To be, or not to be an extremist. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous categorization and take up books against a sea of troubles, and, by reading, defy them?

To read: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub.

Apparently your shine for the shire and Shakespeare, love of Lewis and Locke, hankering for Huxley, craving for Conrad and others can get you labeled as an extremist in the U.K. I'll let you verify that for yourself, because any links I might include could be considered extremists sources.

The good news for you is that none of my works are on the list--yet. You may read, reread and review my books without worry of anyone taking notice. Seriously, do read them and post reviews if you like them. How am I to get on the extremist list if I remain unknown. I deserve to be on that list--because my books are extremely entertaining.

Those of you who have downloaded In Death Bedrenched, get your reviews posted.

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The writing is going great--when it's going at all. The theater practice has just bumped up the rehearsal schedule from 3 to 4 nights a week, leaving me with but one night a week and whatever time I can squeeze in on Saturday for writing.

I am loving the story in Book 6. The historical parts pack a punch, and the fantastic elements elevate the trauma, the drama, and the dream (my three fundamentals for creating great tales). As I like to do, I've just written a character into a very dangerous situation. The character's life is in deepest peril. An avenue of escape opens. Alas, instead of escape, another heaping helping of hazard arises. I love doing that.

I'm tempted to start leaking Book 6 to the Skirmish Team for comment and criticism.

In the meantime, I do find moments to work on a different tale set in ancient America, and I've got a short story idea boring its way out of my cranium.

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I'm currently reading With Musket and Tomahawk Volume I: The Saratoga Campaign and the Wilderness War of 1777 by Michael O. Logusz. The title spells out the subject matter. I'm finding it exciting, well-written, and full of great details.

I did finish C.S. Forester's The Earthly Paradise. I had to give it 3 stars because the ending didn't deliver on the promise.

Do you have any book recommendations for me?

You'll want to dig into these free flights of fantasy books

Here's a cornucopia of fantasy and sci-fi books up for grabs

Finally, let me leave you with this wisdom:

It’s good sportsmanship to not pick up lost golf balls while they are still rolling. –Mark Twain

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Honor Roll with special thanks to these subscribers:

Lois for her stunning review and heroic defense of The Shrinking Zone.

JBudd for reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, In Death Bedrenched, Power to Hurt, The Shrinking Zone, Clamorous Harbingers, Promise of Carnage and Flame, and Truth in Flames

Colleen for leaving ratings for several of my books on Amazon

Rob for leaving a review of Threading the Rude Eye

Michael for leaving reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, and The Shrinking Zone

Mayra for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

Gloria for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

ShannonC for a review of In Death Bedrenched

Jan for reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, Power to Hurt, Clamorous Harbingers, Promise of Carnage and Flame, In Death Bedrenched, The Shrinking Zone, Truth in Flames, and Justice in Season.

Bonnie for a review of In Death Bedrenched.

PAR for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

-There are other reviews of my books, of course, but I don't know whether those reviewers are also subscribers to this newsletter.