Like any other year, 2024 had its fair share of ups and downs. Sometimes we smile when we feel like crying. There were moments when I felt like throwing in the towel. We’ve all had these moments. Sometimes they are fleeting, and sometimes these moments stick around a little too long. We all have wounds and scars that others don’t readily see. We’ve been told over and over to keep moving and keep going, especially when things don’t go our way. It’s not easy but that’s true. We each have different reasons, different motivations and outlets that keep us moving. We have to find a way to keep going. So, as we approach 2025, I sincerely hope that everything works out in your favor for each one of you. And I want to give a Special Thanks to everyone who have continually supported Randie’s Free Library and have kept my entire family in your hearts and prayers. Remember to smile if you want to smile. Cry when you need to cry, but no matter what, don’t ever give up, keep moving, keep going. Happy Holidays, Everyone! – Randolph Randy Camp
When I was young I was anxious and eager, maybe a little too anxious and eager. One of my favorite high school teachers, Ms. Birdie West, encouraged me to slow down. Just like any other kid, I wanted to know why and how things worked. If something was new to me I wanted to take a closer look at it. I didn’t have a green thumb and I’d never seen an actual greenhouse before. When I was on lunch break in Junior High, I used to look across the road at the bigger kids at the Senior High School. One day while at lunch I decided to walk across the road and wander around a bit at the high school. I was so curious about the building made of glass near the hockey field. I made it across the road but not too much further than that. As I was making my way across the hockey field towards the greenhouse, a teacher approached me with a puzzled face, “Can I help you?” I didn’t respond and just walked back across the road. I never got to see the inside of that glass building that particular day but during my future sneaky visits across the road, I noticed how the girls looked curvier and a lot softer than the girls in my Junior High classes. Yep, I was curious about everything, and I certainly looked at everything.
When I finally got into high school I made sure that I had a class in that building made of glass. And it turned out to be one of my best decisions ever. Ms. Birdie West absolutely loved teaching us about horticulture and the life of plants. She was a dedicated teacher who sincerely cared about all of her students. And what I admired most about Ms. West was her nature walks around the high school. On certain days, she would take us on a walk through the wooded area behind the school, and along the way she would talk about the natural wonders surrounding us. Ms. West had this cool way of telling us about plants while simultaneously teaching us about life. I remember her saying, “Every plant has its season. Everything has its time.” When I would tell her about the many different things I wanted to do in life, she would calmly tell me that we can’t rush plants and flowers to bloom early. Each plant and flower will bloom when it’s the right time. With a slight wink and a nod, Ms. West would coolly say, “Slow down, you’ll get there.”
I owe a lot to all of my teachers in Spotsylvania County, but the ones such as Ms. Birdie West really stands out. I don’t think I could’ve written my third novel ‘False Dandelions’ if I hadn’t taken her horticulture class all those years ago. Sadly, Ms. Birdie West is no longer with us, but I’ll never forget her… And while you’re on your own path, chasing your own dreams and desires, it’s okay to slow down, you’ll get there. – Randolph Randy Camp
Whether you’re a journalist covering a story for your local paper, an aspiring screenwriter, or a student working on your class assignment, write with your heart. Second guessing and self-doubt are two obstacles in writing we must overcome. When I was writing ‘Coreville Park a Reggae Novel’ it took me three drafts before I was able to drop some of my inhibitions and finally allow my true writer instincts to kick in and let my characters come alive. While going deeper into ourselves we discover more about us as writers and at the same time we make our stories richer. Every story is lit by an initial spark. There’s always a backstory to everything. The backstory and inspiration for ’29 Dimes a Love Story’ came from me running the Los Angeles Marathon several years ago, as I was raising funds for one of my favorite charities ‘I Have A Dream Foundation’. While running through the many different neighborhoods and streets of Los Angeles, I absolutely fell in love with the Silver Lake area. After running in the LA marathon two years in a row and getting to know the Echo Park and Silver Lake neighborhoods very well, I knew I had to write a story that captures their spirit and character. The love story in ’29 Dimes’ takes place in Silver Lake, and writing this novel carries a lot of beautiful and heartfelt memories for me. When I’m talking to students and aspiring writers the topic of backstory and inspiration always comes up. That initial spark which inspired us to start a new project is filled with emotions and feelings. Don’t be afraid to put your feelings into your work. Don’t be afraid to show your heart. Just let it out.
Of all the quotes from my novels, this particular quote is the one I get asked about the most during my book talk sessions. The quote is from ’29 Dimes: A Love Story’.
My daughter Randie and I would have long, deep conversations about books, movies, stories and relatable characters. When I woke up this morning, I thought about Randie and the likely conversation we might’ve had, if she was still with us. I’m pretty sure Randie would have made a comment or two about some of her favorite books that could help people, particularly help kids, to better understand and cope with some of the heated political rhetoric going on right now, as we get closer to election day on November 5th. And I’m sure I definitely would have mentioned one of my favorite movies, NO WAY OUT (1950), which dealt with America’s race relations in a very impactful and entertaining way. The original movie ‘No Way Out’ was made seventy-four years ago but its subject matter and message still resonates today in 2024. Personally, I love this film because it leaves the audience with the very important message that everyone has value and that we all need each other, regardless of our background or skin color. Using words, lyrics, stories, music, and movies are all valuable tools of bibliotherapy. My daughter Randie used books and stories to help her cope with so many heartaches and obstacles of her young life. And for me, I sometimes escape and use journaling and writing stories to help myself cope with certain traumatic events, especially the severe events during my military years. Without a doubt, I know that bibliotherapy can be a very useful tool to help us cope with today’s sometimes-intense political discussions. If you’re still unsure about who to vote for in the upcoming presidential election, I highly recommend anyone to at least watch the ‘No Way Out (1950)’ movie first before casting your vote, especially if you have any concerns about our kids’ future and any concerns about our future race relations here in America. For our kids’ sake we must do something to bring better understanding and healing to this nation. – Randolph Randy Camp
No one is greater or lesser than anyone else. Respect yourself foremost. Respect your neighbors. And respect leaders who will allow you to freely think for yourself, permit you to make your own decisions and control your own destiny. Be positive, stay positive. Vote positive. Some leaders make attempts to suppress and silence certain groups, while other leaders, true leaders, respect all voices. Vote for your freedoms. Vote for our future. Vote for your rights. I proudly support and stand with Kamala. – Randolph Randy Camp
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