It was seven years ago that I sat down to write a werewolf story for my friend, Cathie Duvall, who is without a doubt one of Halloween's biggest fans. I remember thinking it would be fun to surprise her with a short story suitable for the spooky holiday. I never thought she would ask me what happens next in the story. I had no plans for "what next," so I never expected that our friendly conversation would result in a Halloween tradition that is now in its seventh year!
Since that October of 2012, I have added yearly installments to what has become an ongoing tale about the Queen of Werefolk and her entanglement with evil witches, a lonely warlock, desperate vampires, merciless gargoyles, and oh yes, hideous trolls. Writing annual chapters to The Tarishe Curse has become my Hallows Eve tradition, one I'll admit is a real challenge for me. Typically, I plan out my stories from beginning to end before jotting the first sentence on paper. But this tale I created year by year without any idea where it leads. I still don't know for certain how to wrap up the crazy tale. With a wild twist, I hope!
If you have yet to discover the curse suffered by Queen Duvalla and her werewolf pack, start reading the The Tarishe Curse today.
Happy Hallows Eve reading, everyone!
Hey! I have an incredible treat for you!
So, my dad has been retired for a while, and with all his free time he decided to jot down personal memories about his experiences serving a tour in the Vietnam War. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, along with about 650,000 other men at the time. It certainly was not what he or his parents or his fiancee anticipated.
My dad finished his story and then, to our surprise, he handed out copies to my mom, my siblings, and me. I read his story from beginning to end, engrossed the entire time. Oh man! It was like watching a war movie on the big screen, only this was real! This was my father's actual, true life experiences! I learned a lot, and felt a lot, reading this personal diary.
Reporting back to my father, I told him that he seriously needed to take these pages and make them into a book. After a little coaxing, he agreed to let me edit the writing, add a few photos from his tour in Vietnam, and have the entirety printed off in paperback form. BUT, it was only to be handed out to close family and friends.
"Oh come on, Dad. This story would benefit so many people. You really should publish it."
"I don't know."
"Seriously, Dad, it's an eye-opening account. Tons of people would love to read it."
"Well...I'll think about it."
So he thought about it. And guess what! After handling the final product and browsing through it again, my dad actually agreed to publish his book! This is exciting news! Believe me, you're going to want to read it. Here's the synopsis from the back cover:
"Greetings from the President."
I had just been drafted into the U.S. Army. It was the last thing I expected, and it was certainly not what my parents or fiancee wanted to hear. Enclosed in these pages are my personal experiences from a tour served in Vietnam during the war. This book is written in my own words, a diary for my family and posterity. I hope this recounting will help them comprehend the great sacrifices made by brave soldiers in wartime, sacrifices that protect freedoms we tend to take for granted. This is my true story."
You can get a copy of my dad's book on Amazon.com or Lulu.com in either paperback or e-book form. Don't miss out on this! If you are curious at all about what it was like fighting in the Vietnam war, or if you wonder about the incredible sacrifices made by brave soldiers in defense of our freedoms, or if you like memoirs and reality stories--get this book. Yes, that's my dad on the cover. Sergeant Starr.
Buy now at
Today was a milestone day for me. I discovered that my most-popular quote on Goodreads.com hit 300 likes! It's my first quote to cross the 300 mark! Take a look below.
Yes, yes, I'm tickled pink about it. I love little triumphs; they keep me going. You should know that this accomplishment didn't happen overnight. It was back in October of 2012 that the above quote was posted on Goodreads. That was nearly six years ago! The point is, it often takes time for the "likes" to add up and for accumulated efforts to pay off. Moral of the story: Never give up!
