Book-toking for pleasure and accommodation!

Share and like, I finally figured it all out. My sales have improved. Last month I could actually have lived from what my works generated. I had four titles on Amazon’s bestseller list. https://www.tiktok.com/@hldowless/video/7191536433256058154

Tell me what you think! https://www.tiktok.com/@hldowless/video/7191558584373611819

Here are a few more views! https://www.tiktok.com/@hldowless/video/7191564506315705643

Feel another move coming on, my book loving fans and family. Florida DON’T cut it. If you are not retired or in possession of a portable income, do yourself a favor and forbear on coming here thinking you’ll ease into something real and solid. The odds here are highly against it. Don’t vote for any political candidate who isn’t making the employment situation first and foremost in his campaign. Idealism left or right, ain’t gonna cut it here in the real world, where us real folks are scratching in the dirt with the chickens.

Saying hello

Well, we’re thirteen days into 2023. The Pale Rider is said to sit upon a green horse. How are we in our own time, to interpret this realization? This year, if I understand the information correctly, a green comet will be seen passing through the midnight sky. The color green can symbolize pestilence, but it can also symbolize money, in my own categorization. This comet has not been seen since the age of Astraea, and her return back into the heavens for the purpose of escaping the corruption of mankind. She promised to return one day in the distant future, when all of planet earth would be consumed by chaos. https://www.ancientpages.com/2020/08/01/will-star-goddess-astraea-return-to-earth-with-second-golden-age-or-apocalypse/

Already on day twelfth of this year, the much-aged uncle of my wife who we were living with, was cremated. He actually died on the second day, if I am correct in saying so. Many people had deaths occur in their own families during this time period. Might there be some sort of connection here? I’ve never noticed so much death before so early on, and I’ve lived through many a planting season already. The so-called financial experts do not paint a nice picture for the economy this year, but I like to think positive.

To me green means money accompanied by great success in all endeavors, and I want my share! Green can also mean collard and mustard greens, my favorite dishes when served with a wedge of freshly prepared cornbread. Say it out loud here to summons all of the positive spirits. I’m going to HIT IT BIG TIME, boys! I want a New York Times best seller, a literary work of long-lasting renown. I want a novel with a front paid out to me equal to no less than a fifty-thousand-dollar years’ salary. I’m trying, but one cannot accomplish such a thing without going through an agent. Landing an agent is no lean feat, to say the least. I’ve been trying for years and still have not succeeded. Its far easier to become traditionally published than to land an agent.

I have three publishers looking over some of my manuscripts. One has already accepted, and I’ve signed the contract. It’s called “The 10 Best Survival Jobs, how to get them, how to keep them.” It’s been published before but the publisher fell on hard times and had to neutralize the manuscript, and it’s based on my real-life experiences I have lived, and still am living. This is a great beginning for the year, from my own perspective. My Newyear’s resolution is to secure a dynamite career job. I have an in-person interview Monday. It’s for an entry level account manager at an insurance company. I can’t wait to work there! After 90 days or so I can make my move on starting up a true profit generating business.

Whatever value we take a calculated risk on, will be where our potential future wealth lies. If we want millions, sometimes we must commence with hundreds of thousands in potential wealth, then work our way up. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, pure and simple. Noting occurs without calculated risk. Relationships, marriage, college, cruises, writing and publishing a book for crying out loud here, driving or even walking down the highway, you name it. It’s all a hedged bet and a calculated gamble.

Don’t like your present job? Find out what you want to do, then make your move, relocate or whatever it takes to get it. Want to take a trip or live a certain lifestyle, then the perfect day and time is right now. There will never be a day in the hazy distant future when everything is nailed down perfectly. Something totally unforeseen and unexpected will always crop up, it seems. Do it now, when the possibility presents itself. That’s my motto. These are the words I speak aloud. Only 13 days have passed in the first month of 2023. Focus on the positives transpiring already.

Goodbye 2022!

It sure has been one rocker roller’s year, for sure my dear blog post family. Certainly, it ranks among the best of times and the worst of times. From a writer’s perspective, I have had an outstanding time, make no mistake about it. I want to give a huge THANKYOU to all of my reading fans. All of YOU are the ones who have made me, not me myself. Literally I have tens of thousands who make up my reading fanbase.

These past three years have been the era of the skull and crossbones. Let us pause momentarily and give remembrance to all of those who cannot stand with us now that we’ve crossed the line into 2023. In this year alone, in my own immediate family, over a four-month span there were four deaths. Two friends of the family, man and wife, died in a head on collision during these same four months. There were others who died, young and old, in the communities surrounding me. This past Friday a man I grew up with who was 49 years old, collapsed dead in my old hometown. It seems everybody I speak with has had the same experiences, so there has been what I observe to be an unusual amount of death over the past year alone, not even counting the two years previously in our dealings with Covid 19. Let us pause and give thanks to the good Lord in heaven for sparing us, since we are still yet alive in spite of this adversity. I could go on and on, but we certainly live in a true-life gothic horror era, complete with war, pestilence, tyrants, villains, and mighty fools.

At first last year seemed stuck in the mud in every way except when it came to my writing successes. The pace picked up quickly, however. I quit my head end job, hopped a plane, lived in Ecuador for three months, hopped a plane again, munked around in west central, Florida for a few days, hopped a plane again, mucked around in San Francisco for four days. Hopped a ship for two and a half weeks, sailed to HI for six days, then back to Ensalada, Mexico, then back to San Fransico. Four days later we wound up in west central Florida again. Isn’t that nice? On December 22 we rode away north to the Carolinas so we could visit a few family members. We had a real blast, but sadly, and for your good information, Covid 19 is coming back since all of my family seems to have caught it! Now its 1/1/2023 2227 and we are in King’s Island GA in a motel room on our way back to West Central Florida. Our time has been filled with cars and bars, planes, trains, busses and a few bruises, but we’ve all managed to endure to the bitter end, and it’s something to celebrate, don’t make no mistake about it. So, cheers for the stork who brings good babies. Cheers to the crow who brings bad babies, and cheers to the swallow who brings no babies. Joy to the world, and all of you, and me. Wonder how things will be in 2023! I want a New York Times best seller and to hit the jackpot. I’ll say it out loud! It’s been one wild ride of a year to be sure.

Dropping by again

I wanted to say hello to my dear readers today. My reading clientele is very important to me, and always will be not matter how successful I ever get. I’ve had an outstanding writer’s week. A journal that specializes in strange, localized Southern stories has agree to publish my novella titled “The Incident in Galloway’s Quarter ” inside an anthology. This decision was determined unanimously by three editors who reviewed my work.

As may be recalled from my earlier post, this tale was based on a real-life gothic horror era occurring in the northeastern area of South Carolina and the southeastern area of North Carolina back during the time 1981 – 1986. I may be wrong, but I seriously doubt another era anything similar will occur with the individualist flare as this one did. This era allowed one a glimpse into a rigid social and economic culture dominating the region at least since the 1920s, and more than likely reaching much farther backward at least into Antebellum times. I am glad I lived and could see living personalities and culture harking backward to those times, when men were men and rightfully owned and profited from what they possessed and would accept nothing less from anybody. No doubt, there shall always be corruption and more ages of it to come, but it will be a brutish, animalistic style of culture rather than one so heavily drenched in class, delightful color displays, and natural talented accomplishment.

Specifically, the era was technically labeled Col-Core. The term means Columbus Corruption, since Columbus County NC, right on the SC boarder, was the epicenter of the involved area I labeled Galloway’s Quarter. I have always said a bestselling novel could be written with this era as the panorama backdrop. I could see movie contracts coming out of such a novel, if it was well designed and written. The catch is securing access to the legal records and finding locals who would freely speak about the times. Most of those who forwarded these events along were already elders then, now long faded into the grave. A few of these characters from the times still live, far as I know anything about. They are too old to make much of a noticeable stir but would be very unhappy about people poking around asking questions and telling them about books and films they were wanting to compile from details given.

A magazine offered to publish a short story and three poems. I’ve had all of this traditional publishing success in a single week! Thats one novel, a nonfiction how to book, a novella, a short story and three poems, all in a single week. It’s been years of work in the making though. I have a literal back log of manuscripts I can submit. My goal is to have every one of them traditionally published by the time I’m 60 years old, and I’m 55 now. After I turn 60-61, all of these manuscripts I have submitted so many times and haven’t had traditionally published, I’m going to spend money on editing, rewriting, and finding a good company to help me self-publish them. There once were several such companies. I do not know about now. Anyway, that’s enough speaking on this lonely dark stormy Saturday night at home. Until next time…

Today’s success stories!

I honestly don’t mean to brag, but years of hard work often pays off, and its most certainly worth mentioning. I have offered the perfect guaranteed program for becoming traditionally published on this blog earlier. Here it is again, just in case anybody missed it. I recommend the paperback version over the e-version. Somehow programing for the e-version was mucked all up.

Last week the manager at Labor Finders informed me I would have a 40 hour weekly continuous job post. I didn’t have work yesterday, nor do I have any today. Yesterday I showed up onsite, but the management there turned me away, saying he had not work for me to do, nor no money to pay me with. Since everything is online, the way my days run is such.

I arise at 0530. I go directly into this empty house where I have rented a room for 500.00 a month. I throw together a sandwich or mix some potato flakes and diced cured ham for breakfast. I make a cup of coffee, and I await the manger’s call or motor on down to the office by 0630. When he has nothing, I am at the local county library by 1000, when it opens up.

So here I am. Its 1136 at the county library here in Florida. Sometimes I honestly feel like a high-class hobo myself. I read half of the first chapter in “Of Mice and Men,” and I swear I can relate to the feelings of the two hobos entering the natural environment described by the author. I see the same hobo faces in here every day. They all spend as much time in here as I do. Usually, I remain here until 1700. The place closes by 1800, but its dark by then. I want to be back home by dark.

Like I have said before, I live the life I describe in my latest how to work, such as, “The 10+ Best Survival Jobs.” I ordered six of my most recent traditionally published books and had them shipped to the library here, with a note on the box informing workers where these books were intended for donation. There are many libraries here in this place, and I intend on donating many of my books to at least two thirds of them before I leave out. Should I fail to find solid employment, I’m moving on. I hope to make a grubstake somewhere. I actually like this town I’m in, but reality is reality.

I’ve determined to allow myself until February or April at the latest, since it will be springtime everywhere else in America by then. Are any fellow traditionally published authors out there wanting to join in my adventurous rambling, writing, and artistic lifestyle with me? Drop me a line on this blog site, then. It would be interesting to hear from others of the cloth. My wife may return next week. Her and I feel so much differently about everything, but then she is retired, and I am not.

Here are my latest two books. I had to speak a bit and get readers caught up on everything going on in my part of the world these days, so forgive me being so long with it. I have written it underneath what might be my favorite, and most popular pseudonym, Dr. Henry Lydo.

Backpacking isn’t What it Used to Be!

No longer is it a “last hoorah” for the young adult before settling down into “real life”.

This book details the Author’s proven how-to system for backpacking in almost every situation—whether it be short or long term, urban or wilderness, domestic or international.

Experience your life and this world to the fullest, because this backpacking guide has all the information you need.

Get it now.

Dr. Henry Lydo’s backpacking experience spans the majority of his adult life in both wilderness and urban settings, domestic and abroad moving from town to city, hostel to campsite, and everything in between.

Inside Survival Backpacking you will learn:

  • The best types of backpacks to use.
  • How to properly pack your backpack.
  • A nutritious and portable 30 day supply of food.
  • The best backpacking equipment to choose – and where to get it.
  • How to stay safe while exploring this great world of ours.
  • The 10 best portable animal traps in case you find yourself in a survival situation.

… and more.

Learn everything you need to backpack in today’s world, because Dr. Henry Lydo is sharing his secrets from decades of experience.

Get it now.

Nothing beats a good 44000 word western, wed with a realistic plot filled by rich intrigue and exotic mystery. Top that off with a grand addition of violence in measured cups, mixed in with a light sprinkling of sexual escapade, and one might cook up a beautiful novel well worth taking a bite from. When this work was being composed, the thought struck the author to go one more step farther, intending to make this unique serving irresistible; He served this dish up before a clear panorama of open, cloudless skies, cacti desert and colorful native tribes, complete with a mountainous horizon. The tin and board small towns, complete with banks, Federal Marshals, and safes filled with golden coin, really do make this unique dish all that much more inviting!

Imagine yourself, if for only a fleeting moment, on a beach side cottage porch somewhere, immersing yourself into this exotic world of “They Called Him Ringo Arenas.” Inside the American populous at large, there still lies a powerful adoration for the heritage of liberty and raw freedom these created scenes represent.

Just dropping by for lunch & a chat!

My life here in west central Florida started out bumpy. The thought passed through my brain to go back home and move in with family until I get back up onto my feet, but I’ve lived here for the past month already. My advice is to resist all of these impulses in the face of difficulty and tough it on out. Look for the good in one’s surroundings. I certainly had much to be thankful for. Money was running somewhat low, so I signed on with a company called Labor Finders. I work a day and am paid at the end of the day. After the first week I had a full forty-hour work week. There is a bank growing in popularity in these parts known as Sun Coast. I have never worked with people who are so accommodating. I highly recommend them.

I live the life I describe in one of my latest works, “The Ten Best Survival Jobs, how to find them, how to get them.” https://www.amazon.ca/Ten-Best-Survival-Jobs-find-ebook/dp/B0BJLGQQPY This work was originally published by SF Nonfiction, but the company fell on hard times and recanted every contract that was not on, or near being on, a best seller list. They still offer hardcover copies for sell, and the work has a five-star rating. Investigate the link for yourself. https://www.amazon.ae/10-Best-Survival-Jobs-find/dp/1925979482 With SF Nonfiction, at the editor’s request, I wrote underneath the pseudonym, L Horne. Living the unique life, I instruct for my readers to assume, is a part of what sets my work apart from most of my competitors. I describe myself in my own blunt nature as being the real deal, slam to the blood and bone! With me not much of a middle ground exists. One either deeply adores me or hates me to the core.

The writing lifestyle can be a true struggle to maintain. I have been doing it for over thirty years now. Believe it or not, there have been times when I considered throwing my hands up and quitting. If I was to do so, then who would I be? What would I be? What kind of life would I live? Where would my resignation place my loyal fans? In the end I can’t quit writing. Writing is my drug and my escape when everything else is gone. I am a writing junky.

In my travels and writing adventures I’ve discovered this neat little store I want you to investigate. https://www.facebook.com/onthewaypublishing/

http://www.facebook.com/groups/776677749978414/chats/4414329082025166/ Drop on by when you have the first chance and play around inside for a spell! They would love to have you in for a visit. There are friendly folks you can chat with. You are free to sit down, have a cup of coffee, select a good read, and enjoy life when the urge strikes. Seek out a few familiar names, or feel free to investigate one you might have never thought about. It’s always good not to have anything pressing from above or below. Make a request, should you not find what you are searching for. If they can’t find it for you, then feel free to drop me a note right here on this website. On you way out of their office, be sure to tell them I sent you there. That way, should you not like what you found, you can blame it all on little ole me. How is that for accommodation?

Here is another interesting work I absolutely must mention in passing today.

Way back during the mid 1980’s, I lived in the general area of the country where this account takes place. The time period from 1981 until maybe 1988, was known as the Col-core Era. The label, Col-core, stands for Columbus County corruption. The true participating territory encompassed virtually the entire southeastern NC, and northeastern SC areas, however. I am utterly astounded no other author from anywhere has written anything hailing from that era of time. So, I am proud to be the first one to do so!

The Col-core era really was like a living true life Gothic horror episode. I am happy to have witnessed it. Loads of violence, mysterious people, real life unsavory characters, wealthy families living in very elegant newly constructed and old-time West Indies styled mansions, with connections reaching deeply into the governor’s mansions of both states playing favorites and lashing out at enemies, and so forth, performed a part in this era. Let there be no doubt that to this day many questions of the time period are still un-answered. Such is the gospel truth of it. While maybe a majority of these colorful characters who played an active part have passed on, alas, still yet numbers live to this very day. I speculate where this reality could be a reason nothing has yet to be written, besides the fact of no writer ever bothering to do so, I feel. Court records are tough to access for those of us who don’t possess high profile security clearances, and only guilty fools give interviews. Good fiction must bear a certain grain of truth in it, if we recall.

For most of my life I have been active outdoors. I have been a big-time hunter, fisherman, trapper, hiker, camper, and man of the woods in general. Back during the mid 1980’s, I was hiking, camping, hunting and trapping, to a great extent in this area. There were several live oak and Spanish moss sheltered wolf’s-dens off from the railroad tracks near the old White Marsh Depot, where outdoorsmen of many types met to socialize, display their catches, trade valuable commodities and information in general. I hiked and trapped one of my rounds, pausing there briefly before moving on. The people of the time and era there were most definitely entertaining, and half-interesting to conversate with. Most of their conversations were about long-lost hell raising days overseas during the Korean and Vietnam wars, the big fist fights they were involved in locally over the years, how many people were afraid of them, how many deer they had slain and how many dirty women they had laid with. Huge amounts of cash money supposedly turned selling swamp made white lightning and other contraband, also filled their lines of speech that day. Then of course, one topic of conversation among locals of the time period was this Col-core situation.

Local people there in this morning setting before the crackling campfire, beside the hotcake skillet and the tin coffee pot, had a version of reasons why this situation occurred differing greatly from the news media of the time. I have no way to validate any of their claims. There is no doubt where an overwhelming majority of these claims were outright apocryphal. Small grains of truth in other claims, had magnitude levels super-inflated, as is the usual case in these types of affairs. The Incident in Galloway’s Quarter is a tale of fiction elaborating from these local claims, first published by Rowdy Living Press. The mentioned characters are fictional, while other names, descriptions, and places have been changed to protect both innocent and guilty faces. Purchase your copies today!

A company called Offbeat Reads has agreed to publish “The Incident in Galloway’s Quarter” inside an anthology sometime in March, I think. I will post the link inside this post, so stay tuned.

Another success!

In daily living our successes often seem small and insignificant. When we maintain a journal, we can clearly see where much more occurred to our good credit than we might have been aware of. We have many adventures, I am telling all of you, throughout the day. Your surroundings are like a stage or a story plot, with you in the center! In the end, when everything else around me crumbles into dust, I still have my writing. That why I am a firm believer in everybody developing some sort of artistic talent, be it whatever it may. When all else crashes one may then throw himself into his creation.

http://activemuse.org/2022_Collections/2022_shishir/stories/HL_Dowless.html

Some rough stuff!!!

https://online.fliphtml5.com/tmgnj/iibu/

I have much to speak of today, but little time to say it. I love writing, publishing, books, and other people who do also. I am here on this Sunday in B&N Bookstore writing, submitting, and posting. Tell me what you think of the poem chapbook above. Hearing from my fan base is very important to me. Truth be said here on this space, without you, the fans, there would be no famous musicians, movie stars, politicians, presidents, kings, and authors. From what I used to hear way back when I haunted his home turf, Andy Griffith might have forgotten all about you folks who made him what he was, but I haven’t! I could drop a line on much about ole AG, but not on this little writer’s blog. I’m shocked some person hasn’t published a book on it, but I do know ole AG was protected by some high and mighty people.

I must make a two-hour run all the way to Orlando at midnight. Its frigid as my ex-wife and raining like the floods of Noah outside. The wolf has no consideration for logistical concerns when she plans her flights. She goes out at comfortable, manageable times, but comes back in when it’s an absolute dog for those who must be there to pick her up. I wanted to work tomorrow, but I suppose I can do so on a pot of coffee, eh? Living on the edge can be dangerous at times, don’t you think?

Drop me a line! Cheers, and happy reading and writing.

A few more words in passing

It’s been a little while since I’ve written. Here we are wallowing around in central Western Florida for the time being. I expected loads of real employment opportunity here. Man, how I can never go wrong! They have a grand horse and pony show, so let me tell you all about it. You can just see the loving emperor’s great Thanksgiving and Christmas cornucopia of genuine middleclass opportunity all around you. This place really puts the magnificent city of OZ to shame! Although to be perfectly honest, I will say that I have yet to meet a tin man. All of you should come check it all out! Everything is so inexpensive here. I mean, single apples for only two dollars apiece, whole cartons of eggs by the dozen for only five dollars, men’s basic haircuts for $60.00, a price so low it will make you want to cut your own! Gas is a measly 3.60 a gallon, for crying out loud around here! When it increases its only by 10 to 20 cents a week. This place is an American heaven, especially if you originate from somewhere in California or Boston, Mas’.

Anyway, I am working at Labor Finders for the time being now. I can get buy on this and still take time when I choose to live an adventurer’s life. The beach area here really is fun. There is so much to do here, festivities going on, nice live band clubs by the beach to visit. This area has many book launches going on, and literary events. These are my favorite parts about it. I prefer the beachside dive bars, with the two-dollar draft and the 3-dollar hotdogs and hamburgers I can load down with slaw, pickles, hot sauce and onions. So, it is when one lives his life on the edge!

A few more titles

Please take a glance at these titles. There are great bulk rate discounts. Sales have been decent, since everybody loves an unusual read. Be sure to share them, and any others on this blog. Be sure to share the blog link and post it anywhere books are sold, and readers gather! Purchase copies and place them inside the Little Free Library in your areas, donate them to libraries, drop them in distribution bins that service libraries, request them at your local bookstores and county libraries, distribute them in your classrooms, carry them and display them at local festivity events! In short, feel free to leave them laying around or display them anywhere literature loving people gather!

The work below is an anthology of many stories published by CC&D Magazine. Be sure to notice the work by H.L. Dowless! Following this will be several more anthologies published by CC&D Magazine. Notice my name and story, then purchase your bulk rate discounted copies today! This story is a quasi-true deer hunting story, many years old. “A “Fine Day Inside My Hole in the Wall”

Here is another CC&D anthology with a vendetta-story I wrote about an interesting person and situation that may or may not be true. I’ll let the reader decide the fate of this one. Get your bulk rate discounted copies today! Be sure to share these links far and wide! “La Vendetta Di Le Sournois”

Here is an outstanding Christmas story written by H.L. Dowless. This anthology carries part one, it seems. “The Tale of Gringo El Loco.” Get your bulk rate discounted copies today!

This anthology contains the second part of “The Tale of Gringo El Loco, a Christmas Saga.” Get your bulk rate discounted copies today! Be sure to share and like, when possible. Periodically, I offer works at no charge to frequent repetitive customers. Specific information available upon request.

Here is another anthology published by CC&D Magazine with part one of “The Tale of Gringo El Loco,” by guess who? How or why part one is published inside two separate anthologies by the same company, I haven’t a clue! Get your bulk rate discounted copies today!

Stay in touch with the publishing and ever-growing bookstore branch of SR&H Enterprises. Check out our company logo! The photograph is very real. The publishing company’s name is Rowdy Living Press. We have plans to make the bookstore an actual brick and mortar business catering to adventurers and artists as no other anywhere does, but can’t do so without you, our customer and fan base! As always, a big THANKS for all that you’ve done for us thus far. We live to take the grim falls, the hard rolls, and the brutal punches life on the edge throws at us, so you won’t have to! While all of you-kind folks, have the luxury of easing back into your comfortable beach cottage chairs and reading about our spaghetti piles and grand spider webs, we have to unwind from around us. You deserve all of the pleasure without the pain, would you not agree? Come on now! Cheers, and happy reading.

Titles on sale now!

Check these killer prices out. Buy them in bulk if you own a store or display table.

Demand has been very high on the book below. It was selling for a mere ten dollars, but it’s still much lower than it has been. To prevent tyranny, we must always be aware of the possibility existing for it. It’s not a criticism of America, but a warning for remaining at attention, and soon. Get the bulk rate deals while you can!

Below is another book that has been a good seller. The price isn’t bad for what one gets. It’s a collection of unique children’s stories, poems, and photographs. It’s published for the reading public’s pleasure by Rowdy Living Press. Get the bulk rate discounts today!

If potential readers have children, then this link below is designed for you! Like unusual nighttime reads? Check it out! The price is set at a very decent rate for the quality one gets in the purchase. Own a store or a display table? Get bulk rate discounts today!

Another collection of children’s stories below! All of these stories are some passed down by elders, and others born from the imagination.

The book below has an interesting history. More than 20 years ago I was employed in the Carolinas as an EC teacher for three years. The department head at the school I was employed at was known as the Witch of Drowning Creek, respectively. Without a doubt, she had a foul, bitter personality, and hated her job. Nobody understood how or why she chose to or even managed to remain employed.

On that note, my first day she seized me by the left arm, marched me down the hall to an empty classroom, rudely shoved me toward the teacher’s desk; then informed me that no materials existed, to include books, yet I was expected to instruct the students in all subjects or endure termination for nonperformance of assigned duties. I had five days to come up with something, she told me, and no materials could be purchased, since the school had no funds to do so with.

So, I did all that I knew to do, and began writing. I took children’s stories I had written for my own children, and crafted exercises from them. I got a week ahead of myself during these five days without students. When the year ended, I had organized them into this book. Not only were these stories and exercises used in EC classes, I also used them during my days as an international ESL teacher. One four-month summer abroad the wife and I traveled throughout Ecuador and Peru, giving lectures and selling copies of this book. It sold like hotcakes, we made it into the local news, and we recouped all of our traveling expenses in so doing. This work still has decent sales to this very day. Get your own copies in bulk for the discount, while it’s still possible!