When I am working on a novel, my mind, heart and soul get wrapped up in its world. Even though it is a fictitious world, one of my own invention, it bears a strong resemblance to reality. There has to be a certain amount of truth to it or the reader won’t buy it. My stories are my main way of speaking out, but not my only way. Like my non-writing friends, I find it necessary to comment on what is going on around me. Sometimes, my response is immediate. Other times, I find it helps to analyze, reflect and evaluate. This past weekend in Newport Beach, about twenty-five miles…