Writing After Fifty

We've Moved

2011-10-27T18:28:00.000-05:00

Our new location is:

Writing After Fifty @ http://writingafterfifty.wordpress.com/

Episode 58: Poetry Saturday

2011-05-30T21:13:00.002-05:00

The Draft Lottery

The Selective Service held Mr. Nixon’s draft lottery,

Yes it happened on Wednesday this week.

If you drew a low draft number and get classified 1-A

Boot camp and shaved head, the hippies will call you a freak.

And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.

You might be going to the delta,
A rendezvous with the Viet-Cong.

Or to the central highlands,
But first you’ll train while singing the Army song.
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.

You’ll serve your country proudly,
Without protest because you love the USA.
You'll serve for $288.00 a month

Doing your part is the American way.
And off you’ll go to Viet-Nam, more infantry they seek.

Written by Jimmie A. Kepler

DeSoto, Texas - February 2, 1972

Episode 57: Poetry Saturday

2011-05-20T21:41:00.003-05:00

Starting High School

In San Francisco it's the summer of love,

Long haired hippies, peace signs and doves.

In Viet-Nam the soldiers are dying,

Back home their families are crying,

And Sergeant Pepper taught the band to play.

Jim wants to "Light My Fire",

While Grace's rabbit only flies higher.

The evening news shows the war isn’t cool,

This week I started high school,

And "All You Need Is Love" is what The Beatles say.

Written by Jimmie A. Kepler

Schertz, Texas August 1967

The photo is Grace Slick. She is an accomplished artist. The artwork is hers.

Episode 56: Book Review Friday: A Soldier's Story by General of the Army Omar Bradley

2011-05-20T07:13:00.000-05:00

A Soldier's Story by General of the Army Omar Bradley is the story of World War II as General Omar Bradley saw it. It is also the primary source book for the movie Patton. Bradley's unassuming and straightforward style underscores how he is portrayed by contemporary accounts. General Bradley was known as the "G.I. General". In the book, he comes across as an island of equanimity in a sea of incredible egos like Patton, Montgomery et. al.

Remember, this book is Bradley's take on events. I am sure that some involved in controversies he covered would defend their actions or inactions. Yet this account has an aura of authenticity due to the author's lack of need to tout his own accomplishments. The book is hubris free. This inner peacefulness, along with command ability, probably explains Bradley's rise to the level of senior American ground commander in Europe. He even comments about working calculus problems for relaxation!

Written in 1951, this book is superb. It gives insider's account of the American effort and strategic management in the European Theater of Operations. It is well written, clear and largely devoid of the bombast that can weigh down some combat and command accounts. Although a big book, it reads quickly.

Sidebar - One of the highlights of my life was interviewing Omar Bradley for the God and Country Boy Scout Merit Badge I was working on in 1964. He was living in military housing on the William Beaumont Hospital grounds at Fort Bliss, Texas. My father was stationed in El Paso at the time. The retired Five-Star General was very kind, patience, and encouraging as I asked him the dumb questions an eleven-years old boy asks. Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler.

Episode 55: Here's Waht a Submission to Poetry Magazine Looks Like

2011-05-16T22:09:00.000-05:00

[ submission successfully received ]

Dear Jimmie,

Thank you for your submission. You can check the status of your submission at any time by visiting https://submissions.poetrymagazine.org and logging into your account. Our current response time for submissions is approximately eight weeks.

P.S. You don't need to click on the link to your file in the system after you submit your work- it'll be fine. If you do click on it, be advised that it may not display properly on your computer, though it will look fine on our end. This is a glitch we're working to fix.

POETRY magazine

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Episode 54: Life Sometimes Gets In the Way

2011-05-14T16:31:00.000-05:00

Writing has been a struggle the past couple of weeks. Two weeks ago I attended the DFW Writer's Workshop. I am a member and attend about 75 percent of the weekly meetings. I read and was given good suggestions at the workshop.

Now comes where I share all my excuses as to why I haven't been writing as much. The weekend on April 30th my wife was off work on Saturday. She normally works every Saturday. She was off because my oldest son had given me tickets to see The Moody Blues that day at the WinStar Casino just across the border in Oklahoma. The concert and family time was great. I enjoyed going. I had a wonderful time. At fifty seven years old I had never been in a casino before.

Sunday May 1 had me checking on my aging parents. My mother had a kidney transplant on March 25.

She is doing great. Monday May 2nd I worked, did a little writing and planning at lunch, and headed to Starbucks after work to write. While there I received an email that four positions on my team at work were eliminated. My two best friends were gone. A third person was a lady I highly respect and enjoyed working with. All of a sudden I didn't feel like writing. Instead, I called or emailed them. I found myself feeling sick, grieving, and wondering why them and why not me.

Most of the rest of the week was a kind of fog. I read my Bible a lot more than I normally do (and I read it almost every day). I also found myself reading other books more as an escape.

Saturday, May 7th, I attended the funeral of a co-worker's father and Sunday was Mother's Day. I checked on my parents again. I also took my wife out to eat Sunday evening.

I have been going over my job skills and doing some computer based training as I don't want to neglect the day job. The blogs I write have been more pointed about biblical principles for facing life's challenges as I preach to myself.

Don't worry, I will get back to my writing my novel. Life sometimes gets in the way of your writing.

Episode 56: Poetry Saturday

2011-05-14T12:57:00.000-05:00

Little Squirrel

Little squirrel
In the tree
I see you
Looking at me

Your color is red
In your furry coat
You look at me
Sitting in the boat

You're eating the acorns
Found in the tree
A smile on your face
Dropping the shells on me!

© 2009 Jimmie A. Kepler
Originally published in
WORDS..RHYMES..POETRY & PROSE!

Episode 55: Book Review Friday: Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of World War II by Charles B. MacDonald.

2011-05-13T20:31:00.003-05:00

Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of World War II by Charles B. MacDonald. I highly recommend Company Commander: The Classic Infantry Memoir of World War II by Charles B. MacDonald. At just 21 years of age, Captain Charles B. MacDonald first commanded I Company, 3 Battalion 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division from October 1944 to January 1945 and later G Company, 2 Battalion 23rd Infantry, 2nd Infantry Division from March to May 1945. This memoir was written in 1947 when recollections were still sharp. It resulted in a very detailed account of what it was like to take command of a line infantry company and lead it into battle. The book gives us template for writing a personal military memoir.

It is by far the finest memoir of any junior officer in World War II. Charles MacDonald does a great job of keeping his focus on his own experiences. He does not speculate or waste my time by giving conjecture on the big picture. We only have first hand information from the events of his personal participation. He sticks to what life was like for a junior officer in command of an infantry company, sleepless, hungry, dirty, stressful, and very dangerous. He takes us from the Siegfried Line in the Ardennes, through the Battle of the Bulge, and to the end of the war in the Czechoslovakia.

This book is a must-read for all army officers who seek to command at company-level and it is informative for military historians as well. It is still required reading at West Point and on the company level officer (second lieutenant, first lieutenant, and captain) recommended reading list by the U.S. Army today. Upon this book's publication in 1947, Charles B. MacDonald was invited to join the U.S. Army Center of Military History as a civilian historian, the start of a career during which he wrote three of the official histories of World War II in Europe and supervised the preparation of others. The book is simply the best. Read and reviewed by Jimmie A. Kepler in June 2006 for the Military History Book Club.

Episode 53: Life and Problems: A Biblical Alternative

2011-05-09T20:54:00.002-05:00

Several friends are facing big challenges. I've wondered why them? Why not me? Let me ask you a question. Are you facing problems in your personal life, business life, family life, creative life, or spiritual life? We need to realize that life is a series of problem-solving opportunities. The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you. It all depends on how you respond to them. Read Romans 8:28. Ask God what He is trying to tell you from this.

1. God Uses Problems to Direct You - Proverbs 20:30. Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.

2. God Uses Problems to Inspect You - James 1:2-3. When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this test will give you patience. Caution! Too much self-analysis is dangerous! It leads to why me Lord syndrome.

3. God Uses Problems to Correct You - Psalm 119:71-72. It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws

4. God Uses Problems to Protect You - Genesis 50:20. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.

5. God Uses Problems to Perfect You - Romans 5:3-4. We can rejoice when we run into problems ... they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.

Conclusion: Problems when responded to correctly are character builders. God is interested more in our character than in our comfort. You relationship with God and your character are the only things you will take with you into eternity see Romans 5:3-4. God wants to make changes in your life where you can make a difference!

Episode 52: Poetry Saturday

2011-05-07T07:31:00.001-05:00

Books

Books take you places

You hope someday to go

They transport you to times

In the future or long, long ago

The words paint the pictures

The author’s canvas is your mind

Surreal images greet you

Where people aren't always kind

You don't have to dress up to read one

They’ve a special texture, smell, and feel

Some tales make you laugh

While others make you squeal

Episode 51: Book Review Friday

2011-05-06T21:01:00.000-05:00

"The All Americans in World War II: a Photographic History of the 82nd Airborne Division at War" by Phil Nordyke delivers what the book’s title promises, a photographic history of the 82nd Airborne Division at war. The book is filled with numerous black and white photographs. The photographs are excellent and many that have never before been published.

The book is organized into 36 chapters. The chapters chronicle the 82nd Airborne Division’s from the division’s reactivation in February 1942 to the return to the USA in January 1946. The chapters begin with a one-page summary of that stage of the 82nd’s action. A skillfully produced map showing the locations of allied follows the chapter summary. It contains locations of allied and axis units visually showing their actions that are covered in the chapter. Next, the reader feasts with pages of period photographs of the action. There are 30 detailed maps and 365 photographs.

This book is a very useful addition to or a great stand-alone volume for the reader wanting to learn more about the All American Division in World War II. It really is spectacular. It would be an excellent addition to any military historian’s library of college and community library.

I am a former US Army officer who graduated from airborne school in class 36-76. I found myself reading the book in one sitting. My father is a World War II veteran who served in the European Theater of Operations. He also could not put the book down until he had read it from cover to cover.

Episode 50: Writing and Overnight Success

2011-05-02T15:19:00.003-05:00

Have you ever wondered about the young authors and their overnight success? Have you thought why aren't I as successful as a Stephenie Meyer (Twilight Series), Nicole Krauss (Story of Love) or Jonathan Safran Foer (Everything Is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)?

You have that feeling of wanting it all and wanting it now. You want the book signing tour, television interviews, having your novel made into the new blockbuster movie, and seeing your face on People or Time Magazine's Cover.

I think of 1 Corinthians 13:4 where we are taught that "Love is patient, is kind; love isn't boastful, proud, or arrogant." There's that word we like to hear - LOVE and that word we dislike hearing - PATIENT. I can't help but think of the physical development of my three children when I think of writing. Each developed at their own pace. Did you know that each learned to walk, talk, and read at different ages?

My middle child was the youngest in his kindergarten class. The teacher expressed concern at the beginning of the school year that he couldn't stay on the lines when cutting out a circle. I reminded the teacher he was barely five years old and that children developed at different rates. I said if this is still a problem in May we will look at it again, but for now let him develop at his own rate. The teacher agreed. He was able to master the task of cutting out a circle within a short time and with practice.

Our writing's like that. We develop our craft at out own pace. Like my son, we also need to practice. We may never be the next Stephenie Meyer, but with patient practice we will develop our skills ... and just maybe the story we write with loving patience will develop into something special.

Love is patient, is kind; love isn't boastful, proud, or arrogant. 1 Corinthians 13:4

Episode 49: Poetry Sunday

2011-05-01T20:18:00.006-05:00

We Never Lived In the Now

Your face shows your age,
though your countenance is still glowing.
Your age says grown-up,
but you’ve never decided where you’re going.

You’ve grown older.
Yes, I’m older too.
The remainder of our lives is before us,
oh, what'll we do?

What were the dreams
you had so long ago?
What was your vision?
Where did it go?

You traveled your way.
I went mine.
A history so different,
yet lives intertwined.

The gray now shows in our locks,
showing how much we cared.
Your grin still lights my life,
my smile brightens yours when shared.

You lived for then.
I lived for when.
We never lived in the moment.
No we never lived in the now.

Episode 48: Book Review Friday

2011-04-29T23:24:00.000-05:00

The German Wars: A Concise History, 1859-1945 by Michael A. Palmer

This is not another book on the history of the German military. Instead, Michael A. Palmer’s excellent volume takes a wide-ranging approach looking at political, social, economic, and military developments across Europe, and the United States of the period. He outlines the history of the European political and military landscape. Between 1859 –1945 the German were engaged in the War of German Unification, Franco-Prussian War, World War I and World II. They won two of wars and lost two wars.

Dr. Palmer’s book is a small volume. Including indexes, it is only 248 pages. There is an amazing amount of information contained in this small space. While not a detailed tome, the author supplies enough information for you to get the general picture of a subject. For example, he surveys the reasons for World War II, including the role of the Treaty of Versailles and the Kellogg-Brand Pact but does not get bogged down in the finer points.

Dr. Palmer's book has a wonderful blend of scholarship and readability. He communicates the information in an interesting manner. I loved the sidebars he has throughout the book. They cover a variety of subjects relevant to the wars. They expand and explain various points. For example, he does an excellent job of explaining the strategic bombing in World War II. In February 1944, the around the clock bombing of the Eighth sand Fifteen Air Forces quickly ground down the Luftwaffe to their knees. Learning of the role the air war hard in reducing German production output by as much as forty percent amazed me.

Excellent critical thinking is demonstrated in the last chapter title “Conclusions”. The focus of the chapter is conclusions that can be drawn from the wars. He shows an innate error in the German plans for World War I and World War II. He shows how the leadership anticipated the wars quick conclusion. They failed to plan for a war that lasted more than a few weeks. For instance, German war production for World War II did not reach maximum efficiency until the war was several years along. Why? The Germans thought their prewar supplies would be sufficient for a short war.

The origination of the index at the book’s end is very helpful. First, there is traditional index. Next, battles, military units, organizations, people, places/geography, wars, and weapons organize the index. This makes it easy to locate information.

This is an excellent book - well done, Dr. Palmer. It is highly readable. It would be an excellent addition to the library of any military historian, public library, university library as well as personal collection of persons with interest in European or Trans-Atlantic History.

Episode 47: Book Review Friday

2011-04-22T14:03:00.000-05:00

Here is a review I wrote on the book "The Battle of An Loc" by James Wilbanks for the Military History Book Club. A must have book for anyone with an interest in Viet-Nam. This is a very good read. The Battle of An Loc was a major battle of the Vietnam War that lasted from April 13 to July 20, 1972. It culminated in a decisive victory for South Vietnam’s Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). The struggle for An Loc was one of the most important battles of the war. It saw the introduction of conventional warfare and tanks by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA). The ARVN forces halted the NVA advance towards Saigon. It delayed the war's end by three years.

The author, James Wilbanks, was present and wounded at An Loc. This is not only his account, but gives insights from the North Vietnamese and US Advisor's after action reports plus other communist documents. The role of the unending US air support, the bravery of the US air crews, and the orchestration by the Forward Air Controllers to the battle’s victory for the ARVN and US Advisor's is covered in warranted great detail. The inability of the NVA to have armor and infantry work together in more conventional warfare is clearly brought to light and documented. Wilbanks gives insights into Richard Nixon’s Vietnamization’s perceived success by the politicians and its ultimate failures. This is a must have read and must have addition to the library for anyone with interest in the war in Viet-Nam. Read by Jimmie A. Kepler in January 2006.

Episode 46: Book Review Friday

2011-04-17T06:46:00.000-05:00

I received this book from my son Kristopher for Christmas in 2004. The book is a lot like Bob Dylan ... different. We start in 1961. We witness some history in him signing his first record contract. It is an odd memoir that is as inspired, impulsive, and to a degree as eccentric as Dylan's greatest music. He never tells us what he is about. Biography lovers will find it wanting. You get near, but never close to Dylan. He chases "rabbits". It reminds me of someone talking in to a tape recorder and then having it transcribed - word for word. With a title of Chronicles, Volume One, when will we see volume Two? Save your money. Borrow the book from the library, unless you are a big Bob Dylan fan like me.

Episode 45: Poetry Saturday

2011-04-09T17:52:00.002-05:00

A Wonderful Evening

A wonderful evening
Is coming soon
A special fellow
The stars and moon

He'll touch your hand
And hold you close
Walking on beach sand
Handing you a rose

He'll brush your hair
Away from your face
You know he cares
Your dream white lace

Spending time together
But it goes so fast
In all kinds of weather
Wishing forever it'll last

But life's not fair
Someday it will end
You won't be there
For himself he'll fend.

Copyright ©2009 by Jimmie A. Kepler

Episode 44: Book Review Friday

2011-04-08T07:49:00.000-05:00

How the North Won: A Military History of the Civil War by Herman Hattaway and Archer Jones is a scholarly look at the Civil War. Hattaway and Jones have produced a great book on Civil War logistics, planning, and administration. They authors seem to focus more on the logistics and strategy side over the tactical side. The book was very good, but at times, it was a dry recitation of chronology, dull facts, and statistics. I had to force my way to complete the book, and it took two attempts to get it read. Most copies of the book will collect dust on some university library bookshelf. It is too deep and too dry for most readers. Better to borrow this book from your library than spend your money purchasing the book. Read in April - June 2005 by Jimmie A. Kepler.

Episode 43: Sometimes They Say No

2011-04-06T16:17:00.002-05:00

Below is what a form email rejection looks like. Never let them discourage you! Keep on submitting!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: POETRY
Date: Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 3:36 PM
Subject: Poetry magazine
To:
Dear Jimmie Kepler:

We're not going to be able to keep anything from this submission, we're sorry to say. Thank you, though, for letting us have a chance with your work.
Sincerely,

The Editors
POETRY
444 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1850
Chicago, IL 60611
312-787-7070
312-787-6650 (fax)

Subscribe to POETRY today!
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/subscribe.html

2011-04-06 15:35:45 (GMT -5:00)

Episode 42: Thinking and Liberal Arts Curriculum

2011-04-05T18:03:00.001-05:00

Albert Einstein said, "The value of an education in a liberal arts college is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks."

My undergraduate education is a liberal arts education. My major was history and my minors were English and military science. My Master of Arts degree is in Christian education. My broad-based liberal arts education did more than prepare me for a job. It provided the foundation that allows me to compete in the marketplace of ideas.

It has been 36 years since I heard then university president Dr. Nedderman say I had meet the requirements for my bachelor's degree. Within minutes of his pronouncement I raised my right hand and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the US Army through ROTC. I did not make the military a career. Three years later I headed to graduate school. I was amazed at how prepared I was was. I knew how to read, write, study, do research and research papers, and how to think. My UT Arlington liberal arts education taught me how to think independently and make sound judgments. I learned how to expand my horizons, discover new perspectives, and acquire the tools to defend my point of view. My education helped me learn to reflect on life, have a moral and historic compass where I can distinguish good from evil, justice from injustice, and what is noble and beautiful from what is useful.

I have been employed over the years as an officer in the US Army, a minister, corporate trainer, Internet Coordinator, IT Support Analyst, and IT Systems Administrator. These have been my day jobs that has supported my 30 plus years of freelance writing. Working in IT it is interesting to see how many persons have undergraduate degrees in the liberal art disciplines. These are the people that know how to think outside the box. These are the people with excellent critical thinking skills. These are the persons that embrace change and know how to successfully deal with it.

What have I done with my history degree? All the above plus I have published over two dozen magazine and trade journal articles in over a dozen publications though the years. I have published poetry through the years. I have written book reviews. I have a website "Kepler's Military History Book Reviews". The site was named a 100 best websites for history buffs. I read and review military history books published under more than a dozen different imprints. I have agent Amy Boggs of the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York requesting my manuscript for my historical fiction novel I'm working one.

I get asked frequently by younger coworkers how I know so much about so much. They say I am a modern renaissance man. My answer: I have a liberal arts education from UT Arlington.

How committed am I to liberal arts education? I have three grown children – all have liberal arts degrees. One is employed in a senior business management position, one is a teacher, and the third has worked in customer service and information technology fields.

Episode 41: What I'm Reading Monday

2011-04-04T17:54:00.000-05:00

It's Monday, April 4, 2011. Starbucks in Plano, Texas serves as my office today. My shift at work has ended and I now can do what I love - writing and reading.

What am I reading? Two books have my attention. "The German Wars: A Concise History, 1859 - 1945" by Michael A. Palmer, published by Zenith Press is the book I'm reading to review. Shelby Foote's "Shiloh" provides my personal reading pleasure.

All the big time writers say you have to read in order to be a good writer. They are correct to a point. The point they too often neglect is you also have to write, write, and write some more.

Today is a sad day. The son of one of the ladies I work with was killed in action in Afghanistan yesterday. He was a First Lieutenant in the US Army. Commissioned through Army ROTC. He was a graduate of my Alma mater - thirty three years after me. He leaves grieving parents, a sister, a wife and a son. Thank you for serving and your service. As a former US Army Officer myself, I am very aware of the dangers and risks a person makes serving their country. Like all officers in US history, he was a volunteer. Now, it's time we bring them home.

Episode 40: Poetry Saturday

2011-04-02T08:49:00.001-05:00

A Bright Day

The world continues spinning every day,
And seasons change along the way,
We miss old friends from times long past by
Sometimes it makes us want to cry.

At times, the solitude is too great.
Our future left to sheer fate
What are we going to do?
Life feels like one big zoo.

The circle revolves once more,
What does our future hold in store?
Will he or she again come our way?
All knowing God alone can say.

Sometimes we live too much in our memories
Old times in our mind’s eye we see
Spending time with old friends and lovers
Fantasizing old feelings to rediscover

We speculate on the bus,
Do former friends and lovers ever think of us?
If the good old days are all behind
I think I’ll just ask God for a sign.

May tomorrow be a bright day
As we move along life’s highway
I hope your journey’s going great
May our paths cross at a future date.

Copyright © 2008 by Jimmie A. Kepler.

Episode 39: Book Review Friday

2011-04-01T06:02:00.002-05:00

Wisconsin high school teacher James R. Ebert does a masterful job as he combines interviews and printed primary sources in this remarkable telling of the infantryman's experience during the Vietnam War. Ebert tells the story of the US Army and a few US Marine infantrymen during the Vietnam War. He takes their story from induction into the service through basic and advanced individual training, arrival in Vietnam, their first combat experiences, the first killed in action they experience, in some cases the soldier's death, and the freedom birds that take them back to the world. Ebert points out while infantryman accounted for less than 10% of the American troops in Vietnam, the infantry suffered more than 80% of the losses.

Ebert uses an interesting technique starting every chapter with a letter by Leonard Dutcher to his parents. Dutcher just wanted to do his part for God and country and go home at the end of his 12-month tour (13 for Marines). In the last chapter, we find out that Dutcher was killed. It caught me off guard and really added to the impact of the book. Ebert takes many of the soldiers and Marines experiences word for word from the individual himself through interviews or letters. It is a collective look at similarities of the many infantry soldiers and Marines in the war. It is a very personal account from many points of view.

This is an important book in Vietnam War literature. This is what the grunts really went through. I was left with somewhat of feeling of guilt from reading the book. Why? I graduated high school in 1971. I went to college and was ultimately commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry, went through airborne school and served three years active duty. My becoming an officer deferred my entry on active duty from 1971 to 1975. This is the reason for my reflective thoughts. I originally read the book in 1997 and reread it in August 2004.

Episode 38: Remembering My First Writing Sale

2011-03-29T05:40:00.009-05:00

Today I was sitting back and reflecting on the writer's life. It got me to thinking. How did I get that first sale? That first book review?

The first sale involved learning the system. I attended a Smokey Mountains Christian Writer's Conference. I was a wanna be writer. I learned some of the basics of magazine article writing. Maybe the most important happening at the conference was meeting editors and publishers. I talked to several publishers who expressed interest in working with new writers.

All the editors required that I write on speculation. That means I write on the subject they assign, but they have no obligation to buy my work. It allows them to see if I can follow their rules, meet their deadlines, write sale-able copy, etc. It lets them see how thick skinned you are and if you take criticism too personal.

I had a kind editor who loved taking a few rookie writers under his wing each year and mentoring them. I had to rewrite six times before he bought the first article. My payment was 2 1/2 cents per word. I received a check for $12.50, three copies of the magazine - one for me, one for my parents, and one for my wife's parents. Plus my name was on the by-line. The article was published in a little magazine called "Sunday School Leadership" published by Lifeway Christian Resources. It had a circulation of over 250,000 subscribers. It was read by my church members, seminary classmates, and members of the 40,000 plus Southern Baptist Churches in the USA as well as most directors of Christian education of all denominations.

I wrote an article or two for this editor every year for the next 15 years. It took me over decade before I got a cover article. Once I did get a cover article I got one every year until he retired. The first article is very basic. It is attached and titled: Who Does What?

I wrote the article in the Emory University Library in Atlanta, Georgia. I lived close to the campus. It was a favorite place for me to hang out and study.

In 1989 I was approached about reviewing books. At the time I would put a book review about once a month in my church's newsletter. My editor was on the mailing list and said I wrote good reviews. He recommended me to a colleague. The thought of having someone give me a book for free to read was exciting to me. I bought and read about 100 books a year at the time so free books was a good thing. The review for the first book I reviewed is attached with the simple title "Book Review".

I wrote this article while sitting in my church bus. I had taken the senior adults from my church to an event in the Smokey Mountains. We had the afternoon free and had gone to tour the Vanderbilt Estate in Asheville, NC. One lady refuse to tour the house. She was protesting paying homage to the rich and decadent lifestyle I think. Even though the cost of the tour was prepaid, she refused to go on it. It was fall and cool in the mountains. I would not let her stay on the bus by herself. So, I sat out there on the bus all afternoon and wrote. I can write anywhere I think. The dear lady is still living and around 90 years old and still has strong convictions. The picture is of the Vanderbilt Estate.

What is my point? My point is if you love to read and write you can probably leverage it into a paying gig. You will never get rich. I was reminded at the DFW Writers Workshop this spring that less than one percent of all writers are able to support themselves writing full time. So don't quit your day job. If love writing why not go for it? Just write!

Episode 37: Social Media

2011-03-28T12:34:00.004-05:00

Social media comes in many different forms. I use Facebook, a couple of Blogger accounts, Multiply and Twitter. What's a person to do with so many accounts?

I use Facebook to communicate with family and friends. I have groups divided by family, church, high school, college, US Army, work, and writing. I categorize my friends into those groups. I use Blogger for a specialized book reviews - Kepler's Military History Book Review. Multiply is used like an online scrapbook. Here is where my most cherish friends are located. It is also my online journal. I Twitter. Most of my tweets are passing on good tweets I receive. They are informational. The second most common item I tweet are literary quotes. I also love YouTube. I have not uploaded very much, but enjoy sharing video content.

It seems the social media usage is changing over time. Which do you use? and why?

Episode 36: A Question of Balance

2011-03-23T14:54:00.009-05:00

Balancing your day job with your passion for writing and reading is hard. The day job is important. You need a regular paycheck and insurance. So unless you are a Dean Koontz with a spouse who is willing to give you five years to make it with her working full time to support you, you will need a day job.

Having a life is important. You need to allocate enough time to keep yourself spiritually and physically fit. You need a sound body and a sound mind as you write. You need time for a spouse, significant other, or whoever you are with in a relationship. Your spouse isn’t going to cook, clean and provide sex on demand for you while you hibernate in your room or study reading and writing. You have to invest in time in your relationship.

Let’s face it, there are going to be some days when you are too tired or exhausted to write. There are going to be other days where all you feel like is reading. The reading recharges your energy and is fodder for future writing.

You need to write regularly. Notice I used the word regularly, not daily. Why not daily? Because you will have some days you cannot write. If you are trying daily and miss a day you will feel guilty and may give up. If you just write one page a day for 25 out of 30 days in a month that is a 300 page book in just one year!

Episode 35: Why I Love Writing Book Reviews

2011-03-22T12:52:00.006-05:00

Over twenty years ago I read Louis L'Amour's book, "Education of a Wandering Man". It is one of my all time favorites. L'Amour kept a journal recording the books he read year by year. The idea seemed unusual to me at the time, but I started doing it. About the same time I attended a writer's conference in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Author Calvin Miller was the featured speaker. He also suggested keeping track of what you read. He added maybe writing a one page summary of the book and your thoughts about the book would be a good record to keep. He saw value in reading the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize Award winning authors as well.

I thought both gentleman's idea was good and added a twist of my own. I would write a short book review. In the late 1980s I had my first book review published. Several years ago I stared posting my reviews on-line on Yahoo 360. About the same time I started Kepler's Military History Book Reviews. My oldest review on the site dates back to October 2007. Since then I have read and reviewed 107 military history or military historical fiction books. The website was name a 100 Best Blogs for History Buffs in late 2009. I receive about six requests a month to read and review books. Several publishers send me their books automatically. Some authors and/or their publicists contact me directly asking if I will review their book. I have about a six month backlog of books to review. Most authors who contact me want the book reviewed now. I tell them of the backlog and many withdraw their offer of a review copy of the book.

What do I get out of it? First, I get the enjoyment of reading the book. I love reading and history. This is a great way to read new material and get review copies of the books. Second, I share my love for history in general and military history specifically. Third, I try to be a good finder in what I read. I will read the entire book. Sometimes it is a struggle, but I look for the good. I don't say it is wonderful if it is tough to read, but I don't read looking for the bad. How blessed I am getting to review the books.

Episode 34: One Way to Become Self-Educated

2011-03-21T06:41:00.003-05:00

Education of a Wandering Man impacted me in a way few books have. I first read the book more that twenty years ago. I reread the book every few years. It’s lessons are that timeless and that good. Since reading the book I have kept a journal of books I have read along with a short review of each work.

Not an autobiography. This is about as close as an L'Amour fan will come to an autobiography. This is not a western novel, though it gives great insight into how he wrote and researched his books. The book starts with a reference to his high school class graduating while he was on a steamer in Indonesia.

How to become self-educated. L'Amour gives the reader a lengthy discussion of becoming self-educated through books, travel, and experience. I enjoyed the lengthy lists of books L'Amour read during his wandering years in the 30s. I have been logging what I read since reading the book in November 1990. It is a worthy discipline. I also started writing a short, generally no more than on page review of what I read since that point in time.

Research and personal experience. L'Amour gives a breathtaking discussion of walking out of the Mojave Desert. It reminded me of my time at Fort Irwin, California (about 50 miles north of Barstow in the middle of similar land). L'Amour was a great researcher, and wrote from both personal experience and knowledge.

Required reading for any aspiring author. While the book is disorganized, rambling, and repeats itself it is an easy read. It is an enjoyable book. When I first read the book I thought they had just published his first draft without editing or rewrites. It is still very good. It should be required reading for any aspiring writer. L'Amour emphasizes the value of education through experience and self-guided reading. He never degrades formal education.

Episode 33: A Passion for Writing

2011-03-20T09:18:00.004-05:00

In 2009 I started writing "Honor and Jealousy in Texas." This June will be two years ago I started the project. I don't know if you have ever tackled a big writing project, but it is work.

My first big writing project was a senior honor's thesis in college which I wrote on "The Ohio Company of Virginia, 1748". My doctoral dissertation (The Relationship of Two Theories of Motivation to Church Leader Motivation: An Examination of the Motivational Theories of Abraham Maslow and Douglas McGregor Within a Conservative Christian Perspective) was another long project. In 1994-1995 I wrote a non-fiction book, "A Survival Guide for Directors of Christian Education." The manuscript is still in my desk. It was initially accepted by the editor and publisher - I have the contract, but later after he retired the new editor killed the project breaking my heart. I learned what a kill fee was - they paid me pennies to not publish my book. I mention all this to say I have tackled some lengthy projects before and am somewhat knowledgeable of the publishing business.

"Honor and Jealousy in Texas" is unlike anything I previously have written. It is long ... over 90,000 words and about 400 pages. That is twice the length of anything I have previously written. The process of writing is an adventure and fun for me. I am on my seventh different opening chapter. The writing is fun. The rewriting and editing is a challenge. I find it tedious going back and making I have the story from a consistent point of view. It is challenging to keep the events in proper order, especially when you rewrite something and add something you said later in the book - then you have to edit two places and the cascading effect of my rewriting creates more and more work.

I have a good story. The key is telling the story well. We shall see as the adventure continues. In the next day or two I will send the first fifty one pages - that's four chapters to the agent who found my story pitch compelling enough to risk an hour or two of her life for a potential return on her time investment with a book she can sell.

I never tire of writing. I grow weary in rewriting and editing until I see how much better it is than it was. I love the creative process. Writing is my passion.

Episode 32: Remembering Saturday mornings from my childhood

2010-11-23T09:00:00.005-06:00

Can you remember back to when you were in elementary school? For some of us that was a long time ago. Maybe the dinosaurs were roaming the earth. Maybe times were simpler, more relaxed. Maybe we were young, innocent, and blessed to not knowing the cares and responsibilities we would face now.

I want you to think back to that simpler time. I want you to reflect on two questions. Question one: Where did you grow up as a child? Question two: What did you do on Saturday mornings when you were a child? I’ll answer first.

What I did as a little boy depended on where I lived. I was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1953. While I was present at my birth I don’t remember it at all. You would think something as important as being born would be a vivid memory. My mother remembers it like it was yesterday, but I don’t. As a kid I lived in:

* Randolph Air Force Base (San Antonio), Texas
* Clinton County Air Force Base (Wilmington), Ohio
* Harwood, Texas (I lived with my grandparents. My father was in Turkey for a year with the United States Air Force [USAF].)
* Donaldson Air Force Base (Greenville), South Carolina
* Scott Air Force Base (Belleville), Illinois
* Donaldson Air Force Base (Greenville), South Carolina
* Luke AFB (Glendale), Arizona
* Seguin, Texas (My father was in Vietnam for a year).
* Biggs Air Force Base (El Paso), Texas
* Pease Air Force Base (Portsmouth), New Hampshire (Vietnam was revisited by dad while we lived here.)
* Bebe, Texas (Completed the last month of the eighth grade here as my father had just retired from the USAF).

I’ll stop at living in Bebe, Texas as I went to work that summer and haven’t been a kid since.

My Saturday mornings were wonderful. My father was in the United States Air Force. When I was growing up the work week for the USAF was five and one-half days. Poor dad always had to go to work on Saturday morning. They stood inspection on Saturday. While that was bad for dad it was wonder for me. I had mother all to myself, except for when my younger brother demanded her time.

Saturdays would begin with a wonderful breakfast. I would have milk, orange juice and a glass of water. The meal would have pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage, fresh baked biscuits, and oatmeal or grits. It was always yummy.

Mother would let me help prepare the meal. I got to cook! I enjoyed mixing the pancake batter, placing the pancake batter on the griddle and flipping the pancakes. The smells of the food cooking were wonderful. They were like a giant hug. My brother would be sitting in front of the television watching cartoons while I got to help.

I also learned how to wash pots, pans, and dishes. I would get to help. Mother was so patient. I would either wash or dry them. I would also get to help put them in the cabinets.

Around mid-morning I would play with my brother for about an hour. We would play “Sky King” most of the time. Sky King was a show about an Arizona rancher and his airplane “Songbird”. King always captured criminals and even spies and found lost hikers using his plane. Living in Arizona made it a natural to play.

Around 11:00 AM mother would always call us in to the living room. We would sit on the couch. She would read to us for about an hour. I learned of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn from her reading to me. Saturday was special because she would read for an hour. Other days of the week I got a fifteen minute read every evening before bedtime though the sixth grade. I loved it.

After reading we would pack a picnic lunch. We had it ready for when dad got home from work around 1 PM. When he arrived home he would quickly change clothes. We would head to the lake or river to fish or to the desert or woods to hike. He taught me how to hunt, fish, use a knife and ax, shoot a shotgun and a rifle plus clean them, and know basic survival stuff. We would sometimes sit on a log and whittle while he told me stories. It was great. We did this until I was in high school and my job or girlfriends got in the way.

The picture was taken in 1959. We were living in base housing on Luke Air Force Base just west of Glendale, Arizona. In the picture is my dad. He was in his early 30s at the time. Then there is me - standing in the middle. My younger brother Michael is in the chair helping to get a plate full of goodies my mother had prepared. We would have the goodies to snack on most evenings. Dad would get in his big recliner and we both would get in his lap. He would read the comics to us from the daily newspaper every evening. Then he would read the Bible to us and teach us our daily Bible lesson. The base chaplain had family devotional guides for dad to use. It was so much fun. And I learned to love them so much from their investment of time in me.

Saturday mornings were always wonderful. I had a happy, blessed, almost ideal childhood. I felt loved by parents, and grandparents. I have often thought about all the work my parents did to make things so wonderful. The reading, the picnics, the fun took a lot of preparation and clean-up. They let me help which taught me so many wonderful things. This is where I developed my love of reading. It is a love that has lasted a lifetime. I wouldn’t change a thing or trade families with anyone. My parents gave me their time and attention. What more could a kid want?

Episode 31: Kepler's Military History Book Reviews

2010-11-12T23:45:00.005-06:00

I own the website Kepler’s Military History Book Reviews. The website’s purpose is to share reviews of books dealing with military history and military historical fiction. The reviews are of the books I have read. I review and edit books in the military history genre for several publishers under more than a dozen imprints including HarperCollins, Naval Institute Press, Simon & Schuster, University of North Carolina Press, and Zenith Press. Kepler's Military History Book Reviews was named a 100 Best Book Blogs for History Buffs by OnlineSchools.org.

I Currently Have Review Copies From the Publisher/Writer:

1. "Patton's Third Army in World War II" by Michael Green & James D. Brown. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is November 21, 2010.

2. "Minefields of the Heart: A Mother's Stories of a Son at War" by Sue Diaz The publisher is Potomac Books, Inc. My projected completion date is December 8, 2010.

3. "Into The Viper's Nest: The First Pivotal Battle of the Afghan War" by Stephen Gray. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is December 21, 2010.

4. "The All Americans in World War II: A Photographic History of the 82nd Airborne Division at War" by Phil Nordyke. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is December 28, 2010.

5. "The Cool Woman" by John Aubrey Anderson. The publisher is Fidelis Books. My projected completion date is January 14, 2011.

6. "Hitler's Master of the Dark Arts: Himmler's Black Knights and the Occult Origins of the SS" by Bill Yenne The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is January 28, 2011.

7. "The German Wars: A Concise History, 1859 - 1945" by Michael A. Palmer. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is February 15, 2011.

8. "Four Stars of Valor: The Combat History of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment in World War II" by Phil Nordyke. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is March 15, 2011.

9."The Pacific War: The Strategy, Politics, and Player That Won The War" by William B. Hopkins. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is March 15, 2011.

10. "Predator: The Remote-Control Air War Over Iraq and Afghanistan: A Pilot's Story" by Matt J. Martin with Charles W. Sasser. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is April 15, 2011.

11. "War In The pacific Skies" by Charlie and Ann Cooper. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date is May 15, 2011.

Disclaimer: regarding any review written on this website: no payment was received, the only compensation, was the book which was used to write the review and was sent by the publisher, author, publicists or media groups.

Episode 30: I Joined the DFW Writer's Workshop

2010-11-04T22:03:00.005-05:00

Wednesday evening I attended the DFW Writer’s Workshop in Euless, Texas. Euless is in an area known as the mid-cities of the DFW metroplex (DFW stands for Dallas Fort Worth). It is located just west/southwest of the DFW airport.

To attend the meeting I first leave my office at Coit Road and the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway in Dallas. The distance from work to the meeting site is about 25 miles from my work. It is 25 miles of stop and go mind numbing traffic. The plus is I get to listen to sports radio while I travel.

I leave work around 4:45 PM. I arrive at a restaurant near the meeting about 6:00 PM. It took one hour and 15 minutes to travel 25 miles. I order my evening meal. While waiting I get my laptop out, connect to the Internet with the built-in air card I have in my computer. I actually have a satellite connection so if there is not free Wi-Fi someplace I can always get connected. It is good world-wide. I won’t tell you the price because you would faint. My work pays for this luxury to keep available 24/7 365 from anywhere. I next VPN back onto my work connection and do three work related tasks. I then eat and check my personal email. By now it is 6:30 PM and time to get on to the writers group.

I drive the mile to the meeting site. As a visitor they ask that you arrive by 6:45 PM. I arrived right on time. I signed in as a guest. I found myself a seat. As I am not bashful, I introduced myself to a few people. They were friendly.

As the second hand of the clock, moved to 7:00 PM exact the meeting was called to order. The first order of business was visitors. They had the two visitors (me and another guy) introduce ourselves. The instructions were clear. What is your name, what genre do you write, how did you find out about the group. I answered as instructed. The other person followed my lead.

Next on the agenda was for person to share any rejection letters they had received in the last week. Rejections are not bad. They show you are trying and submitting your work.

Acceptances were the next order of business. This was divided into: who has gotten an agent in the last week? Who has had an agent or publisher ask to read their manuscript? Who has had a manuscript accepted?

Everything moved with well organized precision. The group is 33 years old and very ordered. Announcements were shared. People announced their book signings for the next week. Remember this is a group with 163 members (79 female and 84 males). The group has had 300 traditionally published books. From book signings the agenda moved to the announcement that one writer of science fiction had the head of the deep space propulsion project at NASA to not only write the forward to book four in his current series, but to mention the book at the quantum physics symposium. He also provided the technical specs for the propulsion design in his latest book.

The upcoming writer’s conference in February was discussed. We were told in two weeks we would have a Halloween read and covered dish supper.

It was pointed out that the model being used for the meetings really does work as the number of people getting published is increasing and the number able to quit their day job is growing. We were told it is time for annual dues. They are $100.

Next they went over the to read list. This broke the 50 in attendance into reading groups. There were 5 groups of 10. Each group has a senior moderator who is a published writer with a book published. They groups add an amazing diversity as the number of men and women were about the same in each group. The groups also had about 2 people who were 18 to 29, 2 that were in their 30s, two in their 40s, 2 in their 50, and then 2 over 60. The genres they write in were very different. The format was a person reads for 5 minutes. Then there is a first critique. Only one item per person discussed bout what was written. After each listen hammered the writer we went to a second critique where you could bring up a second point. This continued with airline schedule precision through person 5. Then we had a ten minute break and it repeated.

What I noticed was how valuable the critique was. The pulled no punches. The insecure would probably break down and cry or pick up their papers and run away. No reader was defensive. Each reader took notes. They commented from time to time regarding the critique – “I see”, “I will look at that”, I will consider that”, etc.

I heard four letter words, graphic sex and graphic violence as well as amazingly good young adult fiction. The group of writers I sat with had four or five who had published as many as a dozen or more books. We had one writer of westerns who was wonderful. I have read his work. He has a large following.

The group allows you to both hone your writing skills as well as to be encouraged. The networking is priceless. I heard on say that is really good. Maybe I could get you an introduction with my agent or publisher.

This was a move from the land of want to be writers to the land of serious writers who are doing it or want to do it full time. They are making the commitment and paying the price to develop their craft. That’s what I want to do. That is why I attended and have joined them.

The meeting ended by 9:30 PM. I made the 26 mile drive to the north to my house. I was home and in my pajamas by 10:15 PM. It is amazing what a difference no traffic makes. I plan on repeating the journey next Wednesday and every Wednesday as my schedule permits. I am writing and will publish an historical fiction novel with a traditional publisher.

I wrote the above about 6 weeks ago. Since that time I have joined the DFW Writer's Workshop. I have attended every Wednesday evening. I have read and been critiqued each week. I signed -up for and paid to attend the annual DFW Writer's Conference in February. I have the time off work for the meeting.

The group has been an encouragement. It is like I landed on a different planet and here are people like me. They have similar interests as me. And they love reading and writing.

Episode 29: Never Too Old - Go For Your Dream

2010-11-03T23:08:00.005-05:00

"The world stands aside," said David Jordan, "to let anyone pass who knows where he is going." This applies to those, who learn where they are going late in life as well as for the young.

At 40, James Michener published his first book. He authored more than 50 titles - 26 historical fiction novels, 31 nonfiction books, and 13 of his works were adapted into TV mini series or made into movies.

At age 53, Margaret Thatcher became Britain's first female prime minister.

At 65, Winston Churchill became British prime minister for the first time and started the epic struggle against Hitler. Churchill received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953 at age 79 for his numerous published works, especially his six-volume set The Second World War. He wrote the six volume set when he was in his 70s without any assistance or ghost writers. The photo is of Sir Winston Churchill.

At 69, Ronald Regan was elected President of the United States. He served two terms. He was 77 years old when he completed his second term in office.

At 70 and again at 80, former President of the USA George H.W. Bush parachuted out of an airplane.

At 72, Golda Meir became prime minister of Israel.

At 75, Ed Delano of California bicycled 3100 miles in 33 days to attend his 50th college reunion in Worcester, Massachusetts.

At 80, Grandma Moses, who had started painting in her late 70s, had her first one-woman exhibit.

At 80, Winston Churchill returned to the House of Commons as a member of parliament and also exhibited 62 of his paintings.

At 81, Benjamin Franklin skillfully mediated between disagreeing factions at the U. S. Constitutional Convention.

At 96, George C. Selbach scored a 110-yard hole-in-one at Indian River, Michigan.

On his 100th birthday, ragtime pianist Eubie Blake exclaimed, "If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."

How about you? Have you slowed down, packed it in, given up, and checked out? If I know the Father, I know that He has something wonderful still in store for you! It's never too late. Why don't you call God up and ask Him what that might be. His number is Jeremiah 33:3 "Call upon Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know!"

Episode 28: Ken Burns

2010-09-25T11:04:00.003-05:00

I went to see filmmaker Ken Burns at the University of Texas at Arlington' Maverick Speaker Series last night. I really enjoyed it. Ken Burns talked a lot about the creative process.

He said the two secrets of his success were 1) being himself and 2) perseverance - being plain stubborn. He said there are 100s of more talented and better trained people who either give up because it is too hard or are too lazy to do the necessary work.

He said he received over a 100 rejections when pitching his first documentary idea. It received two academy award nominations when he finally got it produced.

He said making films is a lot like writing. He said the laws of storytelling are the same in a novel, movie, journalism ... you have to get the readers or viewers attention and then reward them for staying.

He said the pursuit of happiness is not being able to buy more goods, but it is being able to grow intellectually, expanding your mind, and learning more ... and to apply what you learn to your life.

He has a new PBS series next week ,,, Baseball - The Tenth Inning. I saw an extended preview of the series. Watch it!

Episode 27: My Mission, Writing Reviews

2010-09-14T21:43:00.003-05:00

I have been writing since 1981. I know, that makes me an old guy. Given the alternative of dying young I will take being a man closer to his 60th birthday than to his 50th birthday. I have published and been paid for writing . I sold my first magazine article in the fall of 1981. It appeared in the October 1982 issue of “Sunday School Leadership Magazine”. My latest published item was a poem in the September 2010 issue of Poetry and Prose Online Magazine. All my paid publications have been nonfiction, poetry, or religious – but no fiction.

I am at 53,582 words (261 pages) into writing an inspirational fiction book. I have not started submitting to editors/publishers, though I have one in mind to pitch my work to first. I will not submit until the first draft is finished and edited at least once by me.

This blog shares my joys, misery, and motivations as I strive to get my first fiction work published. If you are a new or want to be writer you probably have questions. You questions may range from how to do you do this writing thing to more specific questions. I will keep you posted from time to time on the progress of my novel where you can see how I am writing while still working the day job.

One item I write and do well at is review military history books. I have a blog, Kepler’s Military History Book Reviews, where I review one to two books per month and been reviewing at that rate for about 4 years. The publishers, authors, and publicists keep sending me their books. Keep reviewing their work. Hold on tight to your dream. And don't forget to WRITE!

Episode 26: I Currently Have Review Copies From the Publisher/Writer:

2010-08-06T18:36:00.004-05:00

1. "Search and Destroy: The Story of an Armored Cavalry Squadron in Vietnam: 1-1 Cav, 1967-1968" by Keith W. Nolan. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date of reading the book is August 8, 2010.

2. "Spies In The Garden: A Novel of War and Espionage" by Bob Bergin. The publisher is Impact Publications. My projected completion date of reading the book is August 22, 2010.

3. "The Roer River Battles: Germany's Stand at the Westwall, 1944 - 1945" by David R. Higgins. The publisher is Casemate Publishers. My projected completion date of reading the book is September 1, 2010.

4. "The American Aircraft Factory in WWII" by Bill Yenne. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date of reading the book is September 12, 2010.

5."Noble Warrior: The Story of Major General James E. Livingston, USMC (Retired), Medal of Honor. The publisher is Zenith Press. My projected completion date of reading the book is September 26, 2010.

Episode 25: “Is Johnny Crawford from ‘The Rifleman’ in Your Company?”

2010-07-31T09:42:00.004-05:00

I wrote this poem several years ago. It is a reflection of the Viet-Nam War Era. The year was 1965. My father was in the US Air Force. He had served in Viet-Nam as an adviser from August 1963 - August 1964. We were now living in El Paso, Texas. He was stationed at Biggs Air Force Base assigned to the 95th Bombardment Wing of the Strategic Air Command (a B-52 Unit). Biggs AFB was surrounded on all sides by Fort Bliss. Biggs AFB is now Biggs Army Airfield.

I was in the 7th grade in 1965. Each day from the school playground we would watch young soldiers marching out to the training areas and back in from their field training. It was common for us to run over to the fence and watch the young soldiers. If we could get one of the girls to go with us the soldiers paid much more attention. The young weren't much older than those of us in grades 7 and 8. The 7th and 8th grade girls in their cotton dresses looked beautiful to the 17, 18, and 19 years old boys who were under going basic training.

I wrote this poem reflecting on one of those events. The setting is movie and TV actor Johnny Crawford who had been on TVs "The Rifleman" and was somewhat of an early 60s teen idol had been drafted. He was attending basic training at Fort Bliss. The night before the event I wrote the poem about the local news station had did a feature story on Johnny Crawford. He was on the mind of most in my class, but especially the girls as he was a teen idol at the time. The picture is of troops marching at Fort Bliss, but it is World War I circa not Vietnam era. I choose it because Fort Bliss and El Paso is very similar to say Fort Irwin, CA (about 35 dry, dusty miles north of beautiful Barstow, CA ) or Edwards AFB if you need a point of reference. I want you to think hot, dry, dusty.

Hear is the poem:

“Is Johnny Crawford from ‘The Rifleman’ in Your Company?”

He pressed our faces up against the chain linked fence.
We were supposed to be playing soccer during physical education class.
But we ran to the chained linked fence that separated our school yard from the dirt road.
We stared at the young soldiers marching to training.
They looked so army soldier in their fatigues, helmets and carrying their rifles at right shoulder arms.
They looked like a scene out of “Combat” that we watched each week on our televisions.
While barely just four or five years older than us, they looked all grown up.
A pretty seventh grade girl got up he courage and yelled,
“Is Johnny Crawford from “The Rifleman” in your company?”
There had been a news story of Johnny Crawford’s arrival at Fort Bliss for his basic training.
A kind three stripe sergeant responded,
“No miss, he’s in a different training company.”
“You boys going to Viet-Nam after basic?” asked the P.E. coach who had walked over and joined us.
“Maybe so, but first we got to survive this!” said a smiling boyish faced trainee.
“Quiet in the ranks!” screamed the drill sergeant.
The dust was getting thicker as the soldiers continued marching by.
Most of the seventeen and eighteen year old troopers were looking at the pretty thirteen year old blonde girl.
Some were thinking of their younger sisters back home,
Some were thinking the thoughts seventeen and eighteen years old young men have when seeing a pretty, young teenage girl, and
Some were wondering if they would live long enough to fall in love, marry, and ever have a daughter of their own.

Jimmie A. Kepler
2007

Episode 24: 1982 - My First Published Article

2010-07-25T18:24:00.004-05:00

Today I was sitting back and reflecting on the writer's life. It got me to thinking. How did I get that first sale? That first book review?

The first sale involved learning the system. I attended a Smokey Mountains Christian Writer's Conference. I was a wanna be writer. I learned some of the basics of magazine article writing. Maybe the most important happening at the conference was meeting editors and publishers. I talked to several publishers who expressed interest in working with new writers.

All the editors required that I write on speculation. That means I write on the subject they assign, but they have no obligation to buy my work. It allows them to see if I can follow their rules, meet their deadlines, write saleable copy, etc. It lets them see how thick skinned you are and if you take things personal.

I had a kind editor who loved taking a few rookie writers under his wing each year and mentoring them. I had to rewrite six times before he bought the first article. My payment was 2 1/2 cents per word. I got a check for $12.50, three copies of the magazine - one for me, one for my parents, and one for my wife's parents. Plus my name was on the by-line. The article was published in a little magazine called Sunday School leadership published by Lifeway Christian Resources. It had a circulation of over 250,000 subscribers. It was read by my church members, seminary classmates, and members of the 40,000 plus Southern Baptist Churches in the USA as well as most directors of Christian education of all denominations.

I wrote an article or two for this editor every year for the next 15 or 16 years. It took me over decade before I got a cover article. Once I did get a cover article I got one every year until he retired. The first article is very basic. It is attached and titled: Who_Does_What.

I wrote the article in the Emory University Library in Atlanta, Georgia. I lived close to the campus. It was a favorite place for me to hang out and study.

In 1986 I was approached about reviewing books. At the time I would put a book review about once a month in my church's newsletter. My editor was on the mailing list and said I wrote good reviews. He recommended me to a colleague. The thought of having someone give me a book for free to read was exciting to me. I was buying and reading about 100 books a year at the time so free books was a good thing. The review for the first book I was asked to review is attached with the simple title "Book_Review".

I wrote this article while sitting in my church bus. I had taken the senior adults from my church to a senior adult event in the Smokey Mountains. We had the afternoon free and had gone to the Vanderbilt Estate in Asheville, NC. One lady refuse to tour the house. She was protesting paying homage to the rich and decadent lifestyle I think. Even though the cost of the tour was paid, she refused to go on it. It was fall and cool in the mountains. I would not let her stay on the bus by herself. So, I sat out there all afternoon and wrote. I can write anywhere I think. The dear lady is still living and around 90 years old and still as stubborn. The picture is of the Vanderbilt Estate.

What is my point? My point is if you love to read and write you can probably leverage it into a paying gig. You will never get rich. I was reminded at the DFW Writers Workshop this spring that less than one percent of all writers are able to support themselves writing full time. So don't quit your day job. If love writing why not go for it? Just write!

Episode 23: July 11 - The Day I Found True Peace

2010-07-11T14:44:00.004-05:00

On July 11, 1977 my life changed. If you look up that date in history, you will find nothing historically significant happened on that Sunday. It was historically significant to me. That day was the watershed event in my life.

July 1977 found me on active duty as a lieutenant in the United States Army. I was serving as Battalion Maintenance Office, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division located at Fort Lewis, Washington. Life was good. I had a beautiful, intelligent wife. I had a new son born in January that same year. My career was going great. I had just got a commendable rating during an annual general inspection in maintenance. I had been named an Outstanding Junior Officer of the Ninth Infantry Division because of the commendable rating. I was offered a regular army commission.

I always tried to be the best I could be, and do what is right. But, after all of this, I still had a empty, unsatisfied, void, and alone feeling. Beginning in my teen age years I had tried such as drinking, women, materialism, partying, and hanging with the right crowd to fill this unexplained need I had. I knew something was missing from my life.

I was attending church. I noticed a group of men that seemed to have what I was missing. I attended a Bible study with them. Here I found that God has given us an important manual for life, the Bible. He has the answers to the problems and emptiness we may face. I found out I was here for a purpose, and not by accident. I learned Jesus loves me, and desires to have a personal relationship with me. But, sin separated me from Him.

I realized I had a sin problem. The Bible says: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 But no one is perfect! We have all sinned and therefore cannot save ourselves by simply living a good life. Why?

I learned there was a penalty to be paid for my sin. The Bible says: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

I learned God gives us a promise. The Bible says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16.

I learned that God made provision for me. The Bible says: If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

I prayed to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus. I prayed, Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the grave so that I might have eternal life in Heaven with You. I willingly repent of my sins and ask you to come into my heart and life. Take control of my words, thoughts, and actions. I place all of my trust in You for my salvation. I accept You as my Lord and Savior, and this free gift of eternal life. Amen.

Since then all has not been perfect. I have messed up from time to time. Heck, I'm messing up big time in some areas right now. But maybe knowing God personally through Jesus Christ His son has kept me from messing up too much. When I blow it, He is there for me. Now I have had direction and purpose in my life. I know where I am headed. I have the Bible to give me the principles for daily living. I am never alone. I have had real peace for the last 33 years.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Do you know for sure heaven is your eternal destination? If you only hope so or aren't for sure, why not nail it down today and pray the prayer I have written above. I want you in heaven with me and Jesus. It's your choice. Pray to accept Christ now. Today is the day of salvation.

Episode 22: Why I Write

2010-06-22T10:55:00.002-05:00

In 1946 George Orwell wrote an essay titled "Why I Write". It detailed his his personal

journey to becoming a writer. Orwell lists "four great motives for writing" which he feels exist in every writer. He explains that all are present, but in different proportions, and also that these proportions vary from time to time. They are as follows:

Sheer egoism- Orwell argues that many people write simply to feel clever, to "be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups in childhood, etc." He says that this is a great motive, although most of humanity is not "acutely selfish", and that this motive exists mainly in younger writers. He also says that it exists more in serious writers than journalists, though serious writers are "less interested in money".
Aesthetic enthusiasm- Orwell explains that present in writing is the desire to make one's writing look and sound good, having "pleasure in the impact of one sound on another, in the firmness of good prose or the rhythm of a good story." He says that this motive is "very feeble in a lot of writers" but still present in all works of writing.
Historical impulse- He sums this up by simply stating this motive is the "desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity."
Political purpose- Orwell writes that "no book is genuinely free from political bias", and further explains that this motive is used very commonly in all forms of writing in the broadest sense, citing a "desire to push the world in a certain direction" in every person. He concludes by saying that "the opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude."

After reading the essay I came up with my own list. They are as follows:

Vanity and Hubris - I love to see my name listed as the author.
Affecting Change - I have loved when I have published a magazine article then get a telephone call, letter, or email asking for more information on the subject as they want to try what I wrote about. Sometimes this has also gotten me job offers or speaking engagements.
Desire to leave a lasting influence and be remembered - Maybe this goes with number one - Hubris. I recall the pride my oldest son had when he went to college and found several of my articles while doing research. He said it was kind of cool to be able to quote his father's published work a research paper. He said some of what you wrote for journals will be in the library forever.
Share my faith - I remember reading the late Beatle George Harrison's memoir, "I, Me, Mine". In the book he says he purposefully wrote songs to share his beliefs and faith in Hare Krishna. I do the same to share my faith and belief in Jesus Christ. I try to do it in the normal flow of life as opposed to clobbering someone with the Bible. I really try to avoid politics.

If you write, why do you write?

Episode 21: You can do it!

2010-06-21T23:42:00.003-05:00

You can do it! Just keep on keeping on writng. I post this today after leaving for work at 6:30 AM and finishing my day job's work at 10 PM. It was a long 12 hour day. After all the day I still wrote for 30 minutes. If I can you can. The question is do you want it badly enough?

Today's Word Count: 307
Total this week (2 days - Sunday and Monday): 1,393
Total Word Count: 39,294
Goal: 100,000

Episode 20: Don't Get Discouraged!

2010-06-16T22:20:00.004-05:00

It is impossible to discourage the real writers - they don't give a damn what you say, they're going to write. - Sinclair Lewis

Episode 19: Bucket List Anyone?

2010-06-06T08:43:00.002-05:00

Here is my bucket list. It reflects my interests in writing and research I guess.

1. Pritzker Military Library, Chicago, Illinois.

2. Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

3. The William Faulkner Collection of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Virginia.

4. George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives at Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine.

5. Writer's Workshop, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. The Iowa Writers' Workshop is a two-year residency program which culminates in the submission of a creative thesis (a novel, a collection of stories, or a book of poetry) and the awarding of a Master of Fine Arts degree.

6. Summer Writing Retreat, Sul Ross State University, Alpine, Texas.

7. National Steinbeck Center, Salinas, California - John Steinbeck museum.

8. Omaha Beach and Normandy, France.

9. Tattered Cover Bookstore, Denver, Colorado. After years in the Cherry Creek district, the Tattered Cover's flagship store moved to Colfax Avenue and is now comfortably ensconced in a renovated theater. The vast, magnificent space manages to be eminently functional as a bookstore while still retaining much of the character of its former incarnation. No visit to Denver would be complete without an afternoon of browsing at the Tattered Cover, and the sheer variety of books (all new, undamaged by zealous previous readers) will astound first-time visitors. Selected by most as America's best independent bookstore.

10. Powell's Bookstore, Portland, Oregon. Powell's City of Books truly is one of the best. They deal in both new and used books, so the quantities and variety are jaw-dropping. Pick up a map as soon as you walk in to help with navigation. Within the color-coded rooms you'll find some 3500 different sections, from major contemporary fiction to the most esoteric of science and art books. It's about 68,000 square feet of pure book bliss. Looking for something that's out of stock everywhere else? Out of print? No problem - if they don't already have it somewhere among the million or so books on the shelves, Powell's can get it. Additional locations specialize in technical books and home-and-garden titles.

The photo is from the Library Bar and Grill in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I love the look of the book!

Episode 18: Life keeps us busy doesn't it?

2010-05-18T19:44:00.002-05:00

Life keeps us busy doesn't it? When you add your work, family responsibilities and your passion for writing writing sometimes gets pushed to a lower priority. Finding time for writing can be nearly impossible. It seems there just isn't room for it on your schedule. When you add to the above the charge writers are given to read, read, and read it can make your head spin or give you thoughts of hopelessness.

I work a minimum 40 hour work week. Most weeks I work in the 48 to 60 hours range at my day job. I have another two hours a day for my commute, one hour each way. So, my life is a lot like yours. Back in mid April I took a vacation day and attended the DFW Writer's Conference. One of the sessions I attended was on finding time for writing. We were told if we had enough of a passion for writing we would find and make time. I was encouraged to inventory my activities in general and writing related activities in specific for the past 60 days. I thought the results of that exercise were worth sharing. I'll cover the time period March 18, 2010 to present.

1. I have worked full time. Every fourth week I am also on call which adds another 15 to 20 hours to my schedule on average.
2. I attended the DFW Writer's Conference one weekend in April.
3. I have made three trips to my 80+ years old parents' house checking on them. They live 50 miles from me with Dallas in between. Each of the trips has taken about 8 to 10 hours of my time. I am counting travel plus visiting time.
4. I have read the following books: a) War Stories of the Battle of the Bulge by Michael Green and James D. Brown, b) Hell Hawks!: The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler's Wehrmacht by Robert F. Dorr and Thomas D. Jones, c) David Laskin's The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War, d) Road of 10,000 Pains: The Destruction of the 2nd NVA Division by the U.S. Marines, 1967 by Otto J. Lehrack, and e) In Their Honor by Linda Swink. I wrote reviews for each book published on Kepler's Military Book Reviews. It totals around 1800 pages of reading.
5. I submitted a science fiction short story to Drabblecast. They respond within 30 days. It was rejected. The key is I submitted.
6. I wrote just under 10,000 words on the novel I am working on.
7. I attended two meetings of my writers group.
8. I wrote too much on my social networking blogs.
9. I am a regular church attendee with Sunday school and worship a part of my weekly routine. Church fills up half a day each Sunday.

When I reflect on what I have accomplished reading and writing wise I think not too bad. The hubris kicks in. Then I ask myself how I managed all that. The answer is I made it a priority. My wife thinks I am obsessed with reading and writing. I told her, no, I'm not obsessed, only passionate. I write many nights from 9 PM to 11:00 PM or later. I read 15 minutes in the mornings and I read before bed every night as well. I am up by 5 to 5:30 AM each morning, seven days a week. I am one of those nuts that always have a notebook and book with me. When I am waiting to get the oil changed I am either reading or writing. When I am sitting at the doctor or dentist's office waiting my turn I am doing the same. Add to this that I am an iPod and audio book addict. By this I mean I listen to my iPod when walking daily. I walk about an hour a day 7 days a week. I walk for health reasons. My walking is spread over two sessions. Interestingly, none of the books I review is an audio book. What I review are all review books I received from the publisher. They are the kind I hold in my hands and read.

What does all this mean? Not much, but it is just my way of saying I am trying to balance it all. My wife gets to watch what she wants on television as I have nearly stopped watching TV to have time to write. I just try like you do. Keep trying and maybe someday you will see your name on the spine of a book.

What works for you? Please share in the comments section.

Written by Jimmie A. kepler

Episode 17: Writer's Contest

2010-05-08T21:48:00.003-05:00

Family Circle Fiction Contest (http://tinyurl.com/yezupgd) welcomes short stories. There is no entry fee. Deadline: September 8, 2010.

Prizes: Cash ($750/$250/$250) and mediabistro.com AvantGuild memberships (grand-prize winner also gets mediabistro.com class; second-prize winner gets another mediabistro.com perk).

Episode 16: Beginning!

2010-05-07T11:53:00.004-05:00

Nancy is finally chiming in here!

As they say, this IS a new morning, a beginning. And I am grateful that it is sunny and snow dusted just outside my window. Yes, snow dusted in May. I’m in the mountains. So here I am at last, saying hello on ‘Writing After Fifty’. My kind friend Jimmie Kepler, added me to this blog quite some time ago and I was flattered. But, I was also a bit intimidated and cornered. It has taken a few months to be ‘ready’ to sit and face this page. This cursor blinks, waiting for my fingers, my words and my heart to speak up. OK… don’t freeze up now just because you have pointed out the elephant in the middle of the page! I told Jimmie I will be more personal in my posts, as that is my style. Jimmie is very intellectual and quite the scholar. He covers everything so thoroughly, because that is where his interests lie. They are wide and varied. As is his knowledge and expertise.

It is hard to believe that it has been over two years since Jimmie and I began our cyber space discussion of writing. Or more precisely, our frustrated urges to write. We went to high school together and origanally reconnected on classmates.com. Jimmie has since crossed over into calmer seas and has the wind in his sails of creativity. He is writing daily in many forms. Book reviews, blogging, and working on a novel. And for a while my muse was very near and active. I was writing poetry again – finally – after about 25 years of avoidance. But then in early 08 I realized that I was one of the ill informed and utterly naïve (stupid) homeowners who had refinanced and was put in a bad loan in '04. To summarize, I have spent the last two years gradually trying to come to terms with a grim, losing situation. A situation I am not able to repair, though I have tried mightily.

In these two years since recommitting to writing, I also fended off a serious illness, worked two and sometimes three jobs, sent my youngest off to college, and went to the mountain tops of rekindled love and back down again – way down, as in depression down. Throughout this roller coaster ride, I did periodically submit poems to journals and contests, only having two accepted by New Verse News, (which I suspect accepts pretty much everyone who writes to their theme). That was enough to encourage and thrill me though.

When I turned 50 in ‘06, after the shock eased a bit, I did begin a quest inward. I had then been single for 7 years and in a tail spin most of the time. The dust had begun to settle before I hit fifty, but it was around that time that I began feeling this painful itch inside my head and heart. I had felt it on and off for years, and was an expert at pouring psychological calamine lotion on it. Looking back I wonder at how one person can so completely have lost sight of herself. How one can manage to fool oneself into letting go of all passions and goals. Or at least the ‘obsessive passion’, as I recently heard it expressed by a musician on NPR. But I did a bang up job on myself. Everything was sacrificed in the almighty name of ‘practicality’ and ‘responsibility’. Whose life was I living? Maybe my mom’s dream life, or maybe some fictional character’s life who wanted nothing more than stability, family, love, routine, and a career as a clinical social worker; actually, very decent desires in and of themselves.

Well I definitely screwed up THAT life! It wasn’t right for me, I can see that now. It was like trying hard to wear those new heels that are a size too small. I was one big blister. I repeatedly ran from the roots that I thought I wanted to put down. Sometimes I think it was simply a natural, strong, biological urge to nest, and I did it as long as I could sit still. I would like to add that I never abandoned my children, though I suspect there were times they wished I had.

Around age 50, I was in a book store with my son, when ‘The Artist’s Way’ by Julia Cameron jumped up and pounced at me. That is exactly how it felt at the time because I wasn’t in the market for such a book. But the Universe was nudging me. If you have not read that book, I highly recommend it and many of her other books. It is a 'guide' book of sorts, to your inner creativity.

Since then, I feel there have been many books, articles, people, and events that have mysteriously come into my path, to help me on this ‘dig’ to unbury my heart and soul; my dream to write. Whether I am ever to publish or not, seems inconsequential now. The goal is just to write. What I had lost more than anything was my joy. The joy of creativity!

When Jimmie began this blog, I was in a deep funk. I had just realized that my only option was to sell my home before I actually did lose it, and before I became upside down, which I currently am not. Knowing the odds are against my refinancing or modifying (spent a year on those two options, much like banging my head on a brick wall until bloody) I was coming to terms with selling, in a flat-lining market, which means I will lose almost all of my original (large) down payment and equity. Or to put it another way – I will lose my only asset, retirement plan, my only security for the ‘senior’ years. My plans of eventually selling this modest mountain home and buying a small condo or tiny bungalo in some idyllic locale, or bohemian community of artists, seemed to be fading to black.

During this time, creative writing seemed to be banished, on the other side of a wall, separated from me by my gloom. I know this is of my own doing. I am a moody and emotional person and I have been on autopilot for a while now. What misery I wrap myself in! A few months ago, from that blackness, I made a promise to myself – I will get on a schedule and begin writing as soon as the house is on the market. Period.

Well that was on Wednesday this week! I have spent eight intense, eye opening weeks getting the house ready to be photographed and shown. Grieving began as I packed and cleaned things out. Nowadays you have to ‘stage’ a home, which is akin to sterilizing it and snazzing it up. You end up feeling like you live in someone else’s house or in a B&B. Almost all my personal, odd and sentimental objects are packed away, all the things that give me strength. I feel adrift in neatness. But I digress! Now is the time to BEGIN!

There is only one thing I know for sure now, that I have the right to write. That I want to write and I cannot forget that again. Time is too short to play ‘hard to get’ with your dreams! Hitting fifty and (yikes!) fifty four sure brings that home!

One would think I am in the absolute perfect position to write. I am an empty nester! I have an old chocolate lab, who will be leaving me soon. That will be more grieving and another hurdle. He is my only daily time consuming obligation other than work. But I will have nothing then but time….to write! Plus, I am somewhat of a rebel and free spirit, who should be able to adapt to a new, more bohemian life. The writer's life. So, I guess I have to SEE the truth in this moment and realize this is the reckoning! Here and NOW. Money, security, love, idyll location, friends…. may all be further away than I planned or longed for, but the time is NOW, or never. This moment is what I have.

I want to add one last thought. As I have gone through all of my struggles the last few years, I have kept up my ‘morning pages’, or journaling. That is what Julia Cameron calls it. This practice has been like a free therapist or a welcoming life raft in the storm. And, in the last 6 months I began learning how to meditate. I am such a slow learner and always have been! These things, along with my hiking and yoga, are my sanity, my point of reference. My strength comes from friends. Beautiful friends – who wish I would just write and shut up talking about it!
Nancy K. Vandiver

Episode 15: The Hero’s Journey

2010-04-26T23:05:00.001-05:00

Joseph Campbell's term monomyth, also referred to as the hero's journey, refers to a basic pattern found in many narratives from around the world. This widely distributed pattern was described by Campbell in The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949). This page summrarizes the brief explanations from all 17 steps of the Hero’s Journey. You find this structure in movies like Star Wars and Avatar. It is a good structure to use for writing.

A. Departure
1. The Call to Adventure
The call to adventure is the point in a person’s life when they are first given notice that everything is going to change, whether they know it or not.

2. Refusal of the Call
Often when the call is given, the future hero refuses to heed it. This may be from a sense of duty or obligation, fear, insecurity, a sense of inadequacy, or any of a range of reasons that work to hold the person in his or her current circumstances.

3. Supernatural Aid
Once the hero has committed to the quest, consciously or unconsciously, his or her guide and magical helper appears, or becomes known.

4. The Crossing of the First Threshold
This is the point where the person actually crosses into the field of adventure, leaving the known limits of his or her world and venturing into an unknown and dangerous realm where the rules and limits are not known.

5. The Belly of the Whale
The belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero’s known world and self. It is sometimes described as the person’s lowest point, but it is actually the point when the person is between or transitioning between worlds and selves. The separation has been made, or is being made, or being fully recognized between the old world and old self and the potential for a new world/self. The experiences that will shape the new world and self will begin shortly, or may be beginning with this experience which is often symbolized by something dark, unknown and frightening. By entering this stage, the person shows their willingness to undergo a metamorphosis, to die to him or herself.

B. Initiation
1. The Road of Trials
The road of trials is a series of tests, tasks, or ordeals that the person must undergo to begin the transformation. Often the person fails one or more of these tests, which often occur in threes.

2. The Meeting with the Goddess
The meeting with the goddess represents the point in the adventure when the person experiences a love that has the power and significance of the all-powerful, all encompassing, unconditional love that a fortunate infant may experience with his or her mother. It is also known as the “hieros gamos”, or sacred marriage, the union of opposites, and may take place entirely within the person. In other words, the person begins to see him or herself in a non-dualistic way. This is a very important step in the process and is often represented by the person finding the other person that he or she loves most completely. Although Campbell symbolizes this step as a meeting with a goddess, unconditional love and /or self unification does not have to be represented by a woman.

3. Woman as the Temptress
At one level, this step is about those temptations that may lead the hero to abandon or stray from his or her quest, which as with the Meeting with the Goddess does not necessarily have to be represented by a woman. For Campbell, however, this step is about the revulsion that the usually male hero may feel about his own fleshy/earthy nature, and the subsequent attachment or projection of that revulsion to women. Woman is a metaphor for the physical or material temptations of life, since the hero-knight was often tempted by lust from his spiritual journey.

4. Atonement with the Father
In this step the person must confront and be initiated by whatever holds the ultimate power in his or her life. In many myths and stories this is the father, or a father figure who has life and death power. This is the center point of the journey. All the previous steps have been moving in to this place, all that follow will move out from it. Although this step is most frequently symbolized by an encounter with a male entity, it does not have to be a male; just someone or thing with incredible power. For the transformation to take place, the person as he or she has been must be “killed” so that the new self can come into being. Sometime this killing is literal, and the earthly journey for that character is either over or moves into a different realm.

5. Apotheosis
To apotheosize is to deify. When someone dies a physical death, or dies to the self to live in spirit, he or she moves beyond the pairs of opposites to a state of divine knowledge, love, compassion and bliss. This is a god-like state; the person is in heaven and beyond all strife. A more mundane way of looking at this step is that it is a period of rest, peace and fulfillment before the hero begins the return.

6. The Ultimate Boon
The ultimate boon is the achievement of the goal of the quest. It is what the person went on the journey to get. All the previous steps serve to prepare and purify the person for this step, since in many myths the boon is something transcendent like the elixir of life itself, or a plant that supplies immortality, or the holy grail.

C. Return
1. Refusal of the Return
So why, when all has been achieved, the ambrosia has been drunk, and we have conversed with the gods, why come back to normal life with all its cares and woes?

2. The Magic Flight
Sometimes the hero must escape with the boon, if it is something that the gods have been jealously guarding. It can be just as adventurous and dangerous returning from the journey as it was to go on it.

3. Rescue from Without
Just as the hero may need guides and assistants to set out on the quest, often times he or she must have powerful guides and rescuers to bring them back to everyday life, especially if the person has been wounded or weakened by the experience. Or perhaps the person doesn’t realize that it is time to return, that they can return, or that others need their boon.

4. The Crossing of the Return Threshold
The trick in returning is to retain the wisdom gained on the quest, to integrate that wisdom into a human life, and then maybe figure out how to share the wisdom with the rest of the world. This is usually extremely difficult.

5. Master of the Two Worlds
In myth, this step is usually represented by a transcendental hero like Jesus or Buddha. For a human hero, it may mean achieving a balance between the material and spiritual. The person has become comfortable and competent in both the inner and outer worlds.

6. Freedom to Live
Mastery leads to freedom from the fear of death, which in turn is the freedom to live. This is sometimes referred to as living in the moment, neither anticipating the future nor regretting the past

Episode 14: Here is one great way to write a book review.

2010-04-19T23:39:00.001-05:00

About every ten to twenty days I write a review of a book I have just finished reading. In the last three years I have written ninety-five book reviews of military history for my website www.keplersmilitaryhistorybookreviews.com and another two dozen plus reviews of books for my blog "A Celebration of Lifelong Learning" at kepgeek.mulitply.com. Here is one great way to write a book review.

1. Read the book. I know, it seems obvious, but read the book! You might find out the author did a very good job. She or she probably invested two to four years of their life in the book project, so read the book. Don't even think about writing a review of something you only skimmed or only partially read. Reading the book is critical to a good review.

2. Know what you are reading. If you don't understand the book that you are going to write about, you cannot write a good review. If you are reading a nonfiction book on a subject you know little about, make some effort to learn something about the subject. I write military history book reviews. I have a formal background in history with a bachelor's degree in the subject. I am widely read in history with a general background in all areas of US and English History and am a serious student of US Military History.

3. Make notes about what you read. You may want to make note of key phrase or sentences as you encounter them. You can quote them in the review. As you read ask yourself:

    a. Who is telling the story? Is it in first person or third person?

    b. What genre does it belong to? Narrative history, historical fiction, memoir?

    c. What about the style of writing? Is the author a good story teller? Is it serious scholarship with footnote after footnote? Is the style conversational or is it full of big words that require a dictionary at your side? Does it paint a word picture in your mind?

    d. When was it written? Was there a ghost writer or co-author?

    e. Does the book touch your heart and mind? Does it move you to an emotional or volitional climax concerning the subject being read?

4. Keep track of the storyline or chronology of the book. It will help you when reading long, complicated works.

5. It never hurts to find out more about the author and the works he or she had done. When you finished gathering the information and you have sufficient notes, then you are ready to write the actual article.

6. Start with an introduction. The way you start will depend on your target audience. Consider beginning with a paragraph that describes your first impression of the work, or an interesting story that you had experienced through the book, or a more technical introduction where you briefly state the author, title, publisher, and any other information about the book you see pertinent. I like to ask a thought provoking question. An example is "Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a marine in Vietnam? It gets the reader thinking.

7. In section one you can give a brief history of the author with some relevant information such as previous works, awards, etc.

8. In section two cover the structure f the book without giving away the plot or ending.

9. In section three you are explaining your opinion of the book (loved it, hated it and why) and give a summary of the whole review. Finish by recommending the book. State who would benefit and enjoy book, using general terms (students, veterans, etc.). I like to tell the reader where and how they can get the book

10. Include your full name at the end with the date of the review. On my book review site I allow feedback.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler on April 19, 2010

Episode 13: Reflections on Day One of DFW Writer's Conference

2010-04-10T22:56:00.004-05:00

I just arrived home from the DFW Writer's Conference. It was as if I had been transported to a different planet and landed in a race of people that were all just like me! They love to read and they love to write. Their hopes, dreams, and desires were so similar to mine. There was so much positive energy and can do attitude there toward writing I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

We started the day with coffee and a meet and greet time. It was followed by a general session where writers received awards for the the contest categories. Next we had an hour long question and answer session with twelve New York literary agents.

Next we had the morning sessions. I attended a session called "The Hero's Journey". Misa Ramirez was the teacher. He notes on The Hero's Journey are HERE. The second session I attend was titled "What Comes First in Romantic Suspense, Romance or Suspense?" The leader was Jenni Holbrook. She also has tips for Writing a Great Sex Scene.

Lunch was next on the agenda. New York Times and USA bestselling author Jodi Thomas was the lunch keynote speaker. She could make a living as both a motivational speaker or a comedian. She was more than wonderful.

After lunch it was time t begin the afternoon sessions. I attend a session on "Interviews: We Have Ways To make You Talk" with veteran Dallas newspaperman Paul LaRocque. Victoria Chancellor.lead the session I attend. It was "Setting as Character". Lucienne Diver lead the third afternoon session I attended, "Idea Generation: From Concept to Query".

We had a short break and the had a three hour agent reception where you could rub shoulders with the dozen agents and 300 people who attended today's session.

We start over at 9 AM in the morning and run until 5 PM. This is so much fun! Again, I feel like I am at a homecoming where everybody loves the same things I do. Fun! Fun! Fun!

Episode 12: DFW Writers' Conference

2010-04-10T06:27:00.001-05:00

DFW Writers' Conference is today and tomorrow! Off I go to attend ...

Episode 11: Did I Mention This?

2010-04-04T20:37:00.001-05:00

Have I mentioned I am writing a novel? Oh, I know, everyone is either writing a novel or plans to write a novel. So, with that in mind I'll start over. Did I mention I am writing a novel? Yes I am. I am nearly one year and 75,000 words into the process. While I have never published a novel before, I have paid writing credits over the last 27 years in over a dozen trade journals and magazines.

Have you ever noticed the response of family and friends when they learn you are writing a novel? You know the responses I'm talking about. You've seen them. There is the rolling of the eyes up toward the sky. There is the bobbing the head up and down while shaking it in disbelief. Sometimes they will express condolences to a spouse that you are using your time in this manner. other times they will say "That's nice. Everyone needs a hobby." When I get responses like this I want to put my hands on their shoulders and say, "Hello, did you hear me? I said I AM writing a novel. That's because I am a writer." At this point they usually repeat "That's nice or I thought you worked with computers." I reply "Working with computers funds my passion for writing."

Sadly, they still don't get it. Oh, I can send them running out of the room in a hurry if I say, "Would you like to hear a chapter?" Those words are like saying "FIRE, RUN, FLEE FOR YOUR LIFE!"

I mention all this to say, don't let anyone steal your dream. If you are like me you have to write. You can't help it. It's part of who you are. So write! And, tell your friends and family that you are working on a novel. Let them the progress you are making. And you can drop me a note from time to time. I'll understand.

Episode 10: Give Me a Vision for Writing

2010-03-24T23:23:00.002-05:00

Disclaimer: This article talks about religion in general and the Christian faith in particular. Read at your own risk … Psalm 118:17 says "I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord."

God does not call every Christian who writes to a full-time writing ministry or to write in the inspirational genre. Let's be honest, not everyone who writes writes about God, Jesus, or Christian themes. People write about a variety of subjects. Writers write about what they know or what interests them. I know that is the way I do it. Not all Christians actively practice their faith and beliefs. Many struggle with their faith.

Psalm 118:17 is in an account where the psalmist reminds us we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in God alone to accept and bless us. It says we should seek to live to declare the works of God. It's okay for a Christian writer to encourage others to trust in Him, serve Him and live for Him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.

We should commit our works to the Lord. Try praying for God to give you a vision for your writing, to give you the desire to write, and to open doors of opportunity for you to write. And, if you are a Believer in Christ you can then “declare the works of the Lord." Include your faith in your writing just like you do in your everyday life.

I am reminded of the late George Harrison’s autobiography “I Me Mine”. In the book he mentioned he did not hold back in promoting his Hinduism faith and the Hare Krishna movement with songs like “My Sweet Lord”. He viewed his celebrity as a way to promote his beliefs.

Why shouldn’t a Christian include faith in his or her writings? Again, Psalm 118:7 says “…declare the works of the Lord." Habakkuk 2:2 declares “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.” The key is the writer needs to write. Your faith is part of who you are.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler.

Writer Quotes 1

2010-03-21T22:33:00.001-05:00

"We are cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out." - Ray Bradbury

Episode 9: Six Tips to Help Get Your Article Published

2010-03-17T23:24:00.002-05:00

You want to get published. I want to get published. We all want to get published. And it is never too late to start writing and get published. Here are six tips I have learned from free lance writing over the last twenty-five years. The tips should help you get that first sale.

Instead of deciding what you are going to write about first, try finding the publication you want to be published in first. This way you write to the specifications and needs of the prospective publisher.

Tip One - Find a market for the article. You must be familiar with the magazine you hope will buy your article. The first magazine I sold an article to I had been reading for over three years before my first sale. It helps you know what the magazine’s style and focus and what they have published. References like “The Writer’s Market” or “Poet’s Market” are great resources.

Tip Two – Decide what you will write about. Start by locating a niche that very little has been written about or finding a distinctive angle to the subject. Editors give more consideration to a new topic or angle. If you want to write an article that has been covered in the magazine, make sure it has not been covered in the last three years.

Tip Three - Write about what you know. My first article was “Who Does What?” I wrote about role responsibilities of directors of Christian education and their volunteer Sunday school director. I was able to write most of the article by drawing on my experience as a director of Christian education. Another benefit to writing about what you know is that you already have credentials. When the editor saw I was a director of Christian education the fact that I didn’t have any clippings was not a problem. Your subject doesn’t need to be about your job. It could be about a hobby, personal experience, or interest.

Tip Four – Present your article in a professional manner. Get a copy of the target publications writers’ guidelines. The guidelines will tell you what kind of articles they buy, how long they should be, how much they pay, what format they prefer, and any other particulars that might be important. You get the writer’s guidelines by simply writing the magazine and asking for them. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for their reply. Do not e-mail the editor unless the guidelines say it is acceptable. Most magazine editors prefer that you “query first”. This means that you send the editor a query letter. A query letter is a letter stating your idea for a story and a paragraph about yourself (qualifications, clippings, etc.).

Tip Five – Never Give Up! If you get a rejection, send a query letter on your idea to another publication that week. Never give up.

Tip Six – Reread and follow the previous five steps. If you can write and market yourself you will sell your article.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Episode 8: Interview with author Susan Elaine Jenkins (Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love)

2010-03-10T20:06:00.010-06:00

I recently conducted an interview with author Susan Elaine Jenkins.

Susan grew up in California as a PK, (“Preacher’s Kid.”) The eldest of three children in a parsonage gave her an early passion for knowing the Lord and studying the Scriptures. She was also afforded a unique view into what goes into church life behind the scenes.

She began to travel the globe in 1980, as a part of a Study Quest, where she – along with forty-nine other young graduate students – spent three months traveling to twenty-eight countries, studying leadership styles of individuals making a spiritual impact in the world. In fact, it was on this trip that her love affair with China began.

Susan moved to Asia in 1997, where she taught performing arts, first at the International School of Tianjin and then in the southern region of the country at The American International School of Guangzhou. She is currently beginning her twelfth year of teaching in China, at a school not far from Shanghai.

Prior to moving to Asia, she taught for nineteen years, mostly at The Dorris-Eaton School in Walnut Creek and the San Ramon Valley Christian Academy in Danville, near San Francisco. She also served a public school district as a Resource Specialist and coordinator of a Gifted and Talented Program for public school district in northern California.

Susan recently spent one year back in America, living, teaching and writing in the ski resort community of Park City, nestled in the Wasatch Mountains. She taught music in a mountain school where classes ended every Friday just after lunch so that students could hit the slopes.
(From her biography)

You can purchase Scandalon buy clicking HERE. A review of the book is HERE.

Question One: Tell us about yourself, your family growing up, and your interests in life.
Answer One: I grew up in a family of preachers and teachers. I used to play school as a child and always knew I'd become a teacher when I grew up, just like my imaginative, story-telling Mother. I was encouraged and surrounded with books, and I grew up loving to read and write stories. My favorite toy was an old, heavy, black typewriter and I lugged it around with me everywhere I went, typing stories like mad to share with schoolmates and patient grandparents.

My family was also a very musical group - creating music was something my parents did all the time and my brothers and I sang together from the time we were small children - in three-part harmony.

My father was a preacher and my two brothers and I loved going to church three times a week (or more). Church was fun! We enjoyed the atmosphere of loving support and spiritual joy, never dreaming that all would be changed dramatically someday.

I naturally followed in my Mother's footsteps and became a teacher after graduating from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1977. My career has taken me into the hearts and lives of many unforgettable students. Much of my time is occupied with continuing education and professional development opportunities, which opens up new areas of thinking and learning as I go.

After teaching in California private schools for 19 years, I moved to China, where I have focused on teaching performing arts in 3 different international schools. I am a seasoned foreign expatriate these days and yet, the daily adventures of living in Asia continue to surprise me.

Question Two: What motivated you to write your book?
Answer Two: A friend from the UK convinced me to begin a blog. The idea of sharing my stories was inconceivable, at first, but as time went by, I got to know my readers. Little by little, I opened up the pages of my journals with them, interspersed with a few of the details of daily life in Asia. To my surprise, my online friends began commenting and sending me private letters filled with their own pain. I wanted to let them know that there really is healing and light ahead, that God’s promise really is authentic: He is a God who heals.

Question Three: Do you journal? When I read your book some sections seemed like I was getting an intimate look into your private thoughts. Did you use your journals as a primary source?
Answer Three: Yes, I have always journaled, for as long as I can remember. And, yes, much of my book was taken directly from those journals - especially the conversations between Dr. Travis and me. Those three difficult months were mind-numbing days. Writing everything that happened at the end of every confusing day helped me make more sense of it all.

Later, once I was in China, the conversations with Ouyang were important to me, as well, and I also kept detailed accounts. I knew I needed to have those talks recorded somewhere where I could retrieve them - they were too special to forget. The experiences I was having with my Chinese friends were very precious; China was rapidly developing and nothing would be the same again. I recently visited Tianjin and was stunned to see the progress made - the sleek commercial buildings and tall apartments that have replaced the ancient hutongs near the streets where I once lived and worked.

Question Four: In your book did you change any of the person’s names to protect their privacy?
Answer Four:. I did change most of the names, yes. The only names I did not change were Ouyang's and Mrs. Hua's. I gave Ouyang a list of three possible names I wanted him to choose from, and he said he preferred I use his real name. My brothers each selected their names for the book, as well. It was important to me to allow for as much anonymity as possible, as the issues in this book are very intimate and potentially embarrassing.

Question Five: Your mother has passed away since you wrote the book. Was she supportive and/or understanding of you writing such a personal memoir?
Answer Five: My Mother was extremely supportive of this book, absolutely. She always encouraged my dream to become a writer, ever since I was a child at play. Later, when I mused about writing a book someday about the changes our family life encountered, I'd express hesitancy at discussing my Father's issues in such a public way and she used to dismiss that, saying, "I don't think you should worry too much about that, Susan." When I was finally busy compiling all my journal notes into the actual book, I did much of the work while visiting her that last summer. She lay very ill in bed and encouraged me throughout the process. I left a copy of the manuscript with her when I returned to China and she told me a week before she died that she had read it. She gave her blessing to me, expressing that she hoped its message would find its way to the hearts of those who needed encouragement.

Question Six: The obvious follow up question is how did your two brothers and father respond/react to the book?
Answer Six: Do you know if your ex-husband has read the book or had any comments concerning the book? I sent both of my brothers copies of the manuscript and asked them to make any editorial changes before it went to print. I really desired their input and suggestions, because I knew that my point of view might differ from their recollections. 'Steve' who teaches in China, chose not to read it at all and says he probably won't ever read it. He has been very positive, however, and has told me many times, "Whenever someone writes a book about their family, someone is bound to have hurt feelings." Steve is not just a brother; he's probably my best "male" friend and confidante. He has been so supportive.

My youngest brother, 'Paul', also elected not to read the manuscript, giving me a verbal "go-ahead". At the time, I questioned, "Are you absolutely certain you don't want to check it first?" He said, "Don't worry about my opinion. Just focus on the message of the book." I thought that was quite generous of him at the time. Later, when he actually picked up a copy, he was very upset with me for putting so much of our family's private story into the book. He didn't read any of the sections about China at all - he only read the portions that referred to our family life. I have phoned and written to him many times this year in an effort to understand his thinking and to discuss his feelings, but he has been unwilling to communicate. He is really quite upset. I am praying about this and hoping our relationship can heal from this pain the book has caused him.

I emailed my former husband to tell him the book was coming out and sent an additional message to him via Facebook (that incredible social phenomenon). He has not replied to my letters. I do not know if he has read it or not, but I would doubt that he would. He remarried four years after our divorce and is, by all accounts, happy. I hope he is and I wish him well.

My Dad has been truly incredible. Very supportive and understanding. He and I have a very special closeness that I treasure and this book has only brought us closer together. I am grateful.

I was disappointed that the final version of the book had the last chapter completely omitted. In that chapter, I explained the way my Dad had been taking such amazing care of Mom during her last days. I also talked about the wonderful changes in my Dad. I am still sorry those pages were left out of the final copy. I have had to learn that publishers make decisions based on many factors, and some of those might not be to my liking...but I am still thrilled with Cladach Publishing and the spiritual approach they took towards this book.

Question Seven: While your book tells of your personal journey it is a book about China. Why a book about China?
Answer Seven: I used the double journal literary device to portray my story as it occurred both in America and in China, where I've lived for the past twelve years. It is really a combination of two lives: my life in California and my life in Asia; two very different worlds.

I think it seemed very natural at some point, to write of a remarkably poignant journey that met in a healing point while living in a crumbled country, broken by its own history. My life at that point seemed very much the same - broken, falling apart, and dark.

Question Eight: You moved to China. How has living away from the United States assisted in dealing with the memories of the difficult situations you have experienced?
Answer Eight: Living in Asia has been wonderfully healing for me. I am certain God would have gradually healed me wherever I was living on this earth, but life in China gave me a unique perspective. There was space, for one thing, which helped me to gain both emotional and physical distance, affording me a better look at what had happened to me in California and what God wanted to do within me. The new friends I made in China taught me all kinds of lessons that illuminated God's truth from Scripture and caused me to see the person of Jesus Christ more clearly.

I was surprised to finally feel "at home" in China. That, for me, involved a great spiritual healing and coming back to a point of rest within God's heart; being glad to be in His loving presence; knowing that all my sins are utterly forgiven and cast away; and, sensing His divine heart of grace. Home has literally - for me - become His own Heart.

I am so thankful that God used some humble people in this vast country to teach me so much about His love and grace.

Question Nine: Music is very important in your life. Please share what music and the piano mean to you.
Answer Nine: Yes, music is important to me! Especially the piano, which is my instrument of choice. I have found that God speaks through music, and especially so - at least for me - here in China. When I sit down by myself and play through the old gospel tunes and hymns I learned as a child, it's as if the words that He wrote into my heart come back to mind on fresh winds of renewal. I often teach these same songs to worshipers at house or countryside gatherings of praise. It sometimes feels as if God has taken all the early interests of my childhood - teaching, music and writing - and is weaving an unexpected tapestry of ministry and beauty that I can share with many.

Question Ten: Your experiences are such that you may have questioned your faith in God and decided that men cannot be trusted. Have you given up on God or every having a meaning relationship with men?
Answer Ten: Another good question. (you ask hard questions, by the way!) As Scandalon points out, I have struggled with my faith in God, yes. But, never to the point where I stopped believing. I believed He was God, I just didn't believe I was "welcomed" into His presence anymore. But as the book also reveals, I learned the glory of His grace in specific ways and began to enjoy a close walk with God once again.

I have known a string of men who were not trustworthy, yes. That is sadly true. My father, my former husband, and "Dr. Travis". And there have been others along the way who have shocked me in one way or another, as well.

I am circumspect when it comes to relationships, yes, but I have not given up, by any means. I still hold dreams of a wonderfully strong and happy intimate marriage. I pray for the right man to come into my life, although it is difficult meeting people while living here in a semi-remote region of China. I pray about this and trust God. I really do.

I have hope in the future because I hope in the Lord. Without Him, I have nothing and with Him, I have everything. That brings me huge joy and great hope.

Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Episode 7: One Great Way to Promote Your Book: A Blog Tour

2010-03-08T23:01:00.004-06:00

Once upon a time

Once upon a time in a century long past when an author wrote a book his or her publisher might send the writer on a book tour. The author would visit media outlets in various cities promoting their book and conduct book signings.

Oh, this still sometimes happens if the author is enough of a celebrity to merit so large a capital investment on the part of the publisher. Other authors with outgoing personalities traveled the country promoting their work, sometimes at their own expense. While this method worked it was difficult for new authors. Newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations were not anxious to use their copy space or air time on an unknown writer.

As the age of the Internet developed many new authors would promote their book through on-line forums, message boards, groups and chat rooms. These formats encouraged potential reader and book buyers to consider the book. Many times the author marketed their book through these sites by simply making a short sales pitch as they signed their name to their comments. While this method is useful and generated grassroots support for a book it was extremely time consuming and could be disheartening for author and publish because it requires a large amount of work for minimal return.

Today’s realities

Today with the economic recession and minimal dollars available for publishers or even self-published work and for those with family situations which include children or the need to keep their day job other options for promoting their work need to be considered. A new opportunity emerged with the dedicated book or author website and blogs.

The most exciting of these new opportunities is the blog. The name blog comes from the word weblog. This is an online journal. The purpose of a blog is three-fold. It educates and entertains the public while allowing the readers the opportunity to provide immediate feedback. Today professionals also run blogs seeking a targeted audience. The professional’s goals include building standing and name recognition while making money. Blogs have the added benefit of being inexpensive, easy to setup and maintain, and simple to find through search engines like Google, Bing, or Yahoo!

An author promotes their book to get people talking about their book and its message, to make some money, and to sell enough copies of the book for the publisher to keep it in print. A blog tour can be used as a great way to promote your book.

What is a blog tour?

While you ultimately want to increase your book sales, the purpose of a blog tour is to generate interest about your book. A blog tour allows cross-promotion of your book with the blogger’s site. It’s a great way for them to get free content for their blog while promoting your book. It allows the author the opportunity to target the correct audience.

How do you set one up?

You begin by contacting suitable blogs. You ask if they would be interested in being part of the tour. If so, a book can be sent to them to give away in a lottery type drawing, and review. They can invite you to write a guest post or even interview you. A schedule is created and the book is featured from two times a week to every day of the month. Determine your target blogs. Make up a list of potential blogs. This will take a little research. You can search for book blogs with emphasis given to those that focus on the genre you write. I write for three blogs that include regular book reviews. They are Kepler’s Military History Book Reviews (http://kepgeek.blogspot.com/), Writing After Fifty (http://writingafterfifty.blogspot.com/), and A Celebration of Lifelong Learning (http://kepgeek.multiply.com/). I have contact information on my blogs for requesting book reviews. Almost all blogs have a listed a way for contacting the blog. My blogs are shared as examples.

Next you approach the bloggers via email. If they have interest preparations are made for a date and an agreement of exactly will be done. Books need to be sent to them well in advance. Your publisher may take care of this. Almost all authors or publisher I deal with do this.

I encourage reviews. When I review a book I always include reviewing it on my site, on Amazon.com, bn.com, Twitter, goodreads.com as well as all my personal sites like Multiply and Facebook. On my personal site I always include a link where the reader has the opportunity to purchase the book. I like to include the publisher website whenever possible where the publisher can make maximum profit on the sale.

Interviews require less writing than guest posts. The author and blogger can agree on a set number of questions. When I ask an author for an interview I send them no more than ten questions. I draw the questions from the book and the author’s life and interests as I know the author.

Put it on the calendar

Schedule your book blog tour calendar. You not only promote it on your site, but promote it on the sites of the participating bloggers. Almost all blogs have calendars of upcoming events. Make sure you book blog is included on their calendar. Bloggers work hard for free. They promote what interests them. They are a key element of the new media.

Don’t stop with one book blog tour. After your first blog tour is completed make sure you host a second one a few weeks to a few months later with a new group of blogs. The second time around you can try something different. Instead of doing a second interview maybe you would want to share excerpts from reviews of your book, maybe post 2 to 3 question interviews conducted by you of the persons who a few of the persons who positively reviewed your book. It could be a fun way to get the reader to see how other readers enjoyed and benefited from your efforts. Your personal creativity can come up with other ideas.

Have fun!

Once upon a time in a century long past when an author wrote a book his or her publisher might send the writer on a book tour. The past is behind us. Welcome to the future called today. I think Book Blog Tours can be a fun to promote your work. In the twenty-first century you as the author are going to have to take a more active role in marketing your book. Why not try a Book Blog Tour? It allows you to talk about yourself, your book and who knows you just might meet some interesting bloggers, develop an audience and following, and sell a few books along the way.That will make you and your publisher happy.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler March 8, 2010.

Episode 6: Book Review of Scandalon

2010-03-06T00:00:00.007-06:00

From time to time I will share reviews of books by authors who are over fifty years old. "Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love" is written by Susan Elaine Jenkins. I have read and recommend the book. I will have an interview with her in the days ahead and it will be posted.

Have you thought what it would like to get to know, work with the people in China, and live with them? Have you wondered what it would be like to grow up in a minister’s family? Susan Elaine Jenkins paints an insightful and sobering picture that answers these questions in her masterful memoir, “Scandalon: Running From Shame and Finding God's Scandalous Love.“

As I read the book her narrative format had me feeling like I was sitting in a recliner with a cup of coffee and she was sitting across the room telling me her story of how not just one, but a series of scandals hit her life. Some of events were self-inflicted. Other events were of someone else’s making. I found a bit of myself and my struggles as I read her story. Her writing and story were so interesting I didn’t want to put the book down! Yet, I feared I would read it too fast. I love the way her personality permeates the book.

In 1980, after three years of teaching in the USA in a private school (and saving her money) Susan made a trip to China. It was part of a gift she gave herself - a trip around the world. It was a prelude. In 1997 Susan accepted a two year teaching position in Tianjin, China. She would remain in China.

Susan employs a wonderful method of telling of her adventures in China with reflections on what took place in her earlier life in the USA. The transition between the USA story and the China story is via a short statement of spiritual truth or insight. It is these earlier events in the USA that lead to her seeking refuge half way around the world. We see God’s handiwork in her life. We see her improving her language skills, her understanding of the Chinese culture, and how her American culture sometimes exasperated her Chinese friends, especially Ouyang. We reflect back on her life adventure that includes how she was used and mistreated by those in positions of authority over her and learned he had previously mistreated others. We also see how she survived!

Susan stories range from hilarious to tear inducing. I have two favorites. First, the story about her being invited back stage in Hawaii to meet Don Ho. Her parents encourage her to go. Don Ho wanted to do more than meet her. I could feel the confusion she felt from her parents encouraging her into such a situation. I wanted to take her dad aside and say you are supposed to protect your daughter! Second is the story at the Friendship Store of the two broken vases and how Susan came to the rescue of the Chinese couple. She demanded they not have to pay for the broken vase since she didn’t have to pay for one she broke a week earlier. We learn how the Chinese have two sets of rules – one for foreigners and one for other Chinese. I could feel the compassion and empathy Susan has for others.

The book is a good read and would be a valuable addition to all community and church libraries. It would also be a good study book for women’s group and even for counseling. It gives a realistic insight into the struggles we all face. The book gives answers about Chinese culture, running and finding God and finding one’s self.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Episode 5: Who Are You?

2010-03-03T22:24:00.009-06:00

As I start writing the blog I am going to write informally, conversationally, and as if I am thinking out loud. I know what you are thinking about now. You are wondering who is this guy and what makes him think he should have a blog to try to encourage me?

Well, I could say this is the United States of America and I have the freedom to do this. Which is a true statement, but just typing it makes me think what an arrogant SOB. Really I am not an arrogant SOB. I am like you. I am a writer who wishes he had written more and dreams of the day when he can quit his day job and write full time. That day will happen. Unfortunately, it may only happen when I retire from my day job.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I am a published writer. I have cashed the checks. I am a published writer who wants to be published even more. My first article was sold in September 1981. It came out in Sunday School Leadership magazine in October 1982. It was a publication of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. I think the circulation of the magazine at the time was around 250,000 a month. It is considered a trade journal by genre. I am published in Sunday School Leadership, Church Administration, Baptist Program, The Deacon, Sunday School Leader, Preschool Leadership, Discipleship Training, Motivators for Sunday School Workers, and This Week in Baseball History. I have written curriculum for East Texas Support Services on a contract basis.

I have also published some poetry. I say all this not to toot my own horn or to stroke my own ego, for I really have done so little, but to say if I can work full time and still manage to write and sell a few things, why not you too? Oh, I also write book reviews which you will find at Kepler’s Military History Book Reviews. Online Schools named it one of the one hundred best websites for history buffs. I am currently writing an inspirational fiction book “Honor and Jealousy”. In this blog I hope to write about what I do writing and the joy of the journey of balancing my day job with my passion.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Episode 4: Sue Grafton

2010-02-18T04:00:00.007-06:00

Recently I read an article in AARP called "P is for Perseverance". It had an interview with novelist Sue Grafton.

I was encouraged when I read she had written three novels before she had one published. She had not just did outlines or treatments. She had written the beginning, middle, and end. She had written the entire book.

Her fourth novel, Keziah Dane, was published. Her fifth novel The Lolly-Madonna War was published.

Novels number six and seven were never published. When she wrote A Is for Alibi it was her eighth book. It was the first mystery she had tried. She says that is what she must have been born to do. Interestingly, she was 42 when she started. She is now 69. Her latest—U Is for Undertow—is her 21st "alphabet novel."

She says her secret is hard work. She doesn't haul out plots she has used before. She takes the time needed to do the job well.

She is a good reminder that it is never too late to get started and that it takes hard work to get published.

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Episode 3: Balance

2010-02-06T12:27:00.005-06:00

Balancing your day job with your passion for writing and reading is hard. The day job is important. You need a regular paycheck and insurance. So unless you are a Dean Koontz with a spouse who is willing to give you five years to make it with her working full time to support you, you will need a day job.

Having a life is important. You need to allocate enough time to keep yourself spiritually and physically fit. You need a sound body and a sound mind as you write. You need time for a spouse, significant other, or whoever you are with in a relationship. Your spouse isn’t going to cook, clean and provide sex on demand for you while you hibernate in your room or study reading and writing. You have to invest in time in your relationship.

Let’s face it, there are going to be some days when you are too tired or exhausted to write. There are going to be other days where all you feel like is reading. The reading recharges your energy and is fodder for future writing.

You need to write regularly. Notice I used the word regularly, not daily. Why not daily? Because you will have some days you cannot write. If you are trying daily and miss a day you will feel guilty and may give up. If you just write one page a day for 25 out of 30 days in a month that is a 300 page book in just one year!

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Episode 2: Your Online Presence

2010-01-30T23:38:00.010-06:00

Recently I reread an article by Tom Peter that appeared in Fast Company magazine in 2007. The article’s title is “The Brand Called You”. You remember Tom Peters don’t you? He wrote the big business books of the 1980s and early 1990s. Books like In Search of Excellence (co-written with Robert H. Waterman, Jr.), A Passion for Excellence, Thriving on Chaos, and Liberation Management.

His article had me reflecting back more than a decade to online marketing guru Seth Godin and his associates at Fast Company magazine. They are the first persons who floated the notion of "the brand of you." The real premise of "the brand of you" was a theory that to get ahead in the Internet era we should look at ourselves as "a brand." And as “a brand” we need to market ourselves in a manner that shows the image we want others to see. In today’s connected age with Internet social networking like Facebook, Blogspot, Multiply, Twitter, LinkedIn, My Space and others you should pay attention to what Godin was sharing.

Hopefully you realize your online identity is the first thing prospective employers see. Failure on your part to construct your brand, massage the image you are crafting, and maintain you brand focus can do harm to our "brands" and lose us potential jobs or contracts.

For “the brand of you” you should behave consistently. What I mean here is everything from your voice mail message to your blog to your tweets must have a consistent tone. You can't be wild and crazy in one place and dead serious in another. If you are doing a blog on political commentary from a liberal point of view you should stay on task. If you are doing a weblog on writing and publishing it should be limited to those themes. If you are doing a blog on military history books reviews you should not have commentary on your life or a review of your favorite restaurant show up in the blog. You get the idea.

Another problem is not keeping your blog or website current. It you commit to a blog, you need to have regular input and updates. The opposite is also true. Do not over do it. While regular entries are critical, too frequent entries cries out that you are spending too much time blogging.

Remember before you promote yourself as a brand online you need to answer three questions. In the immortal words of the rock band The Who has yourself, “who are you?” Next think about and answer the question “what is it you want?” The third question to answer is “what it is you have to sell?” Is it goods (a product) or services? Go through that exercise first.

Almost all major companies include an online search for your name as part of their hiring and screening process. Many companies also do online searches for your name when you are being considered for a promotion. Be careful who you allow to be your online friend. Some businesses have employees send friend requests where they can get access to you personal things like blogs and pictures. You think you are safe because you have limited access to contacts, but then you let a potential employer have access without even realizing what you have allowed. The Seattle Post Intelligencer ran an article warning about companies peeking into Facebook to screen potential employees way back in 2006. You can read it by clicking h HERE.

Finally I suggest you do a simple Google search of yourself and see what you find. Why not spend a few hours to clean up and enhance your online presence?

Written by Jimmie Aaron Kepler