KINDLE Options

Hey folks!  I just got word from the publisher that they are working out some problems with Amazon in getting the Kindle uploaded.  But it should not take much longer.

UNTIL THEN:

Please check out this location - the eBook is available here!  And compatible with the KINDLE and anything else.  If you have a NOOK - that is always available at -

Click here for NOOK:

Barnes and Noble

click here for KINDLE:
KINDLE file

MORE Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Me

Hey Land Run readers!  I want to update you about a new site that features my novel and recent short story.  I plan to add (much revised) excerpts from my new novel project as well.

It really is a great site!

Also, in other news, Land Run will soon be available in the Oklahoma Metropolitan Library System.  Tulsa is reviewing the novel as well - I am hoping for a positive result there as well.  Choctaw Library is considering the novel for a special feature.

Check this out:

LAND RUN in AUTHORSDEN

Rock Star!

I had a great time doing book-signings this past week.  I was at the Via Cappaccino in Rocky Mount, NC.  I am soon closing in on middle-age and had a college student ask me to sign her arm.  That might be, no - that will be, as close to a 'Rock Star' experience I will ever see. ;-)   After which, of course, I had to leave my make-shift bookstand to keep my two-year old from throwing puzzle pieces at their customers.

Will have another book-signing in Raleigh in August - if in the area please come on out. 

http://www.stevensbks.com/

Have a GREAT weekend!

Via Cappuccino - and Elves....

...Here I come!  Man, isn't that just a cool name for a place?  I could say it 3 times like the guy in the Elf movie did with Mississippi. :-)

Just a reminder of the book signing tomorrow at the Via Cappuccino in Rocky Mount, NC.  Very nice coffee house and local arts community hang-out.  Come by and check them out.

July 14 – Thursday

6:00-8:00 p.m.
Via Cappuccino
3002 Sunset Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC 27804-3647
(252) 937-0004

VERY COOL Updates (KINDLE) and a Free Gift

It has been a busy week for Land Run.  I had a really fun interview on TV Friday.  Go ahead and click the link below - no worries, it's short ;-)

LET'S TALK ABOUT 'CROSSOVER' FICTION

The book-signing after was cool as well.  The book seems to have run out of stock temporarily at many online bookstores - but always available via the publisher at http://markgraham.tateauthor.com/ until supply is filled.

Land Run soon (very soon) to be available on KINDLE.

BOOK-SIGNING this week:

July 14 – Thursday
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Via Cappuccino
3002 Sunset Avenue
Rocky Mount, NC 27804-3647
(252) 937-0004

Now for your free gift:

Psalm 20

1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob protect you!

2 May he send you help from the sanctuary and give you support from Zion!
3 May he remember all your offerings and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! Selah
4 May he grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the LORD fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright.
9 O LORD, save the king! May he answer us when we call.

The Night Before...

Well, that sounded ominous. ;-)  Just want to put out a quick reminder of the Book-Signing tomorrow.

July 8 – Friday

6:00-800 p.m.
Storytellers Bookstore
100 E. Roosevelt Ave
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 554-9146

Also, for you newshounds, I will be interviewed for the novel the same day at 12:30 on WRAL in Raleigh.  Right now I am pretending that will be fun...rather than scary. ;-)

Hope to see you there!

Mark

Happy Independence Day!

Hi!  Just a reminder - if you happen to be in North Carolina this week.  Every so often I will post some Book-Signing events as they come close to the time.  This is one of those times. :-) Please stop by Storytellers Books in Wake Forest, NC if you have time.  There will be music provided and also a local festival going on.  Lots of fun.  (and if you have never been to Storytellers - it is a great hangout with a mess of books!)

Also - the same day WRAL news will possibly interview me for the mid-day newscast.  So - please say a prayer for me as I never know what I might say ;-)

July 8 – Friday


6:00-800 p.m.

Storytellers Bookstore

100 E. Roosevelt Ave

Wake Forest, NC 27587

(919) 554-9146

Cable Can't Touch This!

I live very much in 'the country' nowadays.  In exploring our community the past few years we have connected with many wonderful folks.  Among other things, we have learned how to access local food providers (really healthy stuff).  And we have also become steady and returning visitors of many county events and festivals.

This year I have been discovering the local arts community.  I had no idea!  There are only 13,000 people in my whole county.  But the artists congregate regularly from surrounding areas to showcase their talents.  And in some cases have been so nice as to allow me to do a few readings from Land Run. 

I have met musicians, writers, and artists who have spent their whole lives entertaining others in our community.  The other night I watched an elderly man, with a belt full of harmonicas, play songs you know and some he made up himself.  In between sets he told some stories and poems that had me laughing SO hard.  The jokes were probably older than him but so fresh in the telling.

Anyhow, I just want to send out an encouragement to you to check these things out in your own communities.  They are surely out there and you will be so glad you did!

 -  Sometimes your local arts council is a great place to start.

GREAT BRITAIN: Across the Pond! And Something About a Patriot

I ran into some great folks in England that have been so kind as to include my short story, The Patriot, in their collection of fiction.  There is also a short review of the writing (very thankful for that as well).  There is a lot of great information on current books, reviews, and other writings I am having fun reading on the Lost in Fiction website.  Please click below and check them out as soon as you can - you will be glad you did. :-)

LOST IN FICTION

FYI - This short story is a piece of character development for the current novel I am working on... ;-)

HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

I got a pre-fathers day...day.  The kids took me to the state history museum and then to the pool.  I'm not certain that the second place was for me really. ;-)  My 8 year old son asked me later what I liked best at the museum.  There was so much there that I had to think about it.  I found that I really did have a favorite.  They had two actual pirate swords on display from ships sunk off the coast in the late 1600's.  It was just...cool. 

I am thinking that 8 years is a nice age to be.  So much, I guess, we carry that year with us well into adulthood. Maybe so that we don't miss the experience of anything.

Happy Fathers Day!

One of Those Days...

Ever have one of those really good days?  I had one of those today.  Not the kind where everything went right and topped off by some quiet, space to read, and watching a great film with your loved one.  Not the kind where you are watching your child blow the candles out and then playing with her friends in the yard on a warm sunny day.

Instead - the kind that come in retrospection and introspection.  I once had a job where for 2 solid years I held a 70 hour work week - for 80 cents and hour.  They told me when/where to sleep, what to eat, what to wear.  Where I complained almost every day.  And they woke me up at weird hours to do some pretty crazy stuff.  Oh, and with instructions that if I ever left the job, I would go to jail.  Today, I keep a large photo of that Coast Guard patrol boat in my cubical at work.  To remind me of the best job I ever had.

Like that - today was the normal grind.  But somehow I was able to see what I had at the same time I had it.  You know what I mean?  Not the stuff...we know its just stuff, that will cost again to fix or replace.  Not the leisure...I had none of that.  But an awareness came to me anew of the intangible but certain eternal prize that is mine, faith and its rewards.  Being the owner of that...well, I could look to the obstructions, troubling factors and people with confidence.  What could someone that lucky do except to sincerely wish the same great wealth upon them?  So I asked my benefactor to hook them up.  You know, because the pressure is off.  I can more than afford to do it. 

Have a great day! :-)

Note:  Land Run is on backorder just about everywhere - but distribution will be to the rescue very soon.  So please don't let that stop you - go on and reserve your copy. :-)

Freedom and GoodReads

I have been involved in some discussions lately on Goodreads.  A very fun place on the Internet for book-lovers - I highly recommend it!  I was participating in a review of a and older Russian novel written during the early Soviet years.  The author, Bulgakov, was sometimes subtle, other times not so subtle in his...well...rebellion.  I found that Stalin liked his plays so never killed him (as he did so many others). 

So this writer, like so many, was always chasing truth as an individual.  The thought of writing to conform is distasteful to writers.  If they are not repulsed by this idea - they would at least see it as a pointless venture.  Like a macro-economics student being asked to draw 100 graphs...based on the premise of 'all things being equal". (okay, still a little bitter about that ;-)

Anyhow, I am thinking a lot of writers through history...you know, just guys and gals seeking truth in story.  They wrote in their times, be it the French or American revolution.  The Soviet or Post-Soviet period.  Pre-Mao, Post-Mao.  Every little or large country, any time and place.  Any cultural or market pressures demanding conformity.  Any government. 

They wrote in freedom.  If they had to veil truth or not...it was always there.  If it wasn't there would be no reason to write.  They would simply have set their pens down.  Writers....are free.   Maybe that's why so many do such good work in prison.  Freedom plus freedom from distraction. ;-)  Picture Bunyan in his damp little stone cell for years...blissfully completing his allegorical masterpiece.

Book Signing Event!

Hey folks!  Have the first scheduled Book Event!  There may be some events coming in after this that are scheduled sooner - but I will update everyone as they come in.

If you are available - please pencil this in and swing by!  And by all means - tell your friends. :-) 

It's a great bookstore and hang-out - only wish I lived closer.

JULY 8 - 6:00-8:00 P.M.

Click on link below for bookstore information.  Also, check back as there will be more promotional information available in the comingt weeks.

STORYTELLER BOOKSTORE

Apologies and Comments

Well it was feeling kind of lonely out here in blogger-land ;-) But since opening this blog I have had almost 1300 visits.  I so appreciate these visits.  Just checking settings today and somehow I disallowed comments - registered users only - ugh!  I have now fixed this.  If you return to this blog from time to time - sorry for the mishap.  Please know that you can leave comments anywhere and anytime now.

Folks can also connect with me also on Twitter and Goodreads. 

Getting out of the comfort zone a little bit.  The publisher is scheduling book events now at various locations - will update when these get scheduled.  I gave a reading tonight at a local arts gathering and had a great time doing it actually.  For readers who have read the book, it was pages 62-64.  That seemed appropriate to current affairs - you know what I mean. ;-)

Have a great weekend!

Off and Running

Well, the novel as been out for a little while now and I really appreciate the feedback I am getting from readers.  So far most are coming from Facebook.  Please everyone, feel free to join that Facebook page.  It will be a few weeks before some official 'reviews' trickle in.  I would just like to encourage everyone, if you have a little time, to comment on the novel wherever you purchased it - on their company websites - BarnesandNoble, Amazon, etc.


I am able to put a little time again to the next novel.  If you are interested in getting a 'feel' of that - please just click on the link above titled  FUN SHORT STORY.

Thanks again everyone.  Please stay tuned!

Sights and Sounds

One thing I strive towards in writing is to project an experience of place and character as true to life as I can.  To engage readers through their senses and every-day understanding.  That they can truly feel they are in a room, town, car, or wherever.  Whether new or old to a reader - real.  Also, over time, they might think, "Yeah, that is the way it is." Or, "I know that person or condition."  And in some cases, for some to possibly ponder, "what if...maybe...life has a bit more texture than I noticed when I last ran my had across it?"

There are many surprizes.  The story will take readers to unexpected (but real) places in terms of community social conditions.  The common, the everyplace 'Willow Springs', comes alive and becomes a compelling place to experience.

I strongly suspect that all our lives do this...when we take the time to experience the depth of our own lives and histories.  Don't you?

RELEASED!!!

May 10th is here and the novel Land Run is officially released!  Well, it will be in 20 minutes...and official when we all wake up in the morning.

At this stage the main site http://markgraham.tateauthor.com/ has a listing of available store locations.  But today I found out that it is literally everywhere now.  So if you even have a favorite local independent bookstore - they will very likely have it in their catalogue.

Please keep tracking for book-events to be scheduled in the coming months.

Thanks again to all the readers and I hope you enjoyed the story - Land Run.

Five Days!

I have been feeling a countdown for awhile.  I decided this is a marker of note to share - without being too annoying to folks,  I hope.

This work has actually been a long time coming.  But so worth it.  I have learned a great deal about writing and the publishing industry.  Without the experience of the process - it would be merely knowledge without understanding.  I have a history of creative writing courses, blogging, and dreaming.  But to take a completed narrative to the point of publication - has been a real education.

My confidence in the new project I am workng on is so much more than I had in decades of writing before.  But then I rarely wrote with the goal of a full novel-length narrative in mind.  Just short stories for a sense of closure and essays on various things to get off my mind.

This got me thinking:  Wisdom is understood as the application of knowledge.  And that is something gained through time and experience.  There really seems to be no way out of these manditory parameters of life.  But if we resign ourselves to this realistic condition I think we have a good chance to move more smoothly through our short time here.  And move with more joy and confidence. Appying grace to our failures and striving towards our hope and better future...along the way...day to day.

What did Kenny say?  You got to know when to hold them, when to fold them, when to walk away, and when to run.  And if we don't know...well, we will next time.  We're wrong sometimes..but we're not stupid!

Five days until Land Run releases! :-)

Thanks to all for checking this novel out.  I greatly hope you enjoy reading it.

Hello Australia!!

I just got this information today and thought it was cool.  The Borders bookstore in Australia is selling Land Run.  If anyone has friends there - please let them know its available.  :-)

Borders Australia - Land Run

A Reader's Manifesto

I don't know about you - but I have found that standing firm, holding tight to who you are is never easy.  But the the older I get the easier it gets.  There are many aspects to Land Run that does not meet certain CBA or ABA requirements (the gods of fiction publishing - Christian and secular).  But in this novel I strove towards a pretty simple and independant agenda.  Tell the truth - entertain - every word must fit the character, scene, and story.  That's it.  I found through the process of finding an agent and then a publisher - the literary world out there is not exactly a friend to this 'agenda' of mine.  They are friends to parts of it and contexualized versions of these goals of mine in this writing.  But that is not enough.  The control over art today is crazy to me.  Marketing has taken over what people can read and where they can access it even.  How did that happen?  I don't know.

I ran across this critique of literature a few years ago and found it very encouraging.  You may as well - so I will include it here.  If you have interest or time to read it - please leave your responses in the comments section (if you do - you will be like the first to do so ;-)

Readers Manifesto


One week until the 'release date' of the novel.  I need to google for what that means.  It is available now online at a lot of places. See the Land Run Website   But I think it is a date where the publisher issues advertisements and firms up 'book-events'.  It will be interesting and I hope...fun.

Storms

Hey Readers!

There are new updates to the publisher web-site. (click link)
Land Run Website

I had to come up with a photo to send in. Let me tell you - that was not easy! It seems that I am the family photographer. And evidently I am never alone!

As most everyone, I have been thinking about the tornadoes that have swept across the country these past weeks. These events are common to the setting of Land Run. But not as frequent with such force and numbers of twisters. I grew up in the very center of tornado activity in the nation but never personally knew anyone who had died from a storm. In Oklahoma we had the latest in weather monitoring technology and alerting systems (first in the nation to have doppler radar). And of course, you can see anything coming from anywhere there. April to June everyone is cognizant of the Spring storms. In Oklahoma, tornadoes are like sin - never a matter of IF but instead - WHEN. But about these that came across the South - a friend informed me of some of his family who did perish in the storms last week. The destruction was incredible. Just want to encourage folks to pray for these communities.

Anyway, here is a current list of places to purchase the book - even now before the 'official' release date. (click links)

Amazon


Barnes and Noble


Books-A-Million


Cokesbury Books


Powells Books


Tate Publishing

Book Available - Everywhere?

Just a quick update:

I found recently that Land Run is now available a lot of places - well, there is no telling where you might find this book now. But here are a few places it popped up lately.

www.amazon.com

www.barnesandnoble.com

www.powells.com

www.booksamillion.com



I will be adding some scheduled events upcoming this April and in May. And maybe more interesting updates. ;-)

New Website!

It’s getting closer to the release date! May 10. The publisher has the website in place. Please come by and check it out.

www.markgraham.tateauthor.com

In other news - I have joined a group of guys working on a new website for writing, art, and music. It is very new but bookmark it because I think it is going to get really interesting. :-)

www.10cities.net

Also, if folks out there have been reading the novel already - please shoot me some feedback in the comments sections here.

One interesting thing I have found lately is a desire to tell people about the ending of the novel. But of course I can not do that. It was such fun to write this story I could just give the whole story away if I am not careful. So when people ask me what it is about...I pause. The YouTube video trailer gives a good general idea about it...but then it is so much more. So I pause...and say, "It’s about a lot of things in the particular. Overall, it’s about God truly active in community." And to the question, "how can you write about that?" I don't know exactly...but I did it. ;-)

Wisdom Revisited

I had another discussion with the publisher today.  They will be booking 'book events' for late April and well past the release date of May 10.  But Land Run is still available for early purchase.  I would give them away if I could just to get interested folks reading and the the word out before the release date.  But I am afraid that is not an option.  So if you would like to get a copy now - just click on the image below.

Now - for something completely different.  I was once (25 years ago...really?!) a crew member of a Coast Guard patrol boat.  One day my Chief told me, "Mark, there are only two rules. One, don't sweat the small stuff.  Two, everything is small stuff."

I literally thought nothing of it at the time.  I was 19 and mainly had just a couple very specific thoughts at any time...and a few meaning-of-life questions at other times.  Today I realized the old Vietnam Veteran was telling me that for a reason.  There was something, in his observations, that made him want to help me.  You know, I am still thinking about the application of that attitude. 

Today, personally, I have a greater context and cause to apply his rules.  Maybe his 'rules' sounded like 'one hand clapping' to me - so to speak.  Those rules still begged the question 'why?'  At least Jesus gave an answer to that question, "Because I am big, put your small stuff here with me."  (paraphrase, of course ;-)

In some places Land Run will have some interesting mentor-relationships for readers to follow.  Some older characters with wisdom they gift to the young.  Who will take it and run with it?  Who will not? 

I just realized that I still have some small stuff sitting around here now...sigh. ;-)

If you have some stories of wisdom passed to you please share them in comments.  I would love to hear about it.

On Reading

Thanks to all who have shared out information about Land Run.  I have already heard that many folks now have their early copy in hand and are reading.  I invite all to post any thoughts or comments - excited to get some feedback.  You can post anywhere and I'll find it. :-)

I am interested in the 'state' of American fiction.  There seems to be something for everyone - very American.  Sometimes writing can be strong on story or in eloquence, or both.  I hope readers will find both in Land Run.  And find some, "yes, I've never thought of it that way, but that's how it is." - Moments.

Personally, I came up on a literary diet that was a mix of sorts.  My early teen reading was mostly whatever my (much older) parents brought home from the library.  Later, through the teen and military years I mixed thrillers, classics (mostly 1920-1940), a mess of Louis L' amour, and whatever was new.  My time in the military was great for reading as TV was still something you scheduled to watch and usually missed whatever you scheduled.  Because life was more consuming. We had what was called a 'mid-watch'.  This was from midnight to 4:00 a.m..  My volunteering for this watch made me popular at any unit; read, make rounds, read, make rounds, etc. 

College was a matter of getting the textbook demands scheduled (a kind of auto-pilot mode) and then read whatever I wanted. While there I hit the classics again for a couple years.  And took interest in my Creative Writing courses.  I guess I was blessed to have this extended holding-pattern before entering the 'real life' phase.  I am still in that phase, I notice.  I am reading some contemporary international stuff nowadays.  It turns out that people outside of America write novels - good ones. :-)

What are your fiction leanings?  Who are your considered 'greats'?  I would like to know.

LAND RUN is now on YouTube!

I have a spot now on You Tube for the novel.  It is a short clip but it gives a great feel for the novel.  And in a way of presentation that I think complements the story details on the back cover of the book. 


When you can please swing by and check it out - and share it out.

Under 3 Weeks!

Hello all


A reader who purchased the book emailed me to verify that they have received their copy of the book.  It is very exciting.  If anyone else has received their copy and has a moment I would love to know.  You can email or leave a comment.  Thanks for reading the blog!

If you haven't ordered a pre-release copy yet - what are you waiting for? ;-)

Click on the image below to order.

Into the Light

I have continued some thinking about the themes within this novel.  I have to stop where I am on this topic but I will promise readers that they will thank me later. ;-)

I am presently pondering a scene in a short story I am developing.  It is set in an airport.  I was going to introduce some tension to the plot by way of a potential bomb threat.  But I paused as this is a very real thing in our land today.  I wasn't stopped because of political-correctness but because of a sense of propriety.  But then there are many terrible events and realities in the world.  As the saying goes, "it is what it is."  I never used to like that phrase but it fits for me more and more. 

A topic could be rightly considered as offensive.  I think this is where fiction has power to bring into light many dark corners of our culture.  And help us all to view and meet our common demons as it were.  This always being a precursor to beating them.  But the telling of a matter must not be an offense in itself.  Not because of a fear of offending anyone but rather for fear of distraction...and a dimming of the light. 

The word 'maturity' comes to mind.  I'll probably use some humor to temper that little airport terminal. ;-)

To extend this thought out into our general public discourse, maybe it's not what subjects we discuss but how we go about discussing them.

What do you think?  If you get a moment, let me know.

On Writing

One cool thing about writing and publishing a novel is that you get to talk to people who also love to write. A lot of folks like me find it hard to find time to write. From this experience I can maybe encourage folks with some things I have learned so far.

If you have an idea of a project, commit to a few hours every night. Do this whether you are inspired or not. Just show up and be available. Start an outline as it comes to you and keep it flexible. Write.

When you complete a narrative, re-write it a whole lot. Start to work on a proposal and send it to many Literary Agents. You might get lucky…so make it good. In my case, I did get lucky and received a contract with a top agent.

Another avenue to the publishing process for new authors is to enter contests in literary journals. Choose magazines and journals that fit with your genre. Good agents check these out to find new talent.

Personally, I chose to go with the publisher I have because they are in Oklahoma and are very experienced in new authors. Also, I am very needy and appreciate the attention they give to me. ;-)

Please comment on anything that you have come across on this site. The short story, two chapters of land Run, or any updates to the blog. I appreciate any feedback and open discussions on topics that interest you all.

Mark

Another Theme - Soon

This blog has been up for just 10 days. But already much interest as been generated in the novel Land Run. I want to thank everyone for stopping by. Also, thanks so much for spreading the word to your friends about this book (please continue). I need to be careful not to write anything here that will spoil the story for anyone. Beyond the first two chapters offered here, there is so much more that transpires in the lives of these characters. I can say, with confidence, that there are some very exciting surprises in store for the readers in the following chapters. And in terms of innovation, the story will flow in a way that is not commonly found in literature today.

Please avail yourselves, if you have not already, to the first two chapters available in the above link. I want to encourage you to purchase the novel as well and it is my hope, of course, that you will want to tell your friends about this unique story - but not the whole story, of course. :-)

Right now I am thinking of what final theme to mention in the next Land Run blog update.  There are two in the running and I must decide about which one to write to you. Stay tuned.

Mark

Latest News! - Land Run is now available for PRE-RELEASE PURCHASE

The book is available for pre-purchase right now at the following publisher link. They will send it as soon as it is available (publisher reports a few weeks to receive the novel). My personal author website is still under construction.  I will make the novel available on the website and this blog sometime in March for immediate shipment..

Also, a reminder to short story lovers - check out the short story link above. That was a lot of fun to write as well. It is also an example of my style of writing.  :-)

Land Run is now available for PRE-RELEASE PURCHASE.

Click on this image to purchase.

Another Theme - God’s Sovereignty

A logic professor in college (years ago) once suggested to me to meet with some friends of his (old guys who knew stuff) in the foreign language department, thinking that would suit me. I rejected the idea in favor of another direction I had planned. As an aside, have you ever noticed how easy it is to reject guidance when you are young? And how certain you can be that you have no need of it. Anyhow, his response to me was, “Well, you’re the Captain of your own ship.”


That was suddenly unsettling to me because it did not ring true in the moment. In fact, by the end of the day I had compiled much evidence to show that while it was not false, it was also not fully true - beginning with the time and place of my birth ;-)

Sometimes I have wondered about plans. How we make immediate ones that turn out as expected sometimes. Then we tend to extrapolate those same expectations out into longer range plans – 5 or ten years out maybe. But then we find ourselves in a future we could never have predicted. And through it all there is always this sense that total chaos can never occur, that there is a guiding hand at work in personal events and the greater community events which can alter the landscape of our lives. And so much seemingly out of our control. However, the reality is that the individual is always a part of the shaping of their community. We are often just blind to our part in the play.

In the novel, Land Run, readers will experience the subtle but perceptible guiding hand at work in the community of Willow Springs.

Another Theme - Humor

Okay, this is not a theme.  But I am thinking about the different themes and some are serious in nature.  I thought it would be a good to mention that Land Run does have quite a bit of humor as well.  And upon reflection, this humor can be described as 'dry humor'.  I wanted to check myself on that so I started researching this form of humor and delivery.  It is much associated with folks from that region of the country.  This is very odd to me.  How is that possible?  I still don't know.  Will Rogers is the known master of this form of humor...but maybe, in a way, he was simply being...Oklahoman. 

A Theme - Corporate Statism - Eminent Domain

I once spent the day in a very small town in Ukraine. I had a long wait and went for a stroll along the center Boulevard that ran through town. It was kind of like a long mini-park lined with benches and shade trees. I met a man at an intersection there who said something I didn’t quite understand. The words were slurred by the vodka. So in Russian I told him that I didn’t understand. Now, for him that was very confusing…because I had just spoken in Russian to him. We ended up having some discussion anyway. He liked Putin. He was Russian but found work in this town in Ukraine. Honestly, he presented himself to be more of an ex-con than a citizen. But I learned something from our exchange. Looking back, towards the end of my stay there my Russian had gotten strangely functional and utilitarian.

     “Do you have taxes here?” I asked.
     “Yes, of course.”
     I spread my hands out pointing to the scene around me. Everything was broken at some level; roads, lights, benches, windows, chipped paint on everything, and no lawn care. My new friend smiled and with his hands he pretended to grab money from the air and then shoved both hands into his pockets.
     “Oh,” I replied.
     I then grabbed at the air with both of my hands but only placed one hand in my pocket.
     “In my country they only use one hand. We demand nice roads, power, central heat and air everywhere, nice lawn care – even our gas stations must come up to code.”
     My friend nodded that he understood. He invited me, almost insisted of me, to follow him to a bar for a drink. It was about 1:00 in the afternoon so I declined. Oh, and he might have killed me, so I declined.
     Anyhow, this just to say that there is a reality of ‘corporate-statism’ in our country today. At a certain level, while we are not controlled by the state here, we are ‘managed’ by a syndicate that includes the state and corporations. In this I am not being ‘political’, it is just where we are today. Life is more nuanced in the West. We are not told where to shop, live, work, or what to purchase. Instead we are told where and how we ‘should’ do those things…to the point of conformity of opinion. In the novel Land Run you will also find some interesting counter-cultural characters breaking ranks with conformity. Sometimes this will cause society to label them freaks. But in the case of one character, the freak eats real food.;-)

So I just want to throw out a hint that this theme is unavoidably displayed in the novel Land Run. Not to be political in any way…but life here simply plays this out before our eyes. In the small scale of the local community of Willow Springs the bank, business, and government do work together for the betterment of the community…but it always costs someone. And while we have laws, sometimes those laws are misused - eminent domain.

Setting - Oklahoma

For awhile I would like to write some posts that relate to different themes found in the novel Land Run. But to kick that series off, I think I will first search for some images to show folks Oklahoma. Oklahoma is not a theme, so-to-speak. But the description of the land, its people, its extreme weather, and some history is threaded throughout the novel. There really is a kind of mutual development between a land and the people that live in it. They share experiences that ebb through the destructive and constructive nature of life. The stories that grow from each region of the country is unique. And I hope to tell a little bit of the story that reflects a place I will always know as home.



I found some images that reflect some of the physical setting which readers will find in the Land Run novel. There are detail descriptions of extreme weather conditions, beautiful sunsets, red clay lake scenes, and heat that cracks the earth.

In these photos readers will also find some historical background of how the contemporary American Indian characters in the novel came to be in Willow Springs. In these photos below, follow the 'Five Civilized Tribes' from their path from the Southeast to Oklahoma (Indian Territory).

There are places shown here that are in the story as well. You will come across a scene near the canal in what is called 'Brick-town' in downtown Oklahoma City. As well as the capitol building which is unique in that it has oil wells on the grounds. It once was surrounded by them.

And, of course, there is the Land Run of 1889 as a strong theme in this novel in so many ways. This is not an historical novel - but the character of a people can never be disconnected from their past. I will add an old Land Run photo to this slide before moving on to the next 'theme' posting. Note: future posting will likely be related to readers more as essays and discussions of ideas found within themes.

Oklahoma - slideshow with music

Land Run is going to print!

I am waiting for the publisher website to become available...but it will be here soon. Until then please keep checking back to this blog and expect updates on the Facebook Page.


The book will become available for purchase on the publisher website. A release date is being determined but I should have that soon as well. (when all bookstores and Amazon have the book)

The first two chapters are available here for your reading pleasure (I hope :-).

(link below the header image above) Oh - this blog will get better organized - promise.