Randall Krzak's Blog, page 46

Randall’s Ramblings, January 29, 2017

Here we go, the last Sunday in January. It’s been a crazy month weather-wise, with temperatures all over the place, ranging from 12F/-11C to 47F/8C. According to the forecast, it appears we’re heading into a stretch with more seasonable temperatures. Right now it’s 23F/-5C. Not much snow, some flurries right now, but that’s okay. Less shoveling to do!

Did you have a birthday over the past week? If so, one of these individuals might have shared your special day: Jose Marti, Cuban poet and journalist, known as the’Apostle of the Cuban Revolution’; Thomas Paine, political essayist (The Rights of Man, The Age of Reason); Robert Burns, Scottish poet (Auld Lang Syne, Comin’ Thro’ the Rye); Virginia Woolf, English author (Mrs. Dalloway and Orlando); Pierre de Beaumarchais, French dramatist (The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro); Edith Wharton, and U.S. novelist (Ethan Frome and The Age of Innocence). Happy birthday to all.

Coming in Early February

Moonshine Cove, Publishing, LLC, will release my first novel, The Kurdish Connection, in early February.  Watch for the announcement. Here’s what a reviewer had to say:

“A behind the scenes story, ripped from today’s headlines deepening the reader’s understanding of an ancient strife … filled with the sights and smells of the market place and secret meetings, the reader is admitted to the secret heart, the desperate longings of those that must fight and win, or see continued subjugation by their masters…”—Oliver F. Chase, author of Camelot Games, Levant Mirage, Blind Marsh, and Marsh Island.

My Work in Progress

I was unable to complete any new chapters in Dangerous Alliance this week as editing of The Kurdish Connection‘s Intermediate Proofs took center stage. My last read and review is ongoing as I type this, with any last minute changes to be sent to my publisher tomorrow morning.

Books I’m Reading

This past week I’ve been doing a beta read on a novel by Duncan Simpson, author of The History of Things to Come: A Supernatural Thriller (The Dark Horizon Trilogy Volume 1). Since it’s a beta read, I’ll only be sharing my comments with Duncan. Hope to have something new for you next time.

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites. With the beginning of a new year, I’d also like to include some lighthearted sites I stumble across, whether comedic or with animals. Unfortunately, work on The Kurdish Connection prevented me from scanning new sites.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another ramble.  Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing.  Until the next time, thank you for reading!

© Copyright 2017 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.

 

Randall’s Ramblings, January 22, 2017

Another Sunday upon us. Don’t know where you might be located, but here we have miserable, thick fog, with a dense fog advisory until 10:00 a.m. on Monday.  At least the temperature is decent for this time of year, 44F/6C.

Who’s on the birthday list this week? Anyone you’ve heard of?  Here we go:  Sir Francis Bacon, English philosopher, statesman, essayist (The Advancement of Learning); Lord George Byron, English romantic poet (“Lara,” “Don Juan”); Joy Adamson, British author and naturalist (Born Free); Edgar Allan Poe, American author and poet (“Fall of the House of Usher,” “The Tell-Tale Heart,” “The Raven,” “Annabel Lee”); John H. Johnson, editor and publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines; A.A. [Alan Alexander] Milne, novelist, humorist and journalist (Winnie the Pooh); Benjamin Franklin, statesman, diplomat, scientist and inventor: helped draft the Declaration of Independence and wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac; Anton Chekhov, Russian playwright and short story writer (The Seagull and Three Sisters); Vittorio Alfieri, Italian tragic poet (Cleopatra, Parigi shastigliata); and Susan Sontag, American essayist and novelist (The Style of Radical Will, Illness as a Metaphor).

Hope everyone had a great birthday and that your wishes come true!

Coming in February

Moonshine Cove, Publishing, LLC, will release my first novel, The Kurdish Connection, in February.  Here’s what a couple of reviewers had to say:

“The Kurdish Connection—a compelling read. A story of friendship, danger and intrigue. ” – Ann Everett, Amazon Best Selling Author.

“Syria, Iraq, Turkey. Randall Krzak brings his wealth of experience living in this troubled part of the world and his military knowledge to bear in this exciting story. He has created a plausible scenario involving the struggle to establish an independent Kurdish nation and a U.S. covert operations unit determined to intervene before it goes too far. ” –  John L. DeBoer, author of When the Reaper Comes.

My Work in Progress

I was unable to complete any new chapters this week as editing of The Kurdish Connection‘s Initial Proof took center stage. The Interim Proof will be heading my way this coming week. While I’m waiting, I’ll work on Dangerous Alliance.

Books I’m Reading

This past week I finished reading Tom Clancy Commander in Chief (A Jack Ryan Novel) by Mark Greaney. As with every book written by Mark Greaney, this one came across as a Tom Clancy novel. Russia attempts to bring the world to the brink of chaos in an effort to turn the country back into a superpower. Only President Jack Ryan and the ultra-secret group called The Campus, are able to thwart the Russian president’s plans.

It was hard to put down; the only reason it took me so long to finish is because my reading for enjoyment normally takes place between 10:30 p.m. and midnight.  Delivering in the Tom Clancy style, Mr. Greaney is definitely filling big shoes and does so with effective characters, dialogue, and action  Look forward to reading his next novel!

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites. With the beginning of a new year, I’d also like to include some lighthearted sites I stumble across, whether comedic or with animals. Unfortunately, work on The Kurdish Connection prevented me from scanning new sites.

Writing Resources

I don’t have any new writing resources to share with you this week. Perhaps next time.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another ramble.  Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing.  Until the next time, thank you for reading!

© Copyright 2017 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.

Randall’s Ramblings, January 15, 2017

It’s the middle of January already. Seems like it wasn’t long ago we were putting up Christmas decorations and rushing around selecting items to put smiles on faces.  We suddenly noticed yesterday daylight is hanging around longer. It’s a good sign, winter is moving forward. 

We’ve had plenty of company this winter, between numerous deer, a variety of birds, and even a lone possum. A young white-tailed buck made an appearance this week, the first we can recall since we moved here in 2013. Needless to say, with winter well on its way, the shoreline changes daily. Plenty of ice piled head-high along the beach, but the wind and waves continue to create something new for us to gaze upon.

There are a number of birthdays this week. Is yours one of them? Here’s a few who had one this week: Taylor Branch, author, historian (Martin Luther King Jr); Maureen Dowd, New York Times columnist, author; Horatio Alger, Jr., American children’s author (Ragged Dick, Tattered Tom); Michael Bond, author (Paddington Bear series); Jack London, American writer (The Call of the Wild); Alan Patton, South African novelist (Cry, the Beloved Country); and Lord Acton [John E.E. Dalberg], English historian, editor of The Rambler. Happy birthday to all!

Coming Soon

My first novel, The Kurdish Connection, will be released soon by Moonshine Cove, Publishing, LLC.  Here’s what a couple of reviewers had to say:

Refreshing, intriguing, and insightful tale by a budding author. Randall’s authentic voice adds a powerful push to keep a reader turning the pages. Janet Taylor-Perry, Critically Acclaimed author of The Raiford Chronicles, The Legend of Draconis Saga, and April Chastain Intrigues.

Topical – Engaging – Intriguing – Powerful. Randall Krzak has created an action-packed story with unforgettable characters and vivid descriptions. A real page turner. – Rikon Gaites, author of Mummy’s Little Soldier and Darius Odenkirk.

My Work in Progress

I was unable to complete any new chapters this week as research took center stage. I also spent time working on the outline for New World Revolution and a new suspense/thriller, The Fickle Assassin.  Sometimes, I think I need another pair of eyes and set of hands to help coordinate my way forward. Every bit moves me forward on my writing journey and well worth the effort.

Books I’m Reading

I began reading a new novel this week, Tom Clancy Commander in Chief (A Jack Ryan Novel) by Mark Greaney. I’ve enjoyed his other stories and this is another excellent read. I’ll provide my full review next week after I finish reading. Commander in Chief is almost 800 pages and I read about 650 this week.

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites. With the beginning of a new year, I’d also like to include some lighthearted sites I stumble across, whether comedic or with animals. Unfortunately, with snow to clear plus further external requirements, I was unable to browse for new sites. Hopefully, I’ll bring one or two next time.

Writing Resources

I mentioned a ramble or two ago I would share the titles of resources my publisher recommends. Here’s one for you:

Self-Editing For Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print by Rennie Browne and Dave King. This is an excellent guide to tighten your writing. This one will be on my bookshelf as a vital reference for years to come.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another ramble.  Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing.  Until the next time, thank you for reading!

© Copyright 2017 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.

Randall’s Ramblings, January 8, 2017

Just looked outside and noticed the various birds enjoying a snack from the feeders in our apple tree. This morning we have blue jays, cardinals, juncos, chickadees, tree sparrows, and woodpeckers all helping themselves to seeds and suet, while mourning doves scurry across the ground after fallen food. One of our cats is watching the show from a window. He found it too cold–when I checked it was 11F/-11C, but at least the snow has stayed away.

Let’s see who from the writing world were on the birthday list this past week. We have Frank Nelson Doubleday, founder of Doubleday publishing house; Carl Sandburg, U.S. journalist, poet and biographer; Umberto Eco, Italian novelist (The Name of the Rose); Gao Xingjian, novelist, playwright, critic; awarded Nobel Prize for Literature (2000); Doris Kearns Goodwin, biographer, historian, political commentator (No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The American Homefront During WWII and Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln); Marcus Cicero, Roman statesman and author; and Isaac Asimov, American writer of over 300 books including Foundation and I, Robot. Happy birthday to all!

Coming Soon

My first novel, The Kurdish Connection, will be released soon by Moonshine Cove, Publishing, LLC.  Here’s what it’s about:

In their daily struggle for survival, Iraqi Kurdish scavengers uncover a cache of chemical weapons.  They offer the weapons to fellow Kurdish rebels in Turkey and Syria to assist in their quest to free an imprisoned leader and create a unified homeland.  After receiving a tip from an unlikely source, the newly formed Special Operations Bedlam team is called to arms!  

Travel with Craig Cameron and his international team on their covert operation as they weave their way through war-torn regions seeking to locate and recover the weapons before they can be used to cause irreparable harm and instigate a world crisis. 

The odds are stacked against them. Can they manage to keep their operation hidden and prevent further clashes before it’s too late?

My Work in Progress

While I’m waiting to complete the final editing of The Kurdish Connection, I continue to press forward with research and writing on my first historical novel, New World Revolution. Two chapters have been posted thus far to the subscription writing sites I use. With a total 29 reviews, I’ve received plenty of suggestions to further improve my writing and bring an even better story to readers. 

During the past week I had hoped to complete the next chapters of Dangerous Alliance and A Cartel’s Revenge but it wasn’t to be. Too many requirements begging for my attention and insufficient time.

This week a reviewer sent me an idea for a new suspense/thriller. I won’t spill the beans on the plot just yet as it will be some time before I start working on this one. However, I do have a tentative title: The Fickle Assassin. More as time passes.

Books I’m Reading

During the past week I finished reading The Pharaoh’s Secret by Clive Cussler and Graham Brown. I’ve always been a bit Cussler fan since I read his first novel a long time ago.

This story involves the fearless duo, Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala. Someone has uncovered an ancient toxin which supposedly can cause immediate death and also restore the dead. Add in a beautiful and brainy woman and you have a successful recipe to combat evil. If you even Mr. Cussler’s novels, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this one, too.

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites. With the beginning of a new year, I’d also like to include some lighthearted sites I stumble across, whether comedic or with animals.

Jay Colby – Jay writes about life, inspiration, and motivation.

Writing Resources

With plenty of events still being closed from 2016, I found I still didn’t have much time to spend searching for new writing resources. Most of my research was spent in the past, looking for items of interest to support my historical fiction.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another ramble.  Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing.  Until the next time, thank you for reading!

© Copyright 2017 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.

Randall’s Ramblings, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year! May you find health, happiness, and good fortune!

For those with a birthday to end 2016 or have one today, happy birthday to you!  Here are some people associated with the writing world who’ve had one, too: E.M. [Edward Morgan] Forster, English novelist (A Passage to India, A Room With a View); J.D. [Jerome David] Salinger, U.S. novelist (The Catcher in the Rye, Franny and Zooey); Rudyard Kipling, British author (The Jungle Book, Soldiers Three); Hinton Helper, southern abolitionist who wrote The Impending Crisis; Thomas Gray, English poet; Henry Miller, American writer.

My Work in Progress

During the past week, I concentrated on research and drafting the second chapter of New World Revolution. I completed the draft yesterday, so now the next few days will be spent doing some editing before I post the chapter to the two subscription writing sites I use. This will be the ultimate litmus test–have I written a chapter that will appeal to writers from various genres? Time will tell.

During the upcoming week, I also hope to complete the next chapter of Dangerous Alliance and A Cartel’s Revenge. Ambitious plans so will see how things go. Here’s a bit more from A Cartel’s Revenge:

The man glared at them for several moments before speaking. “I don’t understand why you think you can descend on my territory without my permission.” His gaze rested on Javier and switched to AJ. “Well?”

“Mr. Brown, as you’re aware, my boss—”

“Lady, I don’t care who your boss thinks he is but he has no authority over what happens in Panama. That’s my job.”

“I understand, sir, b-but—”

“Don’t stutter, get to the point. I won’t waste all day on some wild guesswork by desk jockeys.”

“Mr. Brown, what AJ tried to say is we understand—”

“Listen, Colonel. I don’t care who either of you are nor do I care about your mission.”

“Whether you agree or not, we’re here. Now, should we go outside, whip it out, and determine who can piss farthest? Win or lose, we’re staying.”

Perhaps more next time or something from New World Revolution.

Books I’m Reading

Over the past week, I finished Preston Holtry’s latest novel in his Morgan Westphal series, The Good Thief.  This is another spellbinding mystery by a master storyteller, and I hope it’s not the last!

Join Morgan as he investigates a murder on an Indian reservation, mixes business with pleasure when he joins his girlfriend on a trip to New York, almost getting killed several times before he solves the mystery. As with all of Preston’s novels, this one will keep you holding onto your seat as you try to identify the killer (or killers) before Morgan. Excellent work and needless to say, another five-star story!

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites. With the beginning of a new year, I’d also like to include some lighthearted sites I stumble across, whether comedic or with animals.

Flawless Animals – An interesting mix of pets (and a few humans, too).

Kevin Brown Poetry – more poetry from a Northern Irish poet.

Writing Resources

With plenty of events to take care of as 2016 came to a close, I found I didn’t have much time to spend searching for new writing resources.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another ramble.  Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing.  Until the next time, thank you for reading!

© Copyright 2017 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.

 

 

Randall’s Ramblings, December 25, 2016

I may not be politically correct, but Merry Christmas!  To those reading who don’t follow Christmas traditions, Happy Holidays! We have a special gift for the weekend, a visit from our son, Craig, who lives in Washington, D.C.

Let’s see if there are any special birthdays at this time of year.  Could find anyone associated with writing who celebrate their birthday today but over the past few days, there are some notable names:

Mary Higgins Clark, author, Where are the Children, Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting; Stephenie Meyer, author, vampire romance series Twilight; William Kristol, American politician, journalist, founded The Weekly Standard; Charles de Lint, author, Moonlight and Vines; and Mary Ashton Livermore, a temperance worker, women’s rights activist, lecturer, and writer; founded her own suffrage paper, The Agitator. Happy birthday to all!

Why I want to Write–What’s Led Me to This Stage in My Life

It’s been a busy week with external requirements needing attention, so my research time was limited. However, I did finish reading From British Peasants to Colonial American Farmers by Allan Kulikoff. This will help me maintain historical accuracy as I continue to work on my historical fiction thriller, New World Revolution. I’m finding my research an excellent way to broaden my understanding of a period I’m not that familiar with. I’ve also picked up two additional reference books, 1775 and Bunker Hill.  More about those as I begin reading.

My Work in Progress

My writing was also limited this week, but work continues on Dangerous Alliance and A Cartel’s Revenge. All being well, it won’t be long before new chapters are posted to the subscription writing sites I use.

Here’s a bit more from A Cartel’s Revenge:

A short time later, a bellboy escorted them to their suite, pushing a cart with AJ’s various purchases. After he unlocked the door, Javier scooped up AJ in his arms and carried her across the threshold.

Alone at last, secured in their room, they scrutinized their surroundings.

“I claim the bed closest to the bathroom.” AJ raised her eyebrows at Javier. “I hope you don’t snore.”

“From time to time.” Javier chuckled. “You can always kiss me on the cheek to wake me up.”

“I think our arrival charade is over for now, darling.” AJ laughed. “Don’t think anyone will expect a new bride and groom to be here with an ulterior motive.”

“Whatever you think is best, pumpkin. Who gets the bathroom first?”

“Why darling, don’t you know, it’s always ladies first?”

Perhaps more next time.

Books I’m Reading

I began reading Preston Holtry’s final novel in his Morgan Westphal series, The Good Thief. I’ll share my thoughts with you next week, but I’ll say it’s an excellent read.

Blogs/Author Pages/Writing Sites I’d Like to Share

I’ve expanded this section from being only about blogs that I follow but also introduce you to some new authors and a few writing sites.

Preston Holtry – Since I’ve been reading Preston’s work, I think it only fair to provide readers with a link to his website. Happy reading.

Writing Resources

Each week continues to bring me a step closer to the release of The Kurdish Connection, so a large part of my research time continues on my promotion/publicity plan. Hopefully, I’ll have something to share with you next time.

Once again, we’ve reached the end of another ramble.  Time to spend more quality time with Craig and Sylvia as we enjoy our day. Hope you’ve found something of interest or at least useful for your own writing.  Until the next time, thank you for reading!

© Copyright 2016 Randall Krzak. All rights reserved.