It’s full-on February, but yesterday’s high temperature was 60°f (16°c) or 70 degrees warmer than it was a week ago. I don’t like to complain about the weather, but this roller coaster ride we’re having with the thermometer is making me crazy. At least the bar is open and Cheryl is here with David and me as we relax, talk about the weather and wrestle with Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt:
“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘heart.’ Use it any way you like. Have fun!”
If we were having a beer, you’d be interested in what I was reading.
“What are you reading, Dan? One of your own eBooks?”
“Not hardly, David. I read them so many times before I finally cut them loose, I’m not sure I want to go back there.”
“So, what’s that, then?”
“It’s The Cricket on the Hearth by Charles Dickens.”
“You’re reading Charles Dickens? That seems a little out of character.”
“You want to know what else seems out of character? You two have been here for several minutes and neither of you has asked for something to drink.”
“Well, I think I’m buying today, and I know I’m having a John Howell’s Special. Dan?”
“A nice cold Modelo for me, Cheryl.”
“So, Dan, why are you reading this story?”
“Yvette, over at her Priorhouse blog is running a Dicken’s challenge.”
“She ran one last year, didn’t she? In fact, I thought you were going to participate in it.”
“She did, and I was going to participate, but it ended on June ninth.”
“Here you go, guys. One cold beer, one bourbon, a snifter of seltzer, sheesh, David, this is getting old.”
“But there is more, right?”
“Yes, of course, a glass of ice and a few cherries.”
“Thanks Cheryl. Dan, am I correct in thinking that Charles Dickens also ended on June ninth?”
“You are, David. The challenge runs from February eleventh—the day of his birth—to June ninth.”
“I see. And of course from February eleventh last year until May thirty-first, you were writing, editing and preparing to publish your first book.”
“That’s true. And after I published my first book, I wasn’t really up for reading a book by an author who was much better at his craft than I am at mine.”
“No offense, Dan, but there are a lot of authors who are better at their craft than you are at yours.”
“When does the no offense part come in?”
“I’m just curious. Why Dickens?”
“This challenge is about reading his novellas. At first, they wanted us to read three. Then they changed it to one.”
“And you’re reading The Cricket on the Hearth.”
“Actually, I’m going to try to read three. I feel like I have to read at least two.”
“Why?”
“Well, each year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I watch umpteen different versions of A Christmas Carol. My wife always says none are as good as reading the book.”
“Did you ever read the book?”
“Yes, but a long time ago. So, I think I’m going to read it next.”
“You’ve written about Dickens before, haven’t you?”
“I did, I wrote about The Mystery of Edwin Drood, in a post about the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. I also feel like I have a connection to Dickens.”
“How’s that, Dan?”
“Well, as I mentioned in that old post, Charles Dickens visited Windsor Locks, Connecticut—you know, where I live. He even traveled on the Windsor Locks Canal.”
“That is interesting. Small town in the third-smallest state. Quite a coincidence.”
“There’s another coincidence, David. In my second book, one of the characters is held in what used to be known as Western State Penitentiary, outside of Pittsburgh. Dickens visited that prison.”
“You do seem to keep running into traces of Charles Dickens. Maybe you should read more of his work.”
“Would you like another beer, Dan? Perhaps you’d like some Gin punch or a Smoking Bishop.”
“Modelo, Cheryl. Modelo will be fine.”
“And another bourbon for me, Cheryl. Good luck with the challenge, Dan.”
“Thanks David.”
All five of my current books are now available in audio book form thanks to Amazon KDP’s Virtual Voice process. The voice is AI generated, but I can honestly say, it’s pretty darn good. The audio books are reasonably priced (all below $7 US) and, if you already own the Kindle version and want to add an audio version, you can do that for $1.99. There is a five-minute sample on the book page for each book. If you’re interested, click on any of the Dreamer’s Alliance book links below the image or on the link below for my latest book.
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