As I've said there is snow on the mountain tops to my west, which is our lowest mountains and I can enjoy the view outside my new window to the west and also see the larger mountains to my northeast, and to the east. I call the three peaks to my east the "Three Sisters".
Now that I've gotten the office put together I can return to my writing. Marlene is coming over this week so I can interview her. She is the very nice lady who will be the basis for my 4th book in the Apache Snow series, to be entitled "Medivac". She served two combat tours in Vietnam, from surgical nurse with an EVAC Hospital to riding a Huey for serving the wounded combat vets in the field. I look forward to telling her story.
Today's synopsis/back page is for "Apache Snow", first book in the original trilogy and my best seller. Book # 2 in the series is also for sale and it's entitled "In Search of Honor", while book # 3, "The Sandbox Wars", is waiting final editing and based on the War in Afghanistan. I wrote "In Search of Honor" to tell of the PTSD issues our men and women were suffering coming home from both Vietnam and the desert wars. It was my attempt to show the loved ones of our veterans plight in dealing with PTSD, and how tough it was in the early days of returning home and the many nightmares, drug and alcohol problems they dealt with.
"Operation Apache Snow" is a story of the Vietnamese War, which takes place in 1969 and primarily involves members of a single battalion of the 101st Airborne Division, who engaged the 29th North Vietnamese Army Division for an actual 11-day battle on Hill # 937 in the infamous A Shau Valley.
While the characters are fictional, the battle was very real and when it was over 70 Americans were killed in action, 420 Americans were wounded and 633 North Vietnamese were confirmed dead.
Matthew Kendal, a pastor's youngest son from a white middle-class California background, enlists in the army and volunteers for service in Vietnam to avenge his brother's death; a Green Beret sergeant killed in 1968.
During training Matthew becomes close friends with John Adams, a tough-skinned Afro-American youth from the poorer neighborhoods right outside our nation's capital, and Jose Martinez, a street wise Chicano from East Los Angeles. Together they experience the rigors of Airborne training and journey to Vietnam to become "Screaming Eagles", of the 101st Airborne.
Placed in 2nd Squad, the story follows the actual events surrounding D Company during this intense battle for Hill # 937, which would later be known as the "Battle for Hamburger Hill".
(My three main characters were styled from the three soldiers shown on the Vietnam Memorial.)
You can obtain this book thru Amazon via hardcover or Kindle. Or order it directly from Alaska Dreams Publishing at http://www.alaskadp.com.
As I said in my last e-mail, I'm sending out the back cover info for my 5 books. My new "Arizona Rangers-Indian Wars" should be out soon, as it is in the hands of my publisher now. This is Book Two is this series, of a 5 book planned series. I'm looking forward to using my new office for writing purposes.
For those of you who have not heard, Mona's older brother and his wife, Troy and Leslie, are leaving for the Lower 48 to pick up the new motor-home and then they'll be taking care of some of their grandchildren in the Lower 48 for a lengthy period. I suspect it has been a long time since they left Alaska for a winter and probably not the last. We wish them well and have added our prayers to safe travels.
Mona and I wish all of you the Lord's Blessings be upon you. BILL