First Draft to Published

Yesterday, I asked what Independence Day means to my readers and I received one of those comments that is just too good to be buried in the comments forever. The comment was left by author J. W. Nicklaus, author of The Light, The Dark and Ember Between, a collection of fifteen short stories. From the wispy fog of a love lost at sea, to an orphaned child who delivers a present of her own during a war-torn Christmas. These stories are gentle reminders to each of us of what it is to be human, and certainly of our affinity for the slightest glint of hope. You can find J.W. here at his Pump UP tour page Here is the comment J. W. Nicklaus left in response to the Question; What does Independence Day mean to you? To be American mean to be free--but with a gift as precious as freedom comes responsibility. Freedom, for many of us, means the ability to come and go as we please, to speak our minds, to travel, to exist within a certain framework of openness. For others it implies opportunity, per...