Books

Hidden Treasure

I started digging into old stories, ideas, and plotlines I developed over the years since I was a child.  I uncovered a treasure trove of material that I had nearly forgotten.  I revived some of it this weekend and posted some stories on my new web page, M.G. Edwards.  I plan to update many of the stories and assemble them into a collection over the next year.  Some stories and plotlines could make good books and series, even franchises.  I plan to put them in writing over the next few years.  I’ve been aware that I’d been sitting on a wealth of intellectual property for some time but never put it to good use.  No longer.  It’s time to bring them to life and capitalize on them before someone else does.

Institute of Children’s Literature

I’m thinking about signing up for an Institute of Children’s Literature writing course to hone my writing skills and help me develop a publishable manuscript.  I’ve received their offers in the mail periodically over the years.  I wondered whether it was a scam, but after researching their web site and online testimonies from satisfied students (paid? who knows) I decided that they’re legitimate and make give them a try.  The Institute is not very forthcoming on their course fee schedule, but I figured out that their basic course costs about $600.00.  In this age of high college tuition costs, that isn’t too expensive.  The fee buys you personal guidance from published authors, which is valuable in and of itself. 
 
At present I’m mulling it over.  If you have any thoughts one whether I should enroll in this course, please let me know right away.

It’s about time I posted an entry

Well, Dear Reader, what could I ever write to explain what’s happened down here in Paraguay over the past five months?  I wish I could write many happy adjectives like "nice, fun, and adventurous," but no, life here has not been all that.  I have pretty much been down and out since I arrived here and haven’t been in much of a mood to correspond; hence, I haven’t posted any new entries on my blog since November.  As they say, if you cannot say something nice, don’t say anything at all.
 
Much has happened over the past few months, both good and bad.  I have turned a corner and will try to focus on the positive.  I am hoping that this will not be yet another failed attempt to start writing again.  I would prefer that I take the time to break from that which does not matter so much in the long run and focus more on what will give me peace of mind.  Writing is like that.  Writing can be cathartic.  Writing is a way to disgorge what is rattling upstairs in your brain and dispensing it to whomever takes the time and has the interest to read it.
 
As a peace offering to help make up for my long absence, I’ll refer you to something I wrote over several months earlier this year.  It’s an article in State Magazine’s May edition featuring Asuncion, Paraguay.  My personal sentiments of this place do not match the tenor of the article, but you can read it for yourself.  If it inspires you to try and work or visit here, by all means seek my counsel first.  I will give you my unvarnished opinion of life on the Island Surrounded by Dirt.