It's been a while.
What have I been up to this week?
In short, lots. I’m putting my hiatus from blogging to good use.
Two New Books
The new novel, Asylum, has been outlined and character development is pretty much done. I’m even more excited about this one that I was with Alarm Clock Dawn. I can’t stop thinking about it. This is a good sign. I’ll be taking a deep dive into this as soon as the poetry collection is off to the book designer.
Speaking of the poetry collection...I’ve decided to call it Ephemera (or possibly Ephemeral) and it’s nearly done. The prologue was drafted yesterday, I’ll share that with you below. The prologue still needs to be polished but the core of the idea is there. I’m happy to announce that @OpheliaFu has agreed to work with me on the cover design and she’s already hard at work coming up with awesome ideas. This will be the best cover yet.
e·phem·er·a
/əˈfem(ə)rə/
Noun
Ephemera are any transitory written or printed matters that are not meant to be retained or preserved. The word derives from the Greek ephemeros, meaning "lasting only one day, short-lived.”
PROLOGUE
For me, it all began with poetry. During the past three decades I’ve written novels, short stories, articles, even children’s books but have never stopped writing poetry. There’s a deep sense of satisfaction found in crafting fictional worlds and everything that inhabits them. Writing poetry is a different animal altogether.
Writing a poem is like, for a few seconds, plugging yourself completely in to the creative energy of the universe. When I write a poem there’s no forethought, I open my mind and let the creativity flow through me. Often, I don’t know what the piece is even going to be about until it’s done. When the process works it feels a little like getting struck by lightning. The electricity flows through you and spills out onto the page and what you feel is a tinge of sheer joy. If you’re lucky, the string of words on that page will alter both you and the reader, even if it’s ever so slightly. The words are merely a delivery system for the emotion behind them.
Poetry should move us, it should change us, shift our moods. Poetry should spark a pang of melancholy, remind us what it feels like to be in love, or twist our brains, causing us to think about something in a completely different way. Poetry is born of a better, more civilized, and refined place. A place we might think we don’t deserve but we absolutely do. The words, lines, and stanzas contained within these pages may be short-lived but I hope the feelings they spark become a part of you, always.
VanMoofing
In between writing sessions I’ve been breaking in the new VanMoof S3 electric bike. I have about a hundred miles on it and can honestly say it’s the most fun I’ve ever had on two wheels. Be sure to turn up your sound when you play the video. I promise that sound is coming from the bike's horn, not from yours truly.
It's absolutely insane how much technology is packed into this bike. I can control the most important features of it from my watch or even from voice commands using Siri shortcuts. You should see people's reaction when I say, Unlock Bike or Turn On Lights and the bike responds. VanMoof has created a masterpiece with the S3. It's the perfect synthesis between bicycle and motorcycle, with a little more emphasis on the bike aspect.
Must Streams 2021
I have two new recommendations. The first is Calls from AppleTV. This series is groundbreaking and the first few episodes leave you wondering WTH is going on but, trust me, keep watching. If you are even remotely a fan of Sci-Fi give it a try. It's freaky, you’ll be into it.
Next up is Ginny and Georgia from NetFlix. I don’t usually like series’ like this but this one is so well done it captivated me. Ginny and Georgia captured today’s youth in the same way Breakfast Club captured the teen spirit from the 1980’s. These series made me feel super old but also made me realize that nothing much changes across generational boundaries. Highly recommended.
In Closing
Minnesota is FINALLY opening up vaccinations to my age group early next week so I'm hoping to get stuck as soon as I can so life can start to return to normal. What a year it's been.
With Gratitude,
Eric Vance Walton
Most of us have experienced a moment of perfect peace at least once in our lives. In these moments we lose ourselves and feel connected to everything. I call these mindful moments. Words can’t describe how complete they make us feel.
These moments are usually fragile, evaporating in seconds. What if there was a way to train your mind to experience more of them? It’s deceptively easy and requires nothing more than a subtle shift in mindset. My new book, Mindful Moments, will teach you to be much more content despite the chaos and imperfect circumstances continuing to unfold around you. Upgrade your life experience today for only $15.99 on Amazon.com.
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