Thanks and a FREE Little Red Christmas Ball -Offer Extended

FREE E-Book offer extended thru Saturday, January 7th...Enjoy!

Thanks to all who joined the adventure and helped The Little Red Christmas Ball realize his holiday dream.

As a way of saying “Thanks!” he’s offering a FREE download of his story from now through January 7th. 

I tried to talk him out of it but, if you’ve already read the book, you know he’s a persistent little guy. If you haven’t, then here’s a FREE chance to see what you’ve missed before we put the holidays—and The Little Red Christmas Ball—back in the box to await another season.

Then, pick up a copy of the paperback, as well, and "The Little Red Christmas Ball" will shine bright and hold tight as your family's new holiday tradition, this new year, next year...and every year to come....

Thanks again and have a Happy New Year!!

And did I mention the FREE download?

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Looking for a fun, new Christmas Tradition to share?

"The Little Red Christmas Ball" will shine bright and hold tight for you and your family...this year and every year to come....

Now available at Amazon

Click Here to Order

And don't forget

“The Kingdom of Keys”

also available at Amazon

Click Here to Order 

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A Hometown Christmas Story - Holiday Redux

Day 7 of Holiday Redux

Merry Christmas, Retorters!

Thanks for hanging with me all year long....and believe me...it's been a looooong one!

From December 23rd, 2011
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Back in the mid 60’s, when my friends and I were in the 6^th grade, one of our favorite Hometown holiday traditions was to head on over to the new Shopping Center and play our version of “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” behind the pile of Christmas Trees they were selling. 

The "tree guys" used to set up in the northeast corner of the parking lot. There, we would casually walk along the adjacent sreet in our coolest Napoleon Solo/Illya Kuryakin style, then suddenly drop over the guard rail and roll down the hill and into the mountain of trees, which kind of formed a hidden fortress on three sides. 

We called our adventure the “Yuletide Affair” and day after day we would jump around in bales of evergreen, undetected by the "tree guys", or so we thought, until one day the delivery truck arrived and tree after Merry Christmas Tree came raining down on us from above.

Imagine, Christmas Eve - Holiday Redux

Day 6 of Holiday Redux.

I don't know if I'm allowed to have personal fav's...but if I was, this would be on top of the list...I mean, if I was allowed to have a list...which I don't know if I am....

From December 24th, 2012
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I’ve always been more partial to Christmas Eve than Christmas Day.

Even though you’re prepared for Christmas Day, have actually awaited its arrival for quite some time, the day itself can often hit you like a rogue wave that suddenly pops up out of nowhere, knocks you off your feet and envelops you in countless mind numbing activities: schedules to keep, last minute wrapping, phone calls to take, phone calls to make, gruel to stir and eggnog to mix.

And don’t forget those pesky Dicksonian ghosts that drag you all over the past, present and future landscape, before you even have a chance to get your robe on.

Or is that just me?

Christmas Eve, on the other hand, is like floating on a quiet sea, looking up through the stars, where, if you stare long enough, you just might see a red streak of light passing overhead…

And are those the bells of eight tiny reindeer, you hear?

Zombie Ho Ho Ho-liday Spirit - Holiday Redux

Day 5 of Holiday Redux

I know you've all been wondering where the Zombies are hiding...which, as a rule, is not a bad idea....

From December 19th, 2014
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With shopping done and holiday partying planned, I have to admit I’m a little bored at the moment.

So much so that I decided to wander across the street to see what the Zombies were up to.

If you recall, last year I unintentionally invited several of them over to our annual Winter Solstice/Christmas celebration.

Yeah…Zombies and Druids…in the same room.

I know….

Sleigh-sational - Holiday Redux

Day 4 of Holiday Redux

This one  from December 19, 2012
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One of my favorite things as a kid was sliding face first down a hill of freshly packed snow.

Sometimes even on a sled.

Well, mostly on a sled…my flexible flyer to be specific.

At least I think it was a Flexible Flyer.

Now that I think of it, it might have been a Flexible Flyer knock off from Woolworths, because I’m not having too many flexible memories other than a lot of crashing into trees and light poles.

But that was more than half the fun…at least for me.

In fact sleigh riding is one of my top three favorite winter memories.

The other two are filling my pockets with snow…and filling my cousin’s pocket with snow.

Good times!

I remember the Christmas I found that oddly shaped, package tucked under the tree, like it was yesterday. I was so unaware, that I hadn’t a clue what it could be.

Let’s see…about four feet long by a foot wide.

Maybe it was a football!

What?

Winter Solstice - Holiday Redux

Day 3 of Holiday Redux

This one from December 21, 2011, slightly "updated" to reflect the present day
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It’s a little startling when I look out the window, late in the afternoon, these days.

It’s especially startling for a sun person like me, cuz, well…there is no sun.

Well, that’s not true; there is a sun…it’s just been working on bankers hours for a while. Or what used to be considered bankers hours. This time of year, bankers work longer hours than the sun.

Sure, it’s the holiday season and everyone wants to kick back a little and close up shop early, but hey…come on…the sun has been slacking off, little by little, for a couple of months now.

What…it didn’t think we would notice?

I guess the good news is that we’re finally at the tipping point…the Winter Solstice. It just arrived this morning at 5:44 AM EST.  That is—or was— the morning of Wednsday the 21st to those of you “late to the party”, future readers.

It’s Now…I Expect - Holiday Redux

Day 2 of Holiday Redux.

This one from December 17, 2012
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It’s a common theme that the road to chronic happiness begins and ends in the now.

It’s a very short road.

Now is now.

It’s really all there is.

The rest we just imagine.

Everyone says, “I wish I could just live in the now and not worry so much about the past that was and the future that’s still to be”, pesky Dickesonian Christmas ghosts aside.

But we don’t…for the most part, we don’t.

It’s just too difficult.

None of us can control the now; we just have to accept it.

Oh sure, we can throw ourselves on the ground and bang our arms and legs and spew expletives to ourselves, but that never works…trust me.

Not a Wrapper - Holiday Redux

I thought it might be a nice idea to reprise some old Christmas Themed Retorts during the run up to the holiday. Plus it saves me from having to come up with something original.

But I just might deliver a new one between here and there.

You never know.

It depends on how the week goes and how soon I can finish up this bowl of egg nog.

This ones from Dec. 14, 2012

Enjoy....
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I’m not a wrapper.

Or a rapper.

Anyway you spell it…I’m not that.

In fact my gift wrapping efforts have been termed cute, at best, and distasteful at worst.

What…I thought those dreidels were spinning tops…totally appropriate for a priest’s 50^th birthday.

It’s not that I don’t try….

Well, yeah…maybe it is…a little.

Oh, Thirsty Christmas Tree

There’s no way around it.

Our Christmas tree has a drinking problem.

Yeah...

So sad.

Every four hours it’s sucking down a bottle.

Every four hours.

A whole bottle.

That’s a lot.

Even for a tree that’s been cut from its roots, hauled out of the woods and propped up and braced in a stand in my living room.

I mean, sure...on first read that might seem pretty harsh, and maybe a good reason for excessive drinking...but come on, think about it...at least I have cable...AND Netflix, not to mention Amazon Prime Video.

You don’t get that type of entertainment out in the woods.

Not to mention all the pretty lights and various other holiday accoutrements.

Which I just did anyway—mention, that is—so why bother saying I wasn’t going to—mention, that is—which, as I mentioned, I did....

But I’m getting off point and I shouldn’t, because this is important.

Christmas Gift Gathering

I’m not sure what to get Z for Christmas. 

I’m pretty sure, over the years, I’ve gotten her everything.

Everything!

Including accessories.

I’m sure she has the same problem with me...I mean, if you don’t include the goat.

Long story....

So every year it becomes more and more difficult to find the perfect gift...at least not the same one I picked up 2 years ago, or, possibly, even  last year.

Especially in the same color and style...from the same store.

Because I tend to have narrow tastes.

And I’m drawn to the same items year after year.

Like that year supply of cronuts.

Christmas Crankiness...in Cars

If you’re like me, you’ve already cranked up all your festive holiday toons.

Yep...as Mr. Williams is destined to belt out, every year in perpetuity:

It's the holiday season.
With the whoop-de-do and hickory dock.

And then there’s something about not forgetting to hang up your sock.

Not sure why.

I guess because it’s the holiday season.

When else would you hang up your sock?

Any other time would seem weird.

Unless you’re my Uncle Bert, who’s been known to hang up his socks and other assorted under garments in inappropriate places, on occasion.

But that’s a discussion for another day....

The Little Red Christmas Ball Thanks You

Thanks to everyone who's already picked up a copy of "The Little Red Christmas Ball"!

It's going much better than I'd expected. A lot of folks seem to have taken to it's fun Christmassy message.

If you've read it, do me a favor and share it with your friends. And especially, put a little review up on Amazon. They seem to like that sort of thing and promote you a little more if they see a healthy response, good or bad. Doesn't have to be anything elaborate...just a sentence or even a word.

"Thought it was a fun read!" "Couldn't put it down!" "My kids loved it" "It made me a little itchy!" "Awesome sauce, man"

Can be anything, really. And you don't even have to use your real name...so I can't track you down to whine....

Thanks, again....

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Looking for a fun, new Christmas Tradition to share?

"The Little Red Christmas Ball" will shine bright and hold tight for you and your family...this year and every year to come....

Now available at Amazon

Click Here to Order

And don't forget

“The Kingdom of Keys”

also available at Amazon

Click Here to Order 

The Christmas Ball Diaries

In a faraway corner of a dark dusty attic stood a small stack of time worn old boxes. Inside one of the oldest boxes, nestled in a blanket of aged, yellowed newsprint, the Little Red Christmas Ball yawned awake from a long, peaceful, waiting sleep.

Amid the tales of yesterday he’d waited. Through the soft bloom of spring to the crisp colors of autumn and winter's shortening light, he’d waited and waited...and dreamed....        

And so begins “The Little Red Christmas Ball” my new book which is—as the subtitle proclaims—a story for kids and anyone whoever was...and would be again.

So, pretty much everyone...at least I hope.

I wrote these words— my first lines of fiction—way back in 1992 when a video producer overran his budget and basically didn’t have enough money to pay for my services rendered. So, in lieu of cash he offered me one of his old computers and told me to go write that novel I’d always talked about.

And I did, night after night, into the early morning hours, over the course of a year; I sat and brought this story and characters to life.