Publishing

I am still navigating my way around the self-publishing world.   The paperback version of Hook and Claw has now been released on Amazon and Create Space.  Here is a link to the Createspace page where the book may be purchased: https://www.createspace.com/6392312

Writing the book was a long labor of love.  At the time I was working on my Master's Thesis and my endeavor was to incorporate as much of the knowledge I gathered from all my classes into the novel.
So the novel encompasses Film Noir, History, Native American Lore, and Sociology.  I hope you enjoy reading the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Racism, Politics, and Guns

ON GUNS

The events of the last few days are very troubling, very troubling indeed.   Police killings of innocent black men and the resultant backlash and killings of innocent police officers.  What is it in this country that stirs up such hate.

The NRA for better or for worse sanctions the wholesale distribution of guns and could care less about the resulting carnage.  A gross misinterpretation of the constitution, money for corrupt politicians, and the promotion of fear leads to a society that has begun the transition back to the Old West, where guns abound and justice was served by posses and lynch mobs.  I fear for the future of my country, my children, and our world.   Jesus said those that live by the sword will die by the sword.  Substitute gun for sword and you have our future.

I am not, repeat not, against guns.  In this day and age a gun may be required for survival and unless we become a totalitarian country our guns will remain.  What I would like to see is gun training, stiffer background checks, psychological testing, and a required insurance policy for owning a gun.  Don't be an idiot like Ted Nugent and think we need to arm ourselves against the government.   Last I checked an Ar-15 did not stack up very well against an Abrams tank.  If it comes to that point all hope will be lost anyway.

ON RACISM

Perhaps I am not qualified to talk about race.  I am a white, middle-aged, Christian, veteran of the United States Navy.  I served with all color and manner of people, I travelled to many parts of the world, I have seen prejudice, and have been a victim of prejudice.  Unbelievable you say?  Believe me, when you visit a country that does not like Americans you will come to understand.  I learned Italian and Spanish to try and fit in to the cultures and it was a rewarding experience.  Despite what the media portrays most people on this earth are like you and me, they want to eat, drink, breathe, and live.  Most don't care about politics, stock markets, and power.  The evil in the world make the headlines, feed the fear, drive the need for more guns and weapons, and seem to control our destinies.

I married a Mexican woman and my granddaughter is a member of the Potawatomi tribe.  I am a lay preacher in the Episcopal Church and have been on many missions to the Dominican Republic.  When a woman where I work found out that people in the Dominican Republic were black she looked aghast and said, "you like black people?"  I replied with a WTF and said I like all people, we were all made from the same creator and only our own hubris has alienated us from each other.  Yes, racism does exist and right in front of our noses.  

My father was a police officer in Fort Wayne for twenty years.  He never shot anyone even though he was shot at once (not by a black man, but by a Korean war vet who was a little nuts).  What my father told me when I was young had a profound influence on me.  We were talking about black folks and a recent incident where I was chased by a gang of black kids in school.  My father told me, "there are bad folks out there sure, but for the most part people are good, no matter what their color."  That has always stuck with me and I don't think I could represent God if I didn't believe that.

I could write more on the subject and probably will later.  Racism to me is ignorant and evil ... period.

ON POLITICS

If there exists a subject almost as frightening and despicable as racism it is politics.  This presidential election has brought out the worst in the Democratic party and the laughingstock called the Republican party.  For the first time ever I contributed to a campaign and that was for Bernie Sanders. Did I think he had a chance, maybe an outside chance, but I found him to be a man of principle of high moral character, and a person genuinely concerned with the welfare of the people.  

Now I am faced with a choice between a narcissist Trump or the arrogant oligarch Clinton.  I distrust both, but I actually fear for our future with Trump.  Must I pick between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea?  Apparently so.  For all my friends that believe the Fox News hyperbole that Obama ruined the country, show me your proof?  George Bush and Dick Cheney started this country on the road to hell and we will probably never recover.  President Eisenhower warned this country about the Military-Industrial complex and we ignored him.  We now suffer the consequences.  

However I do believe that the true downfall of our political system began with the Supreme Court decision that corporations are people.  What a collection of educated idiots that band of merry fools is.  I am beginning to think our country will not survive the next century, we believe the fear fueld media and seem to have lost the power of rational thought.

Just a few ramblings from a mad-as-hell middle aged man.

Paperback Writer

The last couple of weeks I have been working on a print copy of my novel, Hook & Claw.   The self-publishing world has become easier the last few years, which is a good thing.  Of course this also makes it easier for any hack writer to come along and publish their works and that makes for a lot of competition.

I'm still researching the ins and outs of advertising, everyone wants your money, but not everyone delivers on their promises.