On the Right Side of Ramadan

See, I told you I'd be better about posting more frequently...

It's the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when eating and drinking during daylight hours is forbidden (at least, outside the safety of your own apartment), as Muslims are fasting. Music, dancing, and other assorted revelry are also restricted. And at school, our day is about two hours shorter than it will be during the rest of the school year (which means that we have to rush through our lessons and day, being less productive than we will be after Ramadan). But we've just got one more week of that, and then it's Eid al-Fitr (which, for us, equates to a week off). I'm heading to Lebanon with a few of my colleagues for that one. Should be a good time, and I'll post details about my trip in a few weeks.

This past week, I made the decision not to do MUN again this year. Various factors entered into that decision, among them the fact that my professional responsibilities are greater than they were last year (I'm the head of Grade 8 English, for one). Instead of MUN, I'm starting a creative writing club, something I've christened the "Budding Authors Club". There's enough interest at the school in creative writing to get that going, and sadly, there are not creative writing courses offered in the official curriculum. So I'm filling the gap. Should be a lot of fun. More updates, I'm sure, to follow in that regard.

I'm working on tweaking From the Ashes a tiny bit more, mainly in the relatively slow first couple of chapters where the protagonists are introduced. Reworking the agent query letters and sending those out. And, of course, working on book number two, which is coming together rather nicely. In the researching and planning phase still, but I'm getting really stoked about it.

I'm heading to an Iftar dinner (the feast where Muslims traditionally break their fast at dusk) this weekend with some friends. Also going to the Dubai Mall (the largest mall in the world, with the tallest building in the world (the Burj Dubai) right nearby)), and working on my publishing pursuits. Productivity and fun. Good times.

Okay, so that's about all for this time, I think. Thanks for stopping by.

Jeremy