Craig Vann

A reader, Dan S., tells me that he is currently reading "Ticking: A Tale of Two Time Travellers". In the story, renowned 1766 scientist Henry Cavendish has his ...money stolen by a London street kid by the name of Jerry O'Flarity. Being the astute reader and hockey fan that he is, Dan recognized the name as that of a former pro hockey player. The name is indeed my subtle homage to Gerry O'Flaherty, who pickpocketed pucks. Thanks to Dan for being the first to recognize the name and thanks to Gerry (who is now 70 years old) for many great memories. See more

So, here we are in December. Finally, this year is coming to an end. And what a year it has been; for mostly the wrong reasons. With all of us self-quarantining and with perhaps a bit more time on our hands, the first thing we ask ourselves at this time of year is, of course, why is December called December? And, for that matter, why is September called September? Well, you’re right to ask such questions, but I question just how much time you have on your hands.... But since you asked. When the ancient Romans established their first calendar, they called the tenth month December, from the Latin word decem (meaning ten). This is the same root word for the decimation as described in Ticking: Finding Jesus, on a bookshelf near you in early 2021. But Craig, you digress. December is the twelfth month, not the tenth. Of this I am aware. Their calendar only had ten months, beginning with Martius (March). The winter days following December were not included as part of any month. January and February were eventually added after December to the end of the year. Julius Caesar established the Julian calendar in 45 BC (or BCE, if you’re keeping up to date with dates), naming it after himself and positioning January and February at the beginning of the year. This shuffled March and the other months into their current positions, which meant that the seventh, eighth and ninth months (called September, October and November which mean seven, eight and nine) were now the ninth, tenth and eleventh months! The last six months were named according to their ordinal numbers. The months of Quintilis (a derivative of five) and Sextilis (six) were later renamed July and August in honor of Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar. Despite attempts to change them, the names for September, October, November, and December not only stuck, but spread to other languages. Go figure, eh? Before December entered Old English, the word for December meant yule month. Germanic people celebrated the mid-winter during a time called yuletide, between December and January. With the rise of Christianity, the yule was adapted under the Christian name Christmastide, which begins on Christmas Day and lasts 12 daysthe 12 days of Christmas. Now, there are just a few remaining references to the yule, the yule log being one. But there are other subtle references. For example, when Santa is described as jolly, the word jolly is likely derived from the Old Norse root that brought us yule. Yule be glad to hear that that is all I’ve got for now! Merry Christmastide!

As I did for "The Hawking Sequence", I will attempt to draw a map for "Ticking: Finding Jesus" illustrating the Holy Land during the First Century. I'll use a number of source maps, like the one in the pic. I love the small glyphs (one even shows what looks like a Roman fort, just like in the upcoming book). Who knew where the original Philadelphia was? I will include a fictitious city name on the map. The fifteenth person to respond to this post (a written response, not jus...t a 'like') will have their name emblazoned in all its glory on the map, which will be included in the front portion of the book; your surname or given name, your choice. And I may need to modify it slightly to 'fit' into this ancient world. It pays to read these posts fully, eh? Let me hear from you!

I have not been writing much recently. I had open heart surgery in late September, then some complications that led to 3 "cardioversions" (zapping the heart with electricity to get it into a regular rhythm) and draining of the pericardial sac (the one that surrounds your heart). The recovery period is about 8 weeks. I'm feeling better daily and looking forward to writing a fabulous ending to "Ticking: Finding Jesus"!

Keep Aurumia Great! In Ticking: The Hawking Sequence, the country of Aurumia lies south of Southumbria, as per the author hand-drawn map on page 74. The country is characterized by its rich mineral deposits, primarily silver and gold. Its very name is taken from the word for ‘gold’ in the Mother Language. The Aurumia/Southumbria border meanders, as it is primarily based on the location of three major rivers: The River Ingens in the east and the Camino and Ovum rivers in th...e west. Southumbrian families, particularly the Dispossessed, trying to find a better way of life journey south in the hope of entering Aurumia. Similarly, with mineral stocks nearing depletion in some parts of Southumbria, Southum prospectors and adventurers travel south to attempt to cross the border. But illegal immigration is forbidden. So, the Aurumian government, through the iron-fisted Federal Immigration Regulating Enterprise, guards the border closely. While there is no wall, river patrols are conducted daily by armed airships, ornithopters and steam boats. The waters of the Ovum Gulf are also patrolled, watching for insurgents from Siccanus, the large peninsula on the southwest portion of Southumbria. Aurumian border guards are able to act with impunity, and often shoot first and ask questions later. See more