Erich Eipert's Blog, page 3

Justice would demand they be sentenced to dig up frozen human waste with their bare hands

Saying we face many political and economic problems in America—problems that appear overwhelming—seems like an understatement. But then along comes a book that puts things in perspective and reminds us how good we really have it when compared to people … Continue reading →

What do tools and my novel—Guy Going Under—have to do with each other, you might ask

Our unmatched ability to conceive, make, and use tools is something that sets Homo sapiens apart from all other species. The use of tools is easy enough to picture in factories, repair shops, kitchens, and home workbenches, for the primary … Continue reading →

Guy Going Under—a hero who “kind of likes just doin’ nothing”

I recently spent three weeks camping in Death Valley National Park. There, when not hiking canyons, I basked in the pleasant—well, hot—temperatures and eased into a languid “I kind of like just doin’ nothing, it’s something that I do” sort … Continue reading →

Guy Going Under: A Cave Adventure hits the shelf

Yes, my new novel, Guy Going Under: A Cave Adventure, is now out there. It, like the bookshelf it rests on, is virtual and can be purchased as a Kindle eBook at Amazon.com. The paperback version should become available soon. … Continue reading →

Wall Drug Heroes: Historical Western Photos

Wall Drug I’m on a vacation driving trip so I’ll keep this short. As I write, the driving happens to be across South Dakota, a state that is a mecca for highway billboards. You know—the tourist-trap type informing you of … Continue reading →

Hero today, gone tomorrow? Richard Rowland Kirkland, Angel of Marye’s Heights

Fredericksburg, Virginia I have some ready excuses for not posting in weeks. One is that I’ve been busy trying to finish “Guy Going Under,” my cave adventure/mystery novel. I have to say heroic effort was required at times for me … Continue reading →

Competition goalball–no sissies here!

Sports is not a topic I ever expected to touch when writing about heroes. After all, every daily newspaper already has an entire section dedicated to the topic. The unique sport I want to talk about is seldom, if ever, … Continue reading →

Breaking Stalin’s Nose: a novel of a young boy and the lies of Stalin-era Communism

Sasha Zaichik is the protagonist in this short novel, Breaking Stalin’s Nose, by Eugene Yelchin. Sasha is less a hero than an innocent victim, for what else can you call a ten-year old who’s been brought up with nothing but … Continue reading →

The Vietnam War—still alive in YA fiction. Part II. I Pledge Allegiance: Vietnam #1

I Pledge Allegiance: Vietnam #1, by Chris Lynch, as you might expect in a series, builds the background for what follows—the experiences of four friends: Morris, Ivan, Rudi, and Beck. This first book depicts the perspective of Morris. The setting … Continue reading →

The Vietnam War—still alive in YA fiction. Part I. Everybody Sees the Ants

The Vietnam Conflict ended nearly forty years ago, yet it still touches our lives. Two recent young adult (YA) books are prime examples. One, with a contemporary setting (Everybody Sees the Ants) depicts how lives are still affected by what … Continue reading →