3.24.23 Issues and Tissues

There are two things that have occupied my headspace this week.

 First up: Providence College basketball.

                I graduated from Providence College and I am a huge basketball fan. I attended virtually every home game when I was a student. I watch all their games on FS1 to this day. I bleed basketball. And when I’m not watching them I’m watching the Lakers, Mavericks, or the Celtics. I think I was a point guard in another life.

                I told you. I bleed basketball.

                This week, our world was rocked on Monday when it was announced the Ed Cooley, the men’s head coach would be leaving to go to Georgetown University. Nobody in Friartown (our nickname for Providence) was happy, especially at the fact that he was abandoning us for a rival in the Big East conference.

                I’m a Cancer. Cancers do not like change. We don’t like change and our fuzzy little heads stay stuck in the past. Couldn’t he just give us another three to five years? We weren’t prepared for this. Many expressed that they were angry at the way he left. Okay, fair point. But is there ever a good way to say goodbye?

                Last night my former college roommate direct messaged me on fb.

                “Hey Kris, what do you think about our new coach?”  she asked.

                “I was reading up on him yesterday. He’s a cutie.” I replied.

                “Omg Kris! He’s cute and I heard single. I don’t know, I’m not convinced. They needed a big name. I’ve been upset about Ed all week.”

                Kim English, the new coach is definitely going to be a tough sell. He seems upbeat and genuine in his interviews and social media posts about his new position. He has some decent experience. He played professionally in the NBA and overseas for a bit. He built a better basketball program for George Mason as head coach before he left to come to PC. But he better deliver or there will be smoke.

                I have settled myself with it as best as I could. I’m throwing in the towel. What’s done is done.

                My former roommate and I will give him a chance. I will probably give him more of a chance than she will. She’s a tough cookie.

                Isn’t it amazing how these people we don’t know personally weave their way into our lives? And here we are, talking about them like we have a relationship with them, yelling about them like they owe us something, or getting vexed about a decision they make.

                It’s fascinating how impressions are made on us by random people.

Second Up: Upcoming books

                This is a perplexing problem that I have come across as an author.

                Presently, I have four books rattling around in my head, each demanding attention from me on a consistent basis. For the most part, I have plots for all of them and a few characters.

                Finally, this week I committed to begin with one in particular. Every new novel is murky territory and there is trepidation aligned with excitement. Can I make it more disturbing than the previous one? How much more absurd can I make the characters?  

                It’s tricky. I’m starting to write this one. However, I will need to put it down for a bit while I complete edits and other endeavors for There Ought to be Shadows. I don’t know how I feel about that.

                 I feel like my brain is all over the place. It needs focus. I’m sure at some point I’ll chat with my publisher and see what they suggest. These characters are getting noisy though. They are screaming to get on pages. I cannot escape them.

                Till next time, stay dreadful my friends.