Kenn Ghannon: Blog

First, I want to thank everyone who wrote about my previous blog (The Masks We Wear). I apologize I can't respond to everyone individually - there were just TOO MANY replies! It was not my intention to stir up a hornet's nest or make people angry. I was expressing the facts as I understood them and my own personal philosophy.

Many - perhaps even MOST - of the replies were, more or less, that it was rude of me to NOT wear a mask (with various and differing levels of indignation, righteous anger and so forth). The name-calling was a bit much (you know who you are) but I get that this topic is highly galvanizing.

As I wrote in one of my few individual replies, I'm not against masks. I wear them, even when I don't have to, because it erroneously makes me feel safe. I am against the affront to our civil liberties that the mask mandates (and quarantining) make.

The science supports masks help stop infected people from infecting others. The science supports that you can be symptom-free and still be infected. The part of this thing I have a problem with is the disregard for the rights of healthy people. Mask mandates weren't directed at people who have the virus. Quarantining wasn't directed at people who have the virus. It was applied to everyone indiscriminately - thus abridging our individual rights. If the focus had been on testing and then applying distancing and mask mandates against the infected, I would have no issue - philosophically or morally - with it.

A right, once given up, will never be returned - no matter which political party is in power. The government now knows it can force us to wear whatever it wants for the common good. It will be used again - and against us. Maybe not immediately - but it will. There is now precedent.

The plan to force us to be vaccinated, if enacted, will further erode our personal liberties. Once this is done, the government will have developed the right to make medical decisions for us. It is a right they will not give up. It will be used again - and against us. Maybe not immediately - but it will. We just don't know how far it will go.

I don't think I've ever been above admitting when I was wrong. So, I will admit I was wrong about masks. A nice reader (whom I won't identify because I didn't ask for their permission to identify them) explained things to me and changed my opinion. I still don't agree with 'mask mandates' - but it's on a philosophical point and not a scientific one.

The COVID-19 virus is about 0.125 microns in size. An N95 mask - which most of the population DON'T have, but we'll talk about the 'best' masks we can find - can block particulates down to about 0.3 microns. That is a large window and one which the virus can easily get through.

So my science was right - at least, I still believe my science was right - as far as it goes. I, however, was wrong.

As I've been made to understand it, the issue is that the mask works to 'break the breath' of the wearer. So, although the virus can get through the mask, it isn't propelled with as much strength beyond the mask, thus - with proper social distancing - it poses a far less significant threat to the surrounding population.

So, I'm glad I still choose to wear a mask in public buildings and when I can't stay far enough a way from strangers. However, I'm happy that - at least right now - it's my choice to do so. :)

I live in Texas. My state just opened itself fully with no mask mandates. Finally, we're being treated like adults. It's a refreshing change.

I still wear a mask in stores and when I can't help but be near 'strangers' - the difference is it's my choice. It's a pre-caution, really, since there's scientific proof even an N95 mask does not protect against something so small as the COVID virus/Wuhan Flu (yes, I'm one of those). Still, it looks like we've conquered the normal flu with these masks, so it's potentially worth it.

I've not written a single word in months. I had good intentions, but work has been crazy, I've been worried about elderly relatives who've had various illnesses (not all COVID related) and, of course, the unending drama within my own family (I'm a staunch conservative while my eldest daughter, who believes she knows everything since she graduated/was indoctrinated by her university, has been brainwashed to liberalism and all that entails). I've tried and failed. After dealing with everything, there just hasn't been any creativity left.

However, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Work has slowed a bit, Texas is mask-free, my elderly relatives have started to heal - family drama still exists, but three out of four ain't bad. Plus, we have some trips lined up in the coming months that should bring rest and relaxation.

I'm going to read through Runesward Tome 1 and the chapters I've written on Runesward Tome 2 today to prep myself for continuing that saga (yes, I wrote it and took copious notes, but some of the minutiae isn't fresh in mind). When it's completed, I'll start looking for an editor or two to check grammar, spelling, and continuity - but that won't be for a while.

I wrote the opening scene for InCAPable but it needs to be brushed up. I've got some refinements locked in my head and I need to think my way through them carefully. I also have taken some notes about plot threads and the like and I feel it is in a good place for now.

I've written 19.5 chapters of Runesward, Tome 2, starting with Chapter 30 and I'm in the middle of chapter 49. I need to re-do parts of chapter 48 and polish it some. For those interested in statistics, that's 211 Microsoft Word pages (I write in MS Word) composed of nearly 106,000 words. The intention had been for this Tome to be 25 chapters (more or less) but I fear I'm going to overshoot that mark. There are threads from Tome 1 I need to work with and I've introduced some new sub-plots in Tome 2 I think will really help the story line. I've not revised my chapters since I began, but I've updated my plot-lines as I've worked with them (mostly, anyway). I'm going to say this Tome might come in between 25 and 35 chapters, depending on when I stop.

Anyway, I hope you and yours are getting through the pandemic carefully and safely. I'll try to blog more as more comes to me.

Sincerely,
Kenn Ghannon

Between my personal life and my work life, I've been running myself ragged the past three months. I've gotten very little writing done - there are just not enough hours in the day and my work suffers when I'm tired; who knew sleep was a worthy endeavor after all?

Based on my notes, I'm just about half-way through 'Runesward Tome 2'. Thankfully, I've some editors lined up so that is in position to move forward.

I've written bits and pieces of 'InCAPable' as ideas strike me. I've started a few other stories and even cleaned up/wrote a few new pages of an old story I'd abandoned long ago.

There just has not been time to really sit and focus. Now that I have two weeks off, I expect I'll get a FEW moments to write (holidays are all about family in my house) but it's going to be rough. Thankfully, one of my Christmas presents is a brand-spanking-new laptop so I'll soon be able to write from places beyond my office. Yay me! (Of course, it's a gaming laptop so all of my time won't be spent writing ... funny how that works ...)

Anyway, in case I get bogged down and forget - I hope all of you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous, prosperous New Year. May the worst of the years ahead of you be better than the best of the years behind you.

Sincerely,
Kenn Ghannon

I decided to end my hiatus today and what better way to end it than with a BANG?!? Actually, I floated the idea of this joke last week to the Swarm Author's group and they were of two minds - either I would be reviled beyond measure or people would get it. Either way, they told me I was EVIL for doing it.

Well, that's the right attitude to be a writer, I suppose. Sometimes, you just have to let your inner EVIL out to play. :)

In recompense for my (possibly) ill-conceived joke, I will be posting the remainder of 'Fairly CAPable' later today (the final 2 chapters). I hope that helps. :)