Musings for Monday, November 4, 2024, or: A New Workweek Begins for This Novelist!

Midday/Early Afternoon, Monday, November 4, 2024, Miami, Florida

Greetings and salutations, Constant Readers.

It’s Monday again, and this being South Florida, it is a muggy and windy late autumn day. Currently, the temperature is 84°F (29°C) under partly sunny conditions. With humidity at 66% and the wind blowing from the east-northeast at 18 MPH (29 KmH), the heat index is 90°F (32°C). We can expect partly sunny conditions and a high of 84°F (29°C). Not very autumn-like conditions, at least from the perspective of someone who experienced all four seasons over 10 months in Madison, New Hampshire, but, hey, who needs fall foliage when you have palm trees and hurricanes?

Today is the first day of a new workweek, and I plan to work on Reunion: Coda after my midday break. I’ll probably start my afternoon shift sometime after 2 PM; I’ve been up since six this morning, but I feel sluggish mentally and physically. I don’t know if it’s my body trying to readapt to Miami’s warmer climate, stress over the move, or what, but I should be far more energetic than I feel. Maybe I need to switch from coffee to Cuban espresso—after all, when in Miami, do as the Miamians do!

Anyway…about the novel. Today I’ll focus on editing Chapter 20’s second scene. I’ve already proofread it a few times – otherwise, I wouldn’t have published an excerpt from it in yesterday’s blog post – but I believe that it should be better than it currently is. So I’ll be in “Editor Mode” for much of my four-hour Novel Writing shift this afternoon. If I don’t need to tweak the scene too much, I might try to at least outline Scene Three as part of my working day. If not, there’s always tomorrow. And who knows, maybe tomorrow I’ll wake up with the energy of a Florida retiree at a line-dancing class.

As I gear up to dive into the second volume of the Reunion Duology, I hope you’ll consider picking up a copy of the first volume, Reunion: A Story: A Novella. Not only does it introduce my protagonist, Jim Garraty, but it also marks my debut into the world of fiction. I penned it way back in 1998 as a daring experiment to see if I could conjure up a “made-up” story that wasn’t just fanfiction or a poor imitation of Tom Clancy or Harry Turtledove. For two decades, Reunion languished in a Microsoft Word file, faithfully transferred to every new PC I acquired. It wasn’t until six summers ago that I finally published it on CreateSpace, partly to impress someone who is not easily impressed, and perhaps to earn a few bucks in royalties. Who knew heartbreak could be so creatively productive?

While I might not yet be hailed as the next Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, or Jonathan Franzen, I am undoubtedly a compelling storyteller. Reunion: A Story has garnered 25 glowing ratings and at least 16 enthusiastic reviews on Amazon, including accolades from international readers. So don’t just take my word for it; here’s what others say about my debut novella.

 What might have been

Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024

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Jim Garraty’s dream of becoming a history professor at a prestigious university has come true. He has some well-regarded publications under his belt and is working on the next one.

However, he’s still hurting from his recent divorce. And then comes the phone call from his old high school pal. Marty—the girl he loved back in the day—has died in a car crash. One of Jim’s greatest regrets is that he never told Marty he cared for her. Would romance have come of it? Or even friendship? It’s too late to know now.

Jim’s story is told in a series of flashbacks and returns to the present. The reader follows him through the last few days of high school when he had the chance to speak to Marty— but didn’t.

It’s a lyrical tale of regret for chances not taken, told in dreams and memories. It speaks to anyone who has been to high school and anyone who remembers the one who got away.

This pleasant, if bittersweet, novella is short enough to read in one sitting. – Denise Longrie

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. – Pooja Gudka

In conclusion, if you are searching for a deeply moving and thought-provoking read, I would highly recommend giving Reunion: A Story a chance. Its exploration of love, loss, and the bittersweet nature of missed opportunities will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered about the road not taken. Moreover, your support will greatly assist me in my transition from New England to Florida and inspire me to continue working on the second book of the duology.

Lastly, to my American readers, as you contemplate adding this beautiful novella to your reading list, please remember to exercise your right to vote tomorrow on Election Day. Every vote counts, and your voice matters.

Thank you for your continued support.