Theodore’s Comments (group member since Apr 01, 2017)

Theodore’s comments from the Navigating Indieworld Discussing All Things Indie group.

Carmel wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Angel, that was beautiful. I had uncles who served in WWI and WWII, and like you, am so proud of them. There are others I would like to honor as well, including a friend of Susan's..."

Thanks, Carmel. It was a tragedy.

Angel, that was beautiful. I had uncles who served in WWI and WWII, and like you, am so proud of them. There are others I would like to honor as well, including a friend of Susan's and mine who died in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and who was the inspiration for my series of mystery/thrillers. The backstory was given in the Afterword of my book, Eighth Circle. The Afterword is provided below:

I have always been puzzled by the dedications found in novels and other forms of literature, small but important "honors" paid to friends or family members, mentors perhaps, or a person who played an important role in the author’s life or the birth of the literary piece that now carries the honoree’s name. For most of us—dare I say all?—the dedication often is viewed as a private matter between the author and the person honored, something to which we are not privy. It’s a communication within a society of the chosen, if you will. We don’t know the secret handshake.

You may have felt the same as you read the dedication in this book. There you saw the words "For Jimmy." Perhaps you simply shrugged, guessed it was a friend of mine, someone I knew and respected, and then you moved on and (I hope) enjoyed the novel.

But there is more to this dedication than that. Jimmy was James Francis Adamouski, Captain, United States Army, a friend of my wife Susan’s and mine, and son of our good friends, Judy and Lt. Col. Frank Adamouski, US Army (ret.). Frank and I worked together for many years, traveling occasionally from Washington, DC, to Ft. Monmouth, NJ, for our work. When in New Jersey, we took time and headed north to visit Jimmy, who was a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY. There, he not only excelled academically but in sports as well, soccer being his game of choice. We had many a good meal together at The Thayer Hotel, something to which I always looked forward. And what an honor it was for those who attended Jimmy and Meighan’s wedding in Savannah, GA, after his graduation to witness the solemn ceremony with its military formality and to attend the beautiful reception that followed.

Upon graduation, Jimmy attended flight school at Ft. Rutger, AL, where he learned to fly Black Hawk helicopters. His first overseas deployment was in support of the US efforts to quell the Kosovo conflict, where as a lay Eucharist minister in the Catholic Church, the troops took to calling him “Father Jimmy” because he conducted prayer services for his fellow soldiers.

Jimmy, who was to enter Harvard Business School in the fall of 2003, was killed in action when his Black Hawk helicopter crashed in central Iraq on April 2, 2003, during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His remains were buried with full military honors in Arlington National Cemetery and West Point Cemetery.

If someone were to conclude Jimmy was the inspiration for the character Louis Martelli in my NYPD mystery/thriller novels, they would be correct.

Rest in peace, Jimmy. Thank you for your service to our country.


Photo courtesy of the Adamouski Family: Judy, Frank, Karen, Laura, Jaclyn, and Meighan (Jimmy's wife)

James Francis Adamouski, Captain, United States Army
2nd Battalion, 3rd Aviation Regiment, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia
Died in Central Iraq, April 2, 2003, at the age of 29

Dale wrote: "Got it, thanks. Sounds like you've added a substantial amount of material, then. Just curious, because I'm thinking of assembling a collection at some point, but I don't want it to be too "thin." I..."

Okay...there's no set formula, I guess. Good luck.

Dale wrote: "So I guess that's about 2 to 3 pages per story with the photo?"

Every story comprises two pages: the photo is on the left, the story on the right. No exceptions. There is front matter, as I said, as well as endnotes providing additional research on a story (as applicable), some backstories, and so forth, plus biographies.

Carole wrote: "Wishing everyone a Happy Mother's Day!!! xoxooxoxo"

Yes, Happy Mother's Day, Carole.

Dale wrote: "Theodore wrote: "The Kindle edition of Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction - Book 6 in my Flash Fiction Anthology series just went on pre-sale (it will be released August 5, 2018). Taken together, the six..."

EXACTLY 73 stores per book and up to 250 words per story--some less, none more--plus A Word from the Author, footnotes, and endnotes, as required. Each paperback runs 178-182 pages, including front matter (Roman-numbered pages). Don't forget that on the facing (even-numbered) page there's a photo prompt. Virtually all genres are covered with the exception of classic Science Fiction. I can't warp my head around that. Examples of stories from each book are on my Website:

https://www.theodore-cohen-novels.com/

Dale wrote: "But bear in mind that this is a short story, not a book, so it does have to grab the reader in the first paragraph or two. The main thing is that the competition is so fierce and the readers/editor..."

The Kindle edition of Creative Ink, Flashy Fiction - Book 6 in my Flash Fiction Anthology series just went on pre-sale (it will be released August 5, 2018). Taken together, the six books comprise 438 stories (110,000 words), each prompted by a photograph (color photographs in the Kindle edition).

Anna Faversham wrote: "Brain v brawn, eh, Theodore?"

Well, they had a decision to make, didn't they? (;>)

Many (MANY!) years ago I wrote a monthly column for SIGNAL, the journal of the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) in Washington, D.C. I always used the Oxford comma, which was forbidden by the magazine's style manual. So, of course, they removed the second comma, wherever it showed up, when they published my column each month. This drove me nuts, so one day, just for the hell of it, I penned a column full of strings where, if you removed the second comma, it completely changed the meaning of every sentence. It took about a day before I received a telephone call from the senior editor: "You win!"

I never had another problem after that.

Eldon wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Next, I suppose they are going to renew their attack on the Oxford comma (which I continue to use despite what my editor says)."

And an Oxford comma is... ?"

‘Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.’

https://climateaudit.org/2012/03/01/e...

Dale wrote: "Anita wrote: "Starting a new chapter on the odd page has fallen by the wayside. Even the large publishing houses don't adhere to it. It is only the first chapter that starts on the odd numbered pag..."

That's terrific! hahahaha

Dale wrote: "Theodore wrote: "I don't know if everyone is going to be able to read it."

Hmm, yeah, I don't know that it's a large enough study to entirely conclude that one way is better than the other. In fac..."

I've used one space for decades. The article isn't going to make a difference in my work.

Anita wrote: "Drum roll---my new book, A u 7 9, is live on Amazon. I am super excited. It is the eBook, the paperback will be up by the end of the week."

That's very nice, Anita. Congratulations.

Alex wrote: "Theodore wrote: "Next, I suppose they are going to renew their attack on the Oxford comma (which I continue to use despite what my editor says)."

I will take up arms in defence of it. Using the Ox..."

I use it in all of my writings! Period. End.Of.Statement.

Carole wrote: "Great job, guys!"

Thanks, Carole

Judy wrote: "I heard from NABE that Bonjour! Let's Learn French received the Book Achievement Award for Best Children's Bilingual Winter 2018"

Hey, congratulations, Judy!

Ted

Next, I suppose they are going to renew their attack on the Oxford comma (which I continue to use despite what my editor says).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/s...

The Washington Post

I don't know if everyone is going to be able to read it.

Christine wrote: "Congratulations Ted!"

Thanks, Christine.

Anna Faversham wrote: "Brilliant, what a compliment!"

Thanks, Anna.