Gautham: Bill Gauthier.com

Hello, friends.

Here we are in the heat of summer, pretending everything is okay though we all should know it’s not. At least we’re together, you and I. This week was dreamlike, it felt. I felt (and feel) strange and out of it. Recovery from the 2005-2026 school year, perhaps?

I think so. I’ve had dreams about the Day Job almost every night. Not good dreams. Not necessarily bad dreams, but not good ones. Alas, I’m off and writing, so let’s go.

Welcome to the 180^th installment of Gauthic Times, the newsletter about my writing, my life, and a fantasy conversation. If you’re a reader who subscribes via Substack, my website, or Patreon, your encouragement helps motivate me. I’m not breaking any records but I’m thankful to have any audience.

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You could also read the first draft of Four Moons on Patreon. It’s a werewolf story and I think it’s fun. It is a first draft, though. If you’re interested, Patrons at the $5 tier and above have access but there is also a way to buy into the whole book for $13.99. You don’t have to be a long-term Patron for that second option.

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This past week I chose a new look for my website but still need to figure out a lot of it. I’ve offered my older daughter some money to help redesign it but need to get together with her to talk about it and work some stuff out. I like the new look of the website better but am not thrilled with some of the functionality of it. WordPress used to be easier to use.

This week I began editing the first draft of Four Moons, the werewolf novel I wrote and put onto my Patreon. I recorded a video showing my editing process for Patrons. I enjoyed it may try something like that again. I spoke about how I edit, the things I look for, how I attempt to tighten my sentences so that they twang like a guitar.

I got through a few chapters so far in the book.

I also began writing Project: Memoir. I don’t know that anyone will ever see this but I finished the first chapter and I think I’m happy with it so far.

I also looked into agents for Project: Amusement Park and thought about a change I might be able to make to the book. I began to wonder what would happen if I made chapter 1 into a prologue and changed chapter 2 to chapter 1. Would that change the focus of the book much? Would that perhaps be better for the reader?

I know there are many who are anti-prologue and -epilogue in today’s world. I think that’s foolish. The prologue can be an important part of the story but might be setting up everything current in the book. It could also be an introduction. I haven’t employed a prologue in my books for a while but think it may better suit Project: Amusement Park.

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***

Just before sunrise, Steve sat on the dock, spreading cream cheese on his bagel when he heard the soft sound of boots touching down behind him.

“Happy fifth, Clark,” he said.

Clark sat beside him, adjusting his cape. “Happy fifth, Steve. Tough one this year.”

“Yes, it is.” He sipped his coffee. “We knew it would be.”

Clark grunted in acknowledgement as he sipped his own coffee. “Lois wanted me to say something.”

“Yeah. It was strange turning down the 250^th celebration.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you know he offered me $250,000?”

“No!”

“Yep. I was too shocked to even respond in any way other than to say, ‘No, thank you.’”

“Luthor tried paying me to make an appearance once.”

“Less or more?”

“Way more.”

“A million?”

“That was where he started.”

“Jesus…”

“What was it for?”

“LexCorp’s Memorial Day picnic. When I turned him down he tried to turn it into a thing. Fox News picked it up for five seconds until Perry’s editorial.”

“The Liberal Media strikes again….”

Clark laughed. “Even Luthor didn’t go there.”

“Crooked. Power hungry. But even he understands the need for balance.”

“I don’t know that I’d go that far.”

Steve laughed.

Steve and Clark sat on the dock and watched the sunrise illuminate the Statue of Liberty, quietly sipping their coffees. Steve finished his bagel, wiped his mouth, and placed the napkin in the bag, crunching it up into a ball.

“I’ve been asked how I could keep doing it,” Steve finally said. “Wearing the colors of the flag and representing America in these times.”

“It’s tough,” said Clark.

“I said it’s about the ideal.”

“The hope,” Clark said.

“Yeah. I mean, I know that I was supposed to be propaganda back in ’41. I knew it then and accepted it. I knew I could do more good if I continued. I tried my best to be bipartisan in 2016, but it’s impossible now. The sonofabitch—”

“Language,” Clark said with a smile.

“—can’t keep his mouth closed and everything I fought for back then is on the precipice of being swept away.”

“Lois asks me why I don’t just stop him,” said Clark. “She knows why. I mean, I didn’t stop Luthor for running for President.”

“We have to be the ideal,” said Steve.

“The symbol.”

“The role models,” Steve and Clark said at the same time.

They chuckled.

The sun broke the horizon and Steve stretched and stood. Clark finished his coffee and stood as well.

“Well,” said Steve. “Thank you for coming out again. It always helps.”

“I was about to say the same thing,” Clark said. “You inspire me, you know.”

“I feel the same way, Clark. I just hope we can inspire others to fix things.”

“And that there’s anything left to fix.”

They shook hands.

“Again next year?” Clark asked.

“Absolutely. I’ll text you to confirm.”

A moment later, Clark lifted off and Steve walked down the dock in the direction of his car.

***

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