Tom Williams's Blog, page 3
November 27, 2022
Why and What to Write (Part IV)
In today’s digital world, does anyone write love letters? Let alone keep them? Are romantic correspondences preserved, or deleted? Do amorous episodes get cached, or purged? Are such records of events retained or lost in the dustbin of history?
Archivists possess the letters John Adams wrote to Abigail. Robert E. Lee’s letters to his family during the Civil War were published. Ronald Reagan reportedly wrote love notes to Nancy daily. Each document offers insights into the life, beliefs, feelings, and thoughts of the letter-writer, as well as a historical record of those times.
It is in this vein “Letters to a G.I.” was published. While not famous people, the actual letters from a young woman to a soldier reflect those same characteristics. Moreover, I felt it important to highlight the significant impact letters from home have on loved ones separated by great distances, especially military service men and women stationed far away.
And, as in this case, letters can create a long-lasting bond beginning with friendship and ending in love.
Archivists possess the letters John Adams wrote to Abigail. Robert E. Lee’s letters to his family during the Civil War were published. Ronald Reagan reportedly wrote love notes to Nancy daily. Each document offers insights into the life, beliefs, feelings, and thoughts of the letter-writer, as well as a historical record of those times.
It is in this vein “Letters to a G.I.” was published. While not famous people, the actual letters from a young woman to a soldier reflect those same characteristics. Moreover, I felt it important to highlight the significant impact letters from home have on loved ones separated by great distances, especially military service men and women stationed far away.
And, as in this case, letters can create a long-lasting bond beginning with friendship and ending in love.
November 20, 2022
Thankful:
I take the opportunity at this time of year to thank all of you who purchased my books, and to those readers who wrote and posted positive reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I thank everyone who has visited my website or joined me on Facebook and LinkedIn. I give thanks to all who have helped me grow my business and assisted me as a new author. May each and every one of you give and receive thanks to and from those most near and dear. Tom
November 13, 2022
Why and What to Write (Part III)
In the next weeks, peoples around the world will celebrate a variety of holidays with festivities, friends, and loved ones. It is during these times I especially think of family gatherings when sons and daughters, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas share their common traditions. What a wonderful opportunity to listen, learn, and seek answers to questions that, perhaps, one did not know how or what to ask.
Assemblages such as these gave me the idea for “My Life in Lists.” Create a booklet with blank pages, which, regardless of age, one can annotate with single words or short phrases of personal meaning. During family events or individual visits, pass the booklet around for perusal. Each person can select a “memory jogger” and ask its importance. In this way, families can share tales, stories, yarns, heritage, and history. Aspects of lives that would be, and too often are, lost forever. (My earlier Rattlesnake blog is an example about my father.)
The booklet can be a gift on any occasion (birthday, graduation, wedding, retirement) and shared at many an event (anniversaries, family reunions, holiday celebrations).
Assemblages such as these gave me the idea for “My Life in Lists.” Create a booklet with blank pages, which, regardless of age, one can annotate with single words or short phrases of personal meaning. During family events or individual visits, pass the booklet around for perusal. Each person can select a “memory jogger” and ask its importance. In this way, families can share tales, stories, yarns, heritage, and history. Aspects of lives that would be, and too often are, lost forever. (My earlier Rattlesnake blog is an example about my father.)
The booklet can be a gift on any occasion (birthday, graduation, wedding, retirement) and shared at many an event (anniversaries, family reunions, holiday celebrations).
November 6, 2022
Why and What to Write (Part II)
This week I offer why I wrote “President You.” Simply, it was disappointment in overly partisan congresses and divisive presidencies. That and my belief politicians fail to provide citizens adequate information regarding public policy initiatives. Too often elected officials accentuate their version of the positive while hiding detrimental negatives. You can probably come up with your own examples. “The survival of democracy depends on the ability of large numbers of people to make realistic choices in the light of adequate information,” wrote Aldous Huxley. Proponents of policy must include its disadvantages. How else can the voter make knowledgeable decisions?
“President You” shies away from a single ideology. Instead of any one dogmatic or partisan viewpoint, I wanted it to offer alternative perspectives. Many solutions presented are based on readily available information. The reader decides if the proposals of my fictional president align with his or her own beliefs or not. Among other things, I hope the book is a tool for generating thoughtful discussion on some of today’s political issues, which congresses and presidents seem unable, or unwilling, to resolve. It asks citizens to learn more about the issues and cast votes with greater knowledge.
“President You” shies away from a single ideology. Instead of any one dogmatic or partisan viewpoint, I wanted it to offer alternative perspectives. Many solutions presented are based on readily available information. The reader decides if the proposals of my fictional president align with his or her own beliefs or not. Among other things, I hope the book is a tool for generating thoughtful discussion on some of today’s political issues, which congresses and presidents seem unable, or unwilling, to resolve. It asks citizens to learn more about the issues and cast votes with greater knowledge.
November 1, 2022
Why and What to Write (Part I)
This is the first of a five-part commentary on Why and What to Write.
Human beings have within themselves tales to tell. Verbally, they infuse heart and soul into their “once upon a times.” Many of them are fortunate enough, talented enough, stubborn enough, lucky enough, skilled enough to transfer their animations from brain to pen to paper, or nowadays into ones and zeros. Technology and we have advanced since pictographs, gesticulations, and guttural sounds inside caves.
When one visits a bookstore, library, museum, or surfs-the-web, one cannot help but marvel at the plethora of subjects, and the variety of topics within each diverse genre. The “interesting” that each author brings to life.
Of the three books I have already written and published, “President You” expresses my interest in American politics and government, “My life in Lists” focuses on family history and yarns, “Letters to a G.I.” wonders if anyone in today’s digital, cyber-world write love letters.
Follow my path of Why and What to Write. Next week’s Part II will discuss the motivation behind “President You.” The following week’s Part III will present the history behind “My Life in Lists.” Part IV’s “Letters to a G.I.” asks why the interest in old letters. In Part V, ideas for writing are all around, to paraphrase “Stories are out there, you just have to let them in.”
Human beings have within themselves tales to tell. Verbally, they infuse heart and soul into their “once upon a times.” Many of them are fortunate enough, talented enough, stubborn enough, lucky enough, skilled enough to transfer their animations from brain to pen to paper, or nowadays into ones and zeros. Technology and we have advanced since pictographs, gesticulations, and guttural sounds inside caves.
When one visits a bookstore, library, museum, or surfs-the-web, one cannot help but marvel at the plethora of subjects, and the variety of topics within each diverse genre. The “interesting” that each author brings to life.
Of the three books I have already written and published, “President You” expresses my interest in American politics and government, “My life in Lists” focuses on family history and yarns, “Letters to a G.I.” wonders if anyone in today’s digital, cyber-world write love letters.
Follow my path of Why and What to Write. Next week’s Part II will discuss the motivation behind “President You.” The following week’s Part III will present the history behind “My Life in Lists.” Part IV’s “Letters to a G.I.” asks why the interest in old letters. In Part V, ideas for writing are all around, to paraphrase “Stories are out there, you just have to let them in.”
October 4, 2022
Family History
I mentioned my aunt passing away. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been diligently sorting through her family genealogy records my cousin sent me. Many of the items were photographs of family reunions and 50th wedding anniversaries. Of note were letters my grandmother wrote to one of my aunts back in the 1940s. It was interesting reading, especially about my 2-year-old brother and one cousin as playmates. My single mom worked at a department store Monday thru Friday, and half day on Saturday while her older sister and grandma babysat. Another letter spoke of my mom’s youngest sister’s activities at music lessons, choir practice, school play rehearsals, and volleyball and basketball games. Made copies and scans to send to applicable cousins.
September 25, 2022
Socia Media
My business is now on Linkedin. Follow it at https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-...
My business is now on Facebook. Join it at https://www.facebook.com/allwetpublis...
My business is now on Facebook. Join it at https://www.facebook.com/allwetpublis...
October 11, 2021
Before You Vote
Before you vote in the next election: Discover what politicians are not telling you; Learn solutions politicians refuse to adopt; Decide for yourself if the recommendations make sense.
Read my book, "President You: How a Thoughtful Ordinary Citizen Could Change the Most Complex Government on Earth."
Read my book, "President You: How a Thoughtful Ordinary Citizen Could Change the Most Complex Government on Earth."
