A Short Story for Your Day

Here's a homegrown story for your reading pleasure: Black by Nick Senger Johnny wore black to school every day. Black pants, black t-shirt, long black trenchcoat. "You're a nice boy, Johnny," his teacher would say. "Why do you always wear black?" "It suits me, Mrs. Parker," Johnny always replied. "I'm nobody." "No one's nobody, dear," she said. "God has plans for everyone." "Not me." As Johnny went through junior high Mrs. Parker would see him on the playground or in the detention room, always wearing the black pants, the black t-shirt and the long black trenchcoat. One day she saw his picture in the paper. He had been caught trying to steal a car. She visited him in jail. "You're a nice boy, Johnny," she said. "Why do you always wear black?" "It suits me. I'm nobody." "No one's nobody, dear. God has plans for everyone." "Not me." A few more years went by, and Mrs. Parker heard about Johnny occasionally: two more stints in jail, then he was in the hospital, after he'd been injured in a drive-by shooting. She stood beside the hospital bed. He was in a white gown under white linen sheets. "You're not wearing black, Johnny." He frowned. "I know, Mrs. Parker. I feel naked." "You still want to wear black, Johnny? Why?" "You know why," he replied. "It suits me." "I have something for you." She opened up a box and took out a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. "These are for you." He frowned again. "Mrs. Parker--" "Don't talk," she interrupted. "Just promise me you'll wear these when you get out of the hospital. Will you promise me that, Johnny?" He looked away and said nothing. She left before he could see the tears in the corners of her eyes. That was the last time she saw him. He disappeared from her life. Years went by and Mrs. Parker got old. She got sick. She got admitted to the hospital. When Johnny came through the door she almost cried. He was still wearing black. Black pants, black trenchcoat buttoned to the chin. "Oh, Johnny," she cried, "you're still wearing black. Why?" He smiled and put his hand on hers. "I tried the blue jeans and the white t-shirt, and I wore them for awhile. But I had to go back to black." "But why, Johnny, why? God has a purpose for everyone." "You're right, Mrs. Parker. And thanks to you I found my purpose." He opened up his trenchcoat so she could see the white collar around his neck. "You saved me, Mrs. Parker." He took out the sacred oil and annointed her forehead. "May God bless you, Mrs. Parker," he said, and he made the sign of the cross, smiling again. "I hope you don't mind that I'll be wearing black for the rest of my life." "No," she said. "It suits you." Copyright 2007, Nick Senger

How to Turn a Book into a Treasured Heirloom

(Cross-posted at ROMAN Reading) Stefanie at So Many Books has just posted a review of ROMAN Reading and it's generating some great comments about marking in books. Here's one by Whatladder that I particularly like: My husband claims that his favourite book ever is the copy of the Norton Anthology of Poetry I gave him that had all my pencilled notes in it. What a terrific reminder of the value of marking in books. Besides helping you engage in the text, writing in a book also leaves a visible sign of your presence. When Whatladder's husband reads her marked up book of poetry, he's not just coming into contact with great writers, he's getting to know his wife more intimately. She's there in those pages--her ideas, her reactions, her spirit. I think it's beautifully romantic that her husband has recognized that. Can you imagine a more meaningful and personal family heirloom than a library of books full of our own thoughts, comments and insights? Think of our children and grandchildren reading through them, getting to know their ancestors. I would love to have a set of books written in by my grandparents. We only get to know our parents and grandparents when they're older; what if we could read their minds when they were our age? What if I could know what my own father thought about life when he was twenty or thirty or forty? Leaving comments in books gives us that chance. Let's take it a step further: What if your grandmother wrote comments in her copy of Pride and Prejudice, for example. And what if your mother inherited it and added her comments to her mother's? And now the book is yours. Not only do you have a treasured physical possession, you also have something far more valuable: your mother's and grandmother's intimate thoughts and emotions captured for a brief moment on paper. But there's more: Now you have the chance to add your own reflections, insights and reactions to the book for your daughter to read. Here's an idea: Buy a book with one of your children or grandchildren in mind and read it, marking it up as you go. You can direct the comments directly to them, or you can simply mark it up as you would any piece of literature. After you've finished the book, wrap it up and give it to them as a present. Save it for graduation, or their wedding, or a significant birthday. Maybe give it to them on their confirmation or bar mitzvah, or at a baby shower. For more about marking up a text, download my free ebook ROMAN Reading: 5 Practical Skills for Transforming Your Life through Literature.

The Ultimate Blook Guide: Blogging Your Book

One of the great things about joining a group writing project is that you discover some other good bloggers and blog posts, like Novlr.com's Ultimate Blook Guide: Blogging Your Book. Whether you're currently writing a book or just thinking about it, you might find Novlr.com's ideas helpful. Topics include: Choosing a blogging platform Set it up Optimize Copyright Write! Promote Publish

Getting Back to Writing

I've decided to really make a big push to finish the first draft of the book I've been writing. If I really get serious about it, I could have a solid draft done by the middle of April. It's time I get this thing finished and ready to publish. Unfortunately, that means taking time away from reading. But I can't let reading keep me from accomplishing one of my major life goals of having written a book. So wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted on my progress and maybe talk a little bit about what I'm writing. I forgot first line Friday (of course!) so here it is, a little belated: "Rage: Sing, Goddess, Achilles' rage, Black and murderous, that cost the Greeks Incalculable pain, pitched countless souls Of heroes into Hades' dark, And left their bodies to rot as feasts For dogs and birds, as Zeus' will was done." From Iliad by Homer, translated by Stanley Lombardo