Make Known That God Is Near

 

MAKE KNOWN THAT GOD IS NEAR
Written, Composed & Arranged by Michael Woodhead
Copyright ©1970, 1974, 2024 by Michael Woodhead
(Melody first used for my Psychedelic Passion song, 'Make Known')

[Music only; vocals pending]

From My Autobiography : 1982 : Age 35

12 JANUARY
Tuesday
I send a letter to Arthur Hailey [author of Airport, Wheels, et al.] to thank him for being such an inspiration to me and my own writing.

Several other writers’ novels in those early years of learning to write influenced me besides Arthur Hailey, most notably Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E Howard, Robert A Heinlein, Harold Robbins, Irving Wallace, and William Goldman. Also, Stan Lee and his stories in Marvel Comics.


16 FEBRUARY
Tuesday
I receive a lovely response from Arthur’s wife, Sheila, along with a form letter that they send out to anyone who writes to Arthur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 15 MARCH
Monday
I start a second draft of Crucified Rose.


18 MARCH
Thursday
I send my Crucified Rose proposal to Joanne Kellock, literary agent.


2 APRIL
Friday
In a return letter, Joanne offers to read Crucified Rose, when completed, for $30.00.

At the time, I thought the reading fee was a little exorbitant; today, I think it’s very reasonable.


28 APRIL
Wednesday
Since the Calgary chapter of the Association of Christian Artists is in danger of dissolving, I volunteer and take over as acting president.

Although I was [and still am] basically an introvert, I did volunteer a lot for various creative groups. In a few cases, it’s because they couldn’t find anyone else willing to do it. In others, I thought it might eventually prove interesting and educational for me.

I write some instruction material for Christians — Gifts of the Spirit; Meditation; The Relationships of the Holy Spirit; and The Will of God and teach them at New Life Church.

 

I recall that a few people were upset with my meditation class because they thought I was teaching ‘new age’ or ‘buddhist’ principles. But most thanked me for making meditation clearer to them.

I begin work on Joan of A.R.C., a novel with one of the characters I had envisioned for the Michael Storme series.

A.R.C.:
    Agency for Reconnaissance & Counterespionage


2 MAY
Thursday
After I read Franky Schaeffer’s book, Addicted to Mediocrity, I realize this is what I’ve been wrestling with for the past several years. I soon create a pamphlet called MasterWorks which contains a ‘prospectus for a renaissance of Christian creativity’ and which borrows heavily from principles indicated in the book..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I begin work on The Swordmaster Chronicles, a fantasy story which will eventually morph into Warrior Maid of Vasuda.


10 MAY
Monday
A bit hastily, I try to change some of the tenets of the Calgary chapter of the Association of Christian Artists to align with MasterWorks, and I produce the Art Beauté newsletter. This creates an uproar at the home office in Toronto.


6 JUNE
Sunday
With encouragement from other Calgary chapter members of the Association of Christian Artists, I try to make my position clear on a few points around which contention seems to centre. However, the Toronto head office virtually ignores my pleas, so I decide to leave well enough alone and step down as acting president. With no continued support, the Calgary chapter folds.


SUMMER
I work out the embryonic synopses for Doomsday’s Dawn and Mystery, Babylon.

23 – 25 JULY
Friday – Sunday
I attend the All-Alberta Writers Workshop and design the programme cover for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27 JULY
Friday
I send the Crucified Rose proposal to William B Hanna.


4 AUGUST
Wednesday
I receive a rejection letter re: Crucified Rose from General Publishing [via William B Hanna].


5 AUGUST
Thursday
I start a shooting script for Curfew.


25 AUGUST
Friday
For Lana’s birthday, she and I go to Stage West to see Linda Thorson in My Fat Friend.

Previous to this production, I secretly arranged for Lana to meet with the former ‘New Avengers’ actress after the show and she received the personally signed photo. Lana was thrilled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23 SEPTEMBER
Thursday
I volunteer as president of the Calgary chapter of the Canadian Author's Association.

During the rest of this year, and into the following one, I also designed assorted covers for their Hints ‘n’ Prods magazine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FALL
I design the cover for another personal art newsletter, but that’s all there is to it.

Further to my previous comments on newsletters and magazines—I’ve tried creating several different newsletters over the years, none of which lasted more than one or two issues. Again, it was lack of sufficient funds to see my dreams for these materialize.