And Now Come the Stories...

Yes, I have forgotten that I need to take a break...

I am not sure what most of you like to do on your weekends, but I seem to be finding myself going through my dreams and ambitions, and finding that I have a book or two ready to go.

This second collection in my 'Isaiahs' series was supposed to be the first one out. I had worked online with a publisher and compiled a short story collection with that name many years ago...and then forgotten about it. I had teaching contracts, stories and poems that kept coming to mind, and my discovery of Vocal. I had completely forgotten about this work.

Well, no more.

I know that it might be a bit too demanding to ask you to look for two of my books in the space of a month, but I feel like I should get my name out there now. There is still the temptation to put out a physical copy of my work, but I will start with the screens that we all seem to be staring at. Once again, you can try to read it up for free with the assistance of a Kindle, or help out a fellow writer by buying a copy.

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Now, I feel like I should write about what is going on in my life right now.

I have just finished the last exam of the semester for my regular college gig, handling verb tenses, adjective order and the interesting hieroglyphics of my student's markings (cannot call it writing sometimes). This has been accompanied by emails informing me that certain students cannot believe that their grades have been so low, or that they did not pass certain assignments (that usually happens when you do not submit the work). And please note that I am getting all of their messages just as they submit their last test. A full semester of falling grades and not a peep from my worst students (one even went to the college to explain that she had a...

MEDICAL CONDITION!

And could not possibly do the work (a real surprise to me; she took one sick day during the whole course). So, there's that...

And then there is this...

A new contract reared up and landed right in the middle of the exam season. Fortunately, I had time to set things up with the college so that I could take on this extra work.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Just imagine revisiting a neighbourhood you were pretty much forced to move from, and walking several long, hot and humid minutes to a set of warehouses and storerooms where often you are the only human being for miles around while the occasional car passes by with a driver who wonders why you are there. Great students and a friendly setting offer their own compensations, but I wonder if this is going to be another long summer of me lugging equipment to discussion how English should be pronounced and used in an office setting. Exciting stuff... :(

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So, what does any of this have to do with my book?

Well, my latest collection, just like the earlier poetry one, is listed under...

ABSURDIST FICTION!

It is hard for me to not look at my life and not think about how Albert Camus' philosophy works for me: life is absurd, and yet we have to go on. I mention him as a writer I admire and whose life has been an inspiration for me, as have many of you now on this very long road.

But the stories here are all my own.

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Note: I have just contacted the Kindle Direct Publishing chat online to see if anyone can explain to me why some readers are having trouble reading my work. If you are one of those lucky people, please be patient.

Certain Isaiahs in the void will be contacted...

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Thank you for reading!

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You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

Give it a look...