Me & James Joyce

Aloha!

Welcome to one of the world-nexus of BLOOMSDAY!

"Bloomsday is a commemoration observed annually on 16 June in Dublin and elsewhere to celebrate the life of Irish writer James Joyce and relive the events in his novel Ulysses, all of which took place on the same day in Dublin in 1904. The name derives from Leopold Bloom, the protagonist of Ulysses. 16 June was the date of Joyce's first outing with his wife-to-be, Nora Barnacle, when they walked to the Dublin village of Ringsend." Wikipidea

And it's also my birthday.

I grew up in Bucks County Pennsylvania, land of James Michner and Pearl S. Buck. There's something literary in the soil, I believe.

Though I lived in a tract neighbourhood of post-war homes, we were still surrounded by woods, fields and space. What's more, the Artists Community of New Hope beckoned down the road with the promise of a creative life. And it was almost half-way to New York City, capitol of creativity and misfits. . . like me. (You too?)

When I was a real young sprout, Michner spoke at my mothers' community organization. I scandalized the assembled adults by disputing Michner's assertion that a "word is worth a thousand pictures." Being a child I was sure that a diagram would be more helpful than a poem in building a house or fixing a car. Thus began my notorious career as an

"outsider artist."

I always wanted to understand what was important, what was true, and to write about it.

Reading was my best friend.

"Writers are horribly depressed people who commit suicide in garrets." my parents warned me; and I guess they were partly right because I have spent decades in deepest depression spiced with "jump out of your skin" anxiety.

My life has been a quest to know the Truth, to find Peace, and to share it with others. Hope that's not too pretentious.

The subtitle of my novel is:

"From Survival to Satisfaction by Honolulu Taxi"

Readers are invited to make the trip, Jump in!

My English teachers were obsessed with petty stuff like spelling and blind to amazing young talents like mine so I muddled along imitating the style of Poe and H.G. Wells.

Now there's a funny image: a ponderous, over-writing 10 year old H.G. Wells!

Today, my novel lives in the State Library, roosts at Amazon, has traveled on the Hawaiian Voyaging Canoe Hokule`a,

and also made some good friends of strangers.

If you click on the big photo of my book's cover all the way at the bottom of this page you can go to Amazon and read my 18 nice reviews. I do hope you will buy a copy there, or send me a $20 check or money order to PO Box 89582 Honolulu 96830 along with your personalization request, and I'll mail you a signed copy from Waikiki!

So thanks for joining my party today; mine and Joyce's that is! I was born on the international holiday of literature and writers: Bloom's Day.

Yes, thanks for sharing some of your valuable time with me here today ;-)

I leave you with an email that found me a few days ago "out of the blue."

A wonderful birthday present!

"Wow Cloudia,

I just finished reading "Aloha Where you like go?" and I loved it! It's basic message spoke to me like no other kind of self help book. I have been struggling with the smile concept for years. I was at the point that if one more person told me to smile I was going to lose it. Everything you wrote was exactly what I am thinking. Thank you so much for your insight. I found the book at Goodwill which makes me believe I was meant to read it.

I am Haole who moved here in 1977. My father was a Marine. Hawaii is magical.

I just wanted to send a smile and Mahalo for writing a great book.

Aloha,

"H"

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y TO ME !!! !