Milestone Saturday: Celebrating a Copyright Achievement and the Journey of an Aspiring Novelist in Sunny Miami

Late Morning/Midday, Saturday, February 8, 2025, Miami, Florida

“We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.” ― Jimmy Neil Smith

Hi, everyone. It’s a beautiful and warm late winter morning in the subtropics. The temperature is 81°F (27°C) under mostly sunny skies. Some clouds are around, but otherwise, this second Saturday of February is, as they say, “one for the tourists.”

Today, I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be receiving my certificate from the Library of Congress’ Copyright Office, officially registering and protecting my novella, Reunion: A Story. While I still need to register my novel, Reunion: Coda, the process involves a fee that I can only manage once I clear the bill for the first registration. Copyrighting my work is crucial as it legally safeguards my creative efforts and ensures that my stories remain mine.

Even though I’m not raking in Stephen King-like royalties, this step makes me feel more a part of the professional writing community. It’s a significant milestone in my journey as an author, and I can’t wait to see where it leads me next.

On Writing and Storytelling: Action This Day

“I’ve always said I have one skill. That skill – if I have it at all – is storytelling.” – Mitch Albom

I might work on the manuscript this afternoon; I didn’t start Chapter 25 yesterday, even though I had hoped Calliope would send some inspiration my way. I know, I know. Every time I finish a chapter, my brain pulls a Roberto Durán on me and says, “No más!” Maybe it’s my subconscious attempt to prevent me from rushing pell-mell to the finish and botching the ending to my first novel, or maybe I’m still daunted by the fact that I’m writing a novel at all. Whatever the reason, despite my strong desire to work on Reunion: Coda, the best I could do yesterday was create a week-long Free Kindle Edition promotion for Reunion: A Story.

We’ll see what happens. It is a Saturday, after all, and even storytellers need a break from the grind.