I really got into the wyvern thing while writing Trouble in Choctaw County, so I purchased a 3D-printed model of one. It's pretty cool. It was just plain resin-grey when it arrived, and in 7 pieces. I spent 4 days putting it together and painting it to look more realistic. What do you think? Pretty cool, I think.
Only 31 more days until the book is released. I can't wait. If everybody puts 58 cents in a cup everyday, then you will have saved enough money to purchase the paperback version - $17.99.
I needed something to do so I put together a little side project called My Life in Music. Music has played an important role in my life and I wanted to document this. I've also written several songs and wanted to get them in some kind of state where someday, someone might actually see them. The booklet is about 30 pages long and includes some old photos.
I started playing the piano when I was around 9 or 10. I played by ear, but had to take lessons. I could play just about anything, but I couldn't get the reading music part, so I quit at the ripe old age of 11. I played drums in a rock and roll band when I was a teenager, then nothing for about 30 years.
My brother was also in a rock band, and one day, when I was in my early 50s, he came to our ranch in San Diego County and brought a guitar and a snare drum with high-hat cymbal. I already had a harmonica, so that was the start, or restart, of my musical activity. We formed a little garage band we jokingly called the G Tones (I only had one harmonica at the time and it was in the key of G).
Now I'm in the process of trying to learn enough about music notation to actually write the music for at least some of my songs (otherwise they're just poetry, aren't they?). Let me just say, if you are 9 or 10 years old, and reading this blog, listen to your mother and keep taking piano lessons.
Rumor has it that I am visiting my daughter and grandchildren in Phoenix in August. I plan to take a side trip back out to Ramona, California, to see all my buds back there as well. Looking forward to seeing everybody.
The rumor is going around Florida that I was selected as a finalist for a Florida Writers Association President's Award for Historical Fiction. Don't know what level yet - Bronze, Silver, or Gold. I guess I will find out at the annual conference in Orlando on July 30. Good rumor!
After Paula and I returned from Italy, I had to go on a diet/detox plan. I'm sure all of you know that I was an AAU competitive bodybuilder back in the day (I'm being facetious - about you knowing this, that is), but I looked more like a sumo wrestler after Italy. I've lost 20 pounds so far, which was actually quite a bit for me. Still working on it - no more bodybuilding though.