23 Comments
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Werner Meyer's avatar

JSB, those last few jokes were Dixie cup bad, but I loved them!

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James Scott Bell's avatar

My specialty, Werner!

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Sherry's avatar

Gotta say, I like your writing much more than Ray Bradbury's. Just sayin'.

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James Scott Bell's avatar

That's quite a compliment, Sherry. I will say that some of Bradbury's writings, esp. Dadelion Wine and Something Wicked This Way Comes is among the most beautiful I've ever read.

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Patti Jo Moore's avatar

Thank you!! This might be my favorite yet of your wanderings! And amen to more laughter---we need that now more than ever. That is wonderful that you were able to meet Ray Bradbury!! 🙂

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James Scott Bell's avatar

It was such a great experience. He gave a great talk. I love the part where he talked about writing the screenplay for John Huston's film of Moby Dick, in Ireland, and was having trouble finishing it. So he woke up one morning, looked at himself in the mirror, and said, "Behold Herman Melville!" And then he finished it.

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Tess DeGroot's avatar

Ray was and is my writing angel. I met him in college he encouraged me. Fast forward 5 years, and our paths crossed again. He remembered me and asked about my writing. I told him I hadn't written anything in three years due to a bad experience in a college critique group. He put his arm around me and said, "Don't listen to those morons, you write what you want to write the way you want to write it." I've written a lot since then and next year my first book will be released, it's dedicated to him.

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James Scott Bell's avatar

Wonderful, Tess! What an encourager he was to other writers. Congrats on the book!

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SUSAN BERGER's avatar

I feel like I just took a trip to Alice’s tea party. Now I want another cup.

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James Scott Bell's avatar

It's on me!

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James Mecham's avatar

Informative, entertaining, humorous, no wonder I enjoy your writing and novels.

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James Scott Bell's avatar

Thanks, James!

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Patricia Bradley's avatar

No, they were Dad-bad.

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Patricia Bradley's avatar

That was supposed to go under Werner Meyer's post!

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James Scott Bell's avatar

I will take the compliment anyway!

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Debbie Burke's avatar

Jim, you're singing my song. The tyke with the device makes me shudder and I see it more every day.

How fortunate you were to meet Bradbury in person.

Thanks for the laughs, too--yup, we need more!

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James Scott Bell's avatar

Amen. The more laughs, the better!

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Teddi Deppner's avatar

I love hearing about your interaction with Ray Bradbury. I haven't met many of my literary heroes, and none at all of the ones whose stories I read as a teen that prompted me to fall in love with storytelling in the first place. It's a thrill to vicariously meet one through your eyes. Thank you for sharing that!

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James Scott Bell's avatar

My great pleasure.

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Teddi Deppner's avatar

The jokes at the end got me wheezing after reading them aloud to my hubby. Not sure what was funnier -- the jokes themselves or his face after each one! LOL!

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James Scott Bell's avatar

It's so nice to know my work has reach, Teddi. Thank you!

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Doug Manchester's avatar

James, I have to agree with Sherry; I find your writing more fluid and engaging. And Something Wicked This Way Comes is in my top 10 reads.

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James Scott Bell's avatar

Wow, Doug. Thanks.

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