It doesn’t have quite the ring of “Remember the Maine,” but it will have to do: there are less than 500 comments to go to No. 20,000, and whoever posts that comment will become President for Life of some undisclosed country. Either that, or you win an autographed copy of one of my books.
There are a lot of new visitors here since the last contest, so let’s hear from you.
We have less than a thousand to go to reach Comment No. 20,000 on this blog, so that means it’s time for another comment contest. Whoever posts No. 20,000 will win something mind-bogglingly fantastic… if my negotiations with Fabulous Treasure Inc. don’t fall through. Win your own foreign country to rule as absolute monarch! Or a huge chest full of gold coins and uncut rubies! Or your portrait painted by Peter Paul Rubens!
Otherwise, an autographed copy of one of my books.
The contest is open to all, and any and all comments qualify, with the following exceptions: comments abusive to me or to any other reader; any use of the f-bomb; blasphemy; commercials thinly disguised as comments, that somehow get past the spam filter; comments simply too inane to bother with. Other than that, anything goes.
I expect it will take up all of October to get to No. 20,000, but let’s just see.
Just so you know I’m still working on it, today I finished writing another half a dozen chapters of The Temptation (Bell Mountain No. 11). I’ve got to type them up and send them to my editor, then plunge into the next chapter set. The Lord has not yet shown me the climax of the story, but I think it’s safe to tell you there’s a whole lot of temptation going on and many of the characters now have the opportunity to do something that they shouldn’t. And there’s a new threat to Ryons’ kingdom looming up from the far south.
We’re still waiting to see a cover for No. 10, The Silver Trumpet. I had hoped to see it published in time for Christmas, but don’t know whether that will be possible. And I’m a bit concerned for No. 6, The Palace. Is anybody reading it? It has only three Customer Reviews on amazon.com. If you haven’t read it yet, please give it a whirl. And find out what happens when King Ryons and his hound, Cavall, hunt the mysterious White Doe.
Meanwhile, I’ll be trying very hard to finish The Temptation before cold weather sets in. The outcome of the story is in God’s hands–and that’s where I want it to be.
First I have to loosen up my brain with a bike-ride, and then I’ll review this very good movie for you.
I feel a kinship with this film because I once spent an hour and a half interviewing its subject, Lee Strobel, about his book, The Case for Creation. When I reached him by phone, he was on his way out to go skiing, but said he could give me 15 minutes. But once we got to talking, it was hard to stop. My review of that book is floating around somewhere in the archives at http://www.chalcedon.edu/ .
So yesterday we watched The Case for Christ, it was well worth waiting for, and I took notes as we watched. so I’m just about ready to write the review. See you just a little later!
I hope everybody understands that my “Memory Lane” pieces are intended to be harmless and benign. In them I concentrate on features of my past which I find it pleasant to remember, passing by things that would not be so.
A reader who grew up in my neighborhood took issue with today’s piece, and made some very serious allegations against a person who lived there in those days. He may be wondering why I’ve deleted his comment, so let me explain.
I find it hard to believe that none of the kids on my street would have heard about this thing, and impossible to believe that, had they ever heard of it, they would’ve kept it to themselves. But today was the first I’d ever heard of it.
No legal action was taken, which means there is no record that can be consulted. It’s not possible for me to verify or refute the allegation. For me to let the reader’s comment stand might be called “reckless disregard for truth,” and so be grounds for libel. It’s also possible that the allegation properly applies to someone else. I have no idea how the reader came by his information, and it would not be good journalistic practice for me to publish something that I couldn’t check. Nor do I think it would be a right thing to do.
I thought the reader made the comment because he was angry. I didn’t write that piece to upset anyone. And again, I have no idea whether his allegation was true or accurate. Finally, I would rather not get involved in investigating criminal matters from such a long time ago.
My stats page tells me I have a lot of new viewers on this blog; and I would be surprised if many of them were aware that I have novels out there, too.
Look at that beautiful cover, up there, by Kirk DouPonce! The Throne is Book No. 9 in my Bell Mountain series, all of which are available through amazon.com or directly from the publisher at http://www.chalcedon.edu/store.com/ .
Mostly of you never heard of these, but you can find out about all nine novels in the series simply by clicking “Books” at the top of the page. Artwork, cover blurbs, and sample chapters–it’s all there.
Book No. 10, The Silver Trumpet, is currently in production. Meanwhile I’m writing No. 11, The Temptation. But for the time being, there are nine of them out there to get you started.
Take the plunge! Buy one! It’s cheaper than a movie!
Hum, baby! Yesterday this humble blog acquired its 500th follower. I thought that wouldn’t happen until the end of the year, but a lot of people have been showing up here lately.
If you’re new here, please click “Books” and take a look–cover art, blurbs, and sample chapters–at the nine (so far) books of my Bell Mountain series. We also take hymn requests and prayer requests, comment on the news, and in general try to serve the Kingdom of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wonder if I can interest my wife in a game of Mille Bornes…
Whooooooaaaaa….!
Well, they tell us they’ve made “a good recovery” of data from our busted hard drive, so we’ve got to go back up the mountain today to get it. I admit I selected the photo above for dramatic effect. Our destination, New Jersey’s Watchung Mountains, offer no opportunity to drive right off a cliff. Just high, twisty, narrow roads frequented by speeding dump trucks loaded to capacity with stone and chunks of concrete so that they couldn’t possibly stop in time to avoid an accident, driven by persons fanatically devoted to tailgating… [pause for hyperventilating]
I don’t know how long that’ll take, or how much new material I’ll have time to post today. But if you’re new here, please feel free to browse among the blog archives–you’re bound to find something that’ll amuse you.
As a further token of appreciation to my readers, I present… more quokka video!
This little guy came out to greet a couple of bike riders on Rottnest Island, Australia. This never happens when I ride my bike: just the odd chipmunk now and then.
We take great pleasure in God’s handiwork.
Comment Contest Reminder
Don’t anybody say I’m giving you short notice: there are only about 300 comments to go to reach lucky 20,000, and whoever posts that comment wins a prize.
A pyramid with your name on it–in neon hieroglyphics! A weekend on Solitude Island in the Siberian Arctic, with the celebrity of your choice! Rhinestone socks signed by Joe Collidge!
Or, if my plans for those prizes fall through, an autographed copy of one of my books.
Anyone can play, and all comments are eligible except: comments abusive to me or to another reader; blasphemy; any use of the f-bomb; ads thinly disguised as comments (it’s insulting); or comments simply to vapid to bother with.
Other than that, anything goes.
Share:
Like this:
5 Comments | tags: a message to my readers, bell mountain series by lee duigon, comment contest, lee duigon blog, rhinestone socks | posted in Uncategorized