During this time of national crisis, Roo Tales is doing its part to SAVE LIVES. No, seriously.
A final draft of the Roo Tales book is done, and has been sent to the editor. Every book needs an editor, and boy howdy have I picked a good one.
He’s a former professor of British Literature who spent a career in higher education in the state of Texas. The dude got his Ph.D. at Rice; I once drove by Rice. His knowledge of Shakespeare is pretty impressive, but his real specialty is John Milton & John Donne. My own knowledge of Donne is limited to one episode from the T.V. show Cheers:
Diane (Shelley Long): “What he actually sad was, ‘Come with me and be my love, and we will some new pleasures prove.’ That’s Donne.”
Sam (Ted Danson): “I certainly hope so.”
He’s a published author and editor, whose works include “The Variorum Edition of the Poetry of John Donne,” “Celebration: Introduction to Literature,” and “Richard Crashaw.” I found that last book in the Austin College library many years ago. The life of Richard Crashaw? A lot of poetry. Not a lot of small college sports stories.
Have you ever watched a good editor at work? Writing is about economy, and he’s a master. Give him your best 20-word sentence. He’ll take it, applaud your effort, remove 5 words, and still somehow make it better. That’s some Houdini level stuff right there! Damn, Houdini performed at Sherman Hall in the 1920s and I never got around to that Roo story. Maybe the next book.
A guy like this would probably cost a pretty penny, but I’m getting a very good deal. In fact, he’s doing all of this work for free. I’m grateful, because Dr. Paul Parrish is not just the perfect person for the job, he’s also a guy I get to call Dad. Thanks Pop.
So how is Roo Tales SAVING LIVES? Dear ol’ Dad is in his 70s, and needs to stay indoors. He’s also a social butterfly, which makes it hard. Editing his son’s Roo Tales book will keep him at home as this crisis passes. Like World War Z author Max Brooks, I’m working to keep Dad safe.
Linda Parrish, don’t let him out of the house until he’s Donne.
