Dialogues from Word World: Letters from the Friendly Skies

Official U.S. Navy Page, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Featuring the Fabulous Dadbots: Mark M., Mark O., Dave S., Paul Carter, Dennis Curley, and Geoff Carter Fellow Bots, I visited the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) festival in Oshkosh last weekend. I have a few observations to share.  But first, I have to relate that my teeth …
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Kickass and Old Typewriter

Berit from Redhill/Surrey, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that the keeper was thrilled when Phyllis presented him with the perfect piece of art to illustrate his recent dive into writing another (Margaret’s War) novel.  The absurdity of using an ancient typewriter is perhaps no greater than …
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Kickass and Banning Books

Artwork by Michael DiMilo By Bill Stokes    Kickass, the doorstop dog, is trying to assist the keeper in getting his novel—Margaret’s War banned; and has only succeeded in getting Phyllis to toss it out of the kitchen when the keeper carelessly leaves his ever-present promotional copy too close to a stove burner.          Nothing is …
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Kickass and AJ’s Book Review

Photo by Jaredd Craig on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports on how the cold January day was warmed beyond belief when great grandson AJ insisted that his parents—Tony and Kristen, contact the keeper with a preview of his—AJ’s, first book, which he produced as a school project.          In a rare session of “face” technology, …
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Kickass Out From Under Porch

Photo by Max Sandelin on Unsplash By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, having joined the keeper in crawling through the dirt under the public communication porch, as revealed Sunday by the 60-Minutes whistleblower, reports that he—the keeper, finds it impossible to stay under there with his mouth shut—Surprise, Surprise!—and will resume ranting on some of the following …
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The Magic in Our History

Photo by C.Catutti By Carmela Cattuti Our history is probably the most important time line that we can explore. In fact, I would argue, it is imperative that we examine the past grounded in the present through a different lens. Some call unearthing the past “shadow work,” but I would frame it as excavating the …
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Kickass and Fall Writing

Corey Coyle, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that during the keeper’s long journalistic efforts to stay out of the city room and thus avoid editors and honest labor, he came up with a number of writing schemes built around seasons—“Spring up the Mississippi,” “Around Lake Michigan in …
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Kickass and Reader Letter About Dog Killing Cats

Javier B, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, notes on the keeper’s behalf that two-way communications is not a recent Facebook thing, but was one of the delights of writing a newspaper column back in the keeper’s day. Letters from readers kept a columnist’s ego somewhat in check, and in …
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Kickass Remembers Hemingway

By Bill Stokes Kickass, the doorstop dog, reports that, of course, the keeper’s lifelong Hemingway adulation is stirred by the Ken Burns PBS series now playing, and, of course, he—the keeper, recalls a long ago visit to Key West and a talk with Captain Tony, proprietor of the former Sloppy Joe’s, where Hemingway liked to …
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Thicker Than Water Virtual Book Launch

August 26th at 7pm on Facebook Live See details here: Thicker Than Water Virtual Launch Event Be there for the virtual launch of the new novel, Thicker Than Water by Geoffrey Carter, an environmental thriller set in Northern Wisconsin. The event will include live music, a short reading, a Q&A session, and prizes. Click the …
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Hands I Cannot See

Artwork by Michael DiMilo             This last Saturday, I installed myself at a table at the Authors Market at the Southeast Wisconsin Book Festival to hawk copies of my novel, The P.S. Wars: Last Stand at Custer High. A lot of people stopped and engaged me in some very interesting conversations. We talked about everything from self-publishing, …
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Giant Steps

Giant Steps             Toni Morrison, one of America’s great visionary authors, passed away last week. We lost not only a supremely talented writer, but also a woman of profound courage, incisive vision, and sublime sensibilities. As an African-American woman, her writing enveloped and embraced the marginalized in our society—her society. Novels like Sula, Beloved, The Bluest …
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