StanleyWheeler

Before I get to the main story: The first proofreader has completed the read through of Smoke , and pronounced it very good. She wasn't even disappointed in the ending. I would say more, but I don't want to spoil anything. Another proofreader has provided lavish praise from both herself, and her husband (I'm slightly wounded by the fact that his praise seemed to be of a surprised nature). Other comments from readers include: "Emotionally evocative," "Very good character development," "Excellent plot going on," "The descriptions are very clear." I could go on, but I don't want to boast--although I don't mind other people boasting for me. *** "Stop talking to him!" I wanted to shout...but I didn't shout. I just said it loud enough that I could hear it; maybe the first two people in front of me heard it too; I don't know. They didn't react. Why did I care if one person talked to another? It was important...

Combat! Season 1 Episode 9: They’re headed uphill, into a cemetery; then the shelling starts… Hanley gives the order, “Dig in!” Cage isn’t thrilled about the idea of digging into the asphodel fields. Littlejohn says, “This is one hole I thought somebody else would dig for me.” A guy we haven’t seen before makes his way to Hanley; he says that the captain wants him to send a man back out…as soon as that man gets back from the last mission. A few moments later, out of the smoky blasts walks a figure; he’s carrying another soldier. It's Saunders! He’s exhausted—we’ve seen this setup before. He has come back from the land of snipers and landmines. He lost 5 NPCs. Hanley tells him he has to report back to S-2. Saunders says he has nothing to report. He didn’t see anything. That’s too bad. He has to go back; they want him to go back out again…orders. Saunders says, as he leans his head against a slanted headstone, “Funny. I feel like I belong here.” Roll t...

Smoke is finished! I sat down this morning and wrapped it up. It's a bittersweet pill, completing this work. I put a lot into it, and enjoyed every bit of it. Of course, I still have to do the cover (for which I need someone to give me a cigarette to use; part of the cover photo will feature diaphanous tendrils coiling upward from the cancer stick), and have it proofread, and complete the formatting...but the creation, the writing, the assembly of the monster is complete; the rest is just connecting the wires and calling down the lightning. I'll be treading on the wafting ether for a few days contemplating the completion of the endeavor. The book is inspired by the likes of The Big Sleep , The Maltese Falcon , This Gun for Hire , and a slew of others, including My Favorite Brunette . Bogey would have been a great choice to play the protagonist; Alan Ladd might have been an even better choice. Some other time, I'll think about living actors who might play the roles o...

It wasn't installed by Dr. Daystrom , but I call it M-5...because it wants to kill me.  I worked the machine vigorously for several minutes. When I paused, I realized that my legs had turned to jelly, or possibly marmelade--although I don't know what a "marmel" is, or why anyone should make a sweet drink from it. I was barely able to walk or stand; I hobbled and wobbled like a nonagenarian after a spin on the tilt-a-whirl.  Later, I thought that two of my sisters could have done that workout without getting a case of marmelegs (new word!) from the experience. The two of them are rabid avid bicyclists; they could have done the workout while singing the "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the voice of Freddy Mercury; they certainly have the moustaches for it. Of course, I'm kidding--I don't think they could do the singing part. Something last week reminded me of "tabernacle talk," which I developed when I was a kid. I had discovered that the word...