Rod Drought's Blog
June 27, 2026
Summer Reading
I launched an eBook giveaway for my novel, Phoenix Rising, Lemuria Down. I believe it is a worthy summer read. It has a little bit of everything; humor, romance, deceit, adventure and mystery involving three hapless buddies trying to grow up rapidly while their lives are at risk.
Launching this made me harken back to the days when I first caught the bug of summer reading. As a kid, I often spent a week with my aunt Betty and uncle Ed and their son (my cousin), Roger. Roger was several years older than I, a great cousin who was more of a big brother to me. In his youth, Roger was an avid Hardy Boys reader, and he passed his copies onto me. Summer days reading Hardy Boy mystery thrillers under the shade of their picnic table was reading heaven. Little did I know that would be my first seed of literary love that brought me to the point of a love for writing and telling stories.
If you are in the mood for poetry too, check out the six collections I have listed on Goodreads or go to my website, droughtsthirst.com where all my work is listed as well as several most recent poems yet to be published. Break out the iced tea, put on sunscreen and enjoy!
Launching this made me harken back to the days when I first caught the bug of summer reading. As a kid, I often spent a week with my aunt Betty and uncle Ed and their son (my cousin), Roger. Roger was several years older than I, a great cousin who was more of a big brother to me. In his youth, Roger was an avid Hardy Boys reader, and he passed his copies onto me. Summer days reading Hardy Boy mystery thrillers under the shade of their picnic table was reading heaven. Little did I know that would be my first seed of literary love that brought me to the point of a love for writing and telling stories.
If you are in the mood for poetry too, check out the six collections I have listed on Goodreads or go to my website, droughtsthirst.com where all my work is listed as well as several most recent poems yet to be published. Break out the iced tea, put on sunscreen and enjoy!
June 20, 2026
Absolutely Free
I am launching starting June 21, 2026, a giveaway of the KDP version of my novel, Phoenix Rising, Lemuria Down. The first 100 interested readers will receive one eBook of this rollicking adventure of humor, mayhem, and surprising deep emotional content with no strings attached to U.S. applicants.
Putting this forward, I was reminded of the first-time hearing Frank Zappa's music, specifically, his Absolutely Free album. I was an early teen. My brother who played in a band brought home a copy of the album borrowed from the band's drummer. At the time, my parents bought a do-it-yourself above ground pool kit, the plan being to construct it Phoenix Rising, Lemuria DownPhoenix Rising, Lemuria DownRod Droughtin the backyard for summer fun.
The kit came and the first stage of construction was to varnish the wood frame and decking for the pool in our basement. My brother kept his stereo in the basement along with his bass guitar and amp so he could practice without disturbing the rest of the family.
As we began to varnish, my brother put on Absolutely Free. Between the dizzying varnish fumes in a poorly ventilated basement and Zappa's hysterical take on American Culture, we were prone to fits of laughter. My mother kept asking: "What is this?" referring to songs about Suzy Creamcheese and Duke of Prunes.
It was the strangest bonding moment I ever shared with my family.
I hope this Absolutely Free offer is another strange bonding moment for future readers and myself.
Enjoy your summer reading!
Rod Drought
Putting this forward, I was reminded of the first-time hearing Frank Zappa's music, specifically, his Absolutely Free album. I was an early teen. My brother who played in a band brought home a copy of the album borrowed from the band's drummer. At the time, my parents bought a do-it-yourself above ground pool kit, the plan being to construct it Phoenix Rising, Lemuria DownPhoenix Rising, Lemuria DownRod Droughtin the backyard for summer fun.
The kit came and the first stage of construction was to varnish the wood frame and decking for the pool in our basement. My brother kept his stereo in the basement along with his bass guitar and amp so he could practice without disturbing the rest of the family.
As we began to varnish, my brother put on Absolutely Free. Between the dizzying varnish fumes in a poorly ventilated basement and Zappa's hysterical take on American Culture, we were prone to fits of laughter. My mother kept asking: "What is this?" referring to songs about Suzy Creamcheese and Duke of Prunes.
It was the strangest bonding moment I ever shared with my family.
I hope this Absolutely Free offer is another strange bonding moment for future readers and myself.
Enjoy your summer reading!
Rod Drought
