Wonder why we ever go home....

Photo Credit Don Reiland

River gets deeper not shallow,
the further you move down the stream.
Wonderin'if I can keep her as I
race to keep up with my dreams.
How they shine and glitter and gleam.
-Jimmy Buffett

I'm off to do a little research. Yeah, that's what I call it and everyone just smiles and gives me a wink. I guess I would too if I was on the other side the conversation. See, I write about a guy that lives in the Caribbean so I need, on occasion, to travel to the Caribbean to do "research." Me and and a couple of friends are going sailing in the British Virgin Islands.

Photo Credit Don Reiland

Should be plenty of opportunity to do some research on how the sun feels, how the water glistens, how the rum tastes. The Caribbean is why I write. To say the Caribbean is my muse is a bit pretentious, but there, I've said it. I write about the Caribbean because it's in my soul and it gives me life. And as I move down this stream of life, chasing those glittering dreams, I need a
little time with my girl. So if you need me next week, give a call to the Foxy's and leave a message. I'll get back to ya....

Criminally good time

The Valley Bookseller had me out for their October installment of the monthly

Totally Criminal Cocktail Hour at the Dock Cafe. I have to say, I haven't had as good a time talking about books in quite a while. We had a couple drinks, some appetizers and I read a little bit and answer a bunch of very insightful questions. I love book lovers! They ask the best questions!

Thank you one and all for coming out on a glorious fall day and supporting a local boy and a local bookseller. And a special thank you to Karren and Joci at the Valley Booksellers for extending me the invitation. I'll come back anytime!

Thank you

As many Americans have, I've been fascinated by Ken Burns' and Lynn Novick's The War documentary that's been showing on PBS. I wish I had something more profound to say, but all I can think of is thank you. And I promise not to waste the opportunity you gave me.

Changes

It's become a cliché hasn't it? Everytime fall rolls around you find yourself looking, with the fondest of memories, back on the summer that was. Well...yeah, I do it too. There is a reason it's a cliché after all.

Much brighter men and women have said more about this than I'll ever be able to. So I'll just be happy to live in the present and cherish the past and know that with these changes come new adventures and new excitement and new experiences. That with this change in season comes a change in my life as I progress down the shallow and rocky stream that is being a published author. Still learning to read that stream. Still trying to find where the trout hide. Still trying to find some words that will last so I cast my fly, hoping to get that lunker to rise.

Yeah, change is good.

You talkin' to me?

Last night I found myself writing a particularly violent scene in book #2 of the Phil Riley Novels and I confess, it made me a bit queasy. Geez, I'm kinda getting into this, I found myself thinking. Method acting for actors is a commonly accepted approach to "getting into a character's head" - why shouldn't it be the same for writers? I don' recall Robert DiNero donning a Mohawk and gunning down pimps. I think that would have made the papers. So clearly, playing Travis Bickle hasn't had a lasting impact on his psyche. Maybe I'll be okay then, huh? Maybe I won't become a psychopathic killer like the characters in my novels, huh? But what does it mean if I don't mind writing violent scenes?

You talkin' to me?