There Is a Wedding Gift We'd Much Appreciate

Jeff—Saturday

Last week I announced Barbara’s and my wedding in a post titled, “No Gifts Please.”  Now that we’re married, things have changed.

But not for the reasons you might think. Rather it all arises out of something I first learned on New Years Eve. 

My ninth book in the Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis series, AN AEGEAN APRIL—centered on the Eastern Mediterranean refugee crisis, and picked by Library Journal as a Best Book of 2018—has been selected as a KINDLE MONTHLY DEAL for January!

What this opportunity means to a book buyer is An Aegean April is now available for purchase through January 31^st across every e-book platform for $0.99 by simply clicking on the link https://books2read.com/u/38E86w

What that means to this author is a potential source for cutting into wedding debt, but at royalties based on 99 cents a book you can understand why I’m so blatantly huckstering for sales—my first and last such effort on MIE in 2020.Thank you for indulging me this commercial moment, and please feel free to share my plea. :)  

Now, on to what I’d actually planned on posting before my very pleasant New Years Eve surprise.  It’s a piece that really should be written by a Scot since it’s derived from a poem by perhaps the most famous Scot of all, Robert Burns (1759-1796),

Burns wrote the poem (here’s the original version) in 1787, set to the tune of a traditional folk tune (Roud #6294).  Its seminal phrase, “Auld Lang Syne,” is traditionally translated as “long, long ago” though “old long ago” is more literally correct (based upon my deep understanding of the Lowland Scots language) and is a song about love and friendship in times past. For those of us who believe in time travel, astral planes, and questionable sobriety, I should point out that the phrase “auld lang syne” has been used by other poets in their work, including one Allan Ramsay (1686-1757), which I guess gives our Caro and her Alan a claim to have beaten me to the punch (bowl).

Happy New Year, everyone—and please forgive me, Scotland.

Should odd acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should odd acquaintance be for not,
And made to toe the line?
For all fond thine, I cheer,
For all fond mine,
We'll share a cup o' kindness yet,
For we’re all fine.
And surely you’ll pick yours to hug!
And surely I'll pick mine!
And we'll show a lot o' kindness yet,
For we’re all fine.
For all fond thine, I cheer,
For all fond mine,
We'll share a cup o' kindness yet,
For we’re all fine.
We all have run about the hills
In search of flower wine;
And wandered many a weary foot,
But we’re all fine.
For all fond thine, I cheer,
For all fond mine,
We'll share a cup o' kindness yet,
For we’re all fine.
We too have paddled up the stream,
In mourning, fun, and grind;
And seas between us broad have roar'd,
But we’re all fine.
For all fond thine, I cheer,
For all fond mine,
We'll share a cup o' kindness yet,
For we’re all fine.
And here's a hand, my trusty friend!
And give a hand o' thine!
And we'll drink to kindness and good will,
For we’re all fine.
For all fond thine, I cheer,
For all fond mine,
We'll share a cup o' kindness yet,
For we’re all fine.

A Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year to ALL!

—Jeff

Jeff's 2020 Speaking Engagements and Signings (in formation):

Thursday, March 12-Sunday, March 15, 2020 

San Diego, CA

LEFT COAST CRIME—San Diego Marriott Mission Valley

Panels yet to be announced

Monday, March 16, 2020, 11AM-2PM

Saddlebrooke, Arizona 85739

FRIENDS OF SADDLEBROOKE LIBRARIES 

30th Anniversary Authors Luncheon

SaddleBrooke Clubhouse

40010 S. Ridgeview Blvd.

Author Speaking and Signing

Thursday, June 4--Sunday, June 7, 2020

BRISTOL, UK

CRIMEFEST—Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel

Panels yet to be announced