It's election year -- political ads and news crowd the airways. As in any election year, you'll hear numerous references to the Constitution, the backbone of United States' government.
The Constitution is a remarkable document -- and so is the story about the personalities and circumstances that shaped its creation. So, if you're interested in history, politics or characters, I'd recommend reading Plain, Honest Men - The Making of The American Constitution by Richard Beeman. Beeman is a distinguished historian and his account of behind the scenes actions and compromises that shaped the Constitution is engrossing and engaging. In some places, it almost felt like reading fiction. It's excellent, unbiased and helps to understand the many complex issues that were faced by the founding fathers. Add this one to your list of books to read!
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The new novel is coming soon. But here's a taste...
Ray’s assistant let Sophia into his office and closed the door. He was faced toward the window rubbing his chin as he listened to the conference call blaring from the speaker. Hearing the door close, he turned gave her a quick wave and held up two fingers. Sophia nodded and plunked down at the round table. She opened her notebook and pretended not to listen, tuning into the conversation while she relished the view. Because the corner office was on the 16th floor, she could see towering cumulonimbus clouds approaching across Lake Michigan, gigantic white puffs casting ominous gray shadows on the water. Ray walked over to the phone on his desk. “Thank you, guys. I appreciate the update. Watch those quality numbers, I’d like to see them above the required range. I’m hopping off the call now, keep up the good work.” He clicked the phone off, made a note on his laptop then looked up and smiled. “Think it will blow over?” Ray’s aquamarine eyes sparkled like the lake behind him. Sophia relaxed, noting his mood -- it was always more fun to talk with him after a call with good news. Ray walked over to the leather couch. “Since I had my office re-arranged, I’ve gotten addicted to the view. It’s constantly changing — waves and boats when it's sunny, and if not, great cloud patterns. I can’t believe I worked with my back to the window before.” “Perhaps you wanted to get more work done before?” She teased as she followed him to the couch, sitting next to him and crossing her legs carefully in her tight black skirt. The heel of new her beige pump slipped off and dangled, something her old shoes would never have done. Designer shoes were cheeky. “No doubt.” He said casually. It was actually the opposite. After a PR trip to Asia that turned perilous, Sophia had become a friend as well as his Account Exec. She knew Ray had instituted sweeping changes to his organization and life; the layout of the CEO office was just a visible indicator. “How’s the family?” She prompted, knowing Ray loved talking about the two girls whose pictures filled every spot on his credenza. She’d also spied a new picture of Karen, his ex-wife. “The girls are doing very well.” He paused. “I didn’t think you’d miss the new picture! And yes, you can consider me a success in your advice giving statistics. In fact, I’m now an official Soccer Dad.” “Really?” “Oh, don’t give me that astonished look.” He shook his head with a smile. “When you have kids, you’ll get to enjoy all sorts of activities you never imagined you’d be a fan of! Anyway, I see all of them every Saturday, and not just for soccer. Karen and I are officially dating again.” Sophia eyebrows arched. “Like high school or college?” she asked playfully. “There's a difference.” Sophia couldn’t resist her reporter’s need to dig, despite the fact that Ray often baited her by dangling information to make her curious before changing the subject. I'm in the middle of reading a very good novel, "A Conspiracy of Paper" by David Liss. This engaging story is set in England in the 1700's and I'm enjoying the language and word choice that add to the authenticity of the historical setting.
For instance, he referred to a minor character as a sycophant. That's not a word I've heard often, but it describes a person who uses flattery to win favor from individuals wielding influence. This type of character is not unique to the 1700's -- they are still around. In fact, Sophia is tries to work with a sycophant in Book 3, but more about that later. For more definitions of sycophant, click this link to the Free Dictionary |
Nancy MacCreeryInsights on writing, characters, humor and other tidbits from the author of the "Scoops and Schemes" series of novels. Join the conversation on Facebook !
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