A few leaps forward
A few months ago, I decided to undergo a marathon by doing 15 laps (a little over 1.8m per) around my neighborhood just to see if I could. I have some pretty significant lower body injuries, so things started to get pretty painful after mile 10 and damn near unbearable after 20, but I did it. It took all day (This is relevant, I promise. Hang in there), but I was able to press myself to finish… one step at a time.
I view this publication process as a parallel. Writing an entire book is a daunting enough process… let alone the next steps where you eventually realize that the creation was possibly the least vexing of them all. Regardless, the lessons I learned through hip, knee and foot pain during that self-imposed, just-for-me marathon apply here–and to everywhere else in life–and no matter how daunting or insurmountable a task may be, we can overcome them. One step at a time.
Well forget the steps, because this week we’ve taken several leaps forward.
It started with a fantastic write up in Publisher’s Weekly (
PW has a reputation for tough but always fair reviews, so with that in mind, I found this to be extremely favorable and an honor. In fact, I had to read it several times before it even sunk in.
But it gets better. “How could this possibly get better without John Travolta and a massage table?!” you ask? First of all, gross. Secondly, not easily. After months of pursuit, effort, and mostly agonizing over things beyond my control, things unbelievably fell into place right before my deadline.
“Read Sgt. Turley’s Welcome To Hell and you will never have to worry if our nation’s ’911 force’ is ready to answer the call.”
- General Charles C. Krulak, 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps
^ That just happened. First of all, for him to have given me the day at all is nothing shy of a miracle. I mean, let’s face it… Who am I? (24601) A stranger and unknown who has yet to really accomplish anything in this arena. To compound that with taking the time from a ridiculously busy schedule to not only read my book, but discuss it with me and then stick his neck out a little to participate like this… well it’s completely overwhelming and speaks volumes to the character of the man.
To make this even more miraculous, earlier in the week I received the following:
“A lot has changed since I was in the Marines, but Patrick Turley’s Welcome to Hell
vividly illustrates what hasn’t changed: that pain, discipline and dehumanization
are the crucible in which an elite fighting force is forged.
This book took me back to my own proud days in hell.”
- Jim Beaver, star of Deadwood and Supernatural, and author of Life’s That Way.
Every word and adjective I applied to General Krulak applies here, as well. These are some selfless men and I just can’t express my level of appreciation or respect in words.
Amazing week! Time to shift the focus and continue those steps. Next up, actually building the Welcome To Hell sub-page here and doing some good: getting a military charity selected.
One step at a time.
