Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you have a safe and joyous 2023!
So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on January 1st, the first Sunday of the new year:
Antoinette du Ligier de la Guard Deshoulieres, French poet and literary figure; Elkanah Settle, English writer; Soame Jenyns, English writer; Kristijonas Donelaitis, Lithuanian poet (The Seas) and Lutheran pastor; Johannes Kinker, Dutch linguist, philosopher and poet (Minderjarige Zangster); Maria Edgeworth, Anglo-Irish novelist; Micah Hawkins, American poet, playwright and composer; Henrik Anker Bjerregaard, Norwegian writer and poet (Fjeldeventyret); John Pieter Heije, Dutch physician, writer and poet (Silver Fleet); Arthur Hugh Clough, English poet, friend of Matthew Arnold; Sándor Petőfi, Hungarian poet (A virágnak megtiltani nem lehet – You Cannot Forbid the Flower), and revolutionary; Ludovic Halévy, French playwright; James George Frazer, Scottish anthropologist and folklorist (The Golden Bough); Aleko Konstantinov, Bulgarian writer (To Chicago & Back); Charles Edward Montague, English journalist and author (Fiery Particles); Mariano Azuela, Mexican novelist (The Flies, The Bosses); E.M. Forster, English writer and novelist (Howards End, Passage to India);Carry van Bruggen [de Haan], Dutch author (Heleen, Eva); Federigo Tozzi, Italian writer and journalist (La Torre, Tre Croci); Russ Bender, American actor and writer (Amazing Colossal Man; Space Monster; It Conquered the World); Eliot Janeway, American financial writer (Economics of Chaos); Francois Bondy, Swiss writer and journalist (Preuves); J.D. Salinger, American novelist (The Catcher in the Rye); Roger Peacock, English writer (Thursday is Missing); Roberts Blossom, American actor and poet (Home Alone, Deranged, The Great Gatsby); Ernest R Tidyman, Ohio, novelist/screenwriter (The French Connection); Adam Wiśniewski-Snerg, Polish author; Peter Dormer, arts writer; Frans Kellendonk, author (Ruin, The Good for Nothing); Nana Patekar, Indian Bollywood actor, writer, philanthropist and filmmaker (Parinda, Angaar); Anwar Mansoor Mangrio, Sindhi poet & research scholar; and Chai Jing, Chinese broadcaster, author and documentary maker (Under the Dome).
Any names familiar to you? There were two for me: J.D. Salinger and Ernest R, Tidyman. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one!
My Publications
I’m please to announce Revenge has moved from the slush pile to the long list in the 2022 Chanticleer International Global Thriller Book Awards for high stakes suspense.
Needless to say, I’m thrilled. Of course, the competition to move onto the short list will be extremely competitive. In addition to Revenge, there are another twenty-two novels on the long list. All be well, I’ll have further good news to share as the competition goes into full swing, with the 1st Place Category winners and Grand Prize Division Winners being announced in late April. Watch this space!
My Work in Progress
Chapter twenty-one of Frozen Conquest has been uploaded to the two online subscription writing sites I use. Since the last update, there were another thirteen reviews, bringing the total to 387. As always, plenty of good suggestions to improve my story and I’m greatly appreciative of the support.
Here’s another snippet:
Maddie and Reginald climbed out of the Sno-Cat. After they pulled their tools and explosive packs from the cargo compartment, they trudged across the tundra to a line of stakes they had placed earlier in the day.
Breathless, Maddie dropped her tools onto the ice and gently sent the explosives down. “This is hard work, Reginald. I thought it would be easier—just drive up to a spot, drill a couple of holes, drop in the fireworks—and bang; you’re done.”
“In your dreams.” Reginald laughed. “The only thing easy about this job is picking our way across the ice back to the facility.”
As Maddie placed an explosive package into the first hole, she studied the terrain. Always peaceful, but there’s an underlying danger to being here. Satisfied with her placement, she moved to the next spot.
Without warning, the ice gave way.
Yeeeeah!
Maddie clawed at the surface as she slid toward the gaping chasm.
“Reginald! Help!”
Her feet dangled over the side as she tried to stop her momentum. She screamed again.
Just as she was about to disappear, two hands grabbed her.
“Hold on, Mad—”
Reginald tugged on the straps of her backpack, pulling her back from the chasm. “I—I got you.” He fell backward as he yanked her clear from impending death or serious injury.
Back on his feet, he inched Maddie further back from the hole until they were both a safe distance away.
Maddie threw her arms around Reginald. “Thank you so much for saving me. I thought I was going to die!”
“Aw shucks, Maddie. Can’t have you doing that.” Reginald grinned. “Besides, I’m enjoying being out here with you.” He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a squeeze. “You going to be okay?”
Maddie pulled out of the embrace and nodded. “Yes. It was a bit scary, but I’m okay now—thanks to you.”
“Think nothing of it. Besides, you’d try the same for me if the situation was reversed.”
“That’s true, but I still owe you.” She adjusted her sunglasses and grinned. “Perhaps I can buy dinner tonight?”
He smiled. “You’re on.” He pointed to the next hole. “Ready to continue?”
Three hours later, they completed their tasks and headed back to the Sno-Cat, Maddie reeling out a cable connected to the first explosive charge.
After reaching the vehicle, Maddie hooked the wire to the electronic detonator. She turned to Reginald. “All set. Want to do the honors?”
He shook his head. “You do it—it’ll be your revenge for the ice trying to take you.”
“Okay.” She activated the device and hit a flashing green button.
Within seconds, a series of explosions echoed across the ice.
Craack! Craack!
A large section of ice broke away from the shelf, plunging into the angry sea.
“Ready to go?”
More next time.
Promotions
Five of my novels (all but Revenge and Ultimate Escalation) are participating in the January Mayhem & Motives: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Reads. This one allows five books per author and there are currently 206. novels participating. Why not check it out? You might find your next new author.
https://books.bookfunnel.com/mysthrillsus-jan/x889tdt70j
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 2023 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved
