StanleyWheeler

  Accidental Pirates is actually the only novel that I had published this year. However, I did get a number of short stories selected for publication. "A Stardust Memory " was published in Sultry Murder Jazz . I found its placement as the final story in the anthology entirely appropriate.  " Seventh Hussar and Aide to the Mage " came out in Wyrd Warfare , receiving special attention for containing the best line of dialog in an anthology filled with great dialog - but the anthology is loaded with action. I got to dip into my love of Napoleonic history and warfare for this story, and the characters, especially Beaujeu were a hit with some youtube reviewers. The anthology Dames, Derringers, and Detectives includes my story, " Calypso's Count ." Cats, or "moggies," are featured in every tale in this noir collection. My submission continues the adventures of Noah Vail/Duncan Kane from my Smoke novel.   Editor Nick Nethery again delighted me by s...

    General Antoine Charles Louis de Lasalle led the Infernal Brigade (the 5th and 7th Hussars) in the 1806 campaign against Prussia. The brigade moved rapidly through enemy territory in search of information and supplies. Lasalle and his 500 hussars arrived at the fortified city of Stettin following the Battle of Jena. A garrison of 5,000 and over 150 cannon guarded the fortress. Lasalle pretended the entire French army was with him and demanded the surrender of the city or 50,000 troops would assault the town. His bluff succeeded, and the city surrendered without resistance. Napoleon wrote that if the light cavalry continued to capture fortified towns, he would have to melt down his artillery and discharge his engineers. Tactical creativity and audacity marked the hussars, and the daring Lasalle was the perfect commander for this flamboyant cavalry. The general was known for his wit, charm, and personal exploits, including affairs and duels; he remarked that any hussar ...

  Check it out. Accidental Pirates is number 1 in Teen and Young Adult Pirate Action & Adventure  Now that I've got that out of my system, I could ramble about the sequel, which is nearing completion with Chis struggling as a mage-in-training without a trainer, and Kenny, as a youthful knight with the help of some additional enchantment, on a quest that will determine the fate of two kingdoms - and they still have to get back home. These boys know how to press the adventure pedal to the metal. This is going in the newsletter, but I can't resist adding it here because it goes so well with Accidental Pirates . It's the pirate hymn. You'll have to see the newsletter for the complete story. Here's the pirate version of a hymn that's popular in some congregations with which I've attended:  I'll never be able to hear the hymn without thinking of pirates now.     I recently finished reading Carthage Conspiracy by Dallin H. Oaks and Marvin S. Hill. A few y...

  Empire of the East , by Fred Saberhagen, contains the first three books in the four-book series - which explains why the book is so long. It really did feel like reading three books. In fact, I read two other books, or at least one and a half books, before I finally finished this one. A post-apocalyptic feudal society is the setting where the West struggles against the demon forces of the East. In Book One, The Broken Lands , Rolf loses his family and, while looking for his sister, finds a tank, among other things. Other players include Chup who sets up Rolf to slay another rebel in the arena--who happens to be the boyfriend of the rebel girl he wants to be sweet on; and Charmian, who is a a beauty with a frightening ability to manipulate men. She's Chup's wife, and the daughter of the local headman for the East. Rolf and his allies, with the help of the tank, liberate the fortress. The battle costs Chup the use of his legs and Charmian flees. Against the sorcerers and demons...