In May of 2022, my memoir — Victims Make the Best Birdhouses — was published. Hidden inside my memoir was a twelve-page “mini story” of who I’ve become. While consumed by my twenty-year journey, my “mini” story, “Love, Dry Creek & a Dog Named Max” surfaced. It felt right to include the short story under a separate cover and dedicate it to my granddaughters. Parts of “Love, Dry Creek & a Dog Named Max” are included in my memoir. The message, in its entirety, are revealed in authorllfranklin.com included under about the author.
At times, the temptation to veer from this path will be strong, and some friends may pull away. The currents of instant gratification are powerful. Although they’re nice — the expensive house, flashy cars, designer clothes, and other such yearnings — they don’t match the love found in your flower garden, dog, or best friend. Shun the ways of the noisy parrots who seemingly know what’s best. Listen to your heart and continually question yourself. When you’ve found all the answers, you’ve lost your way.
Larry L Franklin holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Illinois and Southern Illinois University. He performed in the U.S. Navy Band located in Washington, D.C. from 1967 to 1971. From 1972 to 1975, he taught music at Southern Illinois University. In 1976, he completed requirements for a certified financial planner designation and maintained a successful investment business until 2007 when he retired to devote his energies to writing. In 2003, he received an MFA in Creative Non-Fiction from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland.
Franklin is the author of “Mnemosyne: A Love Affair with Memory,” published by Xlibris; “The Rita Nitz Story: A Life without Parole,” published by Southern Illinois University Press; “Cherry Blossoms & Barron Plains: A woman’s journey from mental illness to a prison cell,” published by Chipmunka Publishing Company; and “Supermax Prison: Controlling the most dangerous criminals,” published by History Publishing Company. He currently resides in southern Illinois with his wife, Paula.
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