We’ve had a week of above-normal temperatures. What did this bring us? Obviously, a bit of warmth, but also plenty of cloudy skies and some rain. There has been the occasional outbreak of sunshine, too. At least forecasts for the dreaded ‘s’ word have disappeared.
The price of gasoline (petrol) and diesel continued to edge upward this week, with gasoline adding three pence a liter to £1.42 and while diesel increased by another four pence to £1.51. As a result, and with the current exchange rate between the pound and the dollar, an equivalent U.S. gallon of gasoline is now $6.76, an increase of fifteen cents, while diesel topped out at $7.18, climbing nineteen cents.
“Keep asking questions because people will always want to know the answer. Open with a question and don’t answer it until the end.” – Lee Child. Compliments of https://press.barnesandnoble.com/bnpress-blog/inspirational-quotes-writing/.
So who was born on this date in history? Let’s find out who in the writing world was born on February 18, the third Sunday of the month. (Compliments of https://www.onthisday.com/birthdays/).
Isaac Casaubon, naturalized English classical scholar and theologian (Athenaeus); Charles-Irénée Castel de Saint-Pierre, French writer; Giovanni Battista Brocchi, Italian naturalist and geologist (Conchiologia fossile subappennina); Thomas D. Doubleday, American bookstore owner and Union Army officer; Rebecca Lee Crumpler, American physician and medical writer (first African American woman to receive a medical degree); Wilson Barrett, British manager, actor, and playwright (The Sign of the Cross); Alexander Lange Kielland, Norwegian writer (Gist; Fortuna; St. Hans Fest), and politician (mayor; governor); Hedwig Courths-Mahler, German Romantic novelist whose novels sold 80 million copies (Warbride); William Laurel Harris, American mural painter, writer; Níkos Kazantzákis, prominent Greek writer and philosopher (Zorba the Greek, The Last Temptation of Christ); Lauri Haarla, Finnish writer (Juudas, Sukeltaja); Wendell Wilkie, American Presidential candidate (R-1940)/author (One World); Andre Breton, French writer and poet, founder of Surrealism; Luis Muñoz Marín, Puerto Rican poet; Arthur Bryant, English historian (King Charles II); Wallace Stegner, American novelist and critic (Pulitzer-1972 for Angle of Repose); Helen Gurley Brown, American author/publisher and editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan; Juhan Smuul, Estonian author; Evald Ilyenkov, Soviet philosopher (Dialectical Logic); Leonard Cyril Deighton, English author (Ipcress File, Fighter); Gahan Wilson, American author and cartoonist known as the “Michelangelo of the Macabre”; Toni Morrison, American writer (Tar Baby, Beloved, Song of Solomon), first African American woman to win a Nobel Prize (2010); Audre Lorde, American writer, feminist and activist (Black Unicorn); Jean M. Auel, Finnish-American writer (Earth’s Children series); Elke Erb, German writer; Graeme Garden, Scottish writer (The Goodies); and Miles Tredinnick, English playwright.
Any names familiar to you? There were two for me this time: Wendell Wilkie and Leonard Cyril Deighton. Whether you recognize anyone on the list or not, if today’s your special day I hope you have a great one!
My Work In Progress
As I previously mentioned, I penned chapters 22-30 of Mission: Yemen, Xavier Sear Thriller Book 2 during the Xmas market. I’m slowly typing up and posted them to the two online subscription writing sites I use. This week, I finished chapter twenty-seven and began work on chapter twenty-eight.
Reviewers provided another seven critiques, bringing the total to 512. As always, they’ve provided plenty of recommendations for me to consider, and I’m always appreciative of the time and effort people put into reviewing my work.
Here’s another snippet:
Sear glared at Parvez. “Who were you talking with on the phone?”
“No one—at least no one you would know, Sayyid.”
Sear turned at the sound of feet approaching.
Wasim and Malik rushed through the door onto the roof. They hurried to Parvez’s side and grabbed his arms.
“Check his phone.” Sear pointed to Parvez’s pocket. He was talking with someone and won’t say who it is.”
“Hold him, Wasim.” Malik yanked out Parvez’s phone and accessed the call list. As he scanned the numbers, he relaxed. I recognize the last number called—it’s Tarik’s.” He glanced at Parvez. “Why were you talking with him?”
Parvez jerked his arm free from Wasim as he glared at Malik. “It is not any of your business, but I talk with Tarik from time to time—letting him know when there are strangers, especially foreigners, in this area.”
“You better be telling me the truth. I will ask Tarik the next time I see him.”
Parvez nodded. “Go ahead—he will vouch for me.”
Sear glanced at Wasim and Malik. “Let him go.”
“Do you still want me to cook?” Parvez stared at Sear.
“Perhaps later. For now, just more tea and coffee.”
“As you wish, Sayyid.”
Sear turned and stepped through the doorway, down the stairs, and returned to the divan.
After frowning at Parvez, Wasim and Malik followed Sear.
Malik sat across from the others and patted his rumbling stomach. “What about food? I am hungry.”
“Do you think we can trust Parvez not to poison us?” Sear rubbed his chin.
“Of course.” Malik grinned. “I will stand next to him in the kitchen to ensure nothing untoward happens.”
In that case, I’m hungry, too.”
More next time.
I also continued working on The Great Rebellion – Finn Harding Book One. It’s a romantic alternate history of the American Civil War. I finished chapter four and sent it to my co-author for his feedback.
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.
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