YES, I MUST ADMIT THAT I AM ONE OF THOSE MAD DOGS AND ENGLISHMEN WHO GO OUT IN THE MIDDAY SUN… (To quote my old friend, Rudyard Kipling) HOWEVER….. even yours truly has certain limits when it comes to heat waves which are never-ending. Thus, after 21 days of record high temperatures (i.e., over 100 degrees!) I have stopped asking my wife to mow the lawn during the afternoon hours. (She is still encouraged to pick weeds. No sense in spoiling her.) Lord, whatever you’re baking outside…it’s done! How hot has it been? I almost called my congressman so I could be around something shady! Seriously folks, our heat index is somewhere between OMG and WTF. But no sense complaining about the weather, for as we all know, ain’t nobody gonna do nothing about it.

Speaking of weather (the enjoyable kind) we just returned from a marvelous trip to Rosemary Beach, which is located on Florida’s “Emerald Coast.” In keeping with our pursuit of personal bankruptcy, we stayed at the Pearl Hotel, which is quite lovely. (and very pricey) Our room overlooked the most scenic section of the Gulf, and though expensive, we were given some (free) homemade cheddar cheese and lots of good coffee. The food at the hotel is excellent, and the folks who work there simply marvelous. This part of Florida has the best sand in the state (white and soft) and all of the beaches are clean, safe, and charming.

By the way, for those of you who live in Texas, there are direct flights from Austin to Panama City Airport on a daily basis. (Via Southwest Airlines) Flight time is about one hour and fifty minutes, and the airport is only 20 minutes from Rosemary Beach. Sure beats driving on I-10. If you want to check out the other gorgeous towns along the coast, I’d recommend a visit to Alys Beach, Watersound, Seaside, Watercolor, or Santa Rosa Beach. (Destin, further east, is pleasant but very crowded during the summer.) Wherever you go, bring plenty of sunscreen and lots of loot!

Speaking of loot, the FINALISTS of the 2022 National Indie Excellence Awards were recently announced in the New York Times, and I’m proud to report that my new history book, titled, GONE BEFORE GLORY, was chosen as one of this year’s finalists! This is truly a great honor for me, and as you can imagine, I’m on cloud number nine. (maybe even cloud ten!) The NIEA are open to all English language printed books, and books were submitted from small presses, mid-size publishers, university presses, and self-published authors. The prizes are quite generous, but the real value of the competition is rubbing elbows with some other famous authors, and being able to develop some literary friendships.

In any case, I always donate my winnings to charity, and for the rest of the year ALL royalties generated by my book sales will be given to some worthy folks, so now might be a good time to purchase a book or two for someone you love. (or for someone having trouble sleeping!) Just kidding about that last line. I think you will really enjoy GONE BEFORE GLORY, which has now won 10 national and international literary awards.

Well, if my computer talents hold up, I shall post a few photos of Rosemary Beach. So don’t forget to scroll down when you’re finished reading. I’d keep writing, but I must prepare myself (mentally, physically, and emotionally) for a wonderful evening of wining and dining with two of my favorite guests, the Princess of Portugal and Baron Lee. The royal couple recently returned from a lengthy visit to Portugal and I’m anxious to hear about their cruise on the Douro River… which is surrounded by beautiful vineyards. Ah yes, so many travel destinations, so little money, I mean, time.

Incidentally, before you ask, my favorite restaurants in Rosemary Beach are Restaurant Paradis, La Crema, and Pescado. Please keep in mind that all require reservations, which should be made 3 years before you wish to dine. (Just kidding, but you should book a month out.) Of course, if you want to save some money, you can have a small barbecue in your room, but be careful. The fire alarms are very sensitive. Just saying.

Take good care of yourselves and have a wonderful summer. Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

Greetings from lovely Rosemary Beach, which is approximately 5,000 miles from the Danube, but my present location. (Hence I shall be making some beach and river jokes!) We are still basking in the joy of our recent adventure in central Europe, which began in Budapest, Hungary (where I was always hungry!) and then continued onward through Vienna, Passau, Regensburg, and finally to Prague, the lovely capital of the Czech Republic. Our means of transport was the beautiful river ship, SS BANKRUPTCY, so-named due to the cost of the cabins! (The actual name of the ship was the SS Beatrice.) The cabins, service, food, and wine were all first class, and Uniworld Cruises should definitely take a bow. (or a stern, up to them.)

As I have often said, the best part of travel is meeting fellow travelers and borrowing money you have no intention of repaying. (Just kidding about the loot!) On this particular voyage, we met some GREAT couples from all across America, and as usual, their friendship was the best part of the trip. Our “best buddies” were Sue and Richard from White Salmon, Washington. Sue is an extremely talented woman who produces lovely stained-glass artwork, and Richard may have been the friendliest man I’ve ever met. What a wonderful couple to meet and spend the week with, enjoying lots of sausage and beer!

I’d also like to publicly thank some other folks for sharing their voyage with us and providing lots of laughs and brilliant conversation. (Unless I was talking!) So… a big shout out to… Linda and Greg (who can be seen on “America’s Most Wanted.”)… Rebekah and John (from sunny Florida)… Dr. Andrew Gurman, past president of the AMA… The “Marvelous Marshaks” (Stephen is known as the “painless dentist.”) Mainly because HE never feels a thing! And… all the rest of the terrific passengers who put up with some very OLD jokes night after night. (Hey, they were a captured audience!)

Several of my loyal blog followers have asked which port was the prettiest, but to tell you the truth, they were all wonderful. If I had to pick the most impressive scenery, I’d say the cruising day through the picturesque Wachau Valley was numero uno. The highlight of the entire voyage was finding one of my mystery books (RANSOM ON THE RHONE) in a local bookstore in Vienna. (Translated into German!) I probably should have bought a copy, but I’ve already read the book. (The English version)

The second round of European book tours and wine guzzling will start in August, whence I shall be making a grand entrance in Positano, Italy, Paris, France, and London, England. (assuming my books have not been banned!) Needless to say, I am really looking forward to another adventure. The temperatures down here in Texas have been close or above 100 degrees for the last three weeks! (I may have to go back to Israel for some cooler weather!)

If you’ll take a moment to scroll down, you might find some charming photographs taken in Central Europe. (you never know with my technical ability!) I’d like to wish everyone a fabulous July 4th, and hope you greatly appreciate living in the GREATEST country on Earth. Happy Birthday, America! You’re still the most beautiful thing in the galaxy!

Speaking of beautiful….. this particular blog is dedicated to my wonderful Aunt Gladys, the most beautiful “second mother” any author could want! Lots of love from your little firecracker! I hope all you folks in Nashville have a blast this weekend. (a modest blast will suffice) I love this holiday, but I’m glad I don’t have a short fuse! (These happen to be patriotic jokes, so you could at least chuckle!)

Take care and don’t eat too many hot dogs! Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

Did you know that there were 1.5 billion fathers worldwide? Almost 67 million dads live in the United States! We Americans spend roughly $780 million dollars on Father’s Day gifts, the vast percentage of that amount spend on ugly ties. (Just guessing about that part!) This holiday has alway been very important to me, despite the fact that my own dad refused to confirm that I was actually his son in public. (He was, however, quite nice behind closed doors.) What can I say? When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astounded at how much he had learned in seven years! (I should mention, in passing, that this was first said by some guy named Mark Twain.)

Growing up, I made my dad a special breakfast in bed every Father’s Day. Looking back, I probably should have made those pancakes in the kitchen, rather than in his bed, but the bathtub was such a convenient place to rinse the dishes.

Just for your own edification, it wasn’t until 1972 that Father’s Day was officially made a U.S. holiday, when President Nixon helped set aside the third Sunday in June for dads. By the way, don’t you think that Juneteenth should be move to June tenth for the sake of clarity? Just saying.

You know, I actually remember the very first words my dad said to me. I had just been born, and my mom was holding me in her arms, and she whispered, “What a darling little treasure!” My dad nodded, then said, “Yeah, let’s bury it!” Of course, he was just kidding. But I sometimes wonder why he always offered to bury me in the sand when we went to Coney Island Beach. I guess he just “dug me.”

Remember, dear ones, the difference between “bad jokes” and “dad jokes” is one single letter

On that note, I shall take my leave of thee. Best wishes to all the wonderful dads out there. Keep up the good work! If you scroll down, you might find some more photographs of my recent trip to Israel. Hopefully, you will find some lovely shots of the American Colony Hotel and its gorgeous courtyard. Be safe, and have a laugh-filled week!

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

Well, when last we met, I promised to post some (more) photographs of my recent trip to Israel. If you’ll “scroll down,” (a good biblical reference) you’ll find some lovely photos of Tel Aviv, the Golan Heights, the Sea of Galilee, and food! Lots of great food! Most folks in Israel thrive on the Mediterranean diet, which is quite healthy, and insanely delicious. (Lots of hummus and eggplant, and assorted veggies, mostly grilled.) Seafood is also quite popular, and every time I “see food,” I stop for a bite or two. Which explains my recent weight gain!

After a week in Israel, made extremely pleasant by our wonderful guide, Udi, we flew to Budapest, Hungary, where I was also “hungry” for more delectable cuisine! (Think duck, great wine, and strudel.) From Budapest, we boarded a ship and cruised down the Danube for 10 days, stopping in many beautiful places, including Vienna and Prague. Naturally, we met some GREAT folks on the cruise, and I will tell you all about them next week. (and will include some more photographic evidence of my chicanery!)

By the way, my web coordinator tells me that we are back to our pre-Covid level of blog followers, which is somewhere around 100,000 to 125,000 good-hearted people. (gluttons for punishment, if you consider my lame jokes!) Nevertheless, I am VERY grateful for the continued support and interest. (Our blog is now viewed in over 93 countries worldwide!) No wonder the world is falling apart!

Incidentally, speaking of book awards, (we were?) my new history book, GONE BEFORE GLORY, recently received two more literary awards! The 2022 IPPY AWARDS (Independent Publishers) bestowed the Bronze Medal for “Best U.S. History Book of the Year,” and GONE BEFORE GLORY was also named as a FINALIST in the 2022 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD CONTEST! Both awards come with a HUGE monetary award (actually, a modest check) and some great publicity. Needless to say, I was thrilled to receive both awards, and I would like to thank the judges for their recognition.

Time to start packing for L.A. , where I will be going to an awards ceremony to pick up a Gold Medal for my last mystery novel, CAPONE ISLAND. The book was chosen as “Best Mystery of 2022” by the Los Angeles Book Awards and I hope to finalize some sort of film deal while I’m out there. Do you guys think Brad Pitt is too old to play Adam Gold? What about Ben Affected? Just curious.

Well, take good care of your wonderful selves, and we shall meet again soon…..

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff ******Photos below!*****

Well, I just arrived back in the good old U.S.A. after a three-week adventure abroad. When I was eighteen, I asked my Dad to send me abroad for the first time. (He said he couldn’t afford to send me a girl, but gave me ten bucks to go to the movies!) In any case, my travel companion and I just returned from an amazing trip to Israel. We were lucky enough to hire a former military officer named Udi, who spent four (long) days as our guide, listening (somewhat patiently) to all of my bad jokes. (i.e., “Why don’t they put Jews in prison in Israel? Because they eat locks. ” (Lox!)

Anyway, Udi was tempted to show me his Uzi from time to time, but he managed to maintain a dignified level of tolerance. We loved every minute of our time together, and got a memorable introduction to this incredible country. Day one was spent touring the Old City of Jaffa and then driving around the very hip and modern city of Tel Aviv. (Which has some truly remarkable restaurants specializing in Mediterranean food.) On the second day, we drove up and along the Golan Heights, which was a great surprise to me. I never imagined how beautiful and plush the heights were. We also got to visit Udi’s “summer retreat” which was on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, which is actually more of a lake than a sea, but still quite lovely.

A few days later, we drove down to a little place called Jerusalem, which for this historian, was simply overwhelming. OMG (good pun!) this city was simply stunning in its sheer importance and beautiful architecture. Udi spent one day guiding us through the twists and turns of the Old City, and we got to walk around the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian Quarters of the city. We spent some time at the “Wailing Wall,” which is the only remaining part of the Second Jewish Temple begun by Herod the Great. Nobody was actually wailing, but we did get to film an Ethiopian wedding, and that was quite interesting.

The very next day, (still digesting my previous night’s feast of hummus and Israeli eggplant) we hopped in our armored vehicle and drove south, passing numerous Bedouin villages in the desert. I think these folks are known as Bedouins because they spend so much time in beds inside their tents. Yeah, it was dang hot. One of the camels was operating a snow cone stand! (By the way, do you realize that every day of the week is “hump day” for a camel?) Where was I? Oh yes, we were driving south…..

Well, now comes a fascinating visit to the ancient site of Masada, the mountain fortress is the Judean Desert. The fortress is built on the top of a TALL mountain plateau overlooking the Dead Sea, which is quite appropriate. (If you tried to walk up the steps, you’d be dead before you reached the top!) Fortunately, the Romans built an escalator to help the tourists reach the top, which was very considerate of them. Masada was the “weekend retreat” of King Herod, who built the place around 30 B.C. Breathtaking is the only word I can use to describe the view and the palace, which became famous after a long siege during the First Jewish-Roman was, which occurred from 73 to 74 CE. Incidentally, I was only kidding about the Romans building an escalator. (They actually built a cable car!)

Our final stop was at the Dead Sea, which lives up to its billing. (It is ten times saltier than the Mediterranean Sea!) Being “a man for all seasonings” I thoroughly enjoyed dipping my toes into this famed body of water, but I would not like to own a condo there. Of course, my neighbors would be nice. The “salt of the earth,” so to speak. (OK, that’s my last salt joke!)

Once again, I’d like to thank our wonderful guide, Mr. Udi, for introducing us to the wonders of Israel. I just got back from England (a few hours ago) so I’m too tired to post many photographs, but they will be forthcoming in the very near future. You have my word!

Until then, be safe and keep smiling. I LOVED our recent outing, but there is still no place on earth like America! Speak to you soon……

(Travel-weary) Doc Yanoff.

P.S. Attached is a photo taken last night at Heathrow Airport. God Bless Guinnss!

HOWDY, buckeroos and buckerettes! Hope all is well with you city-slickers. Cowgirl Patty and I recently returned from a thrilling adventure in Bandera, Texas. (The “Cowboy Capital of Texas.”) On this occasion, we didn’t stay at some fancy-schmancy hotel, but at a Dude Ranch! (The Mayan Dude Ranch, to be exact.) I’m happy to report that, despite my outlaw background, all went well and there were no gunfights. (Just one food fight, fought with soft tortillas.) The tortilla fight was not corny. (We used flour tortillas) Fortunately, nobody added any picante sauce.

My father-in-law used to own a big ranch outside of Bandera, so this was a wonderful, memory-laden trip for me. It was made even better by my company. Risking a nervous breakdown, we decided to bring my darling grand-daughter, “Hop-a-long Goldie,” with us, and we all had a marvelous time. Miss Goldie is only 6 and 1/2 years old, but she rides a horse like a real cowgirl and has absolutely no fear of big, hairy animals. (Except for me, when I forget to shave!)

The ranch is truly charming and offers an abundance of fun activities, including 3 or 4 horseback trail rides per day. (Which has a desultory effect on one’s buttocks) I asked our guide, Toothless Tom, if I could ride bareback, but he told me that I had to keep my shirt on. Nevertheless, we rode over hills and dales, and enjoyed every moment. (Dale didn’t enjoy being rode over, but that’s another story) I shared some Grandpa wisdom with Goldie, but she seemed a little confused…. I told her that you can lead a horse to water, but it still might answer neigh.

I should like to mention that our wild west adventure was made super enjoyable by meeting some wonderful folks from New Jersey (The INCREDIBLE Engel family) and the Akers from Houston, featuring Cowboy Ben, the world’s youngest line dancing champion. The best part of travel, as I often say, is meeting new people and making new friends, and when you come to Texas you will do both.

Speaking of travel….. some of you have asked about my spring itinerary, so here we go…. First we fly to Tel Aviv and then, after 4 days there, drive down to Jerusalem for another 5 days. From there, we fly to Budapest, board a Uniworld River Cruise, and travel down (or up) the Danube for a week or so before arriving in Prague, where we spend another few days. Finally, when they run out of beer and sausage, we fly to London, chill for a spell, then home to Austin. (I know what you’re thinking….. it’s a tough life, but somebody has to do it!) I love Europe, but there are so many foreigners there!

By law, you’re supposed to turn on your headlights when it’s raining in the Czech Republic, but I have a question… How am I supposed to know when it’s raining over there? Hmmm.

Incidentally, for those of you who subscribe to the Wall Street Journal, you might have seen the announcement (last Wednesday, I think) that the winners of the 2022 LONDON BOOK FESTIVAL were recently announced. I am pleased to report that my (semi) brilliant masterpiece, GONE BEFORE GLORY, was chosen as the “Honorable Mention” (third place) recipient! I shall, of course, be going to London some time in May to pick up my loot and have some tea with the Queen. (I do hope they have iced tea in jolly old England)

Incidentally, never be overly impressed by so-called experts… Just remember that the Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic by professionals! (I thought of that when I mentioned iced tea!)

Well, dear friends, I must leave thee now… Miss Goldie is playing in (another) soccer tournament this afternoon. (I advised her to bring a horse and play polo, but she didn’t seem to like that idea.) For those of you with sketchy cable service, I shall attach some photographs to keep you amused until dinner. Please have a safe and wonderful week!

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

HOW CAN I TELL? Well, for one thing it was 91 degrees yesterday, and today might be even hotter! How hot could it be today? Well, let’s see….. I just saw a fire ant complaining about the weather! Another mound of ants just opened a Kool-Aid stand in my front yard! The rattlesnakes are now carrying canteens! Shall I go on? Oh my, I just saw a fire hydrant chasing a dog! (All right, I had to get that last one in!) Enough with the heat jokes. Mind you, I’m not complaining. I actually LOVE hot weather. (Keeps the riff raff off the golf course!)

So, what else is new? Well, speaking of riff raff, I recently won a major literary award. No, not the National Book Award, something more important. The (very kind) judges of the 2022 Independent Press Awards have chosen my new history book, GONE BEFORE GLORY (The Life and Tragic Death of William McKinley), as the winner of the “Distinguished Favorite Award!” Along with thousands of dollars in cash, I received a lovely medal and a fancy certificate. (I might also be attending some sort of award ceremony in Santa Fe, but that is t/b/d at a later date.) For now I am quite honored and grateful by this unexpected award.

Incidentally, just a quick reminder….. ALL royalties from the sale of the above book will be donated to the Ukrainian Relief Fund, so order at least 50 books at a time. (O.K., 25 will be enough.)

Last week I had another highly pleasurable experience. (No, not that kind!) I had the honor of speaking to the Lakeway Men’s Breakfast Club, and as usual, it was simply marvelous. This group consists of 85-100 very smart (and well read) individuals who identify as male, and love American history. I spoke for 12 hours (just kidding, one hour) about President McKinley and my new book, and then we had a stimulating Q&A. I would like to publicly thank my esteemed booking agent, Loyd “Early Bird” Smith, for setting up this engagement. Always fun to speak with such a great group of guys.

In case you’re wondering, my new “Adam Gold Mystery,” titled, DEAD ENDING, has been sold for zillions of dollars and will be published in early 2023. (The publisher did not want a new mystery competing against my history book, thus the delay.) Well, you know what they say, good things are worth waiting for. I shall keep you apprised of the situation, lest anything change.

So, check this out… I went to Target yesterday and when I began to pay with my credit card this hot chick working behind the check-out counter says I put the card in wrong. No problem. But then she says, “Strip down, facing me.” I says, “no way.” Then I ran out of the store. Jeez, no wonder they call it the “check-out” counter. (Not that I blame her for ogling me in a lecherous manner. I seem to have that effect on many women. And a few men, too.)

Can somebody explain why my wife keeps washing our bath towels? Aren’t we clean when we use them?

Why does “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing. I find that rather confusing. And speaking of confusion, what do you think about Daylight Savings Time ending? Personally, I love that idea. I always hated “falling ahead and springing backward.” When I was a kid, I actually thought that Daylight Savings was the name of a bank. Which reminds me of a lovely bank teller I dated in high school. (I dated a bank teller because I wanted to have “safe sex!”) All right, I’ll skip the deposit jokes.

Last night we enjoyed a fabulous steak dinner with the Princess of Portugal and her browbeaten husband, Baron Lee. They are soon off to the Tulip Festival in Holland, so I’d like to wish them a sincere “Bon Voyage.” My darling wife likes to say that I remind her of her favorite flower… a blooming idiot. By the way, since we are wishing others well, allow me to say Happy Birthday to our mutual travel agent, the lovely and talented Lori Randig, who is celebrating her 29th birthday. (Not sure of that number, but it sounds safe.)

Well, I think that’s about it for me this morning. I must get ready for another thrilling soccer game, as my grand-daughter, “G0-GET ‘EM” Goldie, is playing in another championship game. I only gave her one little tidbit of advice… Please remember that anything worth winning is worth cheating for. (Her mother wants to restrict my visitation rights, but what does she know?)

Sayonara, dear friends. Have a safe and happy week and we shall speak again soon! Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

Not to be confused with the 1961 film, Splendor in the Grass, which was a romantic tale about urban gardening. (I think) No, my loyal landlubbers, this title refers to the name of the ship that I recently boarded, bound for the sunny islands of the Caribbean! Our ship was owned and operated by Regent Cruises, which provided an exquisite experience, both culturally, culinarily, and alcoholically. (Think free alcohol 24 hours a day!) I’d think about it myself, but I’ve still got a hangover.

On this particular outing, we managed to obtain a huge suite, which came with an indentured servant, I mean, butler. The gentleman catered to our every need, and being a good sport, I tried to take him home with me, but he would have no part of that. (I even offered to take the maid, but he still said no. So did my wife. Very insecure people.) My only problem, which was more or less semantic, was yelling “Man overboard!” if and when I saw someone fall off the ship. They never told us what to yell if we saw a woman fall into the water. (Hooray was out of the question!)

Our captain, whose name was Serena Melani, was the first female captain of a major cruise line, and she did a remarkable job. (Except for parallel parking in St. Lucia.) Under her command, we sailed to the ports of Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic), San Juan, St. Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, St. Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, and St. Barts. The weather and the water were quite spectacular, and I got to snorkel or swim at every stop, which for me, made the voyage. (The wet T-shirt contest was a bust. Too many seniors.)

As usual, we made a ton of new friends… and garnered a bunch of new readers. Among our dear comrades, was the brilliant Brian Unger, the guest speaker of the cruise. Brian regaled us with some wonderfully informative lectures, and we enjoyed the pleasure of his company at several fine meals. We also met Dr. Tobin Grigsby, the famous Urologic Surgeon… and the inventor of the world-renowned WonderStick Ice Cream Cone. (Tobin “melted” our hearts, as did his beautiful companion, Nurse Tammy Farley.) All of us were guided (more or less) by a wonderful woman named Mary, a true gem from North Carolina, a passenger who has spent more than 600 days on cruise ships! (Yes, dear ones, that is two years! She must be wanted for something back in North Carolina!)

Now, for those of you who are still residing in Austin, please note that I will be speaking at the Lakeway Men’s Club on the morning of March 16th. (My semi-brilliant lecture will concern my latest historical masterpiece, GONE BEFORE GLORY.) We are expecting a full house, and I’m sure this will be another memorable event. (I should thank my “booking agent,” Mr. Loyd Smith, for setting this up. The man is simply incredible. I will also be speaking (on the same subject) at Brookdale Gaines Ranch in April, but I’m not sure of the exact date yet.

Speaking of books… I would like to mention that ALL royalties accrued for the next 6 months, will be donated to various Ukrainian relief efforts, so if you want to contribute, now’s your time to buy a great book and do something wonderful for others. (I will be happy to autograph any copies purchased during this period.) DYAKUYU!

For those of you who have inquired about the Los Angeles Book Fest, I’m afraid I had to cancel my plans to speak. Believe it or not, I have another big trip on the horizon. (I’m supposed to be going to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, and to Budapest, the capital of Hungary, during the first week of May.) I know what you’re thinking… great timing. Well, maybe not, but I’m sure our European friends could use a little laughter, so off I go!

In case you’re wondering, I did manage to consume a fair amount of rum down in the Caribbean, but I am now “on the wagon” for a couple of weeks. I’m not trying to brag, but I recently signed up something called the “February Challenge.” (NO alcohol on February 29, 30, or 31st!) It wasn’t easy, but I managed to stay strong.

Did you know that it’s impossible to lick your elbow?

Well, I must take my leave. I’m off to an art exhibit. (Some painter named Vincent van Gogh.) The paintings are only copies, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy the display. By the way, did you know that van Gogh had a dizzy aunt? (Her name was Verti Gogh) He also had a brother who devoured prunes. (His name was Gotta Gogh) He also had a sister who loved disco music. (He name was Go Gogh)

All right, I know you’re smiling! THERE YA GOGH!

Love to all,

Doc Yanoff

Good evening! I am pleased to report that my new history book, GONE BEFORE GLORY (The Life and Tragic Death of William McKinley) has just been selected as a FINALIST for the “Best U.S. History Book of the Year” by the FEATHERED QUILL BOOK AWARDS! (Award number five!) Thank you to all the judges, and thanks to all my loyal blog followers! GONE BEFORE GLORY is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, and leading bookstores across the nation.

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN MY ESTEEMED PUBLISHER NOTIFIED ME THAT MY NEW HISTORY BOOK, TITLED, “GONE BEFORE GLORY,” WAS AWARDED NOT ONE, BUT TWO, LITERARY AWARDS THIS PAST WEEK! (MIND YOU, WITHOUT BRIBING ANY JUDGES!) I know what you’re thinking… how does this man do it? Beats me. Some of my good fortune is just plain luck. (Most of it, if you ask my wife!) I like to think that I’m daring, unafraid to have my books judged by others. Daring runs in my family. My Uncle Zeb was the first farmer to look at a cow and say, “I think I’ll squeeze those dangly things and drink whatever comes out.” Well, at least that’s the way the story has been passed down. Sounds like the pasteurized version to me.

In any case, GONE BEFORE GLORY was recently chosen as one of the best U.S. History Books in the 2021 New England Book Festival AND the Southern California Book Fest! Needless to say, I’m pleased as punch and greatly appreciate these literary awards. I had planned on attending the awards ceremony in California, but it looks like my Caribbean voyage is back on track. Our ship, the S.S. Omicron, will be leaving as scheduled from Miami in February! Hooray! (Hopefully we’ll get stuck in St. Kitts or St. Barts!)

Unfortunately, due to Covid concerns, most of the Caribbean book festivals have been cancelled, but we still plan to meet a lot of new readers aboard ship. We will be traveling aboard Regent Cruises, so if you happen to be in the Caribbean basin, please feel free to stop by for an autographed copy of GONE BEFORE GLORY. (The real name of our ship is the Regent SPLENDOR.)

While I’ve been typing this email I had a thought….. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know? Speaking of words, how come “abbreviated” is such a long word? Furthermore, why do we say something is out of whack? What the hell is whack? (John Wick’s uncle?) If you have any answers to these burning questions, please keep it to yourself.

By the way, since we’ve all been on sort of a “lockdown,” I’ve used my time wisely and have written another “Adam Gold Mystery.” Well, I’m actually on page 310, and have two more chapters to go. I should be finished before my ships departs. For those of you who care, the book is titled, DEAD ENDING. I think this is the best book in the series, and look forward to seeing it in print. I will, of course, keep you posted about its publication. Lucky for me that I don’t have a real job!

Incidentally, if work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

Ever think of that?

Well, dear friends, I’m off to Boerne, Texas, for another literary event, so please take good care of yourselves and stay safe. I wish you and yours a wonderful and prosperous NEW YEAR! Love to all,

Doc Yanoff