When I planned to retire in 2011, my wife, Sylvia, asked me what I would do with my time, suggesting that if I want to learn the game of golf then there’s no better place than the home of golf–Scotland.
Golf! I had always stayed away from it, figuring it would keep me active in retirement. I took my first lessons in February 2013, from a golf pro near Lundin Links, Scotland. An unexpected turn of events saw us purchase a lakeside home in Michigan and I haven’t been back on the course since our move. Meanwhile, in 2018, we decided to return to Scotland and currently reside in Dunfermline, the birthplace of Andrew Carnegie.
I spent most of my adult life working overseas in various countries, which is how I met Sylvia, who is from Scotland. Sylvia accompanied me on seven postings and her support in all of my endeavors was always invaluable.
Since retiring, I traced Sylvia’s family history and confirmed something that had been passed down through the ages. She is a distant cousin of the Scottish National Poet, Robert “Rabbie” Burns. Like her cousin, Sylvia writes poetry.
Before I retired, a long-time friend (we’ve known each other since 1979) who also retired about the same time, suggested I utilize my writing skills and create a novel or two. I took his advice.
As of April 12, 2020, I’ve published four novels. I currently have three more underway. Details of my work can be found under the novels tab.
During the summer of 2016, I took the first chapter of Colombian Betrayal (long before the entire manuscript was finished), chopped it to pieces, and submitted it as “A Dangerous Occupation” to a monthly contest held by Wildsound Writing and Film Festival Review. My winning entry for August 2016 is read by a professional actor. Click here to listen.
© Copyright 2017 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.
Hi Randy,
Just want to affirm you again: this blog is awesome! I doubt that there’s much you could do to improve it. Keep it up!!
Mike
Great to know that you’re trying to get Sylvia to self-publish her poetry. I have a feeling that she just might and maybe soon:-) I’ve been thinking about it, but I’ve got to get another job ‘fore I do anything else. We’ll see though.
Cheers!
Mike
Many thanks, Mike!
Great website, Randy. Good luck on all ventures.
Bill
Many thanks, Bill!
Hi Randy,
Glad to be on board with you! looking forward to reading your posts/blogs. Best to you and your lovely wife. Warmest regards,
Tai
Welcome aboard and hope you enjoy the journey.:)
It is great to know that Sylvia writes poetry! Let’s you and I encourage her all we can – and let’s see if we can get her work published. I’m confident she writes awesome poetry:-) Is there any of her poetry on this site???
Mike
Hi Mike, No, none of her work is here at the moment. I’m trying to encourage her to self-publish her poetry (hint hint to you, too!) and she’s considering it.
Hey Randy
Just read and enjoyed your blog. Good Job! I’ll look forward to reading more in the future. (and thanks for the kind words on Levant Mirage.)
All my best,
Oliver Chase
Hi Oliver, Many thanks; glad you enjoyed it. Regards, Randy
HI Randall, I’m nominating you for the Versatile Blogging Award to thank you for your generosity and let readers know more about your work!
Hi Amy,
That’s very kind of you. Many thanks!
Another Randall’s Ramblings will be out this Sunday:)
Regards, Randy
Thanks for following my blog http://www.danetigress.wordpress.com I’ve followed back ! Happy New Year!
Thanks! And Happy New Year as well:)
Yes, you can also have a separate menu for your book writing journey. So, any time in future, everything will be under one category and link.
Great minds think alike:) I’ll have to think of a snappy name.
hey, I read your last post on finding a publicist. But I was not able to comment there. So, I came back to this page. I was wondering why dont you chronicle your journey. By the time you publish, you will have a reference material ready for a self-help book. What do you think ?
Directly under the title is a link for replies. I’ll see if I can remove the response line above the posted comments as it’s directly at the bottom.
I think you’re suggestion is a great one, and I’ll get started on it. Many thanks for the help!
Great! Do share that writing. Would be great to read.
Thanks! Will start working on it and post something perhaps tomorrow.
I love your blog. It’s nice to know that you have some novels in the making. I feel connected to that, and I will look out for more information on your blog. I am a follower now.
Many thanks! If you go to the right side bar, under Categories there is a link called Morsels From the Kurdish Connection. I’m posting a few snippets from each chapter. Just added some from chapters seven and eight and will add more each day (thirty-nine chapters are currently completed).
Thanks for the information. I will check it out.
Hi Randall, I love the simplicity of your blog. Your words speak for themselves. I look forward to reading more of your writing! 🙂
Many thanks. That is the reaction that I’m hoping for. I only started the blog three weeks ago, so it’s very much a work in progress.
Keep going! Wish you all the best. I will be checking on your blog from time to time! 🙂
Hello, waiting to read your stories !
Love you blog.
Not retired yet, can’t afford to, will like to. Never golfed. Started writing couple of years back, have not thought about publishing yet. Love to hike, will it be enough to keep me hanging around under my wife’s feet, I don’t know.
I think I will add reading blog posts, including your, under my retirement activities.
We love to hike too, but my wife’s current medical situation means she can’t walk far. Last spring we bought a pair of kayaks so we could get out of the lake.
I first started writing The Kurdish Connection just after I retired and a few months later put it aside. I blew the dust off the manuscript last June and began anew.
Many thanks for adding my blog to your retirement activities–hope to keep it interesting:)
I could not replicate your sunrise over the lake. Nearest lake (man made) is 4 miles from home. Walking the dog today morning saw the sun coming up. Could not resist a photo and poem. Checkout my post for “Sunrise”.
Enjoyed the photo and the poem. Well done with both!
We’re very lucky–the lake is only about 150 feet from the deck, so I don’t have to walk far for a photo. This morning, though, it was snowing so hard I couldn’t see the water, so it was good to see someone had the sun:)
Good that I spread the sunshine.
You should definitely get back to Golf! My parents are avid golfers too 🙂
Thanks for the follow 🙂
Thanks I will one day, hopefully this spring. Since we moved into our current property most of my time has been absorbed with doing general maintenance/repairs as well as getting the yard under control. The previous owners used the property as a vacation home so only took care of necessities while we’re using it as our full-time home.