CWB

Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 1:30 p.m., I got to meet up with Cam Torrens at the Kó-fē House at 434 Mountain Avenue, Berthoud, Colorado 80513.

Kó-fē House, Berthoud – Menu, Reviews (145), Photos (42) – Restaurantji

That’s it at the far right of the opening photo, with the awning.

Oddly enough, we got there about the same time, and I was starting to ask a gentleman who was sitting on a nearby bench with a book what he was reading when Cam approached, so we both shared pleasantries with the man and his buddy, before entering the establishment.

Cam bears an amazing resemblance to the actor Billy Bob Thornton. Tall, thin and western gnarly. Think Tommy Norris from Landman.

What completes the comparison is that Cam sounds just like Tommy Norris when he speaks.

Best of Tommy Being Blunt 🤬 Landman – YouTube

Although Cam is much more polite and far less edgy.

Cam is an exceptional writer who signed up with BRW at about the same time I did.

CAM TORRENS – WRITER • READER • RUNNER • RUMINATOR

Oddly enough, we have seemed to keep pace with each other’s literary productivity, with Cam churning out 5 novels as part of the amazing Tyler Zahn series.

Amazon.com: Cam Torrens: books, biography, latest update

I love the Tyler Zahn character, who, like Cam, is an ex-military pilot now working as a member of a search and rescue team in the Rockies that is drawn into a number of very cool action/adventure plots. TZ has a strong relationship with his daughter, so I get that.

Write what you know.

Anyway, Cam and I just missed the lunch crowd, so we had the coffee shop to ourselves. What a surprise, Cam takes his coffee black. I have to have enough milk to make it change color, otherwise it’s just too bitter.

The coffee was delicious. The servers were spectacular and did not bother us once even after the cafe had closed an hour after our arrival and they were too polite to kick us out.

Cam and I come from two different worlds, and we have two distinct writing styles. Cam writes 1000 words a day. Cam outlines each chapter of his novels – one sentence each. Cam works hard on each and every sentence he writes. His meticulous methodology is clearly steeped in his 30 years in the military.

I write only when I cannot not write. I do blog most days just for exercise. I never outline. The characters lead the way. I pay attention to only the story that presents itself, not in the form of how it presents itself. And I only do that when I come to consciousness and read what the elves have typed that morning. Luckily, I have a crew that keeps me sounding barely literate. Thank you, inner circle.

Anyway, Cam and I spent a solid hour talking about our backstories, family, writing, and other writers, although I’m pretty sure I spoke 75% of the time. I don’t get out much. He’s way too much of a gentleman to tell me to “shut the fuck up.” In fact, he didn’t curse once. I’m pretty sure he shared that he does a little Bible reading each day.

Despite our differences, we got along famously. In fact, when we were wrapping up, we talked about gathering the Colorado writers we knew for a future get together. Somewhere in Southern Colorado, where most of them seem to live. A rising tide floats all boats.

As we were leaving, we stopped and snapped a selfie.

And once outside, I grabbed a copy of TWA from my car and inscribed it for Cam — he had read it as a Kindle version — including a reference to the inaugural meeting of the “Colorado Writers Brotherhood” that had just occurred.

“CWB, I like it!” Cam said with that Tommy Norris Texas twang as I translated my chicken scratch to him.

Then Cam was off to meet his lovely wife – whom he met in the military – in Denver before they both flew out for a wedding in Mystic Connecticut. Vaya con Dios.

It’s nice being able to actually speak with a human, especially another writer.

I look forward to the second meeting of the CWB.

Of course, both Lisa and Claire wanted to hear all about the meet up when I arrived back at Casa Claire.

The rest of yesterday’s productivity was spent conferring with the inner circle about the mock-ups of the cover art that Richard Lamb sent over. Loved the feedback from the members of the IC. All had specific and legitimate reasons for their opinions. Amalgamated their respective visions and sent that feedback to Richard Lamb for round two. Stay tuned.

Well, today is Thursday – recycle day here at Casa Claire – so I have lots of recyclable materials to drag out to the road before I make my rounds. So, I better get at it.

You fine, five readers wrap up your work weeks so tomorrow is free to get that running start on the weekend. Friday awaits!

And no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.