We’re officially in spring–let’s hope the winter storms stay away! Locally, our weather’s been decent this week, with plenty of sunshine and little rain. However, the wind is still making things feel cold, but an extra layer of clothing takes care of that.
The flower bed in the front yard is now ready for its influx of new plants. Most of the perennials are already back out with fresh leaves and some even have flowers. It’s all taking the winter bareness away.
It’s also been a good week because the NCAA March Madness is underway. I always look forward to seeing this championship. I record all of the games shown in my area, and so far I’ve watched the First Four and the First Round games. As always, some upsets, but it’s all part of the game. At least my two favorite teams, Michigan and Michigan State, made it into the second round. Will check out Round Two tonight.
So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on March 24th. (compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):
Arai Hakuseki, Japanese writer and politician; Jose F de Isla, [Francisco de Salazar], Spanish Jesuit/writer; Jacob van Lennep, Dutch poet and novelist; Robert Hamerling, Austrian poet ; William Morris, English designer/craftsman/poet/socialist; Honoré Beaugrand, Quebec journalist and newspaper publisher (La Patrie); Silas Hocking, British novelist and preacher; Olive Schreiner, South African writer (Portrait of a South African Woman); Top Naeff, [Anthonetta van Rhijn-N-Naeff], Dutch writer; Gianna Manzini, writer; Malcolm Muggeridge, English writer (Observer of Life); Andre Christiaens, Flemish writer (Unfindable Country); Pura Santillan-Castrence, Filipino writer and diplomat; Janet Harmon Bragg, US pilot/columnist (Chicago Defender); Lydia Korneevna Chukovskaya, writer; Donald Hamilton, Swedish-American novelist; Lawrence Ferlinghetti, American beat poet (Coney Island of the Mind); Sir Wilson Harris, Guyanese author (Palace of the Peacock, Jonestown, The Ghost of Memory); Martin Walser, German writer; and Peter Bichsel, Swiss writer (Gruppe Olten).
How many did you recognize? There’s one or two who might be familiar, perhaps not by name, but by the title of their work. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one and many more to follow!
My Work in Progress
Editing continues on my third novel, Carnage in Singapore. I’m finished the second pass through the manuscript this week and a third of the way through the next. Here’s another snippet:
Koh glanced at Noah. “Any further questions for the doctor?”
Noah shook his head, pushing the mask closer to his face.
“Doctor, thank you for your time. We’ll leave now but might need to make another visit.” Koh and Noah both shook hands with the ME and left.
Outside, Noah took several deep breaths. “No matter how often one visits the morgue, it’s always a gruesome sight.”
“I agree. Something I avoid whenever possible.” Koh glanced at Noah. “Ready for lunch?”
A chuckle escaped Noah’s mouth. “Best to skip food for now. What about visiting the English girl?”
They jumped into the BMW and departed with a squeal of the tires. Koh whipped the car to the right and headed along Outram Road.
Noah glanced in the side mirror before turning and looking over his shoulder. “Two black cars pulled away when you made the turn. Think they’re following us?”
Koh checked the rearview mirror. “Let’s find out.” He skidded through a left turn at the next intersection, cutting off a car. The driver shook his fist and blew his horn.
The two cars followed, gaining ground.
Koh rocketed along the narrow street, and whipped the wheel to the right, the vehicle rocketing past two pedestrians attempting to cross the street.
Pop. Pop.
Noah glanced over his shoulder at the sound of glass cracking, a spider-like web formed around the holes. The spent bullets thudded into the back of his seat. “Holy shit!”
“Hang on!” Koh floored the accelerator, shooting past a car and avoiding an oncoming truck.
“Is this car bulletproof?”
Koh shook his head. “Some of ISD’s vehicles are but not this one. But there’s armor in the back of the cushions in case of attacks like this.” He reached under his seat, pulled out a SIG Sauer P226, and handed the pistol to Noah. “I trust you know how to use this. Return fire and see if they back off.”
“Where’d you get this?”
“All ISD vehicles carry spare pistols under the drivers’ seats.”
“Good thing. Couldn’t bring mine on the flight.” Noah took the weapon and leaned out the window, shooting at their attackers. His first shot missed. “Keep the car steady!”
“I’ll try.”
Noah took a deep breath, exhaled, and fired again. The bullet went through their pursuer’s windshield, causing the driver to swerve and crash into a parked truck.
Koh turned into an empty parking lot, spun the wheel and yanked on the hand brake, sliding along the asphalt so the BMW faced the approaching threat. He pulled out another pistol from a shoulder holster.
Bullets flew through the air as both windshields collapsed. Shots echoed off the adjacent buildings as the assailants ramped up their attack.
“I’m hit!”
More next time. Due to concentrating on editing, I didn’t have a chance to work on the next book in the series. Perhaps this week.
Books I’m Reading
I recently finished reading Oath of Office (a Luke Stone Thriller–Book #2) by Jack Miller. The plot is interesting, but Luke’s superhuman-like qualities seem a bit overdone, at least for me. Nevertheless, Luke is able to take on those intent on the overthrow of the American government. The results–you’ll have to get a copy and find out for yourself. Plenty of intrigue throughout and is fast-paced, so it’s worthy of a read.
My Favorite Authors
Next week I’ll reveal another of my favorite authors, adding yet another piece into the mix of my writing style.
This brings us to a close for another week. I hope you found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing. If you have any suggestions for a topic you’d like to read about, please let me know. Until the next time, thank you for reading.
© Copyright 2019 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved
