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2014-07-28T13:24:00.001-07:00

THE LEARNING CURVE ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE

ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE

2012-05-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

INTRODUCTION

The Oxford American Dictionary describes a highway as follows:

1. A Public Road.

2. A main route by land or sea or air.

The engineering description for a highway is as follows:

Before the work begins, the constructor center line is staked out, usually at 50 ft stations. After the initial lane is placed, additional stakes may be set for other lanes or the forms may be set by levelling one with a line level. The amount of stakeout done for highway construction depends on the value and importance of the work.

In reality, a highway is a ribbon of asphalt, concrete and rock built up layer upon layer. A layer is put down, compacted, and another is put down until finally concrete or asphalt is put down. Finally, lines are painted and a highway is created.

A highway begins life as so many tons of sand, gravel and topping. After that it evolves into a machine that converts dreams into memories. The present is nothing more than wheels on pavement. Many lives pass over a highway. Some are converted to memories, some are changed and tragically some die with their owners. Whatever the case, a dream must reach it’s destination. It is the role of a highway to ensure it happens.

This story is about a dream that was never finished. It is a story of two men who started down the road with a destination. Their journey was never completed. The road is still waiting. It can wait a long time, but it can not wait an eternity. A dream fulfilled, memories completed. This road has waited long enough. They will be called back to finish what they started; on Route 66.

Thirty plus years later, Todd Stiles and Buzz Murdoch are compelled, for

reasons they don’t understand, to complete their trip. They encounter a country

that has changed beyond comprehension. It is America at its absolute worst

and its very best. In retracing their journey they discover the impact they

had on many peoples lives, now and three decades ago. As they approach the

point were they parted company they are confronted with the reason for having

to come back. This is a journey through the past to the future. It is an “A” ticket

ride across America. Pack your bags and your memories and head for the

driveway. Until you put the book down you are going to be away from home for

awhile! Turn the key.

Mike Clarke

ONLINE:

ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE, MCNALLY ROBINSON, CANADA;

ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE, COLES AND CHAPTERS INDIGO, CANADA;

ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE, KOBO E-BOOK;

ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE AMAZON.COM; AND

ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE AMAZON.CA.

IN STORE LOCATIONS:

McNally Robinson, Winnipeg and Saskatoon, (800) 561 1833;

Coles Books Winnipeg at Kildonan Place Mall, (204) 661 8142;

Ferguson Books in Grand Forks, North Dakota, (701) 738 8025; and

UPDATES: ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE

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Did you know that Amazon's Kindle Unlimited is a subscription program for readers that allows them to read as many books as they want. The Kindle Owners' Lending Library is a collection of books, including Route 66: The Last Mile, that Amazon Prime members who own a Kindle can choose one book from each month with no due dates. Go to: ROUTE 66: THE LAST MILE AMAZON.COM; to get your copy.
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Ferguson Books is at a new consolidated store on Washington street in Grand Forks ND, make sure to put a visit on your "bucket list" when your visiting the Dakota's. Contact Ferguson books at (701) 738 8025 for further details.
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If you'd like a signed copy go online to McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg, or contact the author at oneidamj@gmail.com. Make sure to include who you'd like the book made out to when making your purchase.

Route 66: The Last Mile was chosen as Book of the Month by McNally Robinson Booksellers.
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AN EXCERPT:

      Buzz hung up the phone and stepped out of the booth. He looked west up the highway. The sun had just set and the sky had turned the color of Indigo. He hadn't seen a road that straight in a very long time. The urge to travel came over him. It was triggered by a memory of a highway. He couldn't tell if it was a new memory or an old one. It was just there. As fast as it came, it was gone, and he was back in the present.
   He turned and walked back into the trailer park to wait for the last member of his family to die.

LEARNING CURVE

   The Learning Curve is on schedule for release in late November. It will be a two volume set based on the Sanderson Chronicles. You don't want to let an opportunity for an incredible story to pass you by. David Sanderson's journey through the low end of higher education is a lesson in courage, dignity and a desire to seek knowledge denied. It's an "A" ticket ride through the halls and streets of a south Texas school and town.

Go to: THE LEARNING CURVE for details, or visit on Facebook.

AN EXCERPT:

"It was the first day of class. Tait is taking the attendance, gets to the S's and discovers he's got two Dave Sanderson's. The man was not a happy camper! He calls the office and tells them that he's got two Dave Sanderson's and he's not happy about it. In fact he tells them doesn't want any Sanderson's. There's a bit of back and forth and then he looks at the two of us and asked which one of us lived on Glendale blvd. I raised my hand and then he tells the other guy to get the hell out.”

McDowell thought that was pretty funny and Dave agreed that it was. "But what wasn't funny, I passed him in the hall an hour later between classes, damn we were young! A new school, paint was even dry on the walls, we had our whole lives ahead of us, but this guy was different. When I asked where he was going he said he'd been transferred to a school across town. I remember telling him that he had a long hike ahead of him.”

"What did he say?”

"Yeah,... I'd better hurry, I've only got four years.”

Dave paused to get his thoughts together. Here's the thing, we couldn't see past lunch period, but this guy knew exactly where he was going to be in four years, it was like he'd gone out to see the place and had just come back to pick up a few things to take with him.”

THE LEARNING CURVE

      The Learning Curve is available at Coles Books or you can order a copy in Kindle, go to THE LEARNING CURVE, at Amazon.com.

     In a small south Texas town, a battle is waged between seven innocent young men and women, led by a reluctant David Sanderson, who just want to go to school, and a vicious state appointed psychiatrist that wants them locked up in an institution and destroyed. They've got a message for him, and the school system, "If you want us, you're going to have to come and get us,...and 'Mister' we are not going to make it easy!"

     This is a story about courage, dignity and the desire for knowledge denied that will leave the reader inspired and with a reminder that in every battle, every war, everyone pays a price,... even the victor.

The Bell Curve is available at Coles Books or you can order a copy in Kindle, go to THE BELL CURVE, at Amazon.com.

The Goodbye Road, the final book of the Sanderson Chronicles, Go to for updates at https://www.facebook.com/The-Bell-Curve-1582949161925340/?ref=bookmarks