Sunday Afternoon Musings in Madison, New Hampshire

Early Afternoon, Sunday, September 29, 2024, Madison, New Hampshire

On this delightful early autumn day, the final Sunday of September 2024, I find myself at my writing desk. My post is quite delayed today because I didn’t rise until just before 10 AM. I had briefly been awake around 6 in the morning but decided it was far too early to start my day, so I nestled back into bed for a few more hours of sleep. After all, Sundays are perfect for slowing down and taking a break from writing to recharge and enjoy some leisure time.

As I mentioned before, today is simply beautiful in eastern New Hampshire. The thermometer reads 71 F (22 C) beneath mostly sunny skies. It’s already 1:38 PM, so we’ve hit the day’s peak temperature. The forecast predicts a mix of clouds throughout the afternoon, giving way to clear skies early this evening.

My afternoon is wide open, so I’m planning to put on my shoes, throw on a light windbreaker and my trusty Star Wars in Concert cap, grab a hiking pole, and take a short stroll down Huttwill Drive before whipping up something for lunch.

Afterward, I could dive into a book or catch a film in my room. Or maybe I’ll give Regiments another go.

Either way, I’m taking a break from my novel today. With Monday ushering in a new workweek tomorrow, Reunion: Coda will have to wait till then. Finishing it before my Miami trip isn’t happening, so I’m preserving my day of rest, especially since Sunday is already halfway over.

I sincerely hope that some of you, especially those familiar with my writing career and the book Reunion: A Story, would consider purchasing a copy. It would greatly boost my morale (leaving Madison so soon after arriving was not part of my plans, but my options are either moving back to Miami where I have a room offer or facing a nursing home in New Hampshire) and help ease my financial burden. According to the reviews, my novella is definitely worth reading.

Per Amazon’s AI-generated summary of those reviews:

Customers find the book pleasant, saying it’s a great read. They also describe the story as poignant and beautifully told. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and quick. They say the characters have personality and depth.

Here’s Meg Learner’s review on Amazon.co.uk

5.0 out of 5 stars Great story, well written

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2018

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A lovely lyrical book and excellently written. It makes use of flashbacks, yet these are expertly woven into the story so that you always know where you are and how they contribute to the tale.This is quite a short read (I downloaded it to my Kindle and read it on my train journey) but it certainly packs a lot into the story and the idea is fresh and novel. I have not read a story like this before. It’s not my normal type of reading material, as most of my reading these days is factual or business related but I really enjoyed it and was sorry when it was finished.

The book basically makes the point that it is better to be sorry for sins of commission, rather than regret sins of omission, yet it also shows how the angst of high school and teen fears get in the way of true love. One point I would make – I would LOVE to see a sequel to this, written from Marty’s point of view. PLEASE?

And here’s Pooja Gudka’s review from Amazon.co.ca:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic story about love, loss and regret

Reviewed in Canada on July 31, 2024

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The plot was what drew me to the story. I’m not usually drawn to romance novels or anything particular romantic. But the summary for this book really drew me in because it’s something most of us can relate to- lost love. We all have “the one that got away.” Well, most of us anyway. Also, as a historian myself I loved that Garraty’s character was a historian and was intrigued by that.

The author also explores multiple philosophical aspects of life such as true love, happiness, friendships, loss and regret. Things most adults are familiar with. We also learn the importance of confessing our feelings when we have the chance because life is so incredibly unpredictable.

The characters were relatable, emotion evoking, thoughtful and I loved that the characters grew and evolved. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.