Parts of the UK were really hammered by Storm Malik during Friday evening and most of yesterday. In Scotland, winds reached 85 MPH, although it was a bit calmer in our area. There were a few branches down, but nothing like what the people in the Aberdeen area experienced, where hundreds of people lost power and one woman was crushed by a falling tree.
Storm Connie is supposed to hit us this afternoon, with calmer wind gusts between 50-60 MPH. Hopefully, the forecasters have this one correct. In any event, we’re heading out for a walk in the fresh air.
Here’s this week’s quote (Compliments of http://www.wisdomquotesandstories.com/): “Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder. Let the challenges makes you strong.” Don’t worry about yesterday or tomorrow, there is only today. Be fearless. Listen to your heart. Envision your perfect day and go out there and live it. You have many smiles to share with those around you–and they with you. Radiate your love and feel that loving energy return to you. ~ Creig Crippen © Wisdom Quotes & Stories
So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on January 30th, the fifth and final Sunday of the month. (Compliments of http://www.onthisday.com/today/birthdays):
George Villiers, 2nd duke of Buckingham, English statesman and poet; Charles Rollin, French historian; Walter Savage Landor, English poet & writer (Imaginary Conversations); Adelbert von Chamisso, French writer (Peter Schlemihl); Alfred Townsend George, American Civil War journalist; Francis H. Bradley, British idealist philosopher (Appearance and Reality); Samuel Pierre l’Honoré Naber, Dutch rear-admiral and librarian; Gelett Burgess, American humorist & author (The Purple Cow); Anton Hansen Tammsaare, Estonian author (Truth and Justice); Jaishankar Prasad, Hindi poet, dramatist and novelist; Hans Erich Nossak, German writer; Saul David Alinsky, American radical writer (John L Lewis); Barbara Tuchman, American historian & author (Pulitzer, Guns of August); David Opatoshu [Opatovsky], American actor & writer (Star Trek, Bonino, Secret Empire, Masada); Nikolay Glazkov, Russian poet; Lloyd Alexander, American writer; Margaret Yorke [Margaret Beda Nicholson], English author (Patrick Grant novels, No Medals for the Major); Andrew Salkey, Panamanian-Jamaican novelist; Shirley Hazzard, Australian-born author (Transit of Venus); Allan W. Eckert, American historian, naturalist, and author; Richard Brautigan, American novelist and poet (Trout Fishing in America); Gregory Benford, American author & scientist; Michael Dorris, American novelist & scholar; Les Barker, English poet; and Judith Tarr, American sci-fi author (Isle of Glass, Ars Magica).
Any names familiar to you? I struck out again this week. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one!
My Published Work
All of my novels are participating in a Terrifying New Year promotion, running from now until the end of January. With 118 novels available, there’s bound to me something to catch your interest.
In addition, The Kurdish Connection, Colombian Betrayal, and Mission: Angola are participating in a first-in-series promotion for mysteries and thrillers. There are sixty-four novels in this one.
My Work in Progress
This week I posted chapter twenty-four of Ultimate Escalation to the two online subscription writing sites I use. My manuscript received another nine reviews, bringing the total to 518. As always, plenty of suggestions to enhance my writing.
Here’s another snippet:
Mishka slurped the last of his tea and turned to Benedikt. “Have you finished eating?”
Benedikt shoved the last of a samosa into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed before burping. “Da. I am now. What’s up?”
“Jadallah should be here soon. He’s bringing our contact with him. Take one of the others and find a good spot along the street to monitor anything strange.” Mishka handed his pistol to Benedikt.
“How will I know what’s strange? Everything here is different to me.”
“Use your common sense.” Mishka sighed. “I assume you still have some.”
Benedikt grinned. “Of course—just winding you up.” He shoved the pistol in his belt and joined the others.
Of all the people to send with me, why did Vova pick him? Mishka chuckled as he watched Benedikt approach the sleeping Evgeni and kicked him in the leg.
“Get up, Evgeni. You’re on guard duty with me.”
“Says who? Why not disturb Igor or Jasha?” Evgeni stifled a yawn. “Is this one of your jokes?”
Benedikt hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Mishka told me to pick someone—you’re it.”
“You forget you’re no longer in the army.” Evgeni struggled to his feet. “Let’s go before I do or say something I might regret.”
“Great idea. I might not be a sergeant any longer, but I can still whip you in a fight.”
Benedick and Evgeni disappeared, banging the side door as they departed.
Beep! Beep!
Moments later, Evgeni ran inside and hit the button controlling the vehicle door. As the roll-up barrier slid upward, Benedikt ducked underneath and entered. “Hey, Mishka—delivery’s here.”
As soon as the door cleared the opening, a dirty white Tata ACE HT truck. pulled inside, followed by a second one.
Mishka waved the vehicles to the rear of the warehouse.
After the drivers alighted, they walked to the rear of their vehicles and unlocked the doors. Once they shoved them open, they climbed aboard and prepared to offload the cargo.
Mishka nodded to his men as he lowered the roll-up barrier halfway down.
Benedikt and the others began taking boxes and crafts from the trucks, carrying them into the lockable areas.
The rumble of a car’s engine caught Mishka’s attention. He turned.
A yellow and black taxi pulled up to the vehicle entrance. With barely enough clearance, the taxi inched inside, stopping by Mishka.
Jadallah grinned as he climbed out. “Sorry, we’re late.” He shrugged.
A tall man with black hair and a trimmed black beard dressed in matching grey patiala pants and shirt under a purple sherwani jacket climbed out of the taxi’s rear seat. He stepped toward Mishka, his hand outstretched. “Hello. You must be Mishka. I am Vedant Mohdi. I believe we have business to discuss.”
Mishka grasped Vedant’s hand. “Da. I understand you want to see a combined Punjab, is that correct?”
Vedant nodded. “Yes, it was a lifelong dream of my father’s. Now, I hope I’m in a position to make it happen.”
More next time.
This brings us to an end for another week. I hope you found something of interest. 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 and hope you drop in again.
© Copyright 2022 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved
