Blog Entry 89

Progress on the second novel of the Tessera Trilogy, Sooley Base, continues with struggles to piece together the various electronic notes into a coherent flow of characters, actions, dialogue. The current word count is hovering around 75 to 80 thousand words, but this is a very soft figure, as a great deal of work remains.

I missed yet another meeting of the writers’ group, and am recovering from last medical procedures, a sigmoidectomy.

I remain am out of shape, flabby, but poised to see classmates from half a century ago. Should be fun.

Another task which took time was removing and re-installing a trailer hitch from one car to another. This made the older one ready for donation to the gear heads at the County’s technical school. They were very appreciative and assured us the car will see years of further service as a training tool and as transportation.

I have several significant sightings in the habitats around the house to report.  Baby humming bird somehow flew into the garage, attracted perhaps by the reddish color of the sedan. We managed to help it out by holding a plastic rake up to it, letting it hop aboard, then moving it near the opening.  On one of the backyard bird baths a yellow finch and a sparrow shared the same water; it was good to see su8ch avian harmony.

I want to give an unsolicited endorsement of an ant repellant product. We get ants each summer, coming in by the kitchen window as the temperatures outside soar. We just tried Terro

Ant Killer drops and the hordes are gone.

Here, to the thrill of family, friends, and fans, is another segment from Golden Gate, the first novel of The Tessera Trilogy.

Whenever the Saudi government denied something, it was holy writ amongst ex-pats there to decree that something true. The existence of this effort was never, per se, denied. When there seemed a possibility that a leak about the nuclear waste would surface, Ambassador Van DerMeer astutely took the wind out of its sails. He offered that “if such a preposterous thing were even conceived, the real plan would have been to send all atomic waste to Tehran for injection into worthy fanatics.” That drew a hearty laugh in ex-pat social circles and defused further questions.

Stefano smelled a scoop. He circulated, gathering additional bits of Intel.  He pretended to drink and even slurred words for effect; the tactic worked. Four more of the crew verified the attack, spoke of the death of a Vietnamese, and of the roar of a terrible weapon spewing fire. He assured them of anonymity -

His assessment of Omar and of the burial detail to date was positive; all was as it should be. That assessment would prove later to be wrong; the US had just been snookered.

Blog entry 88

Progress on the second novel of the Tessera Trilogy, Sooley Base, continues with characters being developed, dialogues flushed out, and the author’s recent hospital experiences incorporated into the story line. Keep your fingers crossed and become a follower of this blog, and read Golden Gate.

I missed yet another meeting of the writers’ group, still recovering from last medical procedures. My colonoscopy now complete, and awaiting a colonectomy, the Docs were unable to find the lead I was so often accused to be hiding.

I discovered recently that despite weight loss which puts me at high school weight, I am out of shape, flabby, and poised to see again classmates from half a century ago. Should be fun.

Another task which took time was removing and re-installing a trailer hitch from one car to another. This makes the older one just about ready for donation to the gear heads at the County’s technical school.

Here, to the thrill of family, friends, and fans, is another segment from Golden Gate, the first novel of The Tessera Trilogy.

The squirrel at this hook held a pistol in his hand and was sliding over the railing to the deck as Hung approached. Both crouched and fired, but Hung’s shots were better aimed. The Lanun lurched sideways, blood spurting from two holes in his chest. He looked at Hung and mumbled, and then fell bleeding to the deck. Hung paused “Got you, you muthafucker!”

The second squirrel was left-handed and his assault rifle’s flashes were offset from where Hung expected his torso to be, the mistake in Hung’s aim was fatal. Another staccato burst of automatic gunfire alerted Tooley. He cringed as he saw Hung slump to the deck.

Tooley ran back aft and up to the mini-gun mount. He switched on its power again and swung it angrily towards the boat holding the one enemy he could see and could shoot.

The boat rocked from his turn to move away from the maneuvering ship.  Mahudh struggled to grab his second RPG. As Tooley saw him moving a rocket to his shoulder he lined up the mini-gun and squeezed the trigger.

Blog Entry 87

Updates on the process, and obstructions facing DP Tolan, author of The Tessera Trilogy.

TNO, a novel planned as a sequel to the Tessera trilogy, is now on permanent hold. The reasons are manifold, too much to do on Sooley Base and Kashan Kashmeeri, and projects which linger in the yard and home. A trip waits to see my oldest brother in RI, and to continue on to Maine for a fiftieth High School reunion. In the fall a visit to Texas to see family also is on the

So, will DP Tolan achieve the deadline of completion of Sooley Base – hopefully! Will the price of Golden Gate remain stable – YES!  Are copies of Golden Gate still available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com – YES!

Progress on Sooley Base continues, with the novels’ characters being developed, interactions explored between competing organizations and nations, and the author’s recent near-death experiences incorporated into the storyline. Keep your fingers crossed and become a follower of this blog, and read Golden Gate.

Here, to the thrill of my many readers, is another segment from Golden Gate, the first novel of The Tessera Trilogy.

The plan was to secretly ship some of America’s most radioactive waste to Saudi Arabia, and bury it in the desert. “Tooley, the plan seems sound, but such things are rarely as simple as they seem. Can the Saudis keep a secret, the genie in the bottle? Failure not an option I think. Is this too hot to handle?”

This burial scheme seemed straightforward, but its scope and audacity alone took their breath away. Tooley felt and showed unease, but smiled with a questioning look - “What are they going to do to me if we fail, send me back to Viet Nam?”

Hung flinched … “Well, maybe not you, but almost certainly me!”

Blog Entry 86

In the grand scheme of things fragging utterly ruins someone’s day. A new tragedy among US forces in Nam, it occurred when a soldier, pissed off at being needlessly endangered by his NCOs or Officers or often under investigation for crimes, rolled a frag grenade into that NCO or officers’ quarters. The result was usually an untraceable death; grenades leave no fingerprints.

“Damn, what did that slope say?” Yuri looked down, under his desk. There it was, a grenade, at his feet. He screamed. Oh shit! and started to get up. 

Blog entry 85

I’m back at home, after about two weeks giving a huge number of docs and nurses some memorable learning experiences. Glad that it is over – I can still hear the docs laughing in the hall outside my room.

It necessarily interrupted any writing, but was an experience. I can even say I was researching medical protocols for my second and fourth novels. One doc I intend to put in one of the books said – “make me taller.” I’ll humor him, as he plans to buy my first book, as he just bought a Nook.

I can say I didn’t go into the light, but only just barely. I went to see my PCM for an appt for numerous bad symptoms; she’s a general practice doc. I literally collapsed in her office, with vitals going in alarming directions as I turned blue, shivered and collapsed. They carted me off to the ER, and somehow decided I was worth saving. I wish I had a video of my collapse in her office; it would go viral on You Tube. Did I just say that? I must be feeling better. I can’t wait to see how she treats me the next time I go to see her. She’ll probably have a flak jacket on and refer me to counseling. Feeling better, looking forward to life, more away of what goes on in hospitals.

Perhaps the experience will let me save one of my main characters. Keep your fingers crossed.

Blog Entry 84

Here is another segment from Golden Gate, the first novel of The Tessera Trilogy.Enjoy!

If you like the segments, the novel is available as an eBook from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble. Those without a Nook, iPad, or Kindle can download FREE apps for their laptops or netbooks and buy, download and enjoy Golden Gate.

Background for this segment - US servicemen serving overseas had to request permission of their service to marry a foreign nations.

Tooley dug up the reg, studied it, and put his eloquence to their ultimate test.  His choice of words made it sound like granting permission for his marriage was the penultimate reflection of apple pie, motherhood, and was necessary to the defense of the western world from the forces of evil.

His jacket was pulled in Saigon, and Captain Sanchez reviewed his personnel records, the after action reports, and the request with its lukewarm endorsements. He walked it in to COMFAVFORV personally. “Admiral, he is someone who’d get my recommendation for accelerated promotion for his tour here. Christ, he served on Liberty and has three Purple Hearts. The man doesn’t walk on water, he glides. I’d be tickled to get him on my staff anytime, anywhere, Admiral.” 

Admiral “Bud” Harlington smiled, and took the package to read it. Hmm, I like this guy. Perhaps I can get him to work for me in the future. The chit was sent back, approved.

You don’t know Jack Schitt – the story you always wanted to hear.

The Schitt Family History is finally revealed.

Many people are at a loss for a response when someone says

"You don't know Jack Schitt!"

Read on and you'll be able to handle the situation intelligently.

Jack is the only son of Awe Schitt and O. Schitt. Awe Schitt, the fertilizer magnate, married O. Schitt, a partner of Kneedeep & Schitt, Inc.

Jack Schitt married Noe Schitt, and the deeply religious couple begat 6 children: Holie Schitt, Fulla Schitt, Giva Schitt, Bull Schitt, and the twins, Deap Schitt and Dip Schitt.
Against her parents' wishes, Deap Schitt married Dumb Schitt, a high school dropout.
After 15 years of marriage, Jack & Noe Schitt divorced. Noe Schitt later married a Mr. Sherlock, and out of devotion to her children, decided to hyphenate her last name, and became Noe Schitt-Sherlock.
Dip Schitt married a woman named Loda Dung, who became Loda Schitt. The couple produced a nervous son, Chicken Schitt.
Fulla Schitt and Giva Schitt, inseparable throughout childhood subsequently married the Happens brothers. The local newspaper announced the Schitt-Happens wedding, which was quite an event. The Schitt-Happens children were Dawg, Byrd, and Hoarse.
Bull Schitt, the prodigal son, left home to tour the world. He returned from his travels with his Italian bride, Piza Schitt.
So, now if someone says "You don't know Jack Schitt", you can beg to differ. You not only know Jack Schitt, but everyone on the Schitt list! 

Blog 83 post

Time for another fascinating update on the writing process, such as it is.

Spring has sprung, the grass has riz, I can see where the flowers is!!

A salamander was spotted in the pond, scurrying across the surface, then slithering up a plant to escape.

I almost stepped on a rabbit in the backyard as I stepped down from the deck. It later sprawled on one of the many patches of clover that serve as our backyard lawn. He (or she) later was laying on its back like some sort of sum bather, gathering rays and warmth.

Our water barrels are just about topped off from recent sprinkles. With warmer weather ahead it will be good to have rainwater to keep the sprouts blooming.

I wish I knew an herbal or natural pest repellant, as slugs have pretty well devoured all the cucumber sprouts I bought and planted. Voles, or moles, seem to have eaten one tomato plant from the roots. But hope exists, the grape vines are sprouting, and buds are appearing on the boysenberries and raspberries.

Ah the distractions …. You can see that I’m making little forward motion on Sooley Base. I have concocted a few new characters, but bringing them to life, and sorting out my piles of notes on dialogue seems a monumental task better reserved for a time of fewer bright shiny objects. Take heart, I do plan to finish and offer Sooley Base as an eBook by the end of the year. Wish me luck!