The Silver Wreath

21/02/2025

Silly story I believe every writer will identify with. First, start with Charles Dickens in "The Man Who Invented Christmas." Dickens was plagued, harrased, and tormented by his characters - Scrooge possibly the worst. Now, to me. I recently started a story where a young man is dismissed from his job due to lack of performance one year after his wife and daughter are killed in a traffic accident. While on an adventure, less than a week after leaving his job, he meets a delightful young woman. Lots of stuff going on here I am not telling you, but the problem is this. I - me, the author - am feeling guilty because the character is "cheating" on his deceased wife by enjoying a dinner with this new acquaintence. Oh, and they go to Walmart together - HOT date. I am not experiencing guilt for cheating on my bride - who is very much alive and well - but for cheating on the deceased wife. I'm actually rewriting an entire chapter to fix this. AUTHORS BEWARE - your stories are VERY REAL, or you are doing something very wrong. More about this yarn later - watch for the working title "Wrong Way."

28/01/2025

It is now available - Lessons of Christmas - in both print and kindle (or read for free on KindleUnlimited). Enjoy - and thank you for your support.

First, I am a “Professional Santa.” I came to this delightful profession through a side door and with some uncertainty. I went to school to learn about becoming Santa, but that only confirmed that I was not yet ready to “wear the red suit.” Shortly thereafter I was offered the opportunity to...

24/01/2025

Two years ago, Jan 28, 2023, Santa Jim Youker asked me, "Gale, what have you learned from Christmas?" Answering that question took some remembering and some soul searching. Not all of it pleasant, however, turns out, I learned more than I thought. And I'm still learning. Available on Amazon, you can now order the eBook, but the print copy won't be available until Tuesday, 1/28/25.

First, I am a “Professional Santa.” I came to this delightful profession through a side door and with some uncertainty. I went to school to learn about becoming Santa, but that only confirmed that I was not yet ready to “wear the red suit.” Shortly thereafter I was offered the opportunity to...

03/01/2025

2024 is in the history books, done. We published / released only one book - no small accomplishment - "Lost Finder" (sure you can find it on Amazon but I will provide a link when I can get it for independent bookstores, such as Magnolia and Main Books). So, with a "lean" year, what is ahead? We hope to release a special short work that is the result of a "Santa Challenge" very soon. Watch for "Lessons of Christmas" and yes, we intentionally did not release this volume before the great day, it will be more meaninful as you recover. Our second release for 2025 will probably be in April. You have seen the cover query photos - final title "Wrong Forest." The third volume of Vrenessbith is under construction - "Return" and I just began my first romantic comedy - working title, "Wrong Way to do Nothing." 2025 is lookin' good.

06/12/2024

I recently heard from two daughters that my youngest granddaughters have discovered The Silver Wreath's North Pole Stories. Then a request come from somewhere that I should read these stories to them .... do you remember Christmas 2020 when Covid had us all pacing our living rooms, unable to visit friends? I did record three of the books at that time and made them available online - for free! But, what happened to the link to these tales? I found it and they are alive and well. If you would like to pause and enjoy a delightful story from the reindeer barn at the North Pole, go to woodsmanstories.com and click on the Christmas stocking, or click here: https://www.woodsmanstories.com/christmastales.html
If these stories bring a smile to your face and you would like them for your own, read to your grandchildren, look up North Pole Stories on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DKPFNKQ2
And if I don't get back, Merry Christmas.

Visit Amazon's North Pole Stories Page and shop for all North Pole Stories books. Check out pictures, author information, and reviews of North Pole Stories

15/11/2024

Not quite two years ago, following a luncheon of the Long Leaf Pines Santas, Santa Jim Youker offered me a challenge. "What have you learned as Santa’s Woodsman? What have you learned from Christmas?” Having worked with Jim on several projects and having a strong respect for him, I started considering this project. At this time I have recalled a lot of wonderful memories and found challenge to a number of beliefs about Christmas. After all, if you are going to learn something, shouldn't it be something worthwhile? I believe I have learned a lot from Christmas, not all of it expected and we are nearing completion of this project, a short book which should be released early 2025. So, while I finish checking grammar and thoughts on my lessons, what have you learned from your pursuits in life?

18/10/2024

Last chance to breathe ... Christmas and all of its wonder are just around the corner, barely more than a few heartbeats. My calendar began filling last January and while it is not what others may call "filled," it is what I can handle and enjoy. The key here is to enjoy the holidays, not matter how hectic they get. If your Christmas list begins early, like mine, take a deep breath now and let it out slowly. Blink twice and begin with a glorious smile on your face. What? Too early to consider this? No, Christmas began yesterday, I saw it on the faces of many people reaching out to be lifted from storm damage, lifting people out of storm damage, and folks helping folks. What a wondrous Christmas gift, and it's only October. Imagine who you can help in the coming weeks. Merry Christmas, it comes anytime you help another.

06/09/2024

Going back to the forest and the tale about camping. If we used this image, or a similar one, for the cover, what would you expect from the story? Now, a few more clues, a synopsis if you will. Matt and Barb were running late arriving at the campground. First a problem at Matt's job called him into work then a flat tire while enroute to the campground. Arriving just ahead of the host locking the gate, the host advised them to change sites, "campground is basically empty any way. Only two other guests, but your choice." Waking the next morning they found the bathhouse gone, and trees growing in front of their vehicle and between their vehicle and camper. The campground had been removed and they were now isolated from the world.
There you go, a bit of a mystery. So four titles to go with this image - "Campground" (the working title), "Wrong Forest" (suggested previously) and now two new possibilities - "Isolated" and "Removed". Comments? What does this image and synopis congure in your imagination?

30/08/2024

Labor Day is not the end of Summer, but an opportunity fly with dragons, explore the Highlands of Scotland, dance with time, and discover a lost identity. All Speurach Press kindle volumes are FREE from Friday, 8/30, through Labor Day, 9/2. Grab an adventure NOW, or pay for it later. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBMRX78X

16/08/2024

I returned to Storytelling yesterday. Getting ready for this event I reviewed a collection of tales to share and was actually quite worried about them coming with me - memory aint' what it used to be. But I had a wonderful and responsive audience of fifty or so retirees. I got so involved in the stories I had to shorten my prepared program - still ran over the hour they had requested. A wonderful afternoon - old friends are alive and well.

02/08/2024

Okay, here's a puzzle for all of you who read / buy books. If you saw this image wrap around on the cover - (a) would it interest you? (b) what type of story would you expect behind it? Now the clue - we are pondering two titles - working title is "Campground" however we are now leaning toward "Wrong Forest". Any and all comments are welcome and would gratefully appreciated. Thanks.

12/07/2024

"Lost Finder" is live and can be added to YOUR bookshelf!

05/07/2024

Available to read in 6 days! https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Finder-Gale-Buck/dp/1736023063/

28/06/2024

99 Cent special is only good through release date - 7/11/24.
https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Finder-Gale-Buck-ebook/dp/B0D5VPLLTF

21/06/2024

Lost Finder is now available for preorder. Release date is July 11. Now a tickler - the Kindle version is only 99 cents, until release date, then back to 2.99. So, order early and save a buck or two.

Awakened in a rolling boxcar by something tugging at his boot, a man snatches a name from thin air. Stan Winthrop. He finds two clues to his identity hidden in his boot, a business card and a pocket menu for a restaurant in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. The card has two sets of letters and numbers w...