The 4-3 ADA comes home
The 4-3 ADA comes home to their friends and family. Sorry some of the photos are blurry. I ran out of time to go get my camera and had to use my phone.
I’ve run away sort of…..
Well it was time for another road trip hence my recent absence. This road trip was for a good cause though, not just to get out of my local area. We drove to Fort Sill to greet the Soldiers of the 4-3 ADA returning from a year long deployment. The soldiers arrived in two groups, just over 12 hours apart. I will be posting a video collage from both ceremonies.
A new direction or at least new additions
All of a sudden I realized what my novel needed. The other side of the story. All of my chapters were from the protagonists point of view. While I had developed the antagonist in a character sketch most of these details were missing from the novel itself.
I have set about adding the necessary chapters into my novel. Yes this will add time to me completing the manuscript but it will make it better much better. I also feel that this will make the novel more likely to be published. With the knowledge that all of the great thrillers and even the Harry Potter novels contain such chapters I write on with a new intensity I have not felt for a long while.
As a reward for following my blog here is yet another excerpt.
Kate wandered around taking in her surroundings before sitting with her back against the well. Her head was pounding and she was exhausted, but it was not yet time for sleep she needed a plan. After a short while the puzzle pieces began to fall into place a picture of what was to come was forming in her head. Her thoughts gathered she stood and started to head back towards the monastery. The sound of an approaching vehicle stops her. It was way to late for normal people to be out wandering these back roads, was the only thought that flashed through her mind, as she lay prone near the gravel path. Her eyes are sweeping the area when she thinks she sees someone out of the corner of her eye. Just then the car began to slow, it turned off its headlights.
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My absence….
First I must apologize to my readers. I am sorry for my long absence in blogging. While many things have been going on they have not been suitable for blogging. I don’t like blogging about other peoples issues I have been busy with a large number of things, just when they were calming down the Jewish High Holidays arrived. The arrival of the holidays extended my absence.
That being said the novel is progressing though it is going a bit slower than I would like. As a reward here is an excerpt from the thriller ….
With her Sig drawn and an extra clip in her back pocket, she got out of the car and cautiously entered the bar. Seeing no sign of the old men or anyone else, she began to search the entire building. Dread built in the pit of her stomach. Was she too late? There was evidence of bullets and shotgun blasts marking all of the walls. Broken glass mixed with booze crunched under her feet as she searched. Finding nothing on the lower floor, she headed cautiously up the stairs.
Upon reaching the apartment on the upper level of the bar, she encountered a locked door. Just as she was about to knock, she heard the distinct sound of a shotgun being cocked.
Well that’s it for now. I will write again soon.
Suicide in the ranks
As I sit here at my keyboard I am saddened by the actions of a soldier. He attempted to take his own life the other night.
Thanks the the quick actions of other soldiers that were near him, “Soldier Smith” is alive.
As an army wife I have heard the statistics and heard of this happening in other units. I never really thought about it happening in a unit I love and care about. “It’s the it wont happen to me syndrome.” (Please note as I write this my emotions are still raw, this was a recent event.)
I am happy that “Soldier Smith” survived thanks to the actions of “Soldiers Blue & Brown.” (No these aren’t their real names you just don’t need to know them.)
The Soldiers all go through suicide prevention training, my thought is why can’t spouses receive the same training on a voluntary basis?
I know the training must cost something but it may save lives. With the rate of suicide in the ranks I think offering the class to spouses and other interested family members would be an easy step.
The second thing I have to say about this is a plea. Please talk to someone if you feel depressed or worse. Even if you just know someone who has attempted suicide find a battle buddy and talk to them. The battle buddy may come in the shape of a friend relative, chaplain or spouse, just speak up. There is no harm in finding a willing ear.
I have personally spoken to several of the soldiers impacted by this incident and offered to be such a battle buddy. I assured them the only reason I would contact anyone was if I felt they were going to harm themselves or someone else.
This is not a subject to be taken lightly. For now the best I can offer are links to the signs and symptoms. Someone you know may be at risk.
If anyone knows how spouses and other interested family members can get free training on suicide prevention from the Army please contact me.
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8 sentence excerpt from my WIP
I’m glad I didn’t miss the linky list for Weekend Writing warriors this week. (I did last week. For those of you who missed my excerpt about the radio click here.)
Upon reaching the apartment on the upper level of the bar, she encountered a locked door. Just as she was about to knock, she heard the distinct sound of a shotgun being cocked.
“Stop!” yelled Kate “It’s Claire. I brought a friend. We have come to get you out of here.”
“We thought you were those fools returning,” said Paul.
“We need to talk, but not here. It’s too dangerous,” stated Kate.
“Okay,” Paul said. “We will go with you, but we have to take Sam.”
“Sam,” repeated Kate with a puzzled look. Just then a large cat wandered into the room and started sniffing Kate’s shoes.
“That’s Sam,” explained Paul.
“Okay. Sam can join us. Just hurry. I overheard them planning to come back.”
Kate, hearing three blasts of a horn, scooped up the cat and said, “We must go now!”
Here’s the 8 sentences I promised a while back…
First an apology I’ve been swamped with stuff to do other than my blog or any kind of writing. I did miss the chance to get my link in with Weekend Writing Warriors but here are my 8 any way. (Yes this tells you why the radio wasn’t used.) To view my previous 8 for context click here.
I would have answered, but it took the brunt of a knife attack.” Collin replied as he produced the broken radio. “Lets get everyone down stairs before anyone else shows up.”
“Agreed,” replied Kate as she radioed Dominic that they were reentering the church. With everyone cleared out of the church and loaded in the back of the van Collin drove it around behind the church to the monks’ entrance. Using Dominic’s keys Collin unlocked the door. Before entering he called out, to alert the old men. Just then Sam the cat ran out. Paul scrambled after Sam, who was distracted by a bug. Paul retrieved the cat as the last of the prisoners was being carried down the steps.