MAY SUGGESTED READING

HARD TIMES or BLEAKHOUSE by Charles Dickens, B&N Classics Publishing

MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides, Picador, Farrar, Straus and Giroux Publishers

FREAKONOMICS by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Harper Collins Publishers

Let me know what you think.

DEFINE SUCCESS FOR ME

Three years ago I decided to try my hand at writing a novel. I've been a professional songwriter since I was seventeen but I had never tried to write prose. In the ensuing three years I have written two novels, a novelette and a number of short stories. I love to write. I don't deceive myself into thinking that I'm a great writer, but I can tell an interesting story.

Four months ago I joined a writer's group here in Colorado Springs, as much for social reasons as for creative discourse. There is no critique process of our writing and most of our discussions involve marketing, social networking, blogging and self promotion. I don't have a problem with all of that, but we never discuss the creative process, that elusive spark that drives us to put word to paper. I feel like we're putting the cart before the horse in these meetings and I'm thinking of quitting.

All my creative efforts have been born out of a need for self expression, narcissistic as that may seem. A fellow writer said that we never know when our creative endeavors will inspire another person to begin their own creative search. To me, that would be my greatest success. While I'm not against recognition or monetary reward for creative work, I feel these should never be the impetus for creativity. I'm not suggesting art for art's sake, but writing simply to make a buck or see your name in print is cheap. It's word pollution and the world is awash in that these days. I choose to embrace the idea that my writing is like the sound of one hand clapping and if a breath of air flows from it then I've succeeded.

NEW LOOK, MORE CONTENT

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is in the fight for his political position. His off record remarks caught on microphone calling a long time, Labor Party supporter a 'racist' have him in even deeper trouble. The supporter was complaining about the flood of Eastern European immigrants to Britain.

My Czech friend went to work in England as caretaker to an elderly lady. The salary she could make in British pounds was far superior to what she could make in Czech korunas back home. Can anyone really blame her for wanting to prosper? Can anyone really blame the British citizens for being angry at jobs being taken away from British nationals? When I was in Vienna in 2006 I sat in the Sudbahnhoff train station listening to a young man from Romania tell me about his recent experience in Italy. He had been working illegally in construction there. When the project was finished, the contractor refused to pay him knowing the young man had no legal recourse. He had to go home to his family empty handed after months of separation.

We see the recent law passed in Arizona. Clearly it's racist but can anyone blame the people of Arizona who support the law for their concerns over illegal immigrants. The point I am trying to make is that this issue is not black and white. There are good people on both sides of the argument. We have to come up with solutions that don't vilify either side. Cracking down on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants is part of the solution. Stronger border monitoring is another. Forcing Mexico to enforce their borders and penalizing them somehow for not doing so would help. But forcing people with brown skin to show papers is not the answer. Blaming European Union citizens for taking advantage of the rights they're now entitled to is not the answer. Cheating poor, desperate people who take desperate measures to feed their families is not the answer either. I think part of the answer is to see ourselves in others and think of the world as one nation. Perhaps if we did, appropriate solutions would follow.

From THE SINGING FOUNTAIN by C.E.Wells

'Life is very unpredictable,' as Maria had said. That's what makes it so wonderful. Love enriches us all, even if it hurts. And although life doesn't always have a happy ending, your chances of one are better if you hope it will than if you suspect it won't.

For Dorian.

C.E.W.