Lovers Own The Silence author Michael Watt spent the evening discussing the novel with the members of the Center Moriches Book Club last fall.

Everyone from Massapequa (Long Island, NY) knows when you get together with long-time friends you meet at Krisch's on Central Avenue. Here I am with my fellow and former Parkhill Avenue denizens Patricia Dunbar Lepanto and Suann McConkey. Patty and I also attended St. William the Abbot Elementary School together.

As an author there is no greater feeling than handing a copy of your novel to your mother. "It's a real book, with your name on it!" she said. I'm not sure what she expected, and as I sure as heck hope she doesn't read it (it's a little saucy).

It's worth noting that Suann flew in from her home in California for this meeting of the minds. I'm sure she had other business to attend to, but I like to think getting her copy of "Lovers Own The Silence" signed by the author was a factor.

You know you made the Big Time when a long-time friend - in this case, Larry Dember - thought enough of "Lovers Own The Silence" to gift a copy to his beloved and beautiful Jennifer for Christmas.

One of the best - and unanticipated - benefits of having "Lovers Own The Silence" published was having it lead to my reconnecting with long-ago co-worker Kenneth M. Chanko, seen here holding his signed copy at Pete's Tavern in New York City. We met there for lunch last summer. Ken also published his first novel last year - Exit Tickets. More on that later.