(BTW: Happy new year from another part of the planet.)

The Masaka kids are celebrating the new year by creating a music video — with song, clever dance moves, and instrumentals. Where they’re missing anything, as you’ll see, they just sort of make it up:

I wouldn’t know how to translate the words, but their performance seems to say “whatever we’ve got going, let’s celebrate it.” (One thing they certainly have going is the ability to make things up in the moment.)

What would happen if we upped the Creative Quotient on Earth by creating our heads off all year long? Would we find ourselves dancing and singing at year-end? Any volunteers please keep records and let the rest of us know.

Latest news: After some refreshing holiday time to celebrate, I’m writing stories again. The next story collection is coming together. One cover design idea for that is already in the works.

Reader survey: If you can take the time to reply to this survey, it will help me. It’s a simple one:

1. Do you read fiction?
2. If so, what is your favorite genre or type of fiction?
   (Examples of genre: romance, scifi, fantasy, etc. Examples of other categories you might name: medical stories, Vermont novels, bestsellers, etc.
3. What do you enjoy most about that type of fiction? Or, what qualities make a book a “great read” for you?

You may already have answered a query on my Facebook page that ended up turning into this survey. But if you haven’t answered, tell me what you think.

This is another great month for stories. In fact, it’s free story month.

This month’s story, How to Make Cat-Scratch Bread, is a not-yet-published tale about the time when Cara (of Dark Chocolate fame) receives a visit from Charlie (A Cure for the Sleeping Woman) under circumstances that might raise an eyebrow or two.

Slogan time: Help the world improve — make up ideas for a better one.
And remember, a little getaway here and there improves the imagination.