We are so back.
4 in the morning, two pages of notes, and I am genuinely excited to be here with you.
First — welcome.
We had 19 new subscribers join this community last week!
WOW.
Probably the most in a single week we’ve ever seen.
So I want to say good morning to RM Galardo, Jim Keen, Martha Redsecker, Jared Long, cgonnelle, LA Petrie | Sci-Fi Author, cstoddard, Mackenzie Phillips, j.butterfield, Laurie Beranek, OurAlternatives (paid supporter - THANK YOU), Blake Goldsmith, john macleod (paid supporter - THANK YOU), Susan Gallaher, kavitajsus, tim.narey, Where I Break Open, Lawrence CAUCHI, and Abigail Rose Whitman.
Welcome, all of you.
I’m so glad you’re here.
Life of Fiction is now being read in 41 states and 41 countries. That’s not nothing. That’s pretty remarkable for a small community of the best people on Substack.
A quick note to those who only put their email in — no name. I see you. I love you. My readers have always been 90% lurkers, the sweetest people who’ll email me personally but don’t show themselves online. That’s fine. But at least tell me your name so I can say good morning properly.
Mother’s Day Adventure at Walmart
So yesterday I went on a mission with Roman (11) and Ruby (7, going on 45). The kids wanted to do something for their mom and their grandma, who lives with us. I don’t usually shop on Sundays, but they had their own money saved and big hearts, so off we went.
They wanted to buy the whole store. We had a talk. Pool your money, agree on something, no arguments, and older doesn’t mean you get to decide, Roman.
In about seven seconds flat they both gravitated to the same big gorgeous bouquet — yellow roses with deep orange-red fading on the edges. They had just enough money between them. I offered to pay. They said no. I was so proud I didn’t know what to do with myself.
Then we found a teddy bear bigger than Ruby. Kathy loves teddy bears — last one she got was before Roman was born. So, yeah. We found one.
Grandma’s obsession is turtles. Hundreds of them. Every kind, porcelain to lawn ornaments. We hunted the whole store. Finally found one and a short buff guy who looked like an older biker, climbed the shelves, fell off the shelves, grabbed it by the head, handed it to Ruby. Perfect dad-lesson delivered by a stranger.
Ruby picked a card for Grandma that made her cry. Roman picked a card for his mom — she laughed out loud. I kept my name off both cards. This was from those two kids. They got all the credit. As it should be.
Happy Mother’s Day. That includes the single dads out there carrying both roles. I see you too.
Photos and My Sister
Anyone else getting bombarded by Dropbox Plus and Apple Cloud upgrade emails? It got me thinking.
We just bought cameras for kids going on school trips and graduation outings. I told them how lucky they are — when I was young, you had 24 exposures on a roll of film, had to drive to a little kiosk that was barely big enough to stand in, wait three days, and then find out your thumb was in the way the whole time.
My sister Michal Ann visited from Washington this week. She takes pictures I actually want to look at. Everyone was laughing, kids were crawling over Aunt Michal Ann, grandson Tossie was sitting on his mom’s lap making the wildest expressions. Turns out my daughter Wynnie was making faces at him and he was copying her.
We also got one of my kids a Polaroid. The new mini kind. I’m telling you right now, the film is expensive and the photos are the size of a postage stamp. Should’ve just bought digital and printed at Walmart.
My Community Right Now
Small farming town, maybe a thousand people. And I need to say again…I have the best neighbors in the world.
There’s a measles outbreak moving through our community right now. A particular strain that can cause severe light sensitivity…some kids have been kept in dark basements for days because light exposure could damage their vision. Whole families getting hit like a wave.
When moms get sick, who takes care of everyone? Moms. And our moms are down too. What I’ve been hearing from neighbors is that other women in this community…wives, mothers themselves…are going house to house, sitting up through the night, caring for sick children and exhausted families. More than once. Quietly. Nobody asking for credit.
My wife wants to help but we’re holding back because one of our daughters is close to having a baby, and this strain of measles carries serious risks at her stage of pregnancy. So we wait. And we’re grateful.
I grew up in California.
Most of my neighbors there were not kind people.
I moved here and I haven’t met a single person in this town I don’t like.
Not one.
My two closest friends both live within three blocks.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
I’m very blessed and I know it.
What’s Coming This Week
I owe you an apology.
Last week’s cover said Chronicles of a Hero was restarting May 8th. I misspoke — it was supposed to be this Friday. I couldn’t make it happen on that date, and saying something and not following through is not my character. Some of you told me to say “oops” and move on.
So: oops.
Here’s what this week actually looks like:
Tuesday — Lore
Wednesday — Artwork / Speed Drawing (first one in a while, I’ve missed it)
Friday — Chronicles of a Hero chapters restart
The Life of Fiction Podcast is also coming back.
We stopped at episode 64.
Life hit hard and I took time to figure out what the show actually needs to be.
I think you’re going to love it.
I’m not telling you what it is yet because I have a plan and plans need to be built before they’re announced.
A Question for You — Audio
I’ve had a lot of requests for Chronicles audiobooks.
I hear you.
Hiram, I know you drive a truck. A lot of you are listening through Substack’s AI voice and it’s mangling character names and pronunciation.
Here’s my question:
I don’t have a studio, and I don’t have unlimited time. But I could do casual readings — me, live, no heavy editing, probably a few stumbles.
Real.
If that’s better to you than the AI voice, I’ll make it happen.
Let me know in the comments.
Hiram, I especially want to hear from you.
One Last Thing — Truly Found Grandpa on YouTube
My granddaughter Truly dug up old footage of me on YouTube from my Twitch days.
Truly found those old videos and started copying me while I drew. My daughter saved the drawings. I got Truly’s versions of what I was making on screen.
That’s it.
That’s the whole thing.
That’s a good week right there.
Thank you for being part of this community.
I’ve got surprises…things I genuinely want to tell you right now…but you’ll have to wait.
Have a great week.
You are MORE than you THINK you are!
Until Next Time,
Jaime *back-in-the-saddle* Buckley
P.S. — If you’re a writer and you’re new here, check the links below. Anne from Tell Me a Mystery runs a weekly writing stream where we hang out, visit for an hour, and do writing sprints. It’s low-key and it’s good.
Want to contribute, but don’t want to do it through a paid subscription? Why not consider helping Jaime with supplies or gear to keep LoF going? Or maybe send him a treat for all his hard work (Coke Zero, yum)? He keeps a public list of what he’s saving up for…
Remember:
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY mornings at 9am Pacific, Tell Me a Mystery’s Ann Kimbrough, will encourage you, make you smile, and give you that much-needed nudge to accomplish your weekly writing progress!!
