Friday, August 31, 2012

SHOOT FROM THE HIP


The power is off, the cable and internet are down, and I only have two and a half hours of laptop battery remaining.  I believe it’s enough to begin a new novel.  One which is contra to my normal technique; building a base story with a story boards, developing a broad brush outline, and finally, going through the outline and weaving in the two or three underlying stories.  I usually know how a book will end before I even write the prologue. 
This novel, which I will entitle SHOOTER, is not going through those tedious but usually successful steps.  I have a mental picture of the primary story in my mind and have done most of the research.  Using only the fuzzy concept to guide my way to the end, I’ll begin the book.  Let’s see where it goes…like shooting from the hip. (Pardon the pun).

Monday, August 27, 2012

Little League World Series 2012


Japan won the 2012 Little League World Series Yesterday.  They played outstanding; all facets of their game are on par with college play. 
Panama played them twice and lost both times.  Panama came in fourth. 
The major difference I witnessed between the teams was the depth of the pitching.  Japan had four pitchers that could hurl the ball at Major League equivalent speeds with excellent accuracy.  They also had a player that stood 6 foot tall and weighed over 200 pounds.  That’s size large for a 13 yr old.  If he grows anymore he’ll be able to be a Sumo Wrestler. 

All this being said, the Panama team came from AguaDulce; an interior farming community with just a few thousand in population. They were outstanding. The Japanese team came from Tokyo; a city with a population of around ten million.  The disparity of population makes one wonder…
The darling of the World Series event was the team that came from Uganda. Those youngsters had only 2 years experience at best.  Shoot, some of them didn’t even have shoes.
Baseball has always been popular in Panama.  I remember learning the game from professionals when I lived here as a kid.   Little League was introduced to Panama and the Canal Zone in 1955.  I was too old to participate but my younger brother was able to learn the sport through that organization.  I played on a league called the Fastlich league.  It was for kids 14 thru 18.  We had several teams from the Canal Zone and we played teams from Panama City, Colon, and one team from the interior.   Our coaches were all seasoned players from the Yankee farm system. 

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

A BONUS FOR E-BOOK READERS


The Olympics are history and so is my 99 cent book sale.  However, there is one e-book site that will retain the right to discount my novels to 99 cents.  http://eprintedbooks.com/Store/index.php has just opened and I have all nine of my novels available at this new store front.  If you want my work at a deep discount, this is the place to visit.  You must act soon.  99 cents is only good until the end of August.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

99cent SALE IS OVER TONIGHT


The 2012 Olympic games  closing ceremony is tonight  so it’s also the end  my 99c sale.   My novels will be available for 99 cents at only one site after tomorrow .  To commemorate the new opening  of http://eprintedbooks.com/Store/index.php  for the remainder of August, e-printed books will have my novels discounted to 99c. 
Take advantage of the opportunity.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

OLYMPIC GAMES 2012 & MY BOOKS


Several weeks ago I was commenting on the Wimbledon tennis tournament.  It was so poorly executed I predicted that the Olympics being held in London would probably be FUBAR.  I WAS WRONG!  So far it appears the games have been run smoothly from where I sit here in Panama.  We have two local stations that are broadcasting the Olympics almost exclusively.  

All of my novels and screenplays went on sale with the provision that the sale would last until Panama won a medal in the Olympics.  Panama’s best chance, Irving Saladino the broad jumper who won the gold medal in 2008, scratched three times and didn’t even qualify to compete.  So, there are three other competitors that may have a chance.  The 99c sale is still in place!

The Olympic Games in my day were just for Amateurs.  Professionals were forbidden and if one received money from endorsements or direct pay from any professional sport,  that person was disqualified.   Jim Thorpe, one of the USA’s finest athletes in track in field, was stripped of all his medals when it was discovered he'd earned a few hundred dollars over one summer playing semi-professional baseball.

I have strong opinions about Professionals in the Olympics.  When I witnessed what the USA basketball team (all big name millionaire professionals) did to Nigeria.  I believe the rules need to be reconsidered.  Maybe each professional should be required to run the 3000 meter steeplechase just prior to their performance; with the ladies from Somalia and Kenya setting the pace.  In events like tennis, maybe Roger Federer and Juan Carlos Del Potro should have been forced to play left handed.  I’m certain that their third set wouldn’t have gone 19 games.  Something needs to happen to level the playing field.   

In the meantime we can always hit the off button whenever the pros appear.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

99 CENT E-BOOKS ARE BACK!!!


As of August 1, 2012, my nine novels are on sale for only 99 cents.  This is a limited offer to help introduce a new e-book seller, http://www.eprintedbooks.com/Store/.  I’ve been working closely with Steve Caresser, the owner of this enterprise.  We’ve bounced a few ideas back and forth with the result being.  An e-book retailer that offers authors eighty percent royalties and said royalties are paid immediately.
If you ever considered owning all nine of my novels, now is the time.  As I mentioned above, this is a limited time offer and also exclusive to Steve’s new store and Amazon Kindle store.  http://tinyurl.com/csgjaj8