A Wish For A Happy Writing Day!
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Thoughts From Chaucer and Shakespeare
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(illustration from Cassell’s History Of England – Century Edition – published circa 1902)
“And gladly wolde he lerne, and gladly teche”
“And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach.”
These are the Middle English and the Modern English versions of this quotation from “The General Prologue” of The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. This idea is of enormous importance to me, because I am both a teacher and a life-long student. All people should try to continue to learn throughout their lives and to teach someone else the wisdom they have amassed.
(Portrait of William Shakespeare, attributed to John Taylor
NPG London)
“Suit the action to the word,
the word to the action, with this special observance,
that you o’erstep not the modesty of of nature. For
anything so over-done is from the purpose of playing,
whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to
hold, as ’twere, the mirror up to nature, to show virtue
her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age
and body of the time his form and pressure.”
William Shakespeare (Hamlet Act 3. Scene2. lines 16-23)
Shakespeare speaks to the importance of representing life and humanity as it is and to examine the world in its complexities; it can also be an injunction for all creative efforts. I do not mean we should eliminate abstraction, metaphor, or altered forms, but that, at our core, we are creating art about humanity and our world.
Keep learning and keep sharing what you know.
Quotations on Justice
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(https://commons.wikimedia.org)
“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”
Elie Wiesel
“No man is justified in doing evil on the ground of expediency.”
Theodore Roosevelt
(https://commons.wikimedia.org)
“When will our consciences grow so tender that we will act to prevent human misery rather than avenge it?”
Eleanor Roosevelt
“An injustice to one person is a crime against everyone, and we must always try to achieve true justice in the world.”
Charles F. French
Have A Good Writing Day–Everyday!
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I simply wanted to wish all writers a good writing day–today and always. I also hope you will have excellent production on whatever project you are tackling.
Never doubt your abilities, and work on getting your first drafts done. They will not be perfect, but you will then have material to revise.
Remember to try to write every day and read everyday.
Happy Writing!
Get The Draft Done! is available here: Amazon.com
Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.
Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
Available on Amazon
Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 1 by Charles F. French — 100 reviews!
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Photo by rovenimages.com on Pexels.com
Yay!
Woo-hoo!
My book Maledicus: The Investigative Paranormal Society, Book 1 reached 100 reviews on Amazon!
Here is one of the most recent reviews:
Invite Maledicus into your home, you won’t regret it!
Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
Time For A July Self-Promotion Party!
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(Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com)
Hello to all the writers out there and reading this blog!
It is time for a shameless self-promotion party, so please do not be shy about your work.
Be proud of your writing!
Let the world know about your book(s)!
Shout to the world about your writing!
Tell us about your book(s), and leave an image and a link if you can.
In order for as many people to see your work as possible, please Tweet and reblog this post!
Here is my self-promotion: my latest book can help writers who have issues with finishing first drafts of their books. If that is you, I offer direct, practical advice on how to Get The Draft Done! by Charles F. French.
Get The Draft Done! is available here: Amazon.com
Gallows Hill can be found here in ebook.
Gallows Hill in paperback can be found here.
An interview about Gallows Hill can be found here.
Please follow the following links to find my novel:
Thank you!
The book trailer:
Maledicus:Investigative Paranormal Society Book I
My radio interview:
Available on Amazon
What Is On Your TBR list?
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I was wondering what everyone is reading and what you are also planning on reading. Summer is often a great time to catch up on our books, although the last few days have been a bit difficult with the heat wave and broken air-conditioning in our apartment unit. (We do have portable air-conditioners, so there are no worries.)
I am currently reading Eterenal by Lisa Scottoline, The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, and The Man In The High Castle, by Philip K. Dick.
On my To-Be-Read list are Weathering Old Souls by James J. Cudney & Didi Oviatt, Quichotte by Salman Rushdie, and The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles.
So I ask all of you: what are you reading and what is on your To-Be-Read List?
A Terrible Event At A Wonderful Coffee House
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Taylor Roasted CoffeeHouse, an extraordinary coffee house exists in Northampton, PA, a small town in the northern part of the Lehigh Valley, PA. It is one of my favorite places, and it feels like going to SoHo in New York City when I sit there with coffee and write. The atmosphere is friendly and artistic, and it is one of those places where people feel comfortable to sit by themselves, with others, or to have conversation with other patrons of the shop. Also, their coffee is the best I have ever had, and this comes from a serious lover of java!
Unfortunately, someone severely damaged the establishment, and I am quoting from their Facebook Page:
“The coffeehouse will unfortunately be closed for a while. In the middle of the night, someone extended the garden hose from the Uptown Park into our coffee roasters exhaust pipe and turned the water fully on. It completely flooded our roaster, a large portion of the upstairs area, and our basement. As we dry out, clean, and repair the shop, we will keep everyone updated on a reopening date. Thank you everyone for your continual support.”
The owners are wonderful people and friends of ours, and I hope that when they return to business, everyone will consider placing an order for their excellent coffee–and yes, it can be delivered!
While The Bombs Fell by Robbie Cheadle & Elsie Hancy Eaton — A Review
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This is a small book, only in length, but please do not be misled by its relatively short size. It is a wonderful historical read, and it is full of interesting and captivating details of life during World War Two as seen through the eyes of a child.
Robbie Cheadle and Elsie Hancy Eaton do a marvelous job of pulling the reader into the child’s perspective, who finds wonder and joy, even in this terrible historical period. I loved reading about how the family survived with what they had and still managed to maintain the important aspects of life regardless of the hardships of the time.
The details are fascinating, and the added recipes are delightful. If you are interested in history or a captivating tale, then I recommend this book highly!
I was enthralled in the story from the very beginning through to the end. I have tended to read historical accounts as told through the perspective of adults, and this book, narrated by a very young child, is a refreshing approach.
I give this book a 5 star review, and I hope you buy a copy and read it!
Please visit Robbie Cheadle’s wonderful sites:
Robbie Cheadle–Books/Poems/Reviews
Quotations on Stories
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“We owe it to each other to tell stories.”
Neil Gaiman
“Fiction is the truth inside the lie.”
Stephen King
