Author: Carol Ann Ross

The title of my next book is THE TOWER. I guess y’all know what kind of tower I’m thinking of–yes, an observation tower from Operation Bumble Bee back in the late 1940s.  The nefarious villain who occupies the tower is none other than you know who. If you read my latest book BRIDGE TENDER,  you’ll now who I’m referring to. I’m about half way through THE TOWER and hope I can finish it in the next couple of months.

writing tip–be sure to get your facts correct. Nothing turns off a reader like a story with incorrect info.

quote–a woman has got to love a bad man once or twice in her life to be thankful for a good one-Marjorie Keenen Rawlings

In the beginning—- it was called the Superette. This must have been taken in the early 1960s. There was a laundromat, barber shop, beauty salon, realty co. grocery store. Surf City had everything you needed.
quote: TIME IS NOT MEASURED BY CLOCKS BUT BY MOMENTS-anonymous

writing tip: don’t be afraid to remember as vividly as you can–recall all times–they made you who you are.

Quote: He was too simple to wonder when he had attained humility. But he knew he had attained it and he knew it was not disgraceful and it carried no loss of true pride. Ernest Hemingway/The Old Man and the Sea

Sights like this always humble me–make me know there is a power greater than myself and that I must be true to the passions in my life.

Today we said good-bye to one of Surf City’s original kids. We all grew up together in the 50s and 60s and 70s, when the island was a real paradise. 
TY-truly one of a kind-thank you for the horse back rides and the rides down the snow covered dunes in the sea turtle shell. Thank you for your individuality and tenacity. Thank you for being you-a good friend, a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. You are missed. Ty Medlin.

Quote: It was considered a virtue not to talk unnecessarily at sea–Ernest Hemingway.

Yes. Sometimes there are no words.

Quote; Our friendship is an ocean,
stretching far and wide, never ending
and filled with memories, that last a lifetime

that tiny strip at the bottom of the photo is the island-the clouds were spectacular.

Went fishing today with an old friend.
and saw the island from the other side-about ten miles out.
I am so blessed to have such a friend-our memories will never die
we are the kids of Surf City-the first ones.

So it’s hurricane season and everyone has devastation on their minds. This photo of damage done by hurricane Donna in 1960 should help to cement those thoughts of ruin. Sorry, but couldn’t resist jerking a few chains. But things like this rarely happen and more than likely MATTHEW will probably be only a cat 2 by the time it gets here, if it gets here at all. Mother Nature is going to do what she does best and so lets hope if you have a house on Topsail it was built well and if this storm does turn out to be a 2 or less, hope you have a hell of a party in it and ride out the storm in style. If its a 3 or more, get the hell out and pray. To special people whom I care deeply about, God bless and stay safe-stay healthy. 

What an ominous looking day, but a beautiful one as well.
Had our first writing class for the fall term at CFCC last Monday. What a fantastic group of people. Should be an interesting six weeks. We’ll have another come February-come join us.

Stormy day-profoundly beautiful.

Quote:The best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice. Ironically their virtues make them vulnerable; they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed-Ernest Hemingway.

so be kind, you’ll get to heaven quicker.

This morning.

Quote: to know what you prefer instead of humbly saying amen to what the world tells you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive-Robert Louis Stevenson