Coming Next Week!

Expanding my catalog of books at Tule Fog Press this year. Starting off by adding two new genres for my indie publishing platform - Christian Fiction and Western. Mentioned our latest release yesterday (Ruth: A Journey to Faith by Revathi Selwyn). 

But today, I want to announce the release of D. M. Karder's rip-roaring, gunslinging Wild West adventure, Rising from the Ashes. (Note: Affiliate links to Amazon throughout.) It's currently up for pre-order and has a page at Goodreads now, so mark it "Want To Read!" :)

Here's the blurb...

Chicago, 1871. The city burns unrestrained. In a sea of people, a boy stands alone: young David Murphy. Witness through his mind’s eye his transformation from a desperate youth to one of the fiercest gunmen of the Wild West.

To capture Murphy’s story, an ambitious writer of Western lore is needed. Enter Vernon Shields who wants to publish an account that will define his career. When Shields meets a man now known simply as Longhair, he procures permission to write the gunman’s life story.

Rising from the Ashes is a tale of blazing guns that stretched from the Civil War to the turn of the twentieth century. The guns and the people who mastered them made their own destiny. Most men died as fast as they drew the steel. However, a few like Longhair walked the walk and lived to tell of their adventures of quick draws, ambush killings, and the excruciating challenges of life itself.

~*~

“Storytelling with no shortage of action, delivers a fresh spin on the turn of the century.” – Don G. Porter, Author of Yukon Murders

“Many events molded and transformed this country at the end of the nineteenth century. My goal is to put the reader in the boots of the main character, David Murphy. To provide an experience of what it was like to live life in the 1860s to 1890s, from Chicago’s great boom to the end of the Wild West.” – Author D. M. Karder

Day Trip to Old San Juan

Took the day off from writing today and headed toward Viejo San Juan to meet up with a friend from Kansas. Our first visitor! 

Well, not exactly. Our friend was coming to PR for a conference and knew that we'd moved here, so we had lunch together at Raíces, an authentic Puerto Rican restaurant that serves fantastic mofongo! (pictured here)

Another friend and family is heading to the island in late August, so we'll have fun making another day trip to catch up. When we finally move into our condo, we expect friends to come visit us, not just Puerto Rico! lol

Before meeting up for lunch, Julie and I went to an English speaking church called Arise! They have two services, the first in English and the second in Spanish, but they often do ministry and socials together as a combined congregation.

While renting our house in Orocovis, we've been attending Primera Iglesia Bautista and we have wonderful friends there. But at this point in my Spanish language journey, I can only catch about ten percent of what's going on, and that's mainly because of context! Still, I'm committed to learning Spanish, but it may be nice, once we move, to attend that dual language church in Dorado (about 25 minutes from where we'll be in Vega Baja).

So after church and after lunch with a friend, we walked around Old San Juan a bit. We've been there a number of times and there's a lot to see. Strolling the streets is always a delight. 

We love walking in and out of stores (because they have air conditioning!) and seeing what's for sale. Though we don't need any more touristy stuff now that we are residents.

Plus, there are beautiful old buildings that you just want to buy and renovate and turn into a 5 Star Hotel. Well, if I had a few million dollars, maybe that's what I'd do! Here's one with a tree growing up on the inside. Anyone want to lend me some money? (grin)

Since this is our 5th time on the island (we've been here a month now), we have a pretty good handle on what to see if you come visit. Although there is always more for us to explore as well. Give us a call if you are heading our way and we'll meet up or if you stay at our condo, we'll go exploring together.

Training for the Camino

Mentioned awhile back that my wife and I are getting in shape for a May 2022 hike of the Camino de Santiago (the 6 day, 70 mile portion starting just north of Portugal). 

This means we need to get in "15 mile a day" shape! Yikes.

Right now, I can walk about 4 or 5 miles at a time. In a few weeks we'll walk 10 miles - half of that in the morning, take a break for brunch, then walk back. Should work!

This afternoon we walked along a rails to trails path for 4.5 miles. And I bonked! 

The problem was I didn't eat anything very healthy after our church service. For fellowship time after worship we had some cake and cheese and crackers. Great for snacking, not great for power fuel.

So I skipped a protein packed lunch and instead of taking a nap (my normal routine), we headed out for a nice fast-paced walk. Well, it was fast-paced for 2.5 miles and then I got light headed.

Yep. No water, no protein bar, no gu available. And it was starting to get a little chilly, low 50s. T-shirt. So I had to sit for a bit and rest.

Sitting and resting is no big deal. We're not going to walk 15 miles straight each day in May along the Camino. But we do need to be able to go the distance. Which means hiking smart! 

I guess I'm glad I learned my lesson this early in my training regimen. Namely, prep with protein before, during, and after - along with some carbs and electrolytes. And cut down on the desserts. 

In other words, this man cannot live on cake alone. 

Will keep you posted as to our progress.

~*~

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The Expanse - Strong Start Then Fizzled

Well, I finished "The Expanse." First two seasons were really good, intriguing, different, compelling. Then these last four seasons were simply a mesh of conflict between the inners and the outers (not  referring to bellybuttons, btw). 

I think it lost its way regarding the proto-molecule (the actual 'big deal' of the plot in the beginning) - or maybe I just missed the change of direction when the Ring was introduced. 

Also, when Amazon took over from SyFy, the show became just too morose. 

I was really looking forward to this final season as I'd heard good things. But in the last few episodes, I know I totally got confused.

Like, what happened to Marcos? (Sure, the aliens in the Ring absorbed him, but why?) And what the heck was that planet with the zombie kid all about? 

Then, I saw Filip escape, but did he make contact with his mom? The show's supposed finale wasn't satisfying at all - it was a set up for another season that will never be made. Pretty lame.

One problem, I think, was that the ending was too rushed. I just couldn't follow anything the show's creative team was trying to accomplish. They didn't have any kid of denouement, imo. 

Plus, too many f-bombs. I quit reading the books in the middle of book 2 or 3 (can't remember) because of the excessive foul language. Writers! You don't need to use the f-bomb. Trust me on this.

So a contrarian view, I'm sure. The Expanse started strong but fizzled. I wasn't even interested in Amos anymore after awhile. The best character of the final season was Drummer. 

Anyway, what are your thoughts? Any highlights from the series that stand out for you? Are you reading the books? Comments welcome. 

~*~

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(via PayPal.Me - an e-book from Tule Fog Press.)

This blog is reader supported. Thank you for your support!

Find me on Facebook where I post nerdy memes and share about my writing projects.

An Astral Advent - A Short Story for Christmas

 An Astral Advent

by Lyndon Perry

 

            The little shepherd boy called to the littlest lamb under his care. “Talya, come here Talya. That’s good. That’s a good little tal-yá.” The mostly black lamb, white patches gracing her face and tail end, scampered over the rocks to her child master, already familiar with his voice and her own name.

            The rugged grayish hills south of Jerusalem were already, reluctantly, allowing their stubbly texture to soften into the green of growth as the last of the winter rains fed the artesian wells and nourished the ground. Melki took up his striped and colored tunic in his left hand as he’d seen his elders do and with his right waved a small shepherd’s staff to guide the lamb along the rocky path back to the larger flock. Upon his way he gathered three more grazing lambs he’d been put in charge of.

            “Melki,” his father Hazaiah called when he saw the boy round the bend of a nearby foothill, “bring the little ones back to the flock. It is getting late and we must set up camp.”

            “Yes, father.” Melki, his dark brown eyes shining with the joy of life, squinted into the late afternoon sun, looming large and red along the horizon. Already he felt the warmth of the day start to slip slowly away. A gentle wind played with his black curls that slipped down from his cotton wound cap. With his shortened rod he herded the four young lambs back to their mothers.

            The affectionate animals were treated well, often as pets by their caretakers, and reciprocated by following their temporary masters from place to place, pen to pen, field to field, hillside to hillside. Melki smiled as Talya found her mother and began to nurse. His father had told him not to get too attached to this bunch. The Korreti would soon be taking them offworld.

Tom Swift, Jr Adventures For Sale

I grew up with the Adventures of Tom Swift, Jr. by Victor Appleton II. That was a house name for a number of ghostwriters, though a majority of these middle grade novels were written by James Duncan Lawrence. (He also wrote some Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books.)

These were great. I actually think the writing holds up, reading them as an adult. Of course, one has to get into that wide-eyed kid state of mind, but still, super fun. This series was published by Grosset & Dunlap from 1954 to 1971.

Alas, it's time to pay them forward. Well, not for free. But I am ready to sell what I have (#1-27 & 29 - out of 33 total, see my pic below). All but one are in pretty good shape. Let's say $150 (includes shipping to continental US). That's just over 5 bucks each - a steal!

If that strikes your fancy, message me. If I were still collecting them, I'd pay 5 bucks for #28. Heh. I remember paying 2 bucks for a couple of them back in the 70s. I'd scour used bookstores along the California coast, my mom in tow, in search of missing volumes. 

Now that was an adventure in and of itself. 

To my delight (back in the day), I discovered that Tom Swift's dad also had a series of books! The original Tom Swift stories ran from 1910 to 1941. There are 40 volumes and the titles all feature modern inventions or scientific predictions of the day, like "Tom Swift and His Photo Telephone" (1914, hello, Victor Apple-ton, get it?).

Of course, a favorite aspect of reading Tom Swift books is stumbling upon the over-descriptive and pun-intended adverb. You know them as Tom Swiftys. Super fun! 

I created a few memes based on the illos in the books a few years back, but they never took off. At any rate, I'll leave you with a few just for kicks and giggles.

Well, I think they're funny. 

Oh, and if you happen to have volume 28, don't tempt me. I may have to rescind my offer to sell my set.

~*~

"Tip a buck, get a book."

(via PayPal.Me - an e-book from Tule Fog Press.) 

This blog is reader supported. Thank you for your support!