I started this blog on August 21, 2012, with the release of my first book, Titan Encounter. Since that time, I’ve updated the website several times and I’m gradually updating the blog format and bringing it into this new journal. Back then, the sole purpose of the blog was to promote my books, but it gradually expanded to new topics. Sometimes I’ve mused about other things that are important to me, such as my family, my farm, rural life, and occasionally about politics and the country. However, I do try to limit politics.
“Really good,” that’s the way Gabriel, a reader described Through Many Fires in an email a few days ago. I enjoy hearing from readers and it always brings a smile to my face when they tell me they enjoy one of my books, but Gabriel said something else that really piqued my interest.
Read MoreMy son Robert found this intriguing listing on eBay.
Someone is selling my book, Through Many Fires, for over $50. Because of the success of my books I find them in many online outlets, including a Chinese website that sells unauthorized copies.
Read MoreI wanted to start the new year off right and so I arranged to do some promotions.
Readers of my newsletter learned earlier this month about Smashwords discount coupons for my novels. However, that is not the only promotion I am doing this month.
Read MoreFor many years now I’ve attended a writer’s critique group.
Well, for the last seven years I’ve taught in Alaska during the school year, but when I’m in Washington state I attend the critique group. I don’t believe I’ve ever missed a meeting when I’ve been in the state.
Read MoreI’m not sure who spoke first, but we were soon talking. She worked for the Lower Yukon School District, just north of my district, and like many others was trying to get home. She wanted to get to Seattle and then try and catch a flight east to Chicago. We talked off and on until the flight boarded and then were surprised to discover we were seated together. I was in 7C, she was in 7B.
Read MoreThe agent typed on the computer for a minute and then wrote my connecting flight information on a scrap of paper, tore it from the sheet, and handed it to me.
I stared at it for a second. “This is my ticket?” I asked holding the bit of paper.
Read MoreWe finally get to Bethel
After removing the freight from the plane loading our luggage was easy and quick.
Just before takeoff the pilot turned in his seat and gave the usual speech about seatbelts and, in case of a crash, where the emergency transponder was located, then he said, “If we get to Bethel and I start circling it’s because the visibility has gone down over the airport.”
Read MoreThe trip from Eek was like a trip across the river Styx.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an overstatement. As I’ve mentioned before, there are no roads in the region of Alaska where I work. Travel in winter is by snowmobile, bush plane, or dog team. I had chartered a plane for five teachers (including me), the principal, two children, and a dog.
Read MoreFinal Duty has been redesigned, retitled, re-priced and re-released.
The new title is Final Duty – The Speculative Fiction Anthology. The new book contains everything the old one had, including the title novella Final Duty and the short stories Infinite Darkness and The Promise. However, I’ve added lengthy excerpts from both of my novels, Through Many Fires and Titan Encounter.
Read MoreAll my books are now available on Kobo
Most Americans have never heard of Kobo and with only 3% of the ereader market in the United States that is not surprising, but globally the Kobo ereader is the second most common, behind only Kindle.
Read MoreWinter has returned to western Alaska with a vengeance.
For several weeks the temperatures in and around the village of Eek have been extraordinarily mild with temperatures hovering in the mid to upper thirties.
Read MoreThe paperback was soon picked up by Barnes & Noble, but it did not appear on the Nook site until today. You can now buy Through Many Fires on most online retail outlets including Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Audible.com.
Read MoreThe Pledge as you’ve never heard it before.
As regular readers of this blog know, I teach in the Yup’ik Eskimo village of Eek, Alaska. Every morning the students of our small school gather in the gym for announcements and to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Read MoreMy Local bookstore now carries Through Many Fires!
You can now find my latest novel, Through Many Fires, at Book N Brush, on Market Boulevard in Chehalis.
Read MoreOne of the nice things about being an author is being able to see your work in different places.
As my books have garnered wider distribution, from Amazon to Audible, iTunes, and more, I’ve started to see advertisements for them. Recently I was pleased to see this online ad by Barnes & Noble.
Read MoreTraveling by bush plane is nothing like a regular airline.
As you may have guessed from the picture in part one, I did find Ferdinand and, with him driving, I rode to the airstrip sitting on the side of the ATV. Like the airfield the road to it is dirt, but with hundreds of potholes, mud, water, ice, and gravel. I’m always glad when these trips are over—my butt is sore and my pant legs are splashed with mud.
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