Christmas – Solano Writing

Let’s be honest,

5-6 thousand words is not enough to do justice to the subject of autism and still tell the story. You’ll just have to read the Wil Clarey series when it gets published.

On the positive side, I was able to write a complete story and edit it (with the help of a couple of beta readers) in the space of just three weeks. It was fast and furious fun!

The purpose of my Christmas short stories is not just to share the stories but to expand my platform.

To be frank, in order to get the Wil Clarey books published, I need a larger number of followers. I say this to encourage you to follow my Facebook and Instagram pages as well as this blog.

Feel free to share the link to my stories with anyone you think might be interested.

Keep an eye on this page as I will attempt to resume my weekly blogs now that my short story writing push is over.

In case you’re interested in my longer stories, here’s the latest.

Wil Clarey – The impossible Summer is complete and ready for professional editors.

Wil Clarey – School of Hard Knocks is 80% through content edit.

Wil Clarey – The Mystery at the Mill is complete in rough draft form.

Reymons – I will restart the rewrite in a couple of weeks when I am done with the School of Hard Knocks edit. Much of the middle of the book series was written when I realized that I needed to do a lot more background and character development. My current plan to make it a three book arc. Book one will be background and development to the lead characters up to the escape from Reymons (a massive city under what is now Humphrey’s Peak in Arizona). Book two will cover the adventure of our lead characters traveling to a haven at the coast through many surprise interactions with above ground cultures. Book three will be the return to and rescue of Reymons.

I love Christmas!

I’ll put up Christmas lights until they can be seen from space.

But I refuse to turn them on until the day after Thanksgiving!

A local radio station started playing Christmas music on November 11^th

and I want to yell “STOP!”

Friends post pictures of their trees put up early

and I want to block them until December.

Walmart’s garden section is gone, replaced by a plethora of trees, lights, yard décor, and garlands.

Yes, I avoid that side of the store.

Did Scrooge infect me with a heart two sizes too small?

Did Rudolph punch me in the gut with his red snout?

No!

I just want to dwell in the attitude of

Thanksgiving.

This used to be a time that people celebrated the harvest. People would be truly thankful to God for the provision of food for the winter.

I know for many, this is a lean season. Inflation has hit hard at a time that many companies are downsizing. We are having to find ways to cut our budget.

But we still have so much to be thankful for.

I am reminded of a family I met years ago in Tijuana, Mexico. The mother worked at a mission to the poorest barrio. She invited our mission group to her home.

She was very proud of it. She prepared a simple dessert for us as we made our way in our fancy American cars into her neighborhood. It was on a hill, well above the flood zones that affected the barrio by the mission.

When we pulled up, we saw the plain cement block home with a metal roof. Upon entering, we were greeted by the bright colors of Mexican blankets covering the walls and the few seats.

The whole house was about the size of our living room.

She beamed as she welcomed us to her happy home.

I have also had customers who lived in grand homes with every luxury you can imagine.

And some of them were miserable!

What was the main difference?

Thankfulness.

That woman in Tijuana thanked God she no longer had to deal with floods, or a leaking roof. She had a job and food for her family. Life for her was awesome.

That wealthy customer always looked at what he didn’t have. He strove for the next big deal. He was all business. Sure, he had fun with all his toys, but they never satisfied.

Each of us has so much to be thankful for.

Do you have food for your next meal?

Do you have a place to sleep?

Do you have friends?

Do you have breath in your lungs?

If you answered yes to any of those, you have something to be thankful for!

So, before I get caught up in the excitement of the season of the Advent of Christ, I will dwell on my blessings.

Then, I’ll be thankful for the biggest blessing of all, God’s arrival on Earth to redeem humanity.

And then I’ll decorate the house until it looks like Santa’s elves are moving in.

Tag: Christmas

The Shortcomings of Short Stories

I had a blast writing my latest Christmas story, The Star of Mystery.