My sister is about to pop

My sister is about to pop, and I am very happy. I will be an uncle in a few weeks and in our family this is the first of our siblings to have a child. I think everyone is terribly excited. By the third of fourth child it might not be such a big deal, but right now it is. At Christmas I had fun looking for baby clothes. So did everyone else, judging by what my sister got for presents.

It has been a while since I've made time to write and for that I am sorry. The older I get, the more there is I want to do, and my days end, or I get tired (take your pick) before I have finished half of the things on my lists for the day. Weekends are prized commodities for me, much more precious than barrels of oil.

I had a fantastic 2006. I got back to being me again. I remembered my purpose and my passion and began pursing it again. One of the unique things about purpose, is that the closer you walk with God, the more you see, the more plans and dreams and goals God gives you. The more you trust and live by faith, the more blessings that come down. I had a lot of blessings this past year, but they haven't dimmed my enthusiasm for pursuing even harder.

I am walking the path God had in mind when he created me and bestowed his gifts upon me. It feels good. It feels right. I could be walking a little straighter, but I’m glad I’m on the path.

Now for some concrete news. My fantasy novel has progressed quite well, I feel. Shannon, my reader and cousin's wife, is doing a wonderful job encouraging me and deflating my balloon enough so that I can still walk through doors. CJ, I can only imagine what it must be like at the dinner table every night. I am thinking a May completion date for the rough draft. I've said it, so hold me to it! Liella has become a fun character to write about, and Ebben is just beginning to find his voice and his passion.

My other novel, Addicted to Love, has been on the back burner, but there hasn't been a day go by that I haven't thought of a great point that must be in the book. I write them down as they come, because I am a terrible rememberer. I am excited to see where this book takes me, as much as where it takes my readers.

Ron's book, which I am publishing, is nearly complete. We are in the trading stages, where I give him what I have completed and he grins and then frowns and tells me how he wants it to look or where here wants to change a sentence.

OG's Speculative Fiction released its fourth issue and I think it looks great. The response I have been getting with each release has been great. You can check it out here, http://theopinionguy.com/ogsspeculativefictionissue4.pdf

This week's article on the website is "Monarchy." I broke my own rule and talked about politics, something I really don't like to do. Some other good points on marriage and vision are also in the article.

And lastly, I've made some new friends and found some old ones. Friends are good. They help me keep me laughing and teach me lots, and I can never laugh enough or learn enough.

Mo and Bryan, you're in my prayers as are you, Barry and Amy.

And lest I forget, a quote of mine. "Change is an action."

The smell of memory, and novel news

I know, I have been missing in action for too long. Hopefully, you have missed my thoughts...

And so much has happened in the meantime, since I last blogged. I had a lot of computer problems and at last decided to go from pc to mac. And I am glad I did. Everything I did on a pc, I can do on my mac and so much more. I especially like the compatibility with all my hardware. However, I lost several chapters of my novel in one fell swoop and the process of getting a new computer deprived me of time and effort that could have gone into continuing the adventure.

I spent much of August and some of September on vacation or traveling. Of special note was a trip to Oklahoma which was very rewarding.

Fall has swept into upstate New York and by now most of the leaves have fallen. It is my favorite time of year, not only because of all the holidays, but because of the memories and feelings that come flooding back each time I step outside and savor the smell of Autumn. I love that smell. It is hearty, full of crisp leaves, hickory, and the cool scent of cool weather, and more than anything else, smell is the key to my mind's storage vault. It's a trigger, bringing back any memory associated with that certain smell. Strange, I know.

As for news of the novel, Liella (one of my main characters) has made a drastic choice, one that could influence the outcome of war between Dalmatia and Estevar, but more importantly her choice will have drastic consequences on the development of Ebben and his quest.

Lastly, a quote of my own. "Adventure is not knowing the danger around the corner, but leaping foward anyway."

OG's Speculative Fiction Issue #1

Hey! It is finally up! The first issue of OG's Speculative Fiction is online at http://theopinionguy.com. It includes great stories by Jem French and Ahmed Khan, plus an interview with fantasy writer Mark Robson. The cover is beautiful and imaginative work by Michael Leadingham.

I have already begun putting together the second issue.

In other news, work has continued on Golden Acorn Press. Our logo has been finalized. Even better, we purchased our first book and are in the process of putting it together.

I have continued work, albeit slowly, on Knight's Ambition. I am also in the process of finishing off two short stories. I will let you know more as it comes.

the prologue is released!

It has been a tough couple weeks. My grandmother passed away after a long, courageous bout with cancer. She will be missed. I am just getting back into the swing of things.

The prologue to my upcoming novel, Knights' Ambition, is up! It can be found here. I am excited. I know it is only a rough draft, but already I have had some good responses. Just to let you know a little bit about it... it is a fantasy. I have always had a soft spot in my heart for fantasy. It allows boys to be heroes and go on adventures and it allows girls to be princesses and share in the adventures. And no matter how old I get, I find I am always a boy at heart, so fantasy is right up my alley. This particular fantasy tells the story of Ebben and his quest to understand himself and the part he must play in stopping the growing turmoil that threatens to consume Everard. It is also the story of Liella, a girl born with magic, who is thrust into a war she wants no part in. Several other characters have parts to play and their stories weave into the whole. Feel free to comment on the prologue at my website.

As always I will finish with a quote of my own, "A good tree bears fruit and seeds, which drops and left untouched will soon sprout new trees. A bad tree stands alone." SC

Prologue news and my own personal symphony

Well, my prologue is with my reading editors. The initial response has been good, though I believe some work is yet to be done before it gets released for public consumption. I am thinking not longer than a week, maybe as early as Monday.

Wrote another chapter this weekend. Most of the way through a second here on Tuesday night. The story continues to pull me along in its wake. It is so much fun.

Did an interview with British fantasy writer, Mark Robson. He is an intelligent man, gifted with words, honest, and has that British humor. The interview is a great read. Look for it in the release of my first issue of OG's Speculative Fiction on my website at the beginning of next month.

I have been thinking that if I had my own personal symphony following me around, my life would be a lot more emotional. They could set the mood for every situation I faced. They could play the Mission Impossible theme when I drive to work. The Love Theme to Romeo and Juliet when I take a girl out for dinner. Maybe even some tear jerking strains every now and then. It would be fantastic.

And my quote: "Dreams challenge you to grow. So dream big."

Getting Back

I just got back from a little road trip and boy, do I love road trips.

I took a jaunt down to Baltimore to see the Yankees play, played in a charity golf tournament, and spent some time with my sister who lives in Pennslyvania. In my first trip to Camden Yards, I was impressed. It is a lovely, spacious park and we were close to the action. The golf tournament was interesting because of the people. I was paired with an elderly gentleman who was extraordinarly funny and sharp. I must say it was a delight to meet him and the elderly woman who was my father's partner. Our scramble score was mediocre, 81, good enough for last place, but I don't think we could have enjoyed it any more.

Work progressed on my novel, albeit slowly. Much of my time this past weekend was spent socializing and enjoying the rare vacation rather than holed up in my own little world hammering out the conversations of a hundred characters.

Tuesday, I was in more of a non-fiction mood and worked on my other novel, Addicted to Love, though I did spend some time working on a character for my main novel. I find it difficult switching from fiction to non-fiction. One is complete honesty, clarity, and striving to strike chords with readers so that they stand up and say, "Oh, wow! I feel the exact same way." or "He's talking about me there! How does he do that?" The other is about imagination and creation, and trying to capture the essence of the characters and their lives that are so poignant in your mind.

I am back in the swing of things and will keep you posted on my new developments.

And as always, "Addiction is another way of saying you love something more than you should. Who said love didn't hurt?" SC