December 2023 News
When I first drafted this, it opened with a rant about Thanksgiving and my breakdown of each of the USA-beloved dishes. I called them all mediocre at best, which is true. Ham and turkey especially. Deli meat, both of ‘em.
The post was salty, alienating, and I found it funny. But I scrapped it to say something earnest. Brace yourself.
This is known as a wonderful time of year. The jolliest. For a lot of people it is. For some it’s not. It’s dark and cold and feels like something’s missing, or even a great many things. For some it takes effort to wear a smile and dry eyes while working or decorating or eating or just existing in December. Everything reminds them of what’s gone. For them, festivities are the opposite of festive.
I don’t have a point other than to say please check up on people. Ask folks how they’re doing. If they’ve experienced the death of a loved one since this time last year, the holiday season won’t be the same. It might be a long time before it’s the same. It may never be. That’s okay.
Anyway here’s me fisting a decapitated animal.
nsfw
Way to darken the mood, grinch. Why so serious?
Because I focused all my holiday cheer in VIOLENCE & VIGILANCE, a fantasy romp in a fun and exciting world where everyone gets along and holds hands and sings and never stabs each other or cuts each others’ heads off. You should get yourself a copy. I hear it pairs nicely with Sinatra.
Writing
Speaking of V&V, the ebook will be on sale from 6 December 6th 2023 through 12 December 12th 2023. 80% off! Marked down from $5 to $1. Can your eyes believe that?
Click this. Or tap it.
Bookmark it.
Eat it.
We’re progressing on the audiobook. I’d say it’s a third finished; or roughly 10 hours. Jonathan Waters embarked on quite the quest with this book and he’s proving up to the task. You’ll see.
I want to put together a companion to the book that helps you keep up with the names and factions. Maybe a bookmark or a webpage. V&V gets crowded fast, and constantly hopping perspective doesn’t help cohesion.
Sold some signed copies of the paperback this month.
Judging by these pics you’d think alcohol consumption was a prerequisite to buying/selling my book. It helps.
Thanks: Will, Clay, Prana, Daniel, (Rusty!), and all not pictured
Elsewhere, one of V&V’s editors Lee Burton, who is also a reader and a writer, mentioned V&V on a recent newsletter. He took off his editor cap for this one and gave his impression, including a bit of a synopsis. As you might have guessed since I mentioned it at all, it is quite flattering. And I cannot let flattery go to waste.
“Through Kale and Irdessa the Undying, David List explores the wonderful world he's devised with captivating precision. The characters speak through their actions and their struggle, caught up in events larger than themselves as the world itself heaves toward what feels like an inevitable clash. A spirit of impending doom looms over both countries, and we're ever in question if Kale and Irdessa are really at the helms of their own fate, or if they're merely pawns put in place by powers set to collide eons ago.”
I want you to read it. It does a far better job than I do at concisely explaining V&V’s plot and stakes.
Praise like this, from long-time professionals in the field, really tickles my giblets. If it does yours too, and you appreciate Lee, check out his books on Amazon.
Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse
This is a live video podcast I’m embarking on with three other fellows who are each bearded and into books.
Matt Sorenson, David T List
Tom Bookbeard, DB Rooks
I’ve been working on my video space so that when we get at it I don’t look or sound like a total amateur. If only acting like a total amateur was preventable.
I mentioned the FBotB in passing last month and am happy to report that unless hell erupts onto earth and devours us all our first episode launches at 4pm EST (9pm GMT) on the 9th of December, on Matt’s YouTube channel: Beard of Darkness Book Reviews.
Go ahead and follow his channel so you don’t miss it!
Lake Hartwell Kayak
I’m going to annoy you and report that we had a record November. That’s not saying a lot though. November has never been our busiest month. I suppose it’s around our 9th busiest month.
We’re in Lake Hartwell’s dry season. There’s more beach than usual, and it’s often muddy.
That’s my boss, doing work while I take pictures.
Our store is live! Remember me telling you I’m working on this? Well she’s here at last, however scarcely populated.
At the moment there are only hats in there. But shirts are in the works with a local printer. More to come.
Wife didn’t know I was posting this picture.
Don’t tell her.
As I figure out how to sell online for LHK, maybe I can do the same for signed books.
Finally, LHKRAD was featured in the latest “Lake Living” magazine, which goes out to some forty-thousand people if I recall correctly (I don’t). I put together another little photo compilation for your viewing pleasure and now this news post features way more of my face than I’d prefer.
The Kingdom of Zeal
I want to retire the paludarium and return the surviving fauna to the lake. Zeal may be no mas this time next month. She’s 13 months old. A lot of animals visited and left, in one way or another. But her time has come. The design can improve.
Here are some of recent pics:
Next Month
That’ll be the year 2024, won’t it? I guess I’ll do a best of / what was accomplished in 2023.
See you then
Merry Festivus
dtl
