it's among the older version of Dick Francis' work.

Within the first few lines the reader is reminded that this is from a bygone(ish) era. 

One More On Nightmare

Lately, I know, I've been posting alot about Nightmare in Pink, a part of the Travis McGee series by John D. MacDonald. Does it warrant this much posting? Probably not. But, when reads so few novels these days thanks to homework, and work work, well then one posts alot about the things he enjoys. 

Regardless, the other day I wrote that there were some lines which I found particularly compelling and I wanted to share them with someone, so this audience will do.  

Nightmare in Pink Cover

I'm sure many of you will find it odd, but there's very little these days makes me happier than going back and finding the pulp (and other) covers that are associated with he books I read. Naturally, when I say that there is "nothing that makes me happier" I'm being hyperbolic, if only because my best friend Sadie is around. 

Having just finished John D. MacDonald's Nightmare in Pink (see HERE) I was very eager to get out there and see the evolution of the covers!

Current Workout

Every now and then sparks my memory to post about workouts (see HERE). The other day I ran into my neighbor who is an avid runner and we talked for a long while about workouts. And of course compared out runs. 

Overall compared to the neighbors, I’m still doing okay. Sure one runs longer, another is more consistent, another is fast as greased lightning, but I’m hanging in there. Barely. 

The latest was a fun run. Best? Nope. But after jacking up my knee a few months back this was decent. It was a super crossed field too…. Fun runs on Thanksgiving always are… so some of this is crowd based. 

But I also came in 6th for old guys. So I’ll take that and I’ll brag to the neighbors about it.  

More From a Nightmare in Pink

One of the things I love about Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald, is the simplicity of writing. It's direct and honest and quick. I have been accused of this as well (see HERE). And I'll happily accept that accusation/honor.

Some of the other authors I read who are similar include Louis L'amour - with his simple stories that are easy to follow and fun in a predictable way, Lee Child - Often times I find them a bit too simple (see HERE), but they're fun. Even Dick Francis has an economy about his writing and his stories that is fun and easy (see HERE).

Trav McGee

I’ve been referencing a book a lot lately that I’m in the midst of reading. It's another John D. MacDonald, Trav McGee mystery (see HERE).

Here is the first line to add to my own series. 

This is the second of this series I’m reading and I can’t imagine I won’t keep reading the rest of them. 

Wonderful writing imagery. 

Perspective and Tense in Writing

I recently read a post in the writing community that I am a part of that was about the fact that first person present tense perspective is not well regarded and he argued that it is just as valid as others.  He got a lot of flack from others for saying that. I completely agree with his post. I love reading first person present and enjoy writing that style too. I’m partial to all first person pov’s and I don’t understand why it gets such short shrift.

I remember a writing group/class I was a part of for a long while and the leader/teacher was constantly trying to get me to stop writing in first person and shift to third. 

Perspective and Tense in Writing

I recently read a post in the writing community that I am a part of that was about the fact that first person present tense perspective is not well regarded and he argued that it is just as valid as others.  He got a lot of flack from others for saying that. I completely agree with his post. I love reading first person present and enjoy writing that style too. I’m partial to all first person pov’s and I don’t understand why it gets such short shrift.

I remember a writing group/class I was a part of for a long while and the leader/teacher was constantly trying to get me to stop writing in first person and shift to third. 

I tried and at that time it felt quite unnatural. Now, having written a couple of novel drafts in third, it’s not as unnatural, but I certainly prefer first person. I wrote a series of short stories, many of which are third, and I think they’re fine as they are. The novel draft I wrote last year, was it called Western Perspectives? Or Rocky Perspectives? It was in third person. 

70K words in third person makes something seem less unnatural I suppose. Regardless, I don’t know why so many people have a hang up about first person perspective, whether or not it’s in the present tense. Personally, I’m a fan of writing whatever the heck you want, and let the chips fall where they may. There are probably many cats out there who love that tense and are yearning for more. 

I am writing my novel Sunset Perfect in first person. All of my novels have been in first person. The authors I most enjoy reading are first person writers. Dick Francis, Janet Evanovich, even the Travis McGee novel I’m reading now is first person. Then there is Lawrence Sanders, my all time fave, and when I go back and re-read some of his older novels, there are some in first person, others in third. I love them both but I search out those that are in first person. 

It’s like burgers and hotdogs, right? Some folks like burgers, others like hotdogs. No rationale behind it, just a preference. Do it well, have a fresh idea and characters, no matter the POV or tense, and you’ll have a book people want to read.

Theme or Plot

A writing group that I'm a part of had an interesting and long running discussion on writing . . . is it plot driven or theme driven. 

When I write, and I've published 3 novels (see HERE), I start with plot and from that develop characters and theme. 

More on Sunset Perfect

As you all know, I am a fan of this loose series of mysteries and thrillers. Vapor Trail, On the Edge, Toe the Line all have working out and athletics as a theme (see HERE). 

As a part of Sunset Perfect there is a theme of culture and trust, there's also a murder that brings up a theme of family and simmering betrayal, but all of this takes place around and among a football team that is going through some drastic turbulence and challenges. 

Coming Back for More

I am fairly certain I know who Kim is, but it’s nice to see that she likes my writing (see more HERE). If she is who I think, this is not a “friend” review. Not only that…. She liked the writing so much she wanted more! I’ll be happy for the rest of the day!

The review above is of On the Edge (see HERE). 

More USC Probs

 I was recently talking to Andrew about class and our PhD program. Andrew is my go-to person for all things university or college related (see HERE). He is one of the few students who I actually compete with in my classes . . . lucky him.

Andrew is an adjunct professor or something for a small school in Connecticut but more than that he is a Delta Airlines flight attendant. He was written about in a magazine about his dual jobs last year (see HERE). So he does dual duty for work and for me, which is fairly bad ass.

Because he is my outlet for all things airlines he gets a lot of links from me about people getting ducted tape to airline seats, unruly passengers, etc etc. He also gets a lot of links about if grad school is worth it, or any of the other hoi polloi about academics that I run across. (I feel certain he is always thrilled to receive my missives).

I sent him one the other day, this one was about USC and the cost of its Masters in Social Work program (see HERE). It's a bit of a longish article, but wow is it powerful. On the heels of their college admissions scandal, which I still can't figure out. . . . I mean I get wanting to get your kid into a top notch school, but parents actually facilitating the cheating and the fraud? That's absurd. And for USC? That just shows that these parents weren't very smart about their objectives in my opinion. 

Regardless, I sent this link to Andrew because of the cost of the program compared to the expected return. I've already done this calculation for my own PhD work, and you can imagine that since I'm late in my own life and because my job is helping me some, the return is significant on my end. Not so with the Masters in Social Work. The balance is incredibly lopsided on what it costs to get the degree (about 112K) and the expected salary for graduates (around 52K). Now, of course these numbers are stark, but that's a lot of college debt to pay off for a career field that habitually doesn't pay an awful lot. 

The article discusses how a for profit, private company was used to help attract students. I don't find this to be that out of line. I have no problem with this aspect of the story. If there's a private company that a college wants to pay, great! But you better not hide the costs and you better not inflate the return. 

Additionally, I think it's sad that (and the story doesn't discuss this as much) but I think they were taking advantage of student's and our society's own thoughts on social work. Noble? Maybe. But more noble than doctor or lawyer or any other job? Hardly says I. But I betcha if you ask kiddos going into schools these days they will say that it's more noble, and that's why they're doing it.  

 

First Line Right Now

 The other day I mentioned how I'm trying to get back into writing via reading. Well, to help spur that along I picked up a Travis McGee and a Dick Francis. I'm mid way through the Travis McGee and just started the Dick Francis. 

The Dick Francis (unlike some of his others, see HERE) has a less than inspiring first line, but it's not that bad. Makes me want to find out what happened. But the Trav McGee won out!

Micah!?!? Who Knew!

Remember my study buddy, Micah? (see HERE). Well, turns out she's a novelist as well! I know I'm making that sound like something I just found out, but it's a lie. Micah and I have been writing buddies for more than 6 months. But the surprise is genuine. I just had that surprise like a year ago. 

Regardless, Micah and I, who are both in the College of Education at KSU (me in a PhD program, she is getting her Masters), were recently talking about the difference between writing for school and writing for fun. 

As you all know, I'm in the middle of getting my PhD. Tons of writing,  . . . every bit of it non-fiction, research papers. I wrote three novels over the last ten years or so, several short stories, and many many drafts that have yet to go anywhere. I had to put my fiction writing on hold to focus on all these research papers. 

Well, my classes for this semester are done now (for the most part . . . see HERE) and I'm back into writing for fun, noveling. I had forgotten how fun it is to write novels. I had also forgotten how hard it is! 

When I write a research paper the longest they tend to ever get is 10K words. Most are around 3K. Heck my dissertation when I'm done will probably be only 25K. My novels are all 85K or more! My first drafts of my novels all started at 50K. I've written NaNoWriMo about 7 times and each of those is 50K words. (I've written about this before HERE).

Taking a year or two off to focus on my PhD has shown me that I should have given myself alot more credit for having written and (self) published 3 novels! It's a much bigger achievement than I had given myself credit for.

Trading Up for Winter?

A while back I posted about writing areas and desks (see HERE). This summer I traded my office writing area (see below) for the pergola. Nice big, soft fans, a breeze, surrounded by nature and a bubbling pool fountain, outdoor speakers, bird song and squirrels, the whole bit. 

It wasn't bad. There's actually some nice chairs out there, and all that nature is a nice distraction.

Done? Doesn't Feel Like It

 I have two major papers due in the next few weeks. The end of my semester long class. It's been a long slow haul, this class. It's on qualitative research and it's not my cup of tea. 

But this post isn't about my class. You'll notice I haven't labeled it as adult education. This is about writing. I started writing the best draft yet of Sunset Perfect the other day. I got 7 chapters through and then I had to switch gears to writing my papers. Now that the papers are (almost) done, I can't switch gears back to writing fiction.