The Summer Progress Journal: Where June Ends and the Work Begins

Monday, June 29, 2026 – Orlando, Florida

“I had turned away from the picture and was going back to the world where events move, men change, light flickers, life flows in a clear stream, no matter whether over mud or over stones.” — Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim

June is about to hand the stage over to July, and with this heat wave pressing down on the Eastern Seaboard, I’m doing my best to keep my eyes pointed forward instead of drifting back.

It is exquisitely hot in Central Florida today — 94°F, with a feels‑like temperature of 105°F. I’m doing the sensible things: drinking plenty of fluids, wearing light clothes and a hat, and limiting my outdoor adventures to the mailbox and similar errands. Even so, a few minutes outside are enough to wear me out. I’ve already walked over to the mailbox by 10th Street twice, and both times it was empty. I’m not exactly eager for the next trip, but I’ll make it anyway.

And yet, even as I try to stay rooted in the present, my thoughts wander to the Land of Ago — especially Room 136 in the music annex at South Miami Senior High and my memories of Ms. Owen. But that is not where today needs to go. Today, I need to focus on my current literary project: editing The Jim Garraty Chronicles, the omnibus that gathers Reunion: A Story, Reunion: Coda, The Summer of Two Movies, and Comings and Goings – The Art of Being Seen.

My relationship with that project is…complicated.

Last fall, not long after publishing Reunion: Coda and Comings and Goings, I had one of those rare bursts of optimism. I decided to bring the Garratyverse stories to Audible. Audiobooks were never part of the original plan — they’re not even my preferred format — but many of my old Epinions friends swear by them. Less clutter, easier “reading,” and ignoring consumer trends is foolish. So I acquiesced. There are now three Alex Diaz‑Granados titles on Audible.

At that point, even though I still hadn’t found a single narrator‑producer, my enthusiasm was running high. I thought I had stumbled onto a brilliant idea: Why not collect all my existing Jim Garraty stories — with room for more someday — in one convenient omnibus? I already had the manuscripts. I had Kindle Create. So why not?

If you’re a regular visitor to this space, you already know why my enthusiasm has cooled. The formatting issues with Kindle Create are tough obstacles to overcome. I spend more time redoing subheadings than finessing the text because the app insists on capitalizing every word. Maybe I’m too impatient, or maybe I’m simply worn down, but fixing subheads has become a literary quagmire.

And, of course, the dearth of new sales and reviews for Reunion: Coda and Comings and Goings doesn’t help. I wasn’t expecting Stephen King‑level royalties or critical acclaim, but I did hope that many of the folks who read and liked Reunion: A Story would be thrilled to see the new tales they once wished for.

Nevertheless, I persist.

As my late chorus teacher and musical mentor used to say: “The show must go on, folks. So, let’s get to work.”