National Parks have been called "America's best idea" and I heartily agree. For me what makes national parks great is that at their core they are truly democratic.
Setting aside lands as a national park grew out of America's European roots. In Europe common lands were held by the crown and reserved mainly for the elite. In 1872 America rejected the model of parks as playgrounds for the rich, when it established Yellowstone as the world's first national park. Since then nearly 400 additional special places have been added to our park system. Many of these sites were first advanced by concerned citizens who believed their forest, river, mountain deserved national park designation. Today Americans across the country including those living around Mount St. Helens are urging park recognition for their nearby wonders.
Unleashing Colter's Hell is set in Yellowstone and tells the story of a terrorist strike at our nation's heart, at democracy itself. Look for the novel to come out soon.
What place would you add to the park system?
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
Lost Cause passes 10,000 words
I recently passed ten thousands words in my second novel "Lost Cause." The book is about a race to recover a civil war relic that could ignite a second civil war. Stay tuned for further updates.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Interest in Unleashing Colter's Hell Building
Interest in Unleashing Colter's Hell has been building over the past several months, an agent and a publishing agency have asked for complete manuscripts. Meanwhile, self publishing agencies such as iUniverse have expressed interest in the novel as well.
Stay tuned for more on the novel expected for release soon.
Stay tuned for more on the novel expected for release soon.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The National Park System, a continuing story
The national park system is made up of nearly 400 individual sites. Some have called the national park system, America's largest branch campus university.
The founders of the system, envisioned it as a growing, expanding collection of sites and resources. It would be a system that adds new units as America's understanding of history, culture, and science expanded. Recently, the President used the 1906 Antiquities Act to add Fort Monroe a site of great importance during the civil war, designating it as a national park. Other sites such as Mount St. Helens and Honey Springs Battlefield are being consider for inclusion in the system as well.
Since Yellowstone's founding in 1872 more than one hundred countries have established over a 1,000 national parks. Some call America's establishment of Yellowstone and the national park system, America's best idea.
Yellowstone, the setting for Unleashing Colter's Hell my new novel, was established in 1872. Since then countless national park stories have been told. I grew up going to national parks. My family spent many a night regaling our day's adventures around the campfire. Those trips would ultimately become the source material for my novels. Unleashing Colter's Hell is my contribution to the continuing story that is America's and the world's national park adventure. The novel should be out soon, so check back often.
What's park stories can you tell?
The founders of the system, envisioned it as a growing, expanding collection of sites and resources. It would be a system that adds new units as America's understanding of history, culture, and science expanded. Recently, the President used the 1906 Antiquities Act to add Fort Monroe a site of great importance during the civil war, designating it as a national park. Other sites such as Mount St. Helens and Honey Springs Battlefield are being consider for inclusion in the system as well.
Since Yellowstone's founding in 1872 more than one hundred countries have established over a 1,000 national parks. Some call America's establishment of Yellowstone and the national park system, America's best idea.
Yellowstone, the setting for Unleashing Colter's Hell my new novel, was established in 1872. Since then countless national park stories have been told. I grew up going to national parks. My family spent many a night regaling our day's adventures around the campfire. Those trips would ultimately become the source material for my novels. Unleashing Colter's Hell is my contribution to the continuing story that is America's and the world's national park adventure. The novel should be out soon, so check back often.
What's park stories can you tell?
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Top Park Ranger Honored
The National Park Service announced the recipient of its top ranger award. The Harry Yount Award goes to the national park ranger who best performs a wide range of duties from resource protection to serving visitors. This year's winner is Lisa Hendy of the Grand Canyon.
As stated in a previous post, national park rangers must be "fluent" in many skills. Grayson Cole the lead in Unleashing Colter's Hell is no different. Ranger Cole is required to protect public safety, conserve park wildlife, know relevant natural and cultural history. Oh yeah, Grayson is required to relate this information to the public in an easily understandable way. No easy task.
Like Grayson, real rangers interact with countless park visitors everyday protecting them from unseen dangers, as well as providing information on nearby don't miss attractions. It's all in a typical day for the men and women who wear the "green and gray."
Do you have a good story about a positive experience with a national park ranger? Tell us about it.
As stated in a previous post, national park rangers must be "fluent" in many skills. Grayson Cole the lead in Unleashing Colter's Hell is no different. Ranger Cole is required to protect public safety, conserve park wildlife, know relevant natural and cultural history. Oh yeah, Grayson is required to relate this information to the public in an easily understandable way. No easy task.
Like Grayson, real rangers interact with countless park visitors everyday protecting them from unseen dangers, as well as providing information on nearby don't miss attractions. It's all in a typical day for the men and women who wear the "green and gray."
Do you have a good story about a positive experience with a national park ranger? Tell us about it.
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