Volume II of Jeff Head' Dragon's Fury Series now available in Adobe Ebook format

Thanks for the update.

PEBBLE IN THE WATER

Drop a pebble in the water,
just a splash, and it's gone;
But there's half a hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,

Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water;
in a minute you will forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing
and there's ripples circling yet,

And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind or careless word:
in a minute it is gone;
But there's half a hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,

They keep spreading, spreading,
spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you've started the flow.

Drop an unkind or careless word:
in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet.

And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life that was happy
where you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
just a flash and it is gone;
But there is half a hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,

Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave,
Till you wouldn't believe the volume
of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
in a minute you will forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling,
and there's joy circling yet.

And you've rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard,
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.

Author Unknown

July 30, 1942

President Franklin Roosevelt signs an act establishing the Woman Appointed for Voluntary Emergency Service (WAVES), the women's branch of the Navy.

I look forard to your overall thoughts on Volume One and then the rest in the series.

Alright, I finally got around to forking over the thirteen bucks for the First Volume.

I am reading it on my spare time and am already over two hundred pages in. This thing is a real page-turner, Jeff, no doubt about it.

Honestly, I only have one editorial criticism to offer so far (aside from the occasional type-setting misprint, like the part on page 96 where President Weisskopf tells the PLA ambassador that the Red Chinese SHOULD plan to obstruct the South China Sea? Maybe you mean that President Weisskopf tells the PLA ambassador that the Red Chinese SHOULD NOT plan to obstruct the South China Sea? A few other minor details, etc.).

My one editorial criticism is gonna sound "politically correct", but it's my genuine opinion. Your plot-writing is excellent. Like I said, a real page-turner. Your character-writing is *slightly* weak, IMHO. Particularly, the Black American characters from Chicago who are making their way to Self-Reliant Conservativism... ummm... how can I put this...

In fairness, Jeff, you are a White Man from the Midwest/Great West, and so am I. I like the way that you are highlighting the degradation of the Black Nuclear Family caused by the welfare state, and the sorry degradation of English Literacy among Urban Black Ebonics... but your Black Characters -- Leon, Alan, and Geneva -- though they are entirely likeable and sympathetic characters, their dialogue doesn't sound like Urban Black Ebonics. They sound like Amos-and-Andy StepandFetchits.

They really do. Honestly. It doesn't sound "real". Me, I don't have a clue how to talk "US Marine"; and by the same token, that dialogue does not really sound "Urban American Black". In my Rural American white-bread opinion, anyway.

And since I know for a fact that you don't have a racist bone in your body, I think that you will understand if I say that the LAST thing you want -- if you really want to take this sucker to National Print -- is for race-baiter Liberals to accuse you of "patronizing black people". It would NOT be fair to your Book, but you KNOW that they would try it if they could get away with it. Anything to paint you as a "racist" and thereby discount your Political Statements.

I think that you need to let a real Urban Black Conservative read and re-write the Story Dialogue offered by Leon, Alan, and Geneva, so it does not sound "contrived". I'd recommend an editorial review by either rdb3 from Ohio or Trueblackman from Baltimore.

And heck -- they may tell me I am totally off-base and your character writing is 100% spot-on... but y'know, it could not hurt.

Other than that, I am completely absorbed. Great little book.

I'm holding out for the print version. I plan to read it right away, and will post a review.

Thanks for the thoughts and the criticism.

Actually I was raised in Texas and went to school and played football with a group of black guys whom I became close friends with. My "eubonics" is dated by those experiences in the early to mid-70's ... but for that time, based on my experiences in North Central Texas ... I feel they are as accurate as I could make them given one major issue.

The one thing I know is wrong is the use of a number of very extrem profanities that I am not including in any case (both here and in several other instances) which any editor or major publisher will have to work around anyay. I will not move on that particular point.

Volume II is out and I believe you will find it even better done, addressing some of your concerns from Volume I. I am a self admitted novice and am trying to learn as I go, while still providing a compelling message into which are couched critical messages.

Best FRegards.

I'll let you know when they are available by email. Fremail, posts on FR and the site.

I look forward to your thoughts and comments on it as always.

God's best to you and yours up North. I have been down in Texas again working but am headed home tomorrow.

My "eubonics" is dated by those experiences in the early to mid-70's ...

Aha!! I knew your black characters sounded more "Jeffersons" than "Dr. Dre".

The one thing I know is wrong is the use of a number of very extrem profanities that I am not including in any case (both here and in several other instances) which any editor or major publisher will have to work around anyay. I will not move on that particular point.

I'm totally in agreement with you here. You're under no obligation to write your own book under an NC-17 rating. If a reader thinks that the "street" characters should use more harsh language, they will just have to "imagine around" the written dialogue in their own minds. No biggie.

Thanks. No NC-17 or other such raiting here. Hopefully "G", although some of the descriptions of the war and atrocities would probably draw other ratings I suppose.

But, that is the reality of what we may face and I believe it needs to be told ... short of totally explicit material of course

Best regards.