Back at it

As most who follow this blog know, I am a writer. Gee Robert T., how could I have known that? Golly, not that all the book covers on the sides of the blog told me anything.

After the release of Ghost Fleet and the upcoming holiday season, I thought it was time for me to take a couple months off from writing. Well, the season is over and I have had time to clear my thoughts and relax, relax at least from the creative perspective. But it is time to get back to it.

Here are the opening paragraphs of Battlewagon, book three of the sci-fi Home World series. I hope you enjoy the offering and get your hopes up for another release in a few months.

Prologue

Captain’s journal: Theta 10- 5

“We have begun our trek home as ordered by Admiral Duley Connor, Fleet Main. We have both succeeded and failed in our tasks. Though we did not discover the origin of the Lorilon weapon, we believe we destroyed one of its major components, alas, at the loss of the destroyer Valiant. With that we are reduced by a third of our original number. Our success is not noted in the official orders as we have recovered Captain Joseph from the Lorilon.”

“This mission has given me a new insight into what it takes to command a starship, to command a fleet. As the second in command of the Parras under Captain Joseph I was confident that all my decisions were always correct, that my advice to Captain Joseph was the first to be heard. I would become infuriated if my suggestions did not measure up to his actions. I was headstrong. I had experience, more than nearly any other first officer in the fleet, in most of the nine Home World fleets.”

“What I have found is, I know nothing. Everything I thought I knew about command pales in the face of reality. The daily routine of life on a starship, of life aboard any ship is not command. Most crew go about their business because it has been drilled into them. Many could sleepwalk through their routines and at the end of the cycle, nothing would be the worse for wear.”

“No, that is not command. Command is the pinnacle, where there is nowhere else to look, no shoulder to turn to, no sage wisdom to rely on, it looks back at you with eyes that can pierce your soul. You are the final word when it comes to life or death, life of a crewman or death of a starship. It is a decision made in the blink of an eye. Right or wrong, it is your fate. Command is the single most lonely place in the universe. It is a place I have been, it is a place I want nothing to do with. It is a place I long for.”

“Close journal.”

Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?

We live in a culture, in a world our parents, well, maybe at least my parents, wouldn't recognize. Long gone are the romantic decades where one looks backward with reminiscent memories of bygone days. To be fair, no decade or generation is bereft of their own sins or misdeeds. What has changed drastically are three things: we now live in a 24/7 up to the minute information world, social media and the internet give everyone an opinion they can express immediately whether it is valid or not (including the author of this blog) and, we are truly governed by the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition.

Say what? Fictional rules of a fictional people?

Sure. Think about it.
   1.  Once you have their money, never give it back.
   4.  Sex and profit are the two things that never last long enough.
   5.  If you can't break a contract, bend it.
 13.  Anything worth doing is worth doing for money.
 26.  The vast majority of the rich in this galaxy did not inherit their wealth; they stole it.
 27.  The most beautiful thing about a tree is what you do with it after you cut it down.
 28.  Morality is always defined by those in power.
 51.   Never admit a mistake if there's someone else to blame.
 61.   Never buy what can be stolen.
 76.  Every once in a while, declare peace. It confuses the hell out of your enemies.
105.  Wise men don't lie, they just bend the truth
115.  Greed is eternal.
135.  The only value of a collectible is what you can get somebody else to pay for it.
144.  There's nothing wrong with charity ... as long as it winds up in your pocket.
154.  The difference between manure and Latinum is commerce.
166.  Never give away for free what can be sold
219.  A friend is not a friend if he asks for a discount

In told there are 286 Ferengi Rules of Acquisition. These are just a selected few. Tell me these don't whole-heartedly apply to the society we now live in. If you just listen to the world around you, politics, the entertainment industry and the business world in general, this is what we have wrought for ourselves. They cross all geographical and social divides. Though commerce has driven nearly every aspect of our civilization from the first cavemen trading a piece of meat for a stone knife, these are the undertones of our everyday life.

♫ How much is that doggy in the window? ♪   😏

Thanks to Treknologic.com for the complete list of the Rules of Acquisition.

Happy New Year

Welcome 2018

This past year was one of challenges, one of new experiences, one of joy and disappointment. But then, isn't every year? What changes for most of us year in and year out? Usually not too much. Most of us have the same job, love and dislike most of the same people we always have, live in the same place. What truly new challenges do most of us experience?

I begin a new year with new hope and new insights from a year ago. Last year I began 2017 with a single partner, My beloved. We had just moved into a new home began our lives were adjusting. I had just changed assignments at work and took over the challenge of rebuilding a store location that was in a shambles. It was a lot of work both home and away.

What is different this year is beginning 2018 with a second partner at home, our grandson Ragin' Cage. As 2017 began he was not part of the mix. He came to us a month later. The challenges and struggles of beginning to raise a small child at my age was not something we had planned. It was a jolt to our lives. But, it was a jolt we had to take on. For us, we wouldn't have it any other way.

The work front was another challenge. It took me away from home too often, but that is the way of things. We made tremendous strides but all we did was right the ship. This year it is time to stride forward and set ourselves to the top of the heap.

My writing stalled as a result of all the above. The one book I was able to publish, Ghost Fleet was six months later than I had originally planned. I was happy with the result however. I had put my fantasy series on the back burner to write Ghost Fleet sure that I would again pick the fantasy back up afterwards. But sometimes a writer just can't let go of the recent characters that have filled his thoughts. With that being said, I plan to put forth the third book in the sci-fi Home World series with book three, Battle Wagon. We'll see how that goes.

So what does all this mean, this new year stuff? It means several things. As fallible beings, this day gives us a chance to reset ourselves, to put the challenges behind us and to look forward. Those who truly want to make a difference in their lives will take on the coming year with excitement and dedication to change their circumstances and challenge themselves to fulfill their aspirations. What dreams did they have in the days of their youth? What dreams did they have in their early adult lives? This is the time to take stock and see where you've planted your feet. Either way, it's time to step into the new year.

One final thought.
A fellow author I've spoken of in past posts is still struggling with the determination of cancer. Things are not going well. Brandon Hale is an extremely talented author whose Day Soldiers series is well worth reading for anyone who enjoys post apocalyptic books. Myself and a group of fellow authors are putting the word out to help support him and his family in the coming days. I hope everyone who has the ability to help by purchasing any of the books of this series reaches into their hearts and wallets to help make a difference.

May everyone face the challenges and joys of the coming year with dignity and determination, joy and hope. I look forward to the coming of 2018 and all that it holds. I hope all those who follow me do as well.

Happy New Year