Absent-minded Acting Professor?

Evening!

I must apologize for the last post where it may seem that I stuttered. :) Maybe I should read the last post before making the new one.

You know, this is often a symptom of a disease that has plagued mankind for its whole existence... a disease that causes unstable equilibrium, random amnesia and generally obliterates the mind. I'm referring, of course to advancing age. Yes, I can feel its icy fingers upon me.

My wife often mentions a story to our friends and family that illustrates my sudden awareness of this vicious disease. I was leaving the house one morning as I usually do, getting into the car and driving to town... this particular day, I was going to get gas. Well, I arrived at the gas station, stepped out of my Chevy and proceeded to undo the gas cap. I pulled the hose off of the pump, put it into the gas inlet on the car, then continued with the payment phase. There, I stood before the pump, after preparing the car to receive the gas, after driving several miles into town only to stare blankly at the credit card slot, my hand feeling the left cheek of my backside where I usually keep my wallet. Only, there was no wallet. Everything was going off without a hitch right up until this moment. Then, cerebral brakes slammed on, my thoughts skidding erratically to a stop.

$*$&%!@!!

After putting back the hose without buying anything, after driving several miles without listening to the radio, after mumbling all the way into my driveway... I walked straight into my office and printed out a sheet that read: ABSENT-MINDED BUTTHEAD CHECKLIST. This list had only three items (items that I'm always forgetting). They were: keys, phone & WALLET. This list, I then attached with tape to the inside of the screen door where it would be in plain sight each day as I left the house.

Does it work? Yes. Well, except once when I locked myself out of the house. :)

I'm a Student Again!

Hi, folks!

Just enrolled in East Carolina University for a Master's in History. The school is located in Greenville, NC. There's some folks there who are doing research on the Lost Colony. I got intrigued... doesn't take much. :)

Anyway, just letting ya know. I'm excited about returning and look forward to spending the rest of my life on campuses somewhere here in my home state of North Carolina.

As for the writing... It's still going on. Never stop, I tell ya. Heirloom Returns, Aten's Promise, Following the Bear, Shock Value and various short stories, one of which I plan to place on here, piece by piece. I want to gauge public response to it. So, keep your eyes open for that.

Well... as all ECU Pirates are want of saying.... "Arrrrggghhh!"

Keep writing!

New beginnings...

For many years now, I've been bouncing around now, working, writing and playing in my shop out back. At my age, this looked like my life. Not a bad one, sure. But, for someone with my "unusual" personality, that kind of life is certain death.

So, I decided that I needed to make a change. I have an Associates Degree but never went to college long enough to get the Bachelor's. In fact, I enjoyed college so much that I went way beyond the normal 64 credit hours to get that Associates. Every subject was cool to me. Physics? Cool... how does this work? Why does it take so much work to push a desk across the floor? And why does it take so much less to make one splash off a pier? And why does George Washington wear wooden teeth? And, what do you mean they weren't made of wood? Stuff like that. I could do that all day, every day...

What profession allows you to do that? Duh... being a teacher.

I love to talk. Ask my wife. I also like to be a "know-it-all". You need her phone number? Actually, knowledge is fun for me. You play video games... well, I learn. It's just an aspect of my psychosis that's been with me all my life. That... and "Jeopardy!"

I'm not dull! Really... I'm a lot of fun. At least, I think so. And my wife will say that, too. It's not just my opinion. By now, I should think you can trust her opinion! So, I asked her if I would make a good teacher. She said, "Did you say something, Professor?" I love that girl.

Now, I'm seeking my Bachelor's Degree. Then, a Master's. Maybe a Doctorate or two. As long as it's fun. And, it promises to be. For almost thirty years, I have done genealogy. What history is more interesting than your own? Genealogy has unwittingly led me to the coast of North Carolina (my home state) and to the very beginnings of the state, in fact the beginnings of America. Going to college at East Carolina University in Greenville threw me into the local "looney bin" along with some other folks doing research on the fate of the Lost Colony. The Lost Colony, you may ask? Yep. The Lost Colony of Roanoke in 1587. This is a Mecca for us history nerds. Not only that... there's also pirates! Arrggghh! Now, you thought I was boring. Shows you! Take that, ya' lubber!

You can read up on the research currently being done at www.lost-colony.com

The idea is that the Roanoke Colony was never completely lost, but that they simply blended back into our society through their native descendants who married into the early settlers to this region. Early pioneers were mostly unmarried men (7 out of 8, in fact). They married native women... natives who just happened to be blond with blue eyes (on occasion). Wouldn't that be like the first to land on the buxomly California shores? With margaritas? Don't tell my wife when you talk to her.

Well, I got hooked. Now, I want to make it official. And, I want a margarita, too! So, there will probably be many more books to come with even wilder ideas than time travel involved (did I mention that I was a sci-fi Nerd too). My first book was based in lovely St. Augustine, Florida but now I have California-like natives, scantily clad and begging for attention in North Carolina. I'm sure there's a story in there somewhere... again... quit telling my wife!!!

Land of the Free in Chains

This was an article that I wrote one day after watching the news. It's self explanatory, I should think. As an American who firmly believes in the principles of freedom, I became outraged everytime I saw the national news. If you have an opinion, let me know.

Land of the Free in Chains
By B.C. Brooks

You are an American. As an American, you grew up in this country styled by men such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. These are names that became household words. You know them all as great men, founders, forefathers and leaders. They wrote and firmly established the documents that made the United States what it is today. Or did they?
Is the country outside your window representative of the one they dreamed of? Are you as free as they hoped you would be? Did you get the education these great men entrusted for you? You did have the opportunity. You still do. But what drives your decisions? Do you make them wisely? Do you take responsibility for what you do? Are you ready for freedom?
Yesterday, I watched the news as I do every day. And once again, Paris Hilton made the headlines from jail. The ability to maintain her sense of fashion while in the county lockup was in question. What? This was national news. And she’s been national news for quite some time now. Why are we hearing about this seeing as how our brothers and sisters are, at this very moment, giving their lives for our forefather’s ideals? How does Paris Hilton’s sense of fashion compare with a bombing at a roadside checkpoint in Iraq?
It occurred to me that the media functions primarily on providing what we, as Americans want to see. That’s American business in action. Supply and demand… basic high school economics. That means that while they are doing their job, while supplying the actual news, they are also forced by us to report on silly, pedantic, meaningless dribble, too.
And, despite their best efforts, this desire for news that’s not really news has influenced their reporting styles, turning most news channels into entertainment nexuses. They tend to show footage on the Middle East in short bursts between shots of blondes posing amidst flashes on a stage. They’re afraid of losing our attention with the actual news… showing something important might bore us. And that would mean fewer viewers, fewer viewers catching the commercials and not buying products from their sponsors.
Now, I’m not a party-pooper. I like to have fun, too. But, seriously, aren’t we losing sight of what’s really important, here? We’ve put some scantily dressed bimbo on a pedestal and left our soldiers to rot in the heat of the desert… alone. There’s a problem here, folks. We point our fingers at Fox news, Congress, the President, everywhere but where the actual responsibility lies. It’s understandably painful. And nobody likes pain. But, the solution to our problem lies with us. Not the government, not the media, not anyone else but that familiar face in the mirror… the one we’ve grown to adore, even idolize. The one that thinks that “Nail Technician” describes a career.
Yes, we’re spoiled rotten. We’ve lost the ability to govern ourselves, we’ve lost our true freedom. And, in its place we have our favorite musician of the week, our favorite movie star of the summer, our favorite sports personality… we’ve taken sidelines, hobbies and made them a way of life.
Our whole world is playtime now. It’s difficult for us to see what’s really important out there… even scares us out of acting on those issues. We allow legislators to enact laws that remove even more of our freedoms because we are simply scared little children and don’t want the responsibility ourselves. They’re only doing what they think we need.
Do you want to live like this? Or would you prefer to get out of the sandbox and take hold of your future?
You can change your life. You can. You still have the chance to make this country the one our forefather’s dreamed it could be for us. You have to do the hardest thing you’ve probably ever done in your life, though… take responsibility for your own actions. Quit blaming everyone else. CNN and Fox News only respond to our whims. George Bush is only a man in a job… an important job, yes. But, he answers to us. We are his boss… we’re Americans.
This country can work, it can. Tell the telemarketers that call you at all hours of the day and night that you are tired of them. Most importantly, don’t buy their products. Eventually, they’ll stop calling. That’s our power, folks. The power of the consumer. But, be a responsible consumer. Don’t buy crap or hype. Don’t buy into what’s taking our country away from us and you can save America.
Save it for you, your parents… your children especially. Are you confident that their life is better than yours was as a child? Will they contribute to the world and feel good about what they do in life? Did you think about that while Paris Hilton was being blinded by flashes in L.A.?
America’s in chains… our whims form the tightest bond around our freedoms. And we’re slowly losing them through neglect. Let’s not… ok? Let’s tell the news programs that it’s a shame about Ms. Hilton but get on with the real news. Your neighbor risks his or her life everyday in a foreign land for your freedom. Support them. Be a land of responsible neighbors once again… make George Washington proud.
Help make America the land of the free once again.

Happy 2007!!!

To all of you who haven't heard the good news, I'm now a married man and living in North Carolina. I've brought my stained glass business here as well and we're just now getting settled in. Julie and I got married on New Years Eve to bring in 2007 just right as a new couple. It just so happens that it was one day after my birthday as well, so there's no forgetting that anniversary! lol Writing on the sequel to HEIRLOOM has had to take a temporary backseat to all this festivity, but I promise you I will return to it in the next couple of weeks. I'm also working steadily on that family history piece about William Brooks of Montgomery Co, NC. In fact, I'm much closer to the old Brooks stomping ground now and plan a trip down to Monroe for some perspective. We Brooks go back to 1760 in that area. It will be an exciting year for sure! Thanks for all your support on HEIRLOOM and may the next installment of the adventures of Stephen Hathorne tickle your historic senses as well!

Another Excerpt from the new book...

Far below, at the main hatch, the older man paused before entering safety in the drier warmth below. He watched the Lieutenant swinging precariously above and oddly, he smiled. Now standing erect, he was not as bad off as he led them to believe.
“Enjoy the time. It will never come again.” Well, not today anyway. His smile grew broader and he turned to his next task below decks.
Pausing absent-mindedly before he disappeared below, he exposed a pocket watch held within his hand. He had just stolen it from the breast pocket of that hapless young officer. The shiny surface reflected the changing and shifting shapes in the storm above. Raindrops fell upon its silvery surface, curving and distorting the fine filigree laid into its casing.
Hathorne literally smiled to himself as he grinned once again at the young officer now hanging from that yardarm. Ten years had passed. Yesterday becomes today in the unique patterns of their family’s existence. Reliving a moment of his own history was supposedly impossible. But, in this special circumstance, he suddenly felt great nostalgic happiness that it apparently was not.
“Goodbye, Lieutenant Hathorne. And welcome to the rest of your life.” Hathorne had a broad grin on his face as he disappeared below the deck of Enterprise.

The New Cover

Here's what the new cover will look like. It's called "Heirloom Returns"... as though you couldn't tell or didn't know already! lol. I hope you like it... enough to tell your friends!

Excerpt from: HEIRLOOM'S RETURN

This excerpt comes from my newest book, Heirloom's Return. It's a sci-fi novel that centers on a bomb attack from the future that will devastate the United States while Stephen Hathorne and his wife, Robyn attempt to discover the cause of the Bermuda Triangle, only to find that they were the ones responsible centuries ago. It involves a lot of political intrigue, including dealings with Osama Bin Laden. Although concentrating heavily upon Muslim society, there's still the naval flair that I'm known for, with trips across the Atlantic in an old-style wooden vessel.

In this excerpt, Xerxes Alim (the baddy) enlists the aid of a fellow scoundrel:

Recently, his work had attracted too much attention. Alim guessed he had neatly taken care of that with Bin Laden’s help, another pawn on his larger-than-life chess board. Alim smiled, remembering the look on the man’s face as he accepted “payment.”
Alim responded in well-spoken Arabic, linguistics being one of his many talents. Although he spent his life in Paris, Arabic was natural for him, having the ancestry.
“Sheep, heh? I’m not accustomed to eating your victims, Halil.”
Halil almost choked with laughter. Spitting out some partially-chewed Kharouf, he beamed happily at Alim. “You saw the news article, no?” Wiping his soiled mouth with his robe, he added, “It must be a crime for someone to enjoy their job as much as I.”
Halil laughed haughtily at his own joke.
Alim merely sat and enjoyed the man’s viciousness. Finally, after his lunch partner’s laughter subsided, Alim posed a proposition to Halil, the point of their lunch. Alim rarely did anything without a plan.
“I would very much like to make you an offer, Halil.”
Recognizing a business deal, he got suddenly quiet and listened with eagerness.
Alim continued, “How would you like to make more money than al-Bashir could only dream of paying you?”
“I’m listening, my friend.”

Detail is the key

Detail is so important. The more detail a writer includes, the more believable their story will be. That's not to say that detail is all you need. Elements of style and dialogue, plots, character development, etc. are also very important... in fact, essential.

Dan Brown is a writer whose novels include a great deal of detail. Reading these stories will help you refine this method. Now, Dan is adept at many different aspects of novel development, but detail stands out. After reading his novels, I was able to use detail more effectively in my own writing. Start with his first novel, Digital Fortress and see how it differs from subsequent novels. Whereas there's not much change (because Dan is good at his job), there's a subtle refinement as his novels progress. As there always is when someone spends the time and effort to research something as all-encompassing as a novel. He is growing as a writer.

Detail. I can't emphasize it enough!

Well, here it is Sunday and lots of free time to create new worlds of fancy in my writing. And, I can't think of one damn thing! lol. Happens. Most people think that writers just sit down at the computer and splash away at their word processors whenever. I'd like to be that way, sure. The fact is you simply have to be in the mindset for it. As you've doubtless heard before, there must be inspiration. Does Walmart have any, I wonder? And is it on discount?

It occured to me that you may be interested in seeing my first book. Why? Because, I have nothing to do but capture past glory right now. So, bear with me. Ok, I've successfully loaded it. This is a great story. And not just because I wrote it. :) Everyone I've asked to be critical of it just says that it was a little hard to follow... that the story jumps around alot. I figure that's mostly due to the fact that the characters are dealing with several time periods. Incidentally, can you imagine how hard it is to maintain consistency on a time travel piece. Oy vay!

Another good part of this book is that its educational. It tells about early Florida and the people who lived here. We also get a glimpse into Charleston, Yorktown and Salem, too. It covers three different time periods in St. Augustine and one in its future, the late 21st century. But, the real cool side issue is the natives of Florida and how they feared the changes about to take place with the coming of the United States. You also get to see the object of Ponce de Leon's luckless searches for the Fountain of Youth. The mystery deepens with natives who are centuries old.

Can you tell I love to tell this story? Alright, that's all the time we have for bragging! lol. Back to work...

Welcome to my first ever blog entry!

Writing, to me, is this ability to express yourself without being locked up for it. lol. I mean really. Writers have to be of a certain grade of human. It's not necessarily better. I, by no means am tooting my own horn here. But, there's a kind of ability to visit other worlds without the benefit of space travel that just extends from a writer's mind. You might have seen these people with a tendancy to just stare at walls? Well, they're not all writer's, I guess. But, they are all special. Jokes aside, you all have my understanding of the greatest gift a person can have... that of storytelling. It's an art that never seems to go out of fashion. For as long as imaginations exist, so will writers. Welcome to my blog, guys and gals! I will do my best to entertain you.