The amount of effort that goes into writing a book is enormous. It’s hard work, and to me a kind of method acting where I do my best to be the characters for a short while. I let the characters figure out what they are doing and let the story flow like water. If you’ve ever written a novel, you’ll know how draining that is.
Sunspots
It’s Tuesday, which is the day I answer mail. But over the last week, I’ve gotten nothing but nice messages full of warmth and support. Thank you. I like getting these, I really do, as I rarely think my writing ability is remotely adequate (I can’t stand re-reading my own stuff after it’s published). But a Midwestern sense of modesty prohibits me from answering only happy letters, so I wasn’t sure what to do – skip the mailbag routine, or risk looking like an arrogant jerk?
Ghosts
My daughter recently told me that for Halloween, her school allows the kids to dress up as anything they want. Anything except witches, that is. Apparently, some Christians found that to be offensive.
There was no word on dressing up like Jesus or the Holy Family, but my kids didn’t find that particularly interesting. Or funny. But I couldn’t stop thinking why witches are so offensive so some people.
Voyages
On this day 515 years ago, the cry echoed quickly through the Santa Maria. After 70 days of nothing but ocean, with fear and boredom grumbling through the crew, there was something to shout. Land! Almost exactly where the captain expected to find Japan! A new trade route to Cathay was theirs, something that previously seemed beyond imagination. It was an amazing discovery.
Obsolete Houses
I recently had a chance to talk with a real estate agent who has many years of experience. He’s seen ups and downs, and knows what it looks like when an entire city is on its knees or reaching to the sky with great cranes working downtown. The latest cycle? It doesn’t surprise him one bit.
Barataria - The work of Erik Hare 