That Mystery Floating Alongside

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  “The side of the ship made an opaque belt of shadow on the darkling glassy shimmer of the sea. But I saw at once something elongated and pale floating very close to the ladder. Before I could form a guess a faint flash of phosphorescent light, which seemed to issue suddenly from the naked body of a man, flickered in the sleeping water with the elusive, silent play of summer lightning in a night sky. With a gasp I saw revealed to my stare a pair of feet, the long legs, a broad livid back immersed right up to the neck in a greenish cadaverous glow. One hand, awash, clutched the bottom rung of the ladder. He was complete but for the head. A headless corpse! The cigar dropped out of my gaping mouth with a tiny plop and a short hiss quite audible in the absolute stillness of all things under heaven. At that I suppose he raised up his face, a dimly pale oval in the shadow of the ship’s side. But even then I could only barely make out down there the shape of his black-haired head. Howev...

NaNoWriMo

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November is National Novel Writer's Month (NaNoWriMo).  I am not posting any blogs during November, except for any that may be related to NaNoWriMo, my novel specifically. 

My wife and I will be writing on separate projects, aiming at at goal of at least 50,000 words, or a 175-page novel by November 30, 2010.  So far, I have a nice 5 chapter novel charted out and am rather excited about the whole endeavor.  Can't tell you what it is (where would the fun be?) but you may catch a hint of what I am writing by taking a glance at my "Currently Reading" list, to the right, on this blog.

Perhaps you happen to be in the Columbia area, and would like to join us for some lunch-time write in's.  Bring your laptop, your plots or the seat of your pants (depending on how you write) during the noon hour (or longer, depending on your schedule) to the campus of Columbia International University (this is not a CIU sponsored event):
  • Thursday, November 4, in the Student Center, Main Dining Room (noon)
  • Thursday, November 11, in the Student Center, Rikard Dining Room (noon)
  • Thursday, November 18, in the Student Center, Rikard Dining Room (noon)
  • Tuesday, November 30, in the Student Center, Rikard Dining Room (noon)
Until then, please enjoy this quote by G.K. Chesterton: "There is a great man who makes every man feel small.  But the real great man is the man who makes every man feel great."

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