Dean K. Miller will be my guest blogger on Monday, February 24th, and for U.S. and Canadian residents, he’ll be giving away a copy of his book, And Then I Smiled: Reflections on a Life Not Yet Complete.
I’ve been reading the collection of stories, essays, and poems slowly. It’s important to savor a thoughtful examination of life at its best and sometimes not so best. As I read I look for clues that might change my direction, open new paths and ideas, or trigger memories from a long forgotten past. There is something for me in every one of Dean’s essays.
Dean often writes of the ocean off the northwest U.S. coast…or fly fishing along the Big Thompson River in Colorado. We have our love and fascination with the ocean in common, although my memories are from the Atlantic and Gulf Coast of Florida. We share peaceful moments of meditation while fishing, although my experience was in a rowboat for hours while lake fishing in the Ozarks of Missouri. I think wherever we humans come in contact with the waters, no matter the form, there is peace and there is healing. Even during storms…because we know the storm will end and the skies will clear.
I hope you’ll stop by on Monday and read Dean’s post….and leave a comment for a chance to win the giveaway.
Sharon: My apologies to your brother. The fishing end of things got set to the side after the Big Thompson Flood and then the momentum of the book continued to keep it at bay. (I did catch a few today, thought…and yes, I’ve been twirling some fishing posts in my head.)
Pat, I agree; Dean’s essays are sometimes humorous, sometimes thought provoking, generally peaceful, but always well written. Thanks for the post.
Sounds like a great collection! 🙂
I wish Dean’s website was more current (hint-hint). My Northwest fishing brother would love his fishing site!!
Greetings All! After a morning poetry lab and a couple hours on the river fly fishing, I’ve managed to connect back into this electronic world. The time on the river was much needed…the last few days have been hectic, exciting and more.
Thanks Pat for a great review and for hosting me on Monday. I’ll share some thoughts on self-marketing (did a little more after fishing, today) to answer comments/questions. I can’t wait to see who is the lucky winner of my book.
Hope to see ya’ll back here on Monday Keep smiling!
I saw Julie’s Facebook status about this book and immediately went to Amazon to read the description. It sounds really good– right up my reading alley. Can’t wait to read more. Thanks, Pat!
If he writes about the Oregon coast I can promise it’s beautiful.
Glad you are enjoying his book and stories. There’s always something peaceful about the ocean.
Pat – Thanks for the ‘heads-up.’ I always find it interesting to see the way other people perceive their lives and what it all means for life in general.