Annotations

I said it was coming. Well, now it’s here! Annotations , that is—the newsletter I’ve been wanting to put together for some time. I’ve finally decided on content and done some drafts, so I’m ready to put out that first issue. First, however, I need to provide my readers with an opportunity to subscribe.

I’ve done that with links scattered around my website and the Arbordin Park Press website. I’ve also provided them at the end of this post.

Annotations will be the in-depth version of my writing for those who want to go deeper with me. It will be where I share fiction that addresses the realities of life as I’ve found them, and also where I make comment on the current events that reflect the “interesting times” we live in. How individuals cope with such times is the central theme of my storytelling. Humans are born into bubbles of perception foisted upon them by culture, rulers, and civilization. A life well-spent is one that works to burst the bubble.

Bubble-bursters are seekers after truth, and my heroes come from their ranks. Those lonely souls who bear the hardships of desert wastes, mountain heights, and 8-to-5 jobs to look beyond the apparent, earn my admiration. And when they write about it, they earn a Ray-view.

You can follow the links below to read more detail about Annotations and to subscribe, but let me give you a brief overview of what I have in mind for the first issue.

I take as my inspiration, the poet O'Shaughnessy’s poem, “Ode.” It’s the work that introduced the idea of “movers and shakers” into popular culture. It’s central idea is that the real movers and shakers are artists, though their influence is subtle while powerful. This theme infuses my “Manifesto” essay, “Music-Makers,” where I talk more about the role of artists in the world and what I want to accomplish with Annotations. 

I have one of two stories in mind to offer in the first issue. Most likely it will be one set at Christmastime (though it’s not a “Christmas” story) that I call, “Mission Project.” It’s based on an incident I observed many years ago and definitely goes with the theme of “bubble bursting.”

My Ray-view will be of a book by Robyn Davidson who is a travel writer who did much of her writting in the 1990s. She pulls no punches in describing her travels, but rather seeks the truth of places and experiences and does not romanticize. There is much insight to gain from her work, as I noted in my review of her book,  Desert Places. 

There’s so much to chose from for the Worldview section that I’m not sure at this time what events I’ll comment about. The implications of the recent US “election” and what the events surrounding the Syrian fighting imply are at the top of my list. Indeed, the two subjects are related. But the reason I even include a Worldview section is because I don’t believe we should work so hard on bursting our bubbles only to form new ones. We should keep an eye on reality, decerning it as best we can, even though it’s painful.

So that’s an idea of what I’m offering. Actually, I’m offering a bit more. When you subscribe to Annotations, you’ll receive a coupon code that you can use on the Smashwords website to download my Ray-views Volume 1 ebook for free (it regularly costs $2.99). 

Putting out Annotations will be a challenge for me every month, but definitely a labor of love. I hope you’ll join me, and spread the word if you find value in it.

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You can find details about Annotations here .

The Annotations sign-up form is here . 

The Smashwords page for Ray-views Volume 1 is here. 
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