Introduction
1. HOW I BECAME A WRITER
Ronny’s Book
A Writer’s Journey
Vindication
1，600 Articles Ago
At Aunt Jennie’s Knee
The Writer’s Song
Write--To Conquer Your Fear
From an Abyss to the Mountain Top
Why I Write
We Were All Beginners Once
2. LIVING YOUR DREAM
Alex Haley--A Writer of Destiny
Dreams Do Come True
Dreams Lost and Found
Dreams Have a Price
For Love or Money
Take That Chance!
3. DEFINING MOMENTS
A Serendipitous Visit to Revelation Island
Writing Can Be Magic
Papa’s Gift
You Can’t Afford to Doubt Yourself
A Perfect Night to Die
A Chat with Alex Haley
Cash Rewards
Why I Keep Writing
4. FINDING YOUR VOICE
It Doesn’t Matter What You Write
Legacy
A Writer’s Real Worth Is Inside
Writer， Teacher， Peaceful Warrior
Counsel from a Veteran of the Writing Wars
Coded Messages and Kindred Spirits
5. MENTORS
A Gift to Myself
My Dad Story
Writing from the Heart
Accused of Plagiarism--My Highest Compliment
Sometimes the Biggest Are the Nicest
So Long Lives This
From Noah’s Ark Writer to Bestseller
Angels over My Keyboard
6. MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Painting Portraits on Our Souls
The Boy Who Saved Thousands of Lives
The Christmas Box
Writers in Prison
A Season with the Great Sinclair Lewis
Dean Has AIDS--A Father’s Story
7. OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
In Spite of It All
The Professor and Me
You’re a Loser， Cunningham
The Obsession
Sometimes Secret Writers
How to Write Your Way Through College
A New Yardstick
Writing Is My Destiny
Writing for My Health
8. A WRITER’S LIFE
Still Standing
A Man Called Charlie Black
Mixed Blessings
Be Ready When Your Editor Calls
Helen Help Us!
A Bucket Full of Research
Making a ’Pottment
Summertime， and the Writin’s NOT Easy
Marriage and Metaphors： A Writer’s Life On and Off the Pages
9. THE POWER OF PERSEVERANCE
A Strange Thing Happened on the Way to OK
Nothing Comes Easy
The Courage of the Long-Distance Writer
So He Must Be Right， Huh?
Mommy， Please Write a Book for Me
No One Faces Rejection More Often than an Author
Learning from Rejection
Consider This
Some People Just Can’t Take a Hight
How I Want to Be Remembered
10. INSIGHTS AND LESSONS
The House on Phoenix Circle
Nothing Unconnected Lasts
Lesson of a Lifetime
The Flop Artist Writer
The Miraculous Link
Power Lounging
The Gift
How to Be Madder than Captain Ahab
Acknowledgments
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