"the Immigrant" is my favorite book, if I may be allowed to pick one charlesclarknovels as the best. It is a story of an eleven-year-old boy who is orphaned when his parents are killed in an accident during the crossing process. What happens to a boy this age who is in a strange country, has no family, does not know the language, is totally helpless?

Someone asked me about the book the other day. I tried to explain why I enjoyed writing it and why I would choose it as my favorite. I couldn't exactlly say why. I just said: "It brings tears to your eyes." I'm sure I was expected to say something about the current immigration issues that are a popular media topic. One thing readers might like is the mystery angle that I threw in to pique reader-interest--a subplot that includes a drug cartel activity in northern Mexico.

I hope you enjoy reading "The Immigrant" as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you should look for the book online please enter under title "The Immigrant" by Charles Clark. Another book with the same title was published in 2007 by a different author.

I talked about the Healthcare crisis in the country and what could be done to reform our deplorable system. It is the most costly in the world, produces the poorest quality of care and poorest outcomes, and still leaves 47,000,000 residents in this country without insurance coverage.

Presidential candidates and lawmakers all have a plan to reform our healthcare system but those candidates and lawmakers wha have accepted large campaign fund contributions from the Health Insurance Industry, the Pharmaceutical Industry, and the various Medical and Hospital Associatons are unlikely to come across with a reform plan that will correct the problem. Healthcare reform is impossible unless reimbursement to providers is limited to only medically necessary services. Most of the above associations and industries want more, not fewer, services covered regardless of medical necessity. Their solution - it doesn't matter how much or how costly, just raise the premium, deductible, and co-pay. 

I was pleasantly surprised to hear the feedback from those attending and to see the interest in reforming and financing healthcare. Next year, it will be interesting to see where healthcare is placed on the parties platforms.  

Whether "Return" wins or not, being a finalist is a winner.

One of the highlights of my day at the festival was my interview with one of the students who will write an article for the magazine, if he hasn't already done so. He performed professionally during the interview - very serious with his questions. He was a little shocked when he asked me how did I get into the mood to write. "How can you just sit down in front of your computer and start writing.?" A bit of a startled expression blossomed when I told him: "I just listen to an Eric Clapton CD and start writing. Sometimes I will use a word or expression from one of his song." I not sure he believed me, but it is true. Eric Clapton music keeps me on track in my writing and relaxes me. I recommend it.

But back to the meaningfulness of the occasion: Promoting writing and learning opportunities for our student population and engaging them in awareness of local community affairs seems to be the mission of CorpusBeat. Eveyone in the coastal bend benefits from their efforts. 

This fictional novel should be finished within the next three to four months. The research into the problems our Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency, the ICE, faces every day in dealing with the overwhelming illegal immigration has been educational for me, to say the least.

CorpusBeat Author & Literacy Festival

June 29 & 30

Art Center

100 N. Shoreline 

Corpus Christi, TX

Code Pink!

(click above for more information)

In this fast-paced novel, the abduction of a newborn baby thrusts a nurse and her husband into a chilling investigation involving the hospital administration and a sinister crime network.