Write, Wrote, Written

I read a quote recently that was attributed to the author Anne Lamott that said most people who want to write a book actually want to say they've written a book. I get that. I agree that having a finished book is much better than having to actually write a book. Writing is hard work. Trying to make something out of nothing is an ordeal. There's also the time issue. Many writers can't afford to write full-time, so we work day jobs and do other things and try to squeeze the writing in between all of that. It's a tough job! I love to write and when I'm into it, it's great. When I'm not, it's terrible. Trying to bring random ideas together in a coherent story with a workable timeline is difficult. The project I'm working on now has been reworked three times. It started with third-person narrators, then went to alternating first-person narrators, and then back to third-person narration. Oy! But it's finally coming together and I plan to have it done by the end of August. It's been a struggle. I've been too distracted with work from my day job (that has overtaken some of my time on the weekends, unfortunately) and the everyday stress of the Covid situation that I just haven't been as diligent about writing as I should have been. I've got to change that and just make the time to write and stop letting everything else interfere with that.

In other news, my Dr. Fauci Bobblehead came in the mail last week. It's about time, Bobblehead Hall of Fame! I ordered this thing back in April. Keep on keeping on, Dr. F! Don't let the haters, Donny T, and the nutjobs get you down. 

Sea Change

I read an article in the NY Times today about changes going on in the publishing industry. In my opinion, these personnel changes are long overdue. For far too long, publishing has been run by the same kinds of people who like the same kinds of books and those books are the ones that get pushed to the public. As someone who's worked in publishing for many years (not trade publishing, but still), I've witnessed this first-hand. And, when you have a homogeneous workforce, you end up with homogeneous books. Another thing you end up with are a group of people who can't see beyond their own circumstances. If these publishing gatekeepers can't imagine a main character who isn't white or who doesn't meet their perception of a person who isn't white, then those books are rejected. Publishing needs to have a diversity of thought as well as race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, life experience, and the list goes on. Different people allow for different perspectives and that's something that is sorely needed in the publishing industry. I hope this sea change (although small) does yield some positive results for authors whose work would have otherwise been dismissed.

Meet Someone Else

When is NBC finally going to give Chuck Todd his walking papers and get a better host for Meet the Press? Todd is awful and has been for some time, yet he continues to have a job. Why? Does he have compromising information on some bigwig at NBC? Meet the Press? It's time to Meet Someone Else, NBC! But this is the same station that let Lyin' Brian Williams come back on the air and have a show after firing him. 

In other news, Donny T. finally strapped a mask over his face this weekend. It's about time but too little too late. He and other government officials should have come out of the gate telling people to wear masks and emphasized that to do so is just like wearing a seat belt when you get in your car. I really don't understand why something as simple as wearing a face mask has turned into a political argument. No one is taking away your rights! You don't have to wear the mask all day every day, just when you're around other people. When you go to the grocery store, when you go to the gas station, when you're in a situation where you can't social distance. You're free to not wear a mask in the privacy of your own home or when you're alone or with members of your household while in a car. People can be so ridiculous over nothing. I don't want your germs and I'm sure you don't want mine, so let's try to prevent the spread of those germs by putting a mask over our noses and mouths when we go out. I had a birthday last week and I told a relative that I'm just glad to be alive and I mean that. Covid is a killer and we all need to do what we can to stay safe.

Let It Go

It's annoying to me that many of the people who scream and complain about confederate statues being removed are the same ones who'll tell you that slavery happened a long time ago and blacks need to "get over it" or "let it go." These same folks who have their panties bunched up about the confederate flag being removed (heritage, not hate, you know) are the same ones who'll say, with a straight face, that racism doesn't exist anymore because we had a black president. Yeah, okay. The statue thing is irrelevant to me. Leave them up, take them down, I don't care. We have bigger fish to fry in this country. What I am against is black kids having to go to Robert E. Lee Elementary School or Stonewall Jackson High School. Those names need to change. I'd be in favor of not naming any public schools after people. Why not go full NY Public Schools and call them PS 35 or something plain like that? Or name the schools after an object. Sandy Beaches High School or Oak Tree Middle School.

In other news, do we really need yet another book to tell us Donny T is nuts? I don't think so even if this latest one is coming from a family member. (The calls are coming from inside the house, Donny!) That whole family is full of psychopaths and idiots and I don't need to spend $30 on a book to tell me that. Hell, you can see the dysfunction on a daily basis!

I'm taking a few days off from my day job this week to try and relax, write, and take care of some business. Last year around this time, I was in La Jolla. This year, I'm sitting on my couch watching Wild Wild West reruns, but that's okay. I'm just glad to be alive and kicking these days.

Take care, stay safe, and wear a mask!

July 6 - Blog Takeover

JMS Books is featuring a blog takeover for authors each day in July. My day is Monday, July 6, so check it out here: https://www.jmsbooksllc.com/

I'll have an excerpt from my upcoming book tentatively titled Thorns in My Side that I'm working hard to finish this summer.

Take care and stay safe!

Hello July!

As each day passes under the Covid quarantine, I've tried to stay positive and I want to believe that one day we'll be on the other side of the situation. But, while we're still in it, I'm happy to be alive. Each day is a good day even if it doesn't feel like it. I'm annoyed that wearing a mask has turned into a political issue. (Thanks, Donny!) Politics should have nothing to do with protecting your health. I wear a mask like a bandit and I'm, thankfully, in a state that mandates masks in public places like grocery stores.

So, hello July. I'm looking forward to another month of great weather (a  welcome surprise here in the Chicago area) and, hopefully, staying well. I hope you are too. Stay safe. Take care.