Congrats to the Grads

by Good Free Photos/Unsplash

My twin daughters are graduating from high school today, and I would like to extend a congratulations not only to them, but to the many graduates out there.

And a congratulations to all the students and teachers on wrapping up this school year. It’s been unlike any other school year, with worries about Covid-19 while juggling virtual and in-person education.

A big thank you to the teachers and school staff for their hard work to make this school year work.

I’ve listened to a particular commencement speech several times and keep coming back to it: David Foster Wallace’s This Is Water speech given at Kenyon College’s 2005 graduation ceremony. The honesty how Wallace described dull moments of everyday life. His honesty on how we can choose to view each other. That choice we have about judging others. I tear up every time I hear it.

The full speech is here. An edited version also includes video of the subject matter (instead of DFW giving the speech), and that’s here.

Awesome Recommended Indie Reads 2

I’m flattered that one of my novellas is included in Lee Hall’s round-up of indie books that he’s recently reviewed. The other books sound really intriguing.

Lee's Hall of information

It feels like a while since I last did a review post about my recent indie book reviews so here we are. From vampires to poetry and a few other wonderful stories in between, here are some awesome recommended indie reads…

Nocturnal Salvation by Villimey Mist

“My blood sings a violent song of brutality. My bloodlust surges through me, and I allow the monster to take the reigns…”

The ‘Nocturnal’ series by Villimey Mist has returned for part 3 and it gets better with each book – that’s the awesome thing about a good book series- the characters grow but so does the author. I highly recommend all of the books in this vamp-action and sometimes gory, but always satisfying series. You can read my review here.

Don’t Lose Your Head by Dave Williams

Dave Williams uses a unique blend of symbolism and metaphor to present a great story…

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Exclusive Excerpt of ‘Consistent Creative Content’ by Lee Hall

Lee's Hall of information

Hello cultured reader, here are the first few pages of my authoring and blogging guide book which is currently available for pre-order at a discounted price.

I figured it was a good idea to share a snippet of what you can expect in the book which I hope helps fellow wordsmiths on their authoring and blogging journey…

Introduction

This book explores what I’ve learnt on my publishing journey, presenting it in a way that I hope will inspire you to believe in your own abilities to replicate and even surpass my success. Belief is all you really need on any journey and if I can get results that I’m happy with, then you certainly can. Success is based upon how you judge the results of something over time – it’s both fickle and in the eye of the beholder.

I’ve always measured my results beside the number from where I…

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Sky Quotations

‘Don’t Lose Your Head’ by Dave Williams – Review

Thanks to Lee Hall for writing a wonderful review of my book, “Don’t Lose Your Head,” and I encourage you to check out his blog — he’s written several books, and he offers advice on what has worked for him in his indie writing journey.

Lee's Hall of information

A twisted, haunting and enjoyable read that dives deep into the shadowy depths of one man’s mind…

‘Don’t Lose Your Head’ is a literal, metaphorical and symbolic title for a unique story that takes readers down the rabbit hole of conscience and repercussion. ‘Alan Burris’ sets his sights on what appears to be a rather easy robbery opportunity which doesn’t go to plan and becomes an encounter that ultimately takes him on a path of torment. On this path we learn of his dark past which he cannot escape while very recent events weigh upon everything he does in the few days after. It seems everywhere he turns this encounter follows and no matter how he tries to bury or hide it there it is beside him. The voice in his head cannot be silenced seemingly and it gets louder and louder.

What’s real and what isn’t blends into one…

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Some advice from Kurt

I love this advice by Kurt Vonnegut for creating art. Some effects of that activity? “You have experienced becoming, learned a lot more about what’s inside you, and you have made your soul grow.” Beautiful.

Poetpaspoetry

In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write a famous author and ask for advice. Kurt Vonnegut was the only one to respond – and his response is magnificent:

“Dear Xavier High School, and Ms. Lockwood, and Messrs Perin, McFeely, Batten, Maurer and Congiusta:

I thank you for your friendly letters. You sure know how to cheer up a really old geezer (84) in his sunset years. I don’t make public appearances any more because I now resemble nothing so much as an iguana.

What I had to say to you, moreover, would not take long, to wit: Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money and fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.

Seriously! I mean starting right now, do art…

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International Paperback Giveaway – The Teleporter — Lee’s Hall of information

This book is a really entertaining read, and here’s your chance to try to win a paperback copy! If you like superhero movies, I’d certainly recommend this novel:

In celebration of The Teleporter reaching 100 Amazon Reviews I am giving away 2 signed paperback copies! To enter: All you need to do is head on over to Twitter and comment, like and retweet my pinned tweet to officially secure your place in the running! If you are chosen as a winner, you’ll need […]

International Paperback Giveaway – The Teleporter — Lee’s Hall of information

Chutzpah, or: Vorpal — The skeptic’s kaddish

Over on the Skeptic’s Kaddish, you’ll find a sequel to Lewis Carroll’s poem “The Jabberwocky.” It’s a fun read with action and nonsense words…

A sequel to ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll Past twestif, all the nochky kreets Did stwirk and smiggle in the glood: All thungry were the zilligeets, And the narvips twitwoo’d. “Acquire that Wocky’s head, I must- Those jaws that bit- from he who fought! Acquire its head, upending trust, As none were there to see it […]

Chutzpah, or: Vorpal — The skeptic’s kaddish

Bernie Memes

I’ve really enjoyed the memes of Bernie Sanders, taken from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s Inauguration on Wednesday. I was tempted to create my own memes of Bernie, so here they are. Bernie’s mittens are fantastic, and they look very warm.