Unleashing Colter's Hell: an Amazon top 100 Terrorism Thriller

 
August 19, 2013: For the first time Unleashing Colter's Hell broke Amazon's top 100 list of terrorism thrillers.

 

It joins a prestigious list of novels including works by the late Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, and Clive Cussler.

Thanks to my fans for pushing us to the top!

My Favorite National Parks

August 18, 2013: In honor of the National Park System's fast approaching 97th birthday, here is my top ten list of national parks. While I haven't been to every park, I have been to roughly half of the system's more than 400 parks, and these are among my favorites.

10. Gettysburg National Battlefield (Historical Park, PA) Every American should visit this park, especially the battlefield's little round top, the site where Colonel Joshua Chamberlin likely saved the Union.

9. The Everglades National Park (Natural Park, FL)The largest wilderness area east of the Mississippi river. Everglades provides an excellent opportunity to see a combination of wildlife found nowhere else in the nation such as alligators, panthers, and dolphins.

8. Lincoln Memorial (Historical Park, DC) Reverent and powerful memorial to the president who kept a laser like focus on preserving the United States during Civil War. Like Gettysburg, the Lincoln Memorial is a testament to those who have given so much for us to enjoy the country we have today.

7. Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Natural, Historical, Cultural Park, CA) A national park where one can stand in the shadow of centuries old Redwood trees in the morning and dine at a five star restaurant in the evening. Golden Gate like Everglades is one of the largest protected areas that border a major metropolitan city.

6. Little Big Horn National Battlefield (Historical Park, MT) An amazing site that puts western arrogance on display. Little bighorn helps remind one that a little humility sometimes is called for.

5. Arches National Park (Natural Park, UT) Park with otherworldly arches, natural bridges, and buttes and mesas. First class, outdoor university on the power of erosive forces like wind and rain.

4. Wrangell St. Elias National Park (Natural, Historical, Cultural Park, AK) The largest national park. Got to love a nation has parks larger than some other countries.

3. Mount Rainier National Park (Natural, Cultural, Historical Park, WA) A site of many personal family memories.

2. Glacier National Park (Natural Park, MT) Another park where I spent many summer vacations and made countless family memories.

1. Yellowstone National Park (Natural Park, MT/WY) Yellowstone has everything. Strange and stunning landscapes, unique features around every turn, rare and magnificent wildlife, massive lakes, raging rivers, sheer canyons, huge waterfalls, and millions of acres of solitude. It's my idea of the perfect park.

###
Check out Unleashing Colter's Hell, my best selling national park thriller!

Feel the Force

August 13, 2013: My poster entry for the Feel the Force art contest won! See the winning design here.

Unleashing Colter's Hell: A Reader's Favorite Award Finalist!

July 11, 2013: Unleashing Colter's Hell has been named a finalist in the Reader's Favorite annual International Award Contest! Roughly 6 finalists were selected for each category.  Unleashing Colter's Hell is a finalist in the Thriller-Terrorist genre.

The award winner will be selected in September.  Stay tuned.

What Gettysburg revealed to me. America is a verb.

July 3, 2013: One hundred and fifty years ago today, the Confederate army was turned back at Gettysburg by Union forces. Although not known at the time, this was the high water mark of the rebel cause and began the slow slide to its surrender. 

Historians may disagree on the pivotal point of the battle, was the first day when the Confederates failed to push the advantage they gained, was it the Union's gaining the high ground of big and little round top, or Lee's ill-advised decision to execute a frontal assault on the final day.

For me and many others, the battle's pivotal point was when the 20th Maine held the Union flank at little round top.  Colonel Joshua Chamberlain confronted with a relentless Confederate foe, and running out of ammunition made the fateful decision to order a bayonet charge. Chamberlain's unexpected move finally broke the will of the Confederate force and saved the Union flank.

Had the Union army not carried the day at this little town in middle Pennsylvania, we would now be living in a very different country today.  There may not even be an America, as the idea of secession might have run through the remaining Union states causing the entire country to collapse.  Meanwhile, the Confederacy having been borne of rebellion would have likely seen similar secession forces tear it apart.

So, instead of one United States the American continent would likely be dotted with dozens of little countries and republics.  Our present situation would more closely resemble modern Europe or worse the Balkans.

America is not perfect, but it was not meant to be.  Rather, the founding fathers stated in the Constitution that America is an ongoing experiment one that requires each generation to form a more perfect Union. America is a verb, not a noun.

The Union victory at Gettysburg preserved the opportunity for future generations to play their part in this experiment. For this I am grateful.