Map of fictional Cedar County Montana

 

Strategies for 2011

I have pitched both 'Mystery at Little Bitterroot' and 'The Killing Zone' to agents and publishers, generating some interest from a few agents both via mail correspondence and in-person interviews. I'm still trying to find that one agent or publisher who will understand the marketing potential of my novels. With the advent of many CSI-type shows on TV and with our society becoming more multiracial and beginning to understand the precarious ecological balance of our Mother Earth, I know that my writing of a mixed-blood sheriff involved in CSI investigations while solving mysteries and who experiences conflict within the modern world and his Native American traditions will resonate with a large group of readers.


My strategy is to finish the final draft of 'Montana Harvest' (chronologically, the first of the novels that I've written so far) by the end of September and then send it to my editor. I will review her corrections and recommendations, then finalize the manuscript by the end of this year and then in early 2011, self-publish that novel. Then while 'Montana Harvest' is available at Amazon.com, Borders, Walden Books, etc., I'll continue to pitch 'Mystery at Little Bitterroot' and 'The Killing Zone' to traditional agents & publishers.

I plan to volunteer at a Red Feather straw bale house build on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation in Montana during June, 2011 and if all goes well, by then I will have three published novels available and will be working on the fourth novel, 'Secrets of the Bob Marshall Wilderness' which takes place prior to 'Montana Harvest' while Jim is a newly commissioned Montana Highway Patrolman. I plan to blog about my volunteer activities while in Montana and my intent is to make people aware of the hardships and neglect prevalent on today's Native American Indian reservations.

Seven Philosophies For a Native American Man

First Philosophy - TO THE WOMEN

The cycle of life for the woman is the baby, girl, woman, and grandmother. These are the four directions of life. She has been given by natural laws the ability to reproduce life. The most sacred of all things in life. Therefore, all men should treat her with dignity and respect. Never was it our way to harm her mentally or physically. Indian men were never abusers. We always treated our women with respect and understanding. So, from now on, I will treat women in a sacred manner. The Creator gave women the responsibility for bringing new life into the world. Life is sacred, so I will look upon women in a sacred manner. In our traditional ways, the woman is the foundation of the family. I will work with her to create a home atmosphere of respect, security and harmony. I will refrain from any form of emotional or physical abuse. If I have these feelings, I will talk to the Creator for guidance. I will treat all women as if they were my own female relatives. This I vow.

Second Philosophy - TO THE CHILDREN

As an eagle prepares its young to leave the nest with all the skills and knowledge it needs to participate in life, in the same manner so I will guide my children. I will use the culture to prepare them for life. The most important thing I can give to my children is my time. I will spend time with them in order to learn them and to listen to them. I will teach my children to pray, as well as the importance of respect. We are the caretakers of the children for the Creator. They are his children, not ours. I am proud of our Native language. I will learn it if
I can and help my children to learn it. In today’s world it is easy for the children to go astray, so I will work to provide positive alternatives for them. I will teach them the culture. I will encourage education. I will encourage sports. I will encourage them to talk with the Elders for guidance; but mostly, I will seek to be a role model myself. I make this commitment to my children so they will have courage and find guidance through traditional ways.

Third Philosophy - TO THE FAMILY

The Creator gave to us the family, which is the place where all teachings are handed down from the grandparent, to the parent, and to the child. The children’s behavior is a mirror of the parent’s behavior. Knowing this, I realize the importance for each Indian man to be responsible to the family in order to fulfill the need to build a strong and balanced family. By doing this, I will break the cycle of hurt and ensure the positive mental health of our children, even the children yet to be born. So, from now on, I will dedicate my priorities to rebuilding my family. I must never give up and leave my family only to the mother. I am accountable to restore the strength of my family. To do this, I will nurture our family’s spiritual, cultural and social health. I will demonstrate trust, respect, honor and discipline; but mostly I will be consistent in whatever I do with them. I will see that the grandparents and community Elders play a significant role in the education of my children. I realize that the male and female together are fundamental to our family life. I will listen to my mate’s council for our family’s benefit, as well as for the benefit of my Indian Nation.

Fourth Philosophy - TO THE COMMUNITY

The Indian community provides many things for the family. The most important is the sense of belonging; that is, to belong to “the people”, and to have a place to go. Our Indian communities need to be restored to health so the future generation will be guaranteed a place to go for culture, language and Indian socializing. In he community, the honor of one is the honor of all and the pain of one is the pain of all. I will work to strengthen recovery in all parts of my community. As an Indian man, I will give back to my community by donating my time and talents when I am able. I will cultivate friendships with other Indian men for mutual support and strength. I will consider the effects of our decisions on behalf of the next seven generations; in this way, our children and grandchildren will inherit healthy communities. I will care about those in my community so that the mind changes, alcohol and drugs, will vanish, and our communities will forever be free of violence. If each of us can do all these things, then others, will follow; ours will be a proud community.

Fifth Philosophy - THE EARTH

Our Mother Earth is the source of all life, whether it be plants, the two-legged, four-legged, winged ones or human beings. The Mother Earth is the greatest teacher, if we listen, observe and respect her. When we live in harmony with the Mother Earth, she will recycle the things we consume and make them available to our children. As an Indian man, I must teach my children how to care for the Earth so it is there for the future generations. So from now on, I realize the Earth is our Mother. I will treat her with honor and respect. I will honor the interconnectedness of all things and all forms of life. I will realize the Earth does not belong to us, but that we belong to the Earth. The natural law is the ultimate authority upon the lands and water. I will learn the knowledge and wisdom of the natural laws. I will pass this knowledge on to my children. The Mother Earth is a living entity that maintains life. I will speak out in a good way whenever I see someone abusing the Earth. Just as I would protect my own mother, so I will protect the Earth. I will ensure that the land, water, and air will be intact for my children and for my children’s children-the unborn.

Sixth Philosophy - TO THE CREATOR

As an Indian man, I realize we make no gains without the Great Spirit being in our lives. Neither I, nor anything I attempt to do, will work without our Creator. Being Indian and being spiritual has the same meaning. Spirituality is our gift from the Great One. This say, I vow to walk the Red Road. As an Indian man, I will return to the traditional and spiritual values which have guided my ancestors for the past generations. I will look with new eyes on the powers of our ceremonies and religious ways, for they are important to the very survival of our people. We have survived and are going to grow and flourish spiritually. We will fulfill our teachings and the purpose that the Creator has given us with dignity. Each day, I will pray and ask guidance. I will commit to walk the Red Road, or whatever the spiritual way is called in my own culture. If I am a Christian, I will be a good one. If I tradition, I will walk this road with dedication. If each of us can do these things then others will follow. From this day forward, I will reserve time and energy for spirituality, seeking to know the Creator’s will.

Seventh Philosophy - TO MYSELF

I will think about what kind of person I want to be when I am an Elder. I will start developing myself now to be this person. I will walk with the Great Spirit and the grandfathers at my side. I will develop myself to remain positive. I will develop a good mind. I will examine myself daily to see what I did good and what I need to improve. I will examine my strengths and weaknesses; then I will ask the Creator to guide me. I will develop a good mind. Each day, I will listen for the Creator’s voice in the wind. I will watch nature and ask to be shown a lesson which will occur on my path. I will seek our the guiding principles which guided my ancestors. I will walk in dignity, honor and humility, conducting myself as a warrior. I will seek the guidance of the Elders so that I may maintain the knowledge of culture, ceremonies and songs, and so that I may pass these on to future generations. I choose to do all these things myself, because no one else can do them for me. I know I CANNOT GIVE AWAY WHAT I DON’T HAVE, so I will need to learn to walk the talk.

Source: http://www.nativevillage.org/Inspiration-/seven_philosophies_for_the_nativ.htm

My New Writers Group

Last month I joined a newly formed writers group in Storrs, Connecticut. The group, composed of between five and ten members, is predicated upon the Iowa Writers Workshop concept; a popular technique for providing constructive feedback. My submissions for this writers group will be the chapters from Montana Harvest. Chapter 1 will be submitted this Wednesday, August 25th.

Books, books, books

I met a dear friend for lunch today. In fact she was my companion at Manchester Community College's Mishi-maya-gat Spoken Word & Music Series in 2007 where we both gave readings to a captive audience. Our enjoyable lunch lasted from 1:00 until past 3:30. We spoke of where we are in our writing careers and our lives and made plans to organize a reunion gathering of our former teacher and our classmates. After lunch I went to Borders Books because I had a 33% off coupon and a $25 gift card that I won in a raffle at CAPA-U in May. My intent was to find books pertaining to either Native American Studies or Montana travel guides. My plan is to volunteer for a Red Feather build next summer. What I instead found myself drawn to was Native American Spirituality. I discovered the following books:

1 - 365 Days of Walking the Red Road by Terri Jean - a book of inspirational quotations
2 - Native American Wisdom by Kent Nerburn and Louise Mengelkoch - a book of random quotations
3 - The Wisdom of the Native Americans by Kent Nerburn - a book of words to live by
4 - Indian Spirit by Michael Oren Fitzgerald and Judith Fitzgerald - pictures of great Native Americans and their words
5 - Black Elk Speaks by John G. Neihardt - the premier Native American book widely hailed as a religious classic. Black Elk is considered a Holy Man of the Oglala Sioux.

I will take the best excerpts from these books and post them weekly to my blog. The quotes are classic, in-depth revelations of how we as a society should behave toward ourselves, toward other creatures in the world, and toward Mother Earth herself. For without wisdom, compassion, love, and understanding, what are we?

Linda Stevens - the fourth entry in the Jim Buchanan character series

You met Sheriff Jim Buchanan in May, Coroner Hank Kelly in June, and Deputy Rocky Salentino in July. Now meet Police Chief Linda Stevens.

Linda is 5’8” with short blond hair and an athletic build showcasing her 14% body fat. She is a Thompson Falls native, four years younger than her friends Jim and Kate. Linda idolized Jim's successes during her teenage years and decided to follow his professional path, studying Criminal Justice at the University of Montana. After college she applied for and achieved the highest ranking to date at the Montana Police Academy in Bozeman. Accepting a patrol officer position with the Thompson Falls Police Department in 1989 at the age of 23, Linda worked her way up the ranks until she was named Police Chief in 1997 at the age of 31. Linda is a solid, rock steady person in town and Jim’s honest link to the police department. Everything is by the book with her and it doesn't hurt that she holds simultaneous black belts in Karate, Aikido, Judo, and Jiu Jitsu as well as being a highly decorated law enforcement marksman.

Web Site Coming

I have begun the process of establishing my web site. I have the domain name 'felixgiordano.com' reserved and when I build my website and upload it, it will then become available via Internet searches and for website browsing. My manifested target date will be during mid-2011. I plan to utilize the site for my promotion as an author and will identify the novels in The Jim Buchanan Series, their progress, how and where readers will be able to purchase them, book reviews that I come across, plus book tours and signings. My primary plan is to secure an agent and a traditional publisher but an alternative path is to self-publish. Self-publishing has come a long way since questionable services such as AuthorHouse, Infinity Publishing, Xlibris, and IUniverse, ruled the landscape. Now highly recommended self-publishers such as CreateSpace (owned by Amazon.com) and Lulu are helping authors get published when the traditional routes become blocked due to various reasons not related to a particular author's talent. Stay tuned, I plan to update my progress on this venue. It will prove to be an exciting time.

An indication of how serious I take my writing

The Jim Buchanan Novels by Felix Giordano - Series begins in 1992

Red indicates novels completed or currently working on

1) Secrets of the Bob Marshall Wilderness – rumor of a lost gold and silver mine brings together a group of people in search of untold riches. However, greed, a 19th century legend and an early winter storm lead to their downfall and it’s up to Montana Highway Patrolman Jim Buchanan to save them and put the pieces together. While doing so, Jim is seriously injured. (1992)

2) Straddling the Red Road – Jim recuperates from his injuries and spends time with his half-brother Bobby Twofavors and learns how both close and far he really is from the Red Road. While on the Crow Reservation, he becomes involved in opposing a pseudo-town’s desire to sell liquor to the Natives. (1992)

3) Sasquatch – Amid reports of a Bigfoot on the loose, the county is awash with developers trying to build a coal-fired power plant. Jim is asked to become involved in an investigation by Sheriff Dan McCoy when a number of construction workers are killed. The two men have to determine whether the murderous rampage was the result of a Bigfoot or the locals. (1993)

4) The Vanishing Tribe – the legend of a small tribe of Native Americans having magical powers and inhabiting a remote section of Northwestern Montana is related to Jim by Flathead Police Chief Jacob Stronghorse. Soon to be retiring Sheriff Dan McCoy calls them the Brigadoon Tribe. (1993)

5) Mission Mountain Mystery – around the same time that Jim wins election as Sanders County Sheriff and leaves the Highway Patrol, a rumor surfaces of a rabid Grizzly Bear on the loose terrorizing hunters and campers in the wilderness. Jim is persuaded by another county sheriff to help find the man-eater. (1994)

6) Cries from the Flathead Valley – alcoholism leads to the deaths of Flathead youth and an investigation uncovers that there is more to it than just kids drinking themselves to death. (1994)

7) Montana Harvest – series of corpses and unsolved murders leads Sheriff Jim Buchanan to break up an international human organ transplant conspiracy with Mayor/Doctor Hamilton Jackson as its head which ultimately leads to the death of Jim’s wife, the former Kate Nelson. (1995-96)

8) Mystery at Little Bitterroot – Jim and Elijah find a body on the Flathead Indian Reservation and Jim involves Police Chief Linda Stevens and County Coroner Hank Kelly in the investigation. Soon after, two Flathead youth die from alcohol poisoning and Jim begins to wonder if the body and the deaths of the boys are connected. (1996)

9) The Killing Zone – Two teenagers, one an artist and the other a musician, are hitchhiking from Minnesota to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune. On the way they meet two Native American boys who give them a lift. When their car breaks down they run into a biker gang. One girl is murdered, one boy left for dead, the other girl kidnapped and the other boy is blamed for the carnage. Jim learns of the assault and gets involved when the gang kidnaps his daughter, Alma Twofavors. (1997)

10) The Scarlet Max – A rare red diamond is smuggled out of Australia by organized crime and transported to the United States. The diamond courier is murdered and the rock stolen in Las Vegas. Jim and his deputy, Rocky Salentino cross paths with the murderer in Vegas while attending an FBI seminar. A pursuit ensues across three states and the diamond eventually lost, or is it? (1998)

11) The Disappearance of Joshua Nelson – Jim is contacted by his former Chicago Bears defensive line coach to resume his pro career. Once the season begins, Jim’s teenage nephew, a budding minor league baseball prospect, disappears and foul play is suspected. Jim must decide which is more important, his career or rescuing the boy. (1999)

12) Great Lakes Mystery – The two Native American boys from 'The Killing Zone' travel to Minnesota to visit the girl they once met and after finding her stumble onto a mystery requiring Jim's help. (2000)

13) The White Buffalo – A white buffalo is born on the Crow Reservation which is a sign of prophecy for the Crow and a sign of envy to the white population in Billings. (2001)

14) September Mourn – Jim, Hank Kelly and his family are invited to New York for the wedding of Kate's cousin Karin. When her fiance dies in the WTC towers attack, Jim has to rescue Karin while Hank assists with the forensic investigation. (2001)

15) Enigma in the Pines – a college student on a summer tree planting expedition meets the specter of a young Native American girl in the pine forest and learns that she holds the key to a long lost secret that Jim must confront. (2002)

16) Badge on 42nd Street – Jim and Hank are invited back to New York due to their heroism in the WTC attacks. They inadvertently get involved in an investigation of missing homeless people. (2002)

17) Unidentified Corpse – a headless, handless, footless body is found near Flathead Lake coinciding with the escapes of two criminals that Jim helped place behind bars. Jim has to find the murderer and uncover the killer’s motive. (2003)

18) The Legacy of Dan McCoy – Dan McCoy is murdered and Jim has to find his killer and determine if it was a random act of violence or if there was criminal intent to murder Dan. (2004)

19) Justice for Little Hawk – Jim is accused of murdering a common drifter who is later found to be the only son of a very rich man. (2005)

20) Circumstances at Cold River Junction – in the midst of a raging snowstorm a group of college students become stranded and one dies in a suspicious manner. Jim and his daughter Alma, who is now an FBI agent, suspect that someone in the group is the killer and they have bring that person to justice and the rest of the group to safety. (2006)

21) Milwaukee Road – Jim is attacked by a fugitive from justice and dumped onto a freight train. When he regains consciousness, he discovers himself in Milwaukee and doesn’t remember who he is. He must learn who he is, get back to Montana and capture the criminal. (2007)

22) The Return of the Scarlet Max - Hawaiian honeymoon of Jim and retired Police Chief Linda Stevens is interrupted when she is abducted by organized crime who are still searching for the lost Scarlet Max diamond. (2008)

Memorable phrases by Police Chief Linda Stevens

“You stubborn Crow. We’re talking about your life here!”

“Cut the crap, I’ll knock your ass clear across the parking lot.”

“I found out there were no ballistics evidence on the two dead police officers.”

“We’re your friends Jim. Friends need to share not just the good times but the hardships as well.”

“Jim, I have a feeling this girl will not only send you to your grave, she’ll dig the hole for you too.”

Memorable phrases by Native American characters

Ex-con Flathead Member Willie Otaktay:

“There’s a serial killer on the loose. At last count, they’ve found about four or five carved up bodies on the reservation. You best watch yourself.”

“White men can’t track.”

“I grew up on this land. I hunted and fished in the wilderness since I was shoulder-high to my horse. I know this land like the earth on the floor of my grandfather’s tipi.”

"All of us on Mother Earth are cousins. When we all realize this there will be peace among all people,”

“What do you think I did during all that time I spent in prison? I read books.”


Crow Chief Soaring Eagle:

"Little Hawk, the beauty isn't in the beads on your neck, or the pipes we smoke, or the moccasins we wear. The beauty is in the hands that made them."

“You have always been Crow, in your heart and in your spirit ... go the way of the strong; but be wise Little Hawk.”


Flathead Tribal Member Elijah Littletree:

“This is sacred land. The white man killed my people on this ground and now they’ve done it again.”

“Whose government ... the white man’s government?”

“May Creator fill everyone’s lives with blessings and love for all things.”


Son of Elijah, Abraham Littletree:

“They stole the liquor. They thought if they drank it, they would see warriors in the buffalograss.”


Flathead Tribal Police Chief Jacob Stronghorse:

“Hey, you know what I want. We got three dead bodies on reservation land.”

“Pleasant words won’t stop a warrant. You need to decide what you’re going to do.”

“I can delay them with a few tricks. The white man’s law is full of loopholes.”



Flathead Tribal Member Miss Martin:

“Do you men have passports to visit Turtle Island?”


Acaraho Eaglefeather:

“If you’re going to Billings with me, put your flint knife in the trunk too. You’ll scare the white folk crazy carrying that thing around.”

"Éše'he ... Evoohta ... Taa'é-eše'he ... Enemene ... Enoohta.” (translation: "By the sun I will see you ... by the moon I will sing to you ... until I leave.”)


County Coroner Wisdom Redsky:

“You think all Natives are the same ... my people are Lakota not Crow.”

“Wakan Tanka, unshimalam ye oyate.” (translation: “Great Spirit, have mercy on me.”)

“Our brains are for thinking and sometimes worry too much about our age. Our hearts are for blood flow, let the love rush from your heart and follow where it leads you.”

Memorable phrases by Retired Sheriff Dan McCoy and Coroner Hank Kelly

Retired Sheriff Dan McCoy:

“I love it so much that I told Hank everyone in Thompson Falls can kiss my ass.”

“Wow wee! Damn, they don’t hit like that in the NFL anymore.”

“Yeah, so what? Can’t a white man date a Flathead?”

“I’m giving away the shroud of Christ. Yep, I’ve done seen the face of the Lord. He spoketh to me and said tobacco juice is the elixir of Satan.”

“I’ll take the 8-ounce bacon-bison cheeseburger with French fries and a slice of Dutch apple pie.”

“Man, if you ain’t the most dense Indian I ever met.”

“Jim, there are things in this world worth dying for and that wasn’t one of them.”

“Don’t you dare tell a soul that Dan McCoy gets a massage.”



Coroner Hank Kelly:

“My friend might die, and you’re asking about the investigation? Didn’t Hoover teach you G-Men compassion?”

“The blood that settled and coagulated in his muscles makes him look darker.”

“He had some skin carved off his shoulder in addition to the missing head, hands, and feet. We think he may have had a tattoo. Whoever killed him, made damn sure he wouldn’t be identified.”

“That hole in the center; we found microscopic shards of leather. Someone may have used it as an ornament. Maybe they hung it from their neck.”

“This body has a gaping wound in his chest and most of his internal organs are missing. This looks like a cult killing.”

“I’m good at dissecting. Give me a shot at putting you back together.”

Memorable phrases by Sheriff Jim Buchanan

“They say Thompson Falls is halfway between Hope and Paradise.”

“My sister told me that our spirits were born in still water.”

“Old Man Coyote is a trickster. He takes many shapes. He lives among the Indians of the Plains.”

“I’ve got a hundred people pulling at me from all directions. Don’t piss me off.”

“She’s liable to tear each one of you apart. Then we won’t know if there were two, three, or four of you.”

“Well, there’s a bunch of dumb people out there too. On Wednesday I spied on a white supremacist meeting in the basement of the old church on West Street."

“I was riding on horseback over the Big Horn Mountains before I ever learned to drive a car.”

“The last time I felt the spirit of someone protecting us. I can’t say that today.”

“Think you’d find yourself in a proper frame of mind if you knew they ran a story about you on ‘60 Minutes’ while your ass was sitting on a cold bunk and they removed your belt and shoelaces so you didn’t hang yourself from a light fixture?”

“Blowing up the morgue is one thing but a federal conviction for multiple murders is a sure death sentence.

“Five minutes with those two, and all my problems will be cured.”

“Name’s Buchanan ... Jim Buchanan and I’m about ready to knock you and your gang into next year.”

“A twenty-five mile radius in Montana is like trying to single-out one dimple on a basketball.”

“No Martha. You stay put, this could get ugly.

“McCoy never screwed up this bad, eh?”

Progress on 'Montana Harvest'

I am now working on page 143 of double spaced copy. It is the beginning of Chapter 18 and Jim Buchanan is in such a predicament. His sister, Mary Whispers Twofavors is in the hospital recovering from liver transplant surgery, his niece, Alma Rose Twofavors is confused regarding who her parents really are, his wife, Kate Buchanan is in shock due to the fact that a talented musician, Alexis Sandoval whom she was chaperoning has vanished, and on top of that my antagonist (guess who) is about to reveal his Modus Operandi to an unsuspecting and trusting victim named Renee Chabert. At this rate I should finish the novel (it's about two thirds complete) by the end of September. It will then go to my editor for a professional edit and then I will resume making the edited suggestions for 'Mystery at Little Bitterroot' and 'The Killing Zone'. If all goes well I will have three novels ready for publication in early January.

Thought for the Month

Organized religion means nothing to the wise man who follows a lifetime path of faith and holiness.

An exciting new concept to my blog

Soon to come, The Jim Buchanan Novels Memorabilia Page.

On-line voting results for Kate and her baby

The online voting is complete and resulted in two votes for Kate and her unborn child to survive and two votes for Kate and her unborn child to die. I guess that leaves me with a license to do what I think is best. My original planning for 'The Jim Buchanan Novels' was for Kate's death to be a deeply regrettable and recurring memory for Jim as well as an 'OMG' moment for the reader. However, as 'Montana Harvest' evolved (which is what most writers will tell you occurs as they write) Kate became a character with complex attributes and a steadying force in Jim's life. In other words, she has charisma.


Now I'm torn between killing off a great character in 'Montana Harvest' or keeping her alive. The end result of Kate surviving would be the termination of Jim's romantic interest in Linda since Jim has too solid of a moral fiber to be unfaithful to Kate. Now, as any writer will also tell you (and which is why I love to write) there is always a creative alternative.

My new plan is to take a number of my plots for future novels and modify them so that they fit into Jim's life prior to Kate's demise. This will work out very nicely since the series begins during Jim's second year as Sanders County Sheriff and Jim also spent two years before that as a Montana Highway Patrolman. This allows me to write a number of novels that conceivably can span that three year time frame during which Jim and Kate were married. I went through my novel plots and have selected six potential novels that can occur during the time that Jim and Kate are married and before she meets her destiny in 'Montana Harvest'.

Once I have completed 'Montana Harvest' I will then begin work on those six novels that take place during Jim and Kate's years together.

Thought for the Month

"We are in the eyes of our Creator the net sum of our diversity less our inhumanity."

Rocky Salentino - the third enty in the Jim Buchanan character series

Rocco 'Rocky' Salentino, Sanders County Assistant Sheriff, met Jim while they were United States Air Force buddies. At the start of the series, Rocky is 32, six feet tall with brown eyes and black, crew cut hair. He has a stocky build honed by years of body building. Jim hired Rocky in 1995 after Jim was elected to a four-year term. Rocky is a first generation Italian-American and moved to Brooklyn, NY with his family when he was nineteen. He is a former Fulton/Rockaway street-wise hoodlum and his Brooklyn friends nicknamed him 'Double O'. He was born in and his family originates from Avellino, Italy which is a medium sized town near Naples. Rocky left the love of his life in Avellino, the lovely, blue-eyed Eleonora Paravicini. He longs to return to Italy with the hope of renewing his relationship with his soul-mate, Eleonora.

BIG, BIG CONTROVERSY

I've recently been working on Montana Harvest, the first novel in The Jim Buchanan Series and I've come to a turning point in the overall story line of the novels. Originally, Jim's wife Kate was to pass away early in the series generating much anguish in Jim's life and paving the way for his future relationship with Police Chief Linda Stevens. However, Kate is now pregnant in the first novel and her original demise was to take place when she was in the early stages of her pregnancy. Now the story has adapted and Kate comes to a turning point with her mortality near the end of the novel. Complicating matters is the end of the novel corresponds with the end of her third trimester. What to do? Do I go ahead and kill off Kate and the baby, have Kate die but the baby survive or have the baby die and both Jim and Kate have a new emotional stressor in their lives. Also, if the baby survives does Jim raise him (it's a boy!) or does Jim's sister Mary Twofavors step up and take on the responsibility? So many difficult questions which will have a future bearing on my novels. I thought I'd ask the followers of my blog to provide me with some suggestions. See the above poll to voice your vote. Thanks.

The Boom Box Parade

I attended the 2010 Boom Box Parade in Willimantic, CT. We had a great time and took a lot of pictures. We saw a few political candidates and I've included photos of some of the more prominent ones.

Everyone had a good time at the parade as you can see from the following parade marchers ...

... and everyone enjoyed a brief respite from the heat!