July 2020 Newsletter
Greetings, Readers!
As always, it is difficult to believe that another month has flown by in 2020. Many of us are anxious to get this year over with – for good and obvious reasons – and I have even found myself harboring this attitude from time to time. However, it is in moments like these that I have to remind myself that time is precious, our days on this mortal sod are finite, and we therefore must make the most of every opportunity and every moment.
This is especially true, I have found, with my writing. I have so many ideas, and so many stories that I would love to see materialize on paper – and soon! And so it behooves me to treat the time I have been given with respect, and use it to maximize my gift and love of writing so that I can make these stories into a reality someday.
To that end, I am pleased to say that July has been a quite productive and eventful month. For starters, I turned 41 (yipes!), and had a wonderful – small-ish – birthday celebration with my family.
I have now (self-)published my second book of poetry!!! It is titled “Longing For Home,” and it is available through Amazon ( https://www.amazon.in/Longing-Home-Book-Poetic-Reflections-ebook/dp/B08CZ4X81V ) , and will soon be available through my website also. I am proud of this work, as I am of every work I have completed, but particularly so due to the richness and diversity of the poems that are included in this one. I hope you will take time to get a copy and read it (and tell me what you think).
“Treasure On The James Point,” my new novella, is just before being final-edited and should be ready for submission into the contest I’ve had my eye on for a while. My hope – naturally – is to win this particular contest, and if I do not, to publish it through Words Matter Publishing as a short work of young adult fiction. So we’ll see.
Below is an excerpt of “Treasure,” if you would like to read it. As always, I value feedback, so please tell me what you think.
—It ends today, Ridley Roan told himself.
The late bell would ring soon, but what did he care? At that moment, punctuality was the farthest thing from his mind. He closed his locker, hitched the strap of his backpack over his shoulder, and prayed – pointlessly, he felt – that he would not encounter The Comrades.
The halls of Regent High teemed with bustling teachers and students, all en route to their next classes. Some of them made haste, while others moved at a more languid lick. A few couples held hands and displayed affections with their significant others, but Ridley ignored them all. Per usual, he preferred to slink shadow-like through the masses toward his next class, oblivious to all of the swirling hubbub.
Moments later, he saw them; the very people who would be responsible for him taking his own life later that afternoon. The Comrades were assembled together at their usual hangout spot, and Lucas spotted him first.
“Roan of Arc,” the large ringleader announced loudly, in a voice that sounded almost trumpet-like. “Joan had short hair, Roan’s got long.”
All five of the gang members burst into raucous laughter, and Lucas – fully in his element – led the charge.
“Heard his dick ain’t very long,” Sarah-Em, one of the females, added. Her jab drew even louder guffaws, which echoed down the school corridor.
Life isn’t long, either, Riley thought to himself, as he brushed his long hair out of his face. It ends today…my life ends today. —
Again, I hope that you enjoyed this excerpt of my new story. Prayers and good thoughts are appreciated as I prepare to enter this story into the contest later this month.
And speaking of, I pray that all of you are doing well and doing all that you can to survive and stay well (mentally, spiritually, and physically) during these crazy times. As always, I genuinely appreciate your support, and look forward to staying in touch.
God bless.
John
