Jack Lewis Baillot's Blog, page 20
March 30, 2016
"Guys, I want a castle."
Wherein Jack doesn't get on with trunks.
Also I had a run in with the first of the orphan spiders. He got into my tea sugar. There are things I can handle when dealing with spiders - few things, but they are there. But when one invades my tea things that is crossing lines which should never be crossed. I got so mad I fished him out with a spoon and threw him down the drain. (Sounds brave, but I fished him out with my eyes half closed and threw the spoon down the drain with him attached.)
By now everyone who reads this blog has got the idea I manage to do every day things and turn them into giant mishaps.
It happened again. I don't often use the trunk on my car, but the other day I went to get some food and decided to put it in the trunk instead of the backseat. It was windy. I didn't get the lid up high enough. And as I ducked down the lid walloped me on the head.
That was just step one. I later stopped to get gas and decided while it filled up to move the food from the trunk to the backseat so I wouldn't have to open it when I got home. (It all made perfect logic to me, don't think too much into it.)
I'd gotten everything moved and closed the lid when it hit me. I'd locked the keys inside the trunk.
(There were no lock picks involved in this story.)
For a second I went through a long list of what I might do to get them out. In a flash I remembered I'd left my front door unlocked, so that was one good thing. I also knew my car had a fault and any key can be used to start it, or anything narrow. So I could at least get home.
I had a spare set of keys at my house, and in seconds had decided I'd drive home, get the keys, and unlock the trunk. Then I remembered that I only had one set of house keys and realized I'd have to break into my house through the window again.
Then I realized I was being a dope because my car has one of those buttons to pop the trunk from inside the car.
So, while people behind me waited for my spot in the gas line, I ran all around my car and fiddled with things. In the end I got my keys back, only to realize I'd brought the spare set with me in my messenger bag.
And here ends the story of why I don't use my trunk that often.
I'm off now. I need to get some guest posts done, and write, and read. All that fun stuff.
Quote is from Tangled.
Also I had a run in with the first of the orphan spiders. He got into my tea sugar. There are things I can handle when dealing with spiders - few things, but they are there. But when one invades my tea things that is crossing lines which should never be crossed. I got so mad I fished him out with a spoon and threw him down the drain. (Sounds brave, but I fished him out with my eyes half closed and threw the spoon down the drain with him attached.)
By now everyone who reads this blog has got the idea I manage to do every day things and turn them into giant mishaps.
It happened again. I don't often use the trunk on my car, but the other day I went to get some food and decided to put it in the trunk instead of the backseat. It was windy. I didn't get the lid up high enough. And as I ducked down the lid walloped me on the head.
That was just step one. I later stopped to get gas and decided while it filled up to move the food from the trunk to the backseat so I wouldn't have to open it when I got home. (It all made perfect logic to me, don't think too much into it.)
I'd gotten everything moved and closed the lid when it hit me. I'd locked the keys inside the trunk.
(There were no lock picks involved in this story.)
For a second I went through a long list of what I might do to get them out. In a flash I remembered I'd left my front door unlocked, so that was one good thing. I also knew my car had a fault and any key can be used to start it, or anything narrow. So I could at least get home.
I had a spare set of keys at my house, and in seconds had decided I'd drive home, get the keys, and unlock the trunk. Then I remembered that I only had one set of house keys and realized I'd have to break into my house through the window again.
Then I realized I was being a dope because my car has one of those buttons to pop the trunk from inside the car.
So, while people behind me waited for my spot in the gas line, I ran all around my car and fiddled with things. In the end I got my keys back, only to realize I'd brought the spare set with me in my messenger bag.
And here ends the story of why I don't use my trunk that often.
I'm off now. I need to get some guest posts done, and write, and read. All that fun stuff.
Quote is from Tangled.
March 27, 2016
"Something brought you here. Call it what you will, fate, destiny..." "A horse."
As you can see, I didn't post on Friday. I meant to, but I went to a Good Friday service at church. I didn't get home late, and the service was so sobering I didn't feel like posting. Of course, today's service was about Jesus' resurrection, and though these next few months are going to be hard for me I feel considerably encouraged.
I am not doing Music Monday today though. Instead I will be doing Friday's post today. As I mentioned last week, I am talking about my two newest historical fictions. I am trying to pick one to begin editing and would like to know what all of you think. The first book I talked about, a POW story, and the characters can be found in the last post. This post is about the Tuskegee Airmen and the three main characters.
First up is Eugene (Gene) Wade. Gene is a slightly bitter young man who grew up in the deep south. He spent his whole life dealing with the prejudices the whites had for the blacks. A fighter like his father, never one to just sit back and accept things how they are, Gene got into a lot of trouble and fights with the white boys in his small town. This put him in constant danger, danger his mom always helped get him out of. Gene hears about the Tuskegee Airman program and joins up during WWII. He wants to be a soldier like his father, who fought in WWI. (His dad died right before Gene was born, not in the war though.) Quick tempered, a loner, Gene learns to rely on others and accept friendship when it is thrust on him after he joins the airmen.
Phillip (Phil) Nixon. Phil is from the west. He grew up on a ranch with his family. The ranch was owned by a white man but he never treated the Nixon's differently because of their skin color. The two families were like one big family. Because of this Phil has trouble when he heads south and sees how the blacks and whites treat each other. It isn't something he's used to and he has trouble understanding it. Phil is unruly and one of a kind. He has a warped sense of humor and likes to get everyone to think he's an insane sociopath. There's a rumor among the soldiers that he killed one of the men who stared a barracks with him, and if he offers anyone a stick of the bubble gum he chews constantly it means he's picked his next victim. Although he's strange and likes to disturb people, Phil is loyal and once you have him for a friend you will have a friend for life.
Charles (Charlie) Harris. Charlie is the character I took liberties with. Charlie is white, but he worked hard to get accepted into the Tuskegee Airmen as a medic. To him skin color doesn't matter, only life and he wants to save lives. Charlie grew up in Texas and is estranged from his dad. He's angry with his dad and angry with how blacks are treated. He's not very outspoken though and he joined the airmen as a way to prove a point without having to stand up in front of everyone and speak. Charlie is quiet and keeps to himself as often as he can. He's friendly and everyone tends to like him once they get to know him, but he's shy and getting to know him takes a while. The only time he's really sure of himself is when he's fighting to keep someone alive. The best way to describe Charlie is sweet. He's caring and at the same time the only one who can put Phil in his place. He's also brave and tries to always do what he believes is right.
So, there they are! My three airmen whom I'm quite fond of.
Now I shall leave you with a Tangled quote. I'd also love to know which story interests you more.
I am not doing Music Monday today though. Instead I will be doing Friday's post today. As I mentioned last week, I am talking about my two newest historical fictions. I am trying to pick one to begin editing and would like to know what all of you think. The first book I talked about, a POW story, and the characters can be found in the last post. This post is about the Tuskegee Airmen and the three main characters.
First up is Eugene (Gene) Wade. Gene is a slightly bitter young man who grew up in the deep south. He spent his whole life dealing with the prejudices the whites had for the blacks. A fighter like his father, never one to just sit back and accept things how they are, Gene got into a lot of trouble and fights with the white boys in his small town. This put him in constant danger, danger his mom always helped get him out of. Gene hears about the Tuskegee Airman program and joins up during WWII. He wants to be a soldier like his father, who fought in WWI. (His dad died right before Gene was born, not in the war though.) Quick tempered, a loner, Gene learns to rely on others and accept friendship when it is thrust on him after he joins the airmen.
Phillip (Phil) Nixon. Phil is from the west. He grew up on a ranch with his family. The ranch was owned by a white man but he never treated the Nixon's differently because of their skin color. The two families were like one big family. Because of this Phil has trouble when he heads south and sees how the blacks and whites treat each other. It isn't something he's used to and he has trouble understanding it. Phil is unruly and one of a kind. He has a warped sense of humor and likes to get everyone to think he's an insane sociopath. There's a rumor among the soldiers that he killed one of the men who stared a barracks with him, and if he offers anyone a stick of the bubble gum he chews constantly it means he's picked his next victim. Although he's strange and likes to disturb people, Phil is loyal and once you have him for a friend you will have a friend for life.
Charles (Charlie) Harris. Charlie is the character I took liberties with. Charlie is white, but he worked hard to get accepted into the Tuskegee Airmen as a medic. To him skin color doesn't matter, only life and he wants to save lives. Charlie grew up in Texas and is estranged from his dad. He's angry with his dad and angry with how blacks are treated. He's not very outspoken though and he joined the airmen as a way to prove a point without having to stand up in front of everyone and speak. Charlie is quiet and keeps to himself as often as he can. He's friendly and everyone tends to like him once they get to know him, but he's shy and getting to know him takes a while. The only time he's really sure of himself is when he's fighting to keep someone alive. The best way to describe Charlie is sweet. He's caring and at the same time the only one who can put Phil in his place. He's also brave and tries to always do what he believes is right.
So, there they are! My three airmen whom I'm quite fond of.
Now I shall leave you with a Tangled quote. I'd also love to know which story interests you more.
March 22, 2016
"Will you stop that!"
As I said before, today and Friday I will be talking about characters from two separate books. Title reveals will come later, for now they shall be known as the POW book and the Airmen book.
Today I am doing the characters from the POW book. This is just an overview. No real detail. Not yet.I'm also just doing the three who have view points in the book.
Starting with Tommy.
Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Haines. Tommy is serving in the Navy before he is "picked" to serve the war at a POW camp. Tommy isn't wild about the idea, but he is given little choice in the matter. Tommy is a pick pocket, but also one of the best officers in the Navy. He keeps to himself a lot but is well liked by the men under him. When not fighting battles he will pick their pockets just to keep things interesting and keep them on their feet. Somewhat blunt, and with little sense of humor, Tommy isn't prepared for his time at the POW camp. But he's more than willing to annoy the Nazis and disrupt their operations.
Zachary (Zack) Parker.
A Squadron Leader in the British Air Force before he was sent to the camp, Zack is a Canadian with a sense of humor and a dislike of the cold. Few things get to Zack. He's easy going and enjoys his work in the camp. He enjoys it so much he not only goes out of his way to make life difficult for the Nazis, he goes through the same amount of work for the men in his unit.
Rudy Fritz
I'm very fond of Rudy, and the best way to explain him is to use a line from the book.
But if I had to use one word it would be "Done." He's done with the war, the Nazis, Zack...humans in general. Rudy isn't a people person. But he's loyal, you know, to the side he's not supposed to be loyal to.
Rudy Fritz, Oberleutant. Former pilot in the Luftwaffe. Moved to POW guard as part of his “promotion”. Traitor to Hitler, code name Hook,
Rudy works for the men who came up with the POW camp operation.
And there you have them. The three main characters.
And now I leave you with this, so you have an idea of what the book is about.
The camp is not a typical POW camp. Built to hold the best officers in the allied armies, it is escape proof. Once in, there is no way out.At least that is what the POW's let the Germans believe. TADA! This will possibly be the next book I get ready for publication.
I leave you with a Tangled quote.
Today I am doing the characters from the POW book. This is just an overview. No real detail. Not yet.I'm also just doing the three who have view points in the book.
Starting with Tommy.
Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Haines. Tommy is serving in the Navy before he is "picked" to serve the war at a POW camp. Tommy isn't wild about the idea, but he is given little choice in the matter. Tommy is a pick pocket, but also one of the best officers in the Navy. He keeps to himself a lot but is well liked by the men under him. When not fighting battles he will pick their pockets just to keep things interesting and keep them on their feet. Somewhat blunt, and with little sense of humor, Tommy isn't prepared for his time at the POW camp. But he's more than willing to annoy the Nazis and disrupt their operations.
Zachary (Zack) Parker.
A Squadron Leader in the British Air Force before he was sent to the camp, Zack is a Canadian with a sense of humor and a dislike of the cold. Few things get to Zack. He's easy going and enjoys his work in the camp. He enjoys it so much he not only goes out of his way to make life difficult for the Nazis, he goes through the same amount of work for the men in his unit.
Rudy Fritz
I'm very fond of Rudy, and the best way to explain him is to use a line from the book.
But if I had to use one word it would be "Done." He's done with the war, the Nazis, Zack...humans in general. Rudy isn't a people person. But he's loyal, you know, to the side he's not supposed to be loyal to.
Rudy Fritz, Oberleutant. Former pilot in the Luftwaffe. Moved to POW guard as part of his “promotion”. Traitor to Hitler, code name Hook,
Rudy works for the men who came up with the POW camp operation.
And there you have them. The three main characters.
And now I leave you with this, so you have an idea of what the book is about.
The camp is not a typical POW camp. Built to hold the best officers in the allied armies, it is escape proof. Once in, there is no way out.At least that is what the POW's let the Germans believe. TADA! This will possibly be the next book I get ready for publication.
I leave you with a Tangled quote.
March 20, 2016
"I've made a decision to trust you." "A horrible decision really."
I think someone pre-ordered my book on Nook. I got an email about a payment going to be put into my account and I think that can be the only reason I'd be getting a payment from them. I'm still staring at the email, unsure how to take it. If my computer wasn't so lumpy I'd hug it.
Speaking of which, in case I didn't mention it, YOU CAN PRE-ORDER MY BOOK!
NOOK
AMAZON
PAPERBACK
Am I excited? Oh you know, just a tad.....*Jumps up and down.*
Today's song is for a story I'm working on which I'm not ready to reveal yet. But the song is fun so I had to share it.
Enjoy.
For the rest of the week I will be talking about characters from my POW book and my Airmen book and then holding a vote on which everyone would like to learn more about.
For now...I leave you with a Tangled quote and I go off to read Tintin.
Speaking of which, in case I didn't mention it, YOU CAN PRE-ORDER MY BOOK!
NOOK
AMAZON
PAPERBACK
Am I excited? Oh you know, just a tad.....*Jumps up and down.*
Today's song is for a story I'm working on which I'm not ready to reveal yet. But the song is fun so I had to share it.
Enjoy.
For the rest of the week I will be talking about characters from my POW book and my Airmen book and then holding a vote on which everyone would like to learn more about.
For now...I leave you with a Tangled quote and I go off to read Tintin.
March 18, 2016
"And daddy, he took my shoe!"
Wherein Jack vacuumed up the spider widow.
I seriously do more with my day than harming spiders. I also don't make it a general rule to kill spiders but I knew if I didn't vacuum her up she'd come after me for accidentally stepping on her husband. Hopefully they left no children behind.
No, I do more with my day than squish spiders.
Sometimes I sit out in the sun and read and other times I lay sprawled out on the floor and am reminded how much that hurts with a still not completely healed rib. (BUT I can FINALLY get my arm ALL THE WAY over my head. I CAN MOVE! I just can't twist.)
I've not really talked about my writing in a while. Once again Brothers-in-Arms has taken up most of my time and the hours I set aside for writing. It is now in the final stages and I am free to work on other things.
As I mentioned a while ago, I am re-writing Haphazardly Implausible, and making nice progress with it. I'm hoping to have it done this month but we will have to see how that goes.
I'm also trying to pick another book to start editing. I think I might do another of my historical fictions, since The Broken Blade is with its first beta reader at the moment. I haven't yet decided if I will edit my Tuskegee Airmen book or my POW story. Maybe I should hold a vote next week or something.
What do you all think? You could meet some of the characters from both and have a vote on which you would like to hear more about? Yes or no?
I have to keep this post shorter today. For some reason I am behind on everything and want to catch up before too late so I can have tea and watch a movie tonight.
I leave you with a quote from Tarzan, because Jane is funny.
I seriously do more with my day than harming spiders. I also don't make it a general rule to kill spiders but I knew if I didn't vacuum her up she'd come after me for accidentally stepping on her husband. Hopefully they left no children behind.
No, I do more with my day than squish spiders.
Sometimes I sit out in the sun and read and other times I lay sprawled out on the floor and am reminded how much that hurts with a still not completely healed rib. (BUT I can FINALLY get my arm ALL THE WAY over my head. I CAN MOVE! I just can't twist.)
I've not really talked about my writing in a while. Once again Brothers-in-Arms has taken up most of my time and the hours I set aside for writing. It is now in the final stages and I am free to work on other things.
As I mentioned a while ago, I am re-writing Haphazardly Implausible, and making nice progress with it. I'm hoping to have it done this month but we will have to see how that goes.
I'm also trying to pick another book to start editing. I think I might do another of my historical fictions, since The Broken Blade is with its first beta reader at the moment. I haven't yet decided if I will edit my Tuskegee Airmen book or my POW story. Maybe I should hold a vote next week or something.
What do you all think? You could meet some of the characters from both and have a vote on which you would like to hear more about? Yes or no?
I have to keep this post shorter today. For some reason I am behind on everything and want to catch up before too late so I can have tea and watch a movie tonight.
I leave you with a quote from Tarzan, because Jane is funny.
March 16, 2016
"This is low even for you!"
Wherein there was a spider.
There's been a spider in my bathroom, behind the sink. I saw it there and did my typical jump across the room and hide up on my bed. I guess I still have the belief spiders can't get me on my bed. I have a canopy over it, something like a bug net only pretty. Spiders don't like pretty bug nets...
I have a friend who said she would come down and get rid of spiders for me. All I had to do was catch them under bowls and she would come and throw them in the lake. Far away with no trace leading back to me. (I have a reasonable fear that if I hurt a spider his family will come for me. Or if I vacuum them up they will crawl up the tube sometime in the night and climb in my bed.)
Don't worry, there's a point to this story.
I grabbed a bowl and prepared to pin the spider, who was making webs in my shoes. The only problem was the spider was in a corner of the sink and I wasn't brave enough to try and pin him there and risk him jumping on me. (He was one of those baby wolf spiders I hate so much. Actually it is a she. I met the he.)
So I did the reasonable thing. I took my foil, moved all my shoes, tossed the one she'd made a web in outside in the cold, and prepared to knock her down with my foil. Instead, she got mad and now she's hiding out somewhere. Likely under the sink with my hammock where she will lay her babies, grow to the hideous size of Spider from Mount Doom, and I'll have no choice but to burn my flat down.
But wait, it gets better.
Last night I was making dinner, barefoot. I was hungry because I'd had to work late and had all my thoughts on the noodles I was boiling. That was until I stepped back and felt something crunch under my heel. I looked down and saw a black squash on the floor. At first I thought I'd stepped on a fly, which is nasty but would have served the fly right for invading my place. But then I realized something...
The black squashed thing had too many legs.
It had a hideous body.
I had stepped barefoot on the daddy wolf spider.
I ninja jumped on my bed and stared in horror at the black thing on my floor. Shaking head to foot, I had to examine my own foot. Everyone says wolf spiders aren't dangerous, but you step on one and I'm sure any spider would extract some kind of revenge and inject you with a deadly poison for payback.
So I had three problems.
1. I'd likely end up in the hospital and stuck with needles because Mr. Creepy had tried to kill me even though he getting flattened was his own fault for trying to sneak up on me.
2. I had a Mr. Creepy on my floor, twitching, not fully dead, ready to rise up and come for me and I was too chicken to do anything about it.
3. Mrs. Creepy likely heard his final crunch and would set her babies on me as soon as possible.
Wait, I had four.
4. My dinner was on the other side of Mr. Creepy and I couldn't get to it with him in the way.
I had to think about it for a while and decided it would be worse if he started to come at me, crippled as he was. Therefore I did the only thing which could be done.
Armed with my foil, I grabbed the bowl I'd left in my bathroom for Mrs. Creepy and ninja crawled for Mr. Creepy. I kept the tip of my foil aimed at him in case he tried anything, and then I pushed the bowl on top of him. Then I piled on a couple notebooks, just in case he managed to move it.
He's still there, and there he will remain until my friend can come down and take away his body.
Mrs. Creepy is still in hiding. But I'm going to find out what scares spiders as much as they scare me and douse my cabin in it. Before she can come after me.
I know girl spiders eat their husbands. They don't mind making themselves widows, but you make one a widow and that's the end of you.
So if I go AWOL you know what has become of me. Send me Sam and Sting as quickly as possible.
Another Lilo and Stitch quote.
There's been a spider in my bathroom, behind the sink. I saw it there and did my typical jump across the room and hide up on my bed. I guess I still have the belief spiders can't get me on my bed. I have a canopy over it, something like a bug net only pretty. Spiders don't like pretty bug nets...
I have a friend who said she would come down and get rid of spiders for me. All I had to do was catch them under bowls and she would come and throw them in the lake. Far away with no trace leading back to me. (I have a reasonable fear that if I hurt a spider his family will come for me. Or if I vacuum them up they will crawl up the tube sometime in the night and climb in my bed.)
Don't worry, there's a point to this story.
I grabbed a bowl and prepared to pin the spider, who was making webs in my shoes. The only problem was the spider was in a corner of the sink and I wasn't brave enough to try and pin him there and risk him jumping on me. (He was one of those baby wolf spiders I hate so much. Actually it is a she. I met the he.)
So I did the reasonable thing. I took my foil, moved all my shoes, tossed the one she'd made a web in outside in the cold, and prepared to knock her down with my foil. Instead, she got mad and now she's hiding out somewhere. Likely under the sink with my hammock where she will lay her babies, grow to the hideous size of Spider from Mount Doom, and I'll have no choice but to burn my flat down.
But wait, it gets better.
Last night I was making dinner, barefoot. I was hungry because I'd had to work late and had all my thoughts on the noodles I was boiling. That was until I stepped back and felt something crunch under my heel. I looked down and saw a black squash on the floor. At first I thought I'd stepped on a fly, which is nasty but would have served the fly right for invading my place. But then I realized something...
The black squashed thing had too many legs.
It had a hideous body.
I had stepped barefoot on the daddy wolf spider.
I ninja jumped on my bed and stared in horror at the black thing on my floor. Shaking head to foot, I had to examine my own foot. Everyone says wolf spiders aren't dangerous, but you step on one and I'm sure any spider would extract some kind of revenge and inject you with a deadly poison for payback.
So I had three problems.
1. I'd likely end up in the hospital and stuck with needles because Mr. Creepy had tried to kill me even though he getting flattened was his own fault for trying to sneak up on me.
2. I had a Mr. Creepy on my floor, twitching, not fully dead, ready to rise up and come for me and I was too chicken to do anything about it.
3. Mrs. Creepy likely heard his final crunch and would set her babies on me as soon as possible.
Wait, I had four.
4. My dinner was on the other side of Mr. Creepy and I couldn't get to it with him in the way.
I had to think about it for a while and decided it would be worse if he started to come at me, crippled as he was. Therefore I did the only thing which could be done.
Armed with my foil, I grabbed the bowl I'd left in my bathroom for Mrs. Creepy and ninja crawled for Mr. Creepy. I kept the tip of my foil aimed at him in case he tried anything, and then I pushed the bowl on top of him. Then I piled on a couple notebooks, just in case he managed to move it.
He's still there, and there he will remain until my friend can come down and take away his body.
Mrs. Creepy is still in hiding. But I'm going to find out what scares spiders as much as they scare me and douse my cabin in it. Before she can come after me.
I know girl spiders eat their husbands. They don't mind making themselves widows, but you make one a widow and that's the end of you.
So if I go AWOL you know what has become of me. Send me Sam and Sting as quickly as possible.
Another Lilo and Stitch quote.
March 14, 2016
"This is my family, I found it all on my own."
This is a late Monday post....to be honest I kind of wanted to leave my book cover up for longer. So I put this one off for a bit.
But here it is. Today I am doing a song I have on my Haphazardly Implausible playlist. I've been working on the redraft of that book and heard this while driving to work one day. It reminds me of Peter Jones and a girl he's a bit fond of.
A bit of a sadder song I guess, but it will all make sense in the books.
Now I'm off to write and finish dinner because Dog thinks I'm not going to finish it and is having a melt down since I'm not giving it to her.
Quote is from Lilo and Stitch, because why not?
But here it is. Today I am doing a song I have on my Haphazardly Implausible playlist. I've been working on the redraft of that book and heard this while driving to work one day. It reminds me of Peter Jones and a girl he's a bit fond of.
A bit of a sadder song I guess, but it will all make sense in the books.
Now I'm off to write and finish dinner because Dog thinks I'm not going to finish it and is having a melt down since I'm not giving it to her.
Quote is from Lilo and Stitch, because why not?
March 9, 2016
"I'll always catch you."
Wherein Jack can't believe it is happening.
I got my Brothers-in-Arms proof copy in the mail yesterday. I got to hold my book, from a publisher, and turn it's pages and put it on my nightstand reading stack. It looks rather nice there if I may say so.
I still can't believe it is happening. I've been wanting to get a book published since I was twelve or thirteen. And while I still count Haphazardly Implausible as a published book there's a different and new exciting feel to having someone else's logo on my book.
But I don't suppose you all came here to hear me ramble about my lovely paperback edition I've set on a shelf so I can admire it.
I believe you're all here for another purpose...if only I could remember what it might be. While I think I shall share with you the blurb my publishers did for me.
Can a Jew and a Nazi survive Hitler's Germany?
Franz Kappel and Japhet Buchanan never expected their friendship to be tested by the Third Reich. Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first-hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high.
With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they've always known, they move into Berlin with nothing to protect them but forged papers and each other. Convinced their friendship can keep them going, the boys try and make a new life for themselves while trying to keep their true identities and Japhet's heritage a secret. Taking his best friend's safety upon himself, Franz joins the Nazis in an attempt to get valuable information. At the same time, Japhet joins the Jewish Resistance, neither friend telling the other of their new occupations.
With everyone in their world telling them a Nazi and a Jew can't be friends, it is only a matter of time before they believe all the lies themselves, until neither is certain if they are fighting against a race of people or fighting for their homeland. Somehow they have to survive the horrors of World War II, even when all of Germany seems to be against them.
Nope, still can't remember. Maybe have an Author Bio for the fun of it while I think.
Jack is one of those strange people who calls herself an Author. She spends a lot of her time writing and even less time editing. She likes to write about friendships which is partly how Brothers-in-Armscame to be. More than ten years in the making, this is the book she dreaded the most writing, but which also has the most meaning for her.When Jack isn't writing, which doesn't happen too often, she keeps busy with various other hobbies – such as reading, playing the bagpipes to the dread of her neighbors, and drinking tea – which might not be considered a hobby by most but which should be.She lives in a cabin in the woods with her dog and a library which isn't quite equal to Prince Adam's but will be given enough time and a secret doorway.
And some book links to go with it.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JackLBaillotTwitter – https://twitter.com/JackLBaillotGoodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5862775.Jack_Lewis_BaillotBlog – http://www.jacklewisbaillot.com/
Goodreads link - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24703965-brothers-in-armsBrothers-in-Arms Pintrest Page - https://www.pinterest.com/jackbaillot/brothers-in-arms/
Aw yes, that did it. You could only have come by for one of two reasons. One was to hear what I had for dinner, which was a sweet potato.
The other was perhaps for this.
TADA!!!!
Although it wasn't what I first envisioned when I thought of covers, I came to be very fond of it when my publishers sent me the final draft. (Though it doesn't show up in the picture, the Star of David is actually a faded yellow which I quite like.)
What do you think?!
I took a line from the book...yeah, my own book. It's a bit weird, but I'm feeling too lazy to hunt down another.
I got my Brothers-in-Arms proof copy in the mail yesterday. I got to hold my book, from a publisher, and turn it's pages and put it on my nightstand reading stack. It looks rather nice there if I may say so.
I still can't believe it is happening. I've been wanting to get a book published since I was twelve or thirteen. And while I still count Haphazardly Implausible as a published book there's a different and new exciting feel to having someone else's logo on my book.
But I don't suppose you all came here to hear me ramble about my lovely paperback edition I've set on a shelf so I can admire it.
I believe you're all here for another purpose...if only I could remember what it might be. While I think I shall share with you the blurb my publishers did for me.
Can a Jew and a Nazi survive Hitler's Germany?
Franz Kappel and Japhet Buchanan never expected their friendship to be tested by the Third Reich. Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first-hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high.
With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they've always known, they move into Berlin with nothing to protect them but forged papers and each other. Convinced their friendship can keep them going, the boys try and make a new life for themselves while trying to keep their true identities and Japhet's heritage a secret. Taking his best friend's safety upon himself, Franz joins the Nazis in an attempt to get valuable information. At the same time, Japhet joins the Jewish Resistance, neither friend telling the other of their new occupations.
With everyone in their world telling them a Nazi and a Jew can't be friends, it is only a matter of time before they believe all the lies themselves, until neither is certain if they are fighting against a race of people or fighting for their homeland. Somehow they have to survive the horrors of World War II, even when all of Germany seems to be against them.
Nope, still can't remember. Maybe have an Author Bio for the fun of it while I think.
Jack is one of those strange people who calls herself an Author. She spends a lot of her time writing and even less time editing. She likes to write about friendships which is partly how Brothers-in-Armscame to be. More than ten years in the making, this is the book she dreaded the most writing, but which also has the most meaning for her.When Jack isn't writing, which doesn't happen too often, she keeps busy with various other hobbies – such as reading, playing the bagpipes to the dread of her neighbors, and drinking tea – which might not be considered a hobby by most but which should be.She lives in a cabin in the woods with her dog and a library which isn't quite equal to Prince Adam's but will be given enough time and a secret doorway.
And some book links to go with it.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JackLBaillotTwitter – https://twitter.com/JackLBaillotGoodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5862775.Jack_Lewis_BaillotBlog – http://www.jacklewisbaillot.com/
Goodreads link - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24703965-brothers-in-armsBrothers-in-Arms Pintrest Page - https://www.pinterest.com/jackbaillot/brothers-in-arms/
Aw yes, that did it. You could only have come by for one of two reasons. One was to hear what I had for dinner, which was a sweet potato.
The other was perhaps for this.
TADA!!!!
Although it wasn't what I first envisioned when I thought of covers, I came to be very fond of it when my publishers sent me the final draft. (Though it doesn't show up in the picture, the Star of David is actually a faded yellow which I quite like.)
What do you think?!
I took a line from the book...yeah, my own book. It's a bit weird, but I'm feeling too lazy to hunt down another.
March 6, 2016
Claire Banschbach's BLOG PARTY!
Damian is a pretty awesome faery, if you want to take the biased opinion of the author. He’s considered one of the most eligible bachelors in the mountain but doesn’t seem to recognize that fact. He is taller than most faeries, has brown hair, and hazel eyes. He is about one hundred years old which is roughly equivalent to twenty human years.
Fun Fact: Damian was the real reason this story got written in the first place. I came up with the idea after a random forest scene with a faery (Damian) popped into my head. From there it was a matter of trying to figure out how he had gotten there and what would happen next. As it turns out, Adela is actually the main character, but he makes a nice supporting character. I won’t say which scene because it’s actually in the book and would be quite spoilery if I told you.
Synopsis:
A curse. A murderous scheme. A choice. A witch and her master capture a young faery and command her to kill their enemy. Adela has no choice but to obey. If she does not, they will force the location of her people’s mountain home from her and kill her. To make matters even worse, the person she is to kill is only a man struggling to save his dying land and mend a broken heart. Count Stefan is a man simply trying to forget the woman he loves and save a land crippled by drought. When a mysterious woman arrives at his castle claiming to be a seamstress, he knows she is more than she seems. Adela enlists the help of Damian, another faery, to try and delay the inevitable. He insists she has a choice. But with the witch controlling her every move, does she?
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29085448-adela-s-curse
Author Bio: Claire Banschbach was born and raised in Midland, TX, the fourth of eight children. She was homeschooled through high school and is now a proud member of the Texas A&M University class of 2014. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She continues to write in her spare time (and often when she doesn’t have spare time). She hopes her strong foundation in God will help to guide her writing. Facebook| Twitter | Goodreads| Blog
Unlock the rest of the series!Giveaway!
3 winners! Prizes include 2 copies of Adela’s Curse, and a paperback version of The Rise of Aredorto celebrate its 2 year anniversary on March 11! Open to international entries. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d11da96b3/?
Participating BlogsHere’s the link for the schedule. You can copy/paste it all into your post or just include the link. I’ll be updating the page daily with the links to everyone’s specific post. https://clairembanschbach.wordpress.com/blog-tour-schedule/
Fun Fact: Damian was the real reason this story got written in the first place. I came up with the idea after a random forest scene with a faery (Damian) popped into my head. From there it was a matter of trying to figure out how he had gotten there and what would happen next. As it turns out, Adela is actually the main character, but he makes a nice supporting character. I won’t say which scene because it’s actually in the book and would be quite spoilery if I told you.
Synopsis:
A curse. A murderous scheme. A choice. A witch and her master capture a young faery and command her to kill their enemy. Adela has no choice but to obey. If she does not, they will force the location of her people’s mountain home from her and kill her. To make matters even worse, the person she is to kill is only a man struggling to save his dying land and mend a broken heart. Count Stefan is a man simply trying to forget the woman he loves and save a land crippled by drought. When a mysterious woman arrives at his castle claiming to be a seamstress, he knows she is more than she seems. Adela enlists the help of Damian, another faery, to try and delay the inevitable. He insists she has a choice. But with the witch controlling her every move, does she?
Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29085448-adela-s-curse
Author Bio: Claire Banschbach was born and raised in Midland, TX, the fourth of eight children. She was homeschooled through high school and is now a proud member of the Texas A&M University class of 2014. She is currently working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She continues to write in her spare time (and often when she doesn’t have spare time). She hopes her strong foundation in God will help to guide her writing. Facebook| Twitter | Goodreads| Blog
Unlock the rest of the series!Giveaway!
3 winners! Prizes include 2 copies of Adela’s Curse, and a paperback version of The Rise of Aredorto celebrate its 2 year anniversary on March 11! Open to international entries. http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d11da96b3/?
Participating BlogsHere’s the link for the schedule. You can copy/paste it all into your post or just include the link. I’ll be updating the page daily with the links to everyone’s specific post. https://clairembanschbach.wordpress.com/blog-tour-schedule/
March 3, 2016
"Also cute, and fluffy!"
Five Random Things You Might Not Know About Jack
1. Her real name. Sorry, couldn't resist. Can you blame me?
2. She isn't often complimented, but when she is it is usually about her voice. This one I've gotten randomly off and on throughout my life. It happened recently though and made me realize just how often it has happened. The most recent time was with a co-worker while I was scolding two boys to sit down and stop crawling over the floor during story time. She said something about how I had a sweet voice and she wished she had one like it. Had it been someone else I might have believed they were just joking, but this co-worker hasn't gotten to that level yet. She still thinks I'm incredibly sweet and not the sort of person who ruthlessly laughs at my best friend as she cries while cutting onions. One of the other times it happened was even more awkward. I worked at a fast food place and had to work drive through sometimes. One day after I took an order, my Mercenary Friend - who had on a head set as well - came up and said something like, "You have a nice voice. You know how some people have those voices you can't stand to listen to and you have to mute them? Well, yours is nice to listen to." (I guess I could say that since this came from my Mercenary Friend I wasn't as awkward as with my new co-worker. Instead I evilly snickered and said I understood all too well about voices which needed the mute button.)
3. She sleeps on a cot.
This could be a complicated result of many things, which it is. I could also continue to do it because I haven't been able to afford a new bed, which is barely in part true. The truth is, even if I had the money to buy a new bed I likely wouldn't. I like the idea of sleeping on a cot and plan to do so until said cot breaks.
4. She sat on her glasses and broke them so often she just forced her eye sight to get better because she couldn't keep buying new glasses.
I guess I didn't really cure my own eyesight. I never had it that bad to begin with. I could see fine without my glasses, I would just get headaches. Now I only need them for reading and writing, which is nice since the only pair I have is badly scratched and too big for me. The headaches did clear up, I don't know how, but maybe it is simply God having pity on my inability to keep glasses in one piece.
5. If you want to really make her laugh use the stupidest pun you can think up.
The truth in this is staggering. The dumber the pun the harder I laugh. I am an easily amused person.
Now, is there a reason behind this post? Eh...is there ever a reason behind my posts?
Well, maybe sometimes. And we could say the reason behind this one is I needed to through you off track before I announced.....
I AM REVEALING THE COVER FOR MY BOOK, BROTHERS-IN-ARMS NEXT WEEK ON THE 9TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does that work? I hope so.
Quote is from Lilo and Stitch
1. Her real name. Sorry, couldn't resist. Can you blame me?
2. She isn't often complimented, but when she is it is usually about her voice. This one I've gotten randomly off and on throughout my life. It happened recently though and made me realize just how often it has happened. The most recent time was with a co-worker while I was scolding two boys to sit down and stop crawling over the floor during story time. She said something about how I had a sweet voice and she wished she had one like it. Had it been someone else I might have believed they were just joking, but this co-worker hasn't gotten to that level yet. She still thinks I'm incredibly sweet and not the sort of person who ruthlessly laughs at my best friend as she cries while cutting onions. One of the other times it happened was even more awkward. I worked at a fast food place and had to work drive through sometimes. One day after I took an order, my Mercenary Friend - who had on a head set as well - came up and said something like, "You have a nice voice. You know how some people have those voices you can't stand to listen to and you have to mute them? Well, yours is nice to listen to." (I guess I could say that since this came from my Mercenary Friend I wasn't as awkward as with my new co-worker. Instead I evilly snickered and said I understood all too well about voices which needed the mute button.)
3. She sleeps on a cot.
This could be a complicated result of many things, which it is. I could also continue to do it because I haven't been able to afford a new bed, which is barely in part true. The truth is, even if I had the money to buy a new bed I likely wouldn't. I like the idea of sleeping on a cot and plan to do so until said cot breaks.
4. She sat on her glasses and broke them so often she just forced her eye sight to get better because she couldn't keep buying new glasses.
I guess I didn't really cure my own eyesight. I never had it that bad to begin with. I could see fine without my glasses, I would just get headaches. Now I only need them for reading and writing, which is nice since the only pair I have is badly scratched and too big for me. The headaches did clear up, I don't know how, but maybe it is simply God having pity on my inability to keep glasses in one piece.
5. If you want to really make her laugh use the stupidest pun you can think up.
The truth in this is staggering. The dumber the pun the harder I laugh. I am an easily amused person.
Now, is there a reason behind this post? Eh...is there ever a reason behind my posts?
Well, maybe sometimes. And we could say the reason behind this one is I needed to through you off track before I announced.....
I AM REVEALING THE COVER FOR MY BOOK, BROTHERS-IN-ARMS NEXT WEEK ON THE 9TH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does that work? I hope so.
Quote is from Lilo and Stitch
