tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80510965328054335032024-03-26T23:35:51.570-07:00StanleyWheelerWriting about writing...and books, movies, travel, etc.Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.comBlogger390125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-39462474498348475212024-03-24T19:12:00.000-07:002024-03-24T19:12:57.695-07:00British Invasion of Quebec pt. 1 Fun Fact:General Wolfe is in the middleAfter the campaigning of 1758, Brigadier James Wolfe believed he had a Ticket to Ride and returned to England of his own volition, much to the surprise of William Pitt who had sent orders for Wolfe to stay in America only like Yesterday. Pitt didn't dwell on Wolfe's improper return because he had decided on an expedition up the St. Lawrence and wanted Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-34813861927537861772024-03-17T19:27:00.000-07:002024-03-17T19:27:20.604-07:00Alexander R Davis Interview with Alexander R DavisAuthor ofOmeron: The Hero’s
Chronicle, and morePlease tell me a little about your current work in
progress.
I’m
working on a series. It’s about what is means to be a hero, not just having a
bigger stick than the next guy or some hidden talent, but who someone must be
Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-42599310298302474512024-03-10T21:37:00.000-07:002024-03-11T08:28:41.016-07:00Marlowe I see that Prime has a new Marlowe movie out. I chose to watch the 1969 movie of the same title directed by Paul Bogart, written by Raymond Chandler and Stirling Silliphant, starring James Garner, Gayle Hunnicutt, Carroll O'Connor, and Rita Moreno. Jackie Coogan, William Daniels, Bruce Lee, and Kenneth Tobey are among the others I recognized in the film.Marlowe has a problem. Orfamay wants Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-66282568663569718412024-03-03T19:58:00.000-08:002024-03-09T10:29:20.101-08:00Of Parties and Pencils - British Arms Ascendant Fun Fact:Abercromby had his brief and ill-fated Iliad at Carillon in 1758. General Amherst was set to make another attempt at it in 1759. After beginning construction on Fort George--to replace Fort William Henry--Amherst had assembled 10,000 men to embark on Lake George in July. The clash between Amherst's 10,000 and Charles de Bourlamaque's garrison of 3,000 at Fort Carillon is difficult Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-89933361654097531422024-02-25T20:23:00.000-08:002024-02-25T20:23:04.932-08:00Movie Review - Our Man in HavanaThrow together Alec Guinness, Maureen O'Hara, Burl Ives, Ernie Kovacs, Ralph Richardson, and assorted other actors into a pot of Batista Era Havana, Cuba, stir in the Cold War arms race, add a household appliance, and simmer on low heat in black and white for just under two hours, and you'll have Our Man in Havana (1959), directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene.Wormold (played by Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-38260543925089507702024-02-18T16:38:00.000-08:002024-02-18T16:38:13.758-08:00 First, I've got a flash fiction contest going for my newsletter subscribers. Go get signed up. Here are the contest terms: Flash Fiction Contest: Submit a story of 500 words or less. The story
must include a pool table OR a piece of farm machinery. Submit your
story in the body of your email, or you may attach it as a .docx or pdf.
The winner will be awarded his/her choice of Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-54637871493649005802024-02-11T18:52:00.000-08:002024-02-11T18:52:32.633-08:00Ground Zero at the Imbroglio The gif above fails to convey the magnitude of the epic catastrophe that is the inspiration for the drivel below. Behold the tale of ravage and ruin, desolation and disruption. Look upon these works, ye mighty, and despair: The old theater had hosted many a play. High drama and low comedy had pranced upon the well-worn boards. Tempers had often flared, on stage and off, and laughter had Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-43902591506010601142024-02-04T20:05:00.000-08:002024-02-04T20:05:02.098-08:00Mind Blown at Niagara Fun Fact:After arriving with several regiments in Boston in September 1758, Major General Amherst marched to Abercromby's camp at Fort Edward to find the force there in no condition to mount a winter strike against Ticonderoga. The Major General heard New York, New York calling his name, and retired to that city for the winter. There's no report on what Broadway shows were playing.In March Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-7973830337575795402024-01-28T18:59:00.000-08:002024-01-28T18:59:06.801-08:00Abigail Manning Interview with Abigail Manning Author ofThe Emerald Realm Series<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-78074772994358561992024-01-21T19:39:00.000-08:002024-01-21T19:39:13.578-08:00Caribbean Scene Fun Fact:Before the outbreak of the French and Indian war, the French had traded sugar, molasses, and rum with the British North American colonies. Many American ship men ignored the trade restrictions after the war started and continued as smugglers. Others armed their vessels and went after French merchantmen. Some French shippers did likewise. Both England and France adopted a convoy Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-78913610423582195412024-01-18T14:50:00.000-08:002024-01-18T14:50:15.911-08:00Book Giveaway An off-schedule post to let you know that I'm giving away two autographed paperbacks: Threading the Rude Eye and Power to Hurt - the first two books in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. It's a marriage of history and fantasy that will fire your flintlock for the cause of freedom and put the suspenders (or maybe belt) to your disbelief in dragons, magic, and mythical creatures. Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-9657920911426377232024-01-14T20:51:00.000-08:002024-01-14T20:51:30.833-08:00The Third Man Around my writing adventures on Saturday, I squeezed in some time watching music video. The music was Anton Karas on the zither and the video was The Third Man, directed by Carol Reed and written by Graham Greene. It stars Joseph Cotten, Alida Valli, Trevor Howard, and Orson Wells.Filmed in bomb-ravaged locations in post-war Vienna, the black and white picture benefits from the intriguing Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-6538582364821600912024-01-07T19:47:00.000-08:002024-01-07T19:47:16.665-08:00YA Baylor Author Interview with Y.A. BaylorAuthor ofThe Jack Stern Series<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-10071251369847664902023-12-31T18:26:00.000-08:002023-12-31T18:26:23.583-08:00The British Empire Strikes Back Fun Facts:Forbes' first attempt at taking Fort Duquesne had met with disaster. In late November 1758, his remained the only British commander in the north still pursuing his campaign. Negotiations neutralized the influence of the French Indian allies in the Ohio country, leaving the French alone and hungry at Fort Duquesne on Hoth. Forbes sent the complaining Colonel Washington of theStanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-76886552206513247902023-12-24T17:53:00.000-08:002023-12-24T17:53:04.298-08:00Back to Fort Duquesne Fun Fact:Although Abercromby had been defeated in his poorly executed attack on Carillon, Louisbourg and Frontenac had fallen to the British. The English next moved on Fort Duquesne--again--hoping to achieve a different result than the disaster of three years earlier. The French and their Indian allies had fanned out from that fort to spread death and destruction. There were even rumors of Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-31914167852304081932023-12-17T15:56:00.000-08:002023-12-17T15:56:43.146-08:00D.L. Gardner Interview with D.L. GardnerAuthor ofDarkness Holds the Son, and more<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-51035729335969184322023-12-10T18:31:00.000-08:002023-12-10T18:36:49.705-08:00Crisis in Fire and Snow It's here! Book 6 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series arrives with nearly 350 action-packed pages of adventure. You'll want to make this succulent flintlock fantasy part of your Christmas feast. Click on the cover picture to check it out. I could go on about this entry in the exciting saga--but I won't. Instead, let me treat you to a few of the comments my advance readers shared asStanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-39955996602429487122023-11-26T19:58:00.000-08:002023-11-27T18:57:48.391-08:00Fun Fact:Following Abercromby's defeat at Carillon/Ticonderoga, he granted permission to Colonel John Bradstreet to undertake a bold mission that would have greater consequences than the taking of Ticonderoga. Bradstreet had mastered the use of flat-bottomed boats. Each boat could haul 25 men and supplies along the waterways. General Shirley had discovered Bradstreet and put him in charge of the Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-58175408635070886992023-11-19T20:17:00.000-08:002023-11-19T20:17:29.275-08:00Miniature Wrestling There were two items of note this week. First, regarding this picture:Somebody gave my wife some of these candies a while back. I ate them. I wanted more. When I suggested that she get back in touch with the friend who gave them to her, she went and bought me some. I think these are my new favorite candy: dark chocolate and what looks and tastes like real peanut butter (not the grainy sugarStanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-11402999954818045632023-11-12T18:30:00.000-08:002023-11-12T18:30:09.358-08:00Spectacular Villains Before I get to the discussion of great villains, let me shout out that I've completed Book 6 in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire Series. By "completed" I mean that I finished the first draft--it only took me six months longer than it should have. I still have editing and proofing to do. I've sent the last five chapters out to my Skirmish Team for their comments, corrections, and suggestions. Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-11986126797280279842023-11-05T17:18:00.000-08:002023-11-05T17:18:02.119-08:00Anat ElirazInterview with Anat ElirazAuthor of Jewels of Smoky QuartzPlease tell me a little about your current work in progress.I actually have two WIPs right now.One is the sequel of my published book and continues the adventures of the characters. The story is a portal fantasy where a nurse, who also practices martial arts, finds herself in a new world and needs to use her wit and skills to survive Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-40810541900809464922023-11-03T09:13:00.000-07:002023-11-03T09:13:19.404-07:00PinUp Noir 2 It's here! PinUp Noir 2 is an anthology of noir tales in a variety of fabulous settings featuring a hot--and possibly toxic--blonde. My story is "Monica on My Mind," which is set in and takes place right after the events of my novel Smoke. So if you want to revisit Noah Vale or Duncan Kane -- and don't forget Pip -- check it out with the other terrific stories in this anthology. Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-69685091971320864922023-10-29T20:25:00.000-07:002024-03-08T08:45:45.371-08:00American Iliad Fun Fact:Amherst took Louisbourg as the first prong of the British assault. The second prong of Pitt's vision for the conquest of Canada was led by Major General James Abercromby. At 52 years of age with many years of military experience, Abercromby was a methodical plodder who had never had an independent command. Montcalm himself went to Carillon as the British massed their forces Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-79859286714370193672023-10-22T17:02:00.000-07:002023-10-22T17:02:44.787-07:00Glitches and Dragons The picture is of the new terrain/beasts Les Freres Corses have established as the next level of their game. Perhaps some additional information is in order. The pale blue strip with the black things in it is a river full of black leeches. It's in the bottom of a canyon (as represented by the brownish sides. The green in the upper left hand corner is the fertile ground where one glitch (a Stanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8051096532805433503.post-72663237809356051152023-10-15T18:22:00.001-07:002023-10-15T18:22:30.236-07:00Taking Louisbourg with the wave of a hat Fun Fact: 1757 had not been a good year for British arms in North America. William Pitt, convinced that Canada could be taken, devised a three-pronged assault for implementing his strategy of attacking Canada from all sides. First he would take another stab at Louisbourg. Second, a strike north from Fort Edward to Forts Carillon (Ticonderoga) and Frederic would open the way fromStanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16803072187364272452noreply@blogger.com0