Positive Reviews

I have heard from many readers about my book and they have all had great things to say. Of course, I guess, if you weren't happy with it, you probably wouldn't tell me. I have learned that there are a few errors. You would think after proof reading it a million times, there wouldn't be a single mistake, but that wouldn't be human. One of the biggies is the title of Chapter 1 - Boot Camp. I tell people in the Forward that I graduated and joined the Navy in 1959. But the title says - July 29, 1979 to October 1979! DUH! You mean I waited 20 years to join the Navy??!! A friend of mine from church discovered the error. I felt so stupid. Oh well, I never claimed to being perfect! Happy reading and Fair winds and smooth seas! Let me hear from you!

Book in Hand

Unless you have authored and published a book, you cannot know the feeling of exhilaration I had when I opened that box from my publisher. To see and feel the finished product almost brought me to tears I was so thrilled. A lot of work had been put into the book, but I will be first to admit that is has been a labor of love. I can't encourage you enough, especially veterans, to take the time to write down your life's experiences. When you pass on to greener pastures, all of your stories are gone unless you put them on paper. Some friend or relative may be able to tell a couple of things about you, but you are the best story teller of your own life. Take the time to do it even if you never publish it, your family will love you for it. Just do it!

First review

Well, I got my first review copy from my publisher. I have got to tell you that I have read my manuscript at least twenty times; however, on this reveiw, twenty-eight more errors were found that were mine. Three my publisher made, but they were insiginificant. I can't believe that I found that many more errors. It helps when reviewing that the text looks a little different and is laid out differently than the original draft, but still, twenty-eight errors! Wow! I'm blown away, but that is what a review is for and I'm glad that I have had the opportunity to do another read on it. Perhaps being away from it for a couple of months has helped my reviewing skills.

Now I am anxious for the next time around. I'll keep you all posted!

Patience is tough!

I can hardly wait seven more days to review my first draft of Thank You, America. My publisher, Wheatmark, tells me that I will have an electronic copy and a hard copy mailed to me on the same day. I feel like a kid waiting on Santa to show up. You would think a person of my "advanced" years would show a little more patience, but even though patience is a virtue, it ain't one of mine.

Fair winds and smooth seas!

Another Book!

I can't believe I have started another book. I haven't even gotten the first one on the street yet (hopfully October 1) and I am already starting to write another book. I think at my advance years, I must have a short circuit in my brain somewhere!

Anyway, I have started to write a fiction about Black operations in our country. The world of intel is facinating and because of the nature of the security surrounding black operations, you the reader don't know if what you are reading is factual or not. My purpose in writing this second book is to simply provide entertaining reading and nothing more. Who knows, maybe I'll never even finish it, but I will have fun writing.

I have told my wife that I have a vivid imagination, but she says it is just scattered brain matter from the many batterings she has given me over the years. She might be right. Did I mention that she might be right! Later!

Michael Jackson is dead! An American hero! NOT

I thought the following was better than I could have written myself. This is written by a young man serving his third tour of duty in Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news interesting. Thanks for your service to our country Isaac!

Subject: SOLDIER RESPONDS TO MJ'S DEATH.....

Okay, I need to rant. I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing? Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice?

Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good riddance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?" I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them.

But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen to. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have. Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military; "So that others may live..." Isaac

Dick Cheney

A little off of my normal blog subject!

I just wish that I had the opportunity to appear before the entire Congress of the United States. No visitors in the gallery, no congressional aides, nobody else but Congressional men and women. I would tell them that I am going to tell them a piece of classified information that if leaked, will change the course of the world. The example I am going to use is: The moon is made of green cheese!

I guarantee you that within 48 hours after my disclosure, the word would have been spread by some of our honorable congress people and the whole world would have this information. That is why the folks that deal in the deep recesses of the intelligence community cannot trust that congress can keep their mouth shut and that there are things the American people do not need to know let alone the rest of the world.

I spent twenty years of my life in the military defending the wonderful freedoms we have in this great country and by golly, I want to continue to have those freedoms. It won't happen if we blab every single intel item to congress and basically to the entire world.

Let VP Cheney alone! As far as I am concerned, he is a loyal American and he did what he thought was the right thing for America.

Getting started to write a book!

When I moved to Colorado nearly four years ago, I joined the Douglas County Writers Group. I had always had a yen to write a book, but I didn't have a clue how to start. Keep in mind that my professional career after my military career was Technical Writing.

Several people in the group said that I should just start writing short stories no longer than 500 words. I had told lots of stories of my navy career, but had never put any of them down on paper. The idea was that as I accumulated short stories on the same subject, I would soon discover that I had enough short stories to create a book. Bingo, that is I what I did! It can work for you too.

Writing a book!

Haven't we all had that aspiraton one time or another to write a book? It not an easy undertaking. If you are a journel person, you probably have some pretty good notes to get you started, but if not, you just can't seem to make a go of it. I'll tell you tomorrow how I got started.

After the first 4!

How do you decide after the first hitch to stay in the military? It is not an easy decision, but I have no regrets. I think for me, it was the feeling of camaraderie I had with my shipmates that gave me such a sense of belonging. That is also why I wanted to share my experiences with others by writing my book, Thank You America! My target audience was fellow veterans who have had similar experiences; however, my publisher convinced me that there was a wider market. Veterans will buy the book, but they will give it to their children and grandchildren so they can read and identify with the sense of camaraderie that each of us felt in the military service. I would like to hear what you think of this!

Twenty Years

Twenty years is a fairly good chunk of an adults life! Why would a person choose to use that chunk of their life to serve their country in the military? Good question and I hope in the coming months, I can answer that question. I'll be anxious to hear from some of you that choose to do that as I did in the United States Navy.