The Conrad Chronicles

With a joyous smile I finished writing the first draft of book 8 of The Conrad Chronicles today. When I started penning words this afternoon, I knew I was near the end of the book, but didn't realize I'd finish. Usually when I sit down to write with my cup of vanilla piece tea, I write one scene. Today I knocked out the last three and then jotted down notes so I begin writing book 9, which will be the finally book in the series.

Of course, I still need to get books 5 through 7 finished and published. The plan is to publish 5 this year, which will happen as it only needs formatting and one more proof reading after that. I shall have published in the Fall for sure, maybe sooner.

Happy reading!

A Poem For These Times

This morning I awoke with a heavy heart, feeling the anxiety and depression of those around me, and the world. As a historian by training, I feel saddened by where I sense we are going. Normally I don't write poetry, except for my annual Christmas poem, but at dawn, on this lovely blue sky, February day, this poem came to me. It is untitled at this point.

Dreams of Founders shattered,
Fears of the Innocent manifested
as they come to await a tragic end.
Sold out for evil gains,
a nation once full of promise and hope,
titters on the pinnacle of despair,
bracing for the fall into darkness
as faux leaders push
Democracy and the Republic
over the edge and grin wickedly as they die,
thinking themselves gods.