Scott.A.Reighard

Washington and Trump: Fair to Compare?

2025-02-10T13:44:00.005-05:00

Hang on! Before you start thinking I poured curdled milk in your coffee or put icy hot in your skivvies, give me a chance here. Sometimes I have a thought about something, but more often than not, that's all it becomes. There isn't enough there, there, so I drop it and move on. Sometimes I come across something I am reading and I begin to think, "Wait a minute, that reminds me of so and so." That's what happened here.

Several years ago, I read Joseph Ellis's His Excellency, a book about President George Washington. I read it while I was deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba in 2011-2012. Honestly, I didn't like the book. I felt Ellis had an axe to grind with Washington, or was one of those, "George Washington was not the guy most history books revere." Yes, there were some salient points made, historical notes, facts that are indisputable, but overall, I just felt like he wanted to take a dig at Washington. I felt the same way in his book American Sphinx about Jefferson. I'm thinking, what a turd this guy is. He is deliberatly trying to tarnish our Forefathers. Fast forward to early September 2024. I was loooking over my book collection thinking of books I could take over to Goodwill. I came across His Excellency, one of three books I have on Washington. I pulled it out and gave it another shot. I had forgotten so much of what I read 12ish years ago, so it would be good to see if this was something I was going to hang on to or hand over.

I decided to give Ellis another chance. I mean, he is a historian. He does have a pretty solid reputation. And I thought, let's see how smart I am to decipher, interpret, or analyze a point of view I disagree with or have problems with. Yes, I do think about that when I am reading.

I am not finished with the rereading of the book yet, but what I can remember from initally reading it, and reading some reviews, here is a quote from a guy named Joe, who read it back in 2010. I feel he accurately captured a lot of what I felt when I first read the book. "My impression of the author is that he is inherently deceitful, ambitious and godless cannot understand how someone can be ambitious but still serve others, and looks for examples to justify his own insecurities."

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not here to directly compare the two. Each man is distinctly different than the other. What I am going to compare is style, purpose, vision, self-belief, and providential manifestation.

I want to call attention to one particular statement made by Ellis that caught my attention and made me consider Trump. Before I provide the quote, a little context. At this point in the book, Ellis is talking about Washington assembling a team around him to help fight the Revolution. In all, Washington had 28 generals serve under him during the duration of the Revolutionary War (RW), but in the beginning there were four who stuck out: Charles Lee, Horation Gates, Nathaniel Greene, and Henry Knox. Ellis emphasizes that Lee and Gates had a lot more experience than Washington. Ellis says that Greene and Knox were less experienced and drawn to the military for their "zeal for American Independence." The main difference in these men was that Lee and Gates tried to "influence" Washington's movements and plans; whereas, Greene and Knox were more willing to trust Washington's vision, direction, and purpose for the war. Ellis submits that Washington was jealous of Lee and Gates' military experience and did not have the royal pedigree of the two. Ponder what you will of that. Anyway, so we have a split, Lee and Gates versus Greene and Knox. I think about Trump's first term and his second term. In his first term, because he lacked the political experience, he deferred to people he thought he could trust. Hence Pence as his pick and many Washington insiders for many important cabinet positions. By the end, Trump realized these people didn't have his vision. They had a systemic, swamp-esque entity to protect. Obviously ,Trump's second term looks glaringly different than the first. Back to Washington and Ellis' quote.

Now that I have teased you with a little context of generals, vision, and purpose, let's make some sense of what I am proposing. On page 82, Ellis says this, "Washington's insistence on personal loyalty was rooted in his insecurity (in Lee's and Gates' superior credentials)." If you want to call it an insecurity, so be it. I would say it was an indifference to and mistrust of the establishment. There was a predictability to Lee and Gates. The British would know that, expose it, and ultimately prevail. Perhaps Washington had more keen insight than Ellis wants to recognize here. Ellis then says, "But the more compelling explanation is that he understood instinctively how power worked, and that his own quasi-monarchical status was indespensible to galvanize an extremely perilous cause." Ah-hah! That's it! Right? Nope. I would disagree with Ellis on the notion that "how power worked" were not the right words. Again, I go back to my previous statement. I think Washington had a keen insight into the old way of thinking and he needed a fresh, bold, and audacious process to win the war. He had a vision for success and didn't want his ideas sullied by "old ways". I will agree to this, the use of the word quasi-monarchical is almost spot on. Ellis later says in the same paragraph, "...Washington's king-like status contradicted the potent antimonarchical ethos in revolutionary ideology." Here, Ellis is correct. Washington did not want to be seen as a king-like figure. There is ample historical information that certifies that position. No, what Washington probably recognized was that he needed to express a style and manifestation of someone of royal nature and authority, while balancing the idea that he was just one of the guys whose soldiers would run through a brick wall for him. See where I'm going with this? In a sense, we can view Trump's presidency as quasi-monarchical in that he needs to project the idea of ultimate authority in an effort to enact his vision, which many believe in. It doesn't make him a dictator or authoritarian. It makes him determined and focused on the vision he feels America needs. You are either on board or you risk the chance of being on the wrong side of history. Washington had a vision and process. Was it risky? Hell yeah! The future of America was at stake. Is Trump's vision and process risky? Maybe not as much, because we have the precedence for it. Our Forefathers gave us the template.

Of course, this is but a snippet of information and distinction Ellis draws from his research of Washington, so it may be unfair of me to speculate such a direct correlation and connection, but here is my subjective view. Oftentimes, reading becomes an exercise in observation and sometimes application. Based on those descriptions, I want to compare Washington and Trump in this way.

I go back to my original talking points. Imagine this comparison as a metaphorical analogy of circumstances, style, purpose, vision, self-belief, and manifestation. Both men led or is leading a Revolution (of sorts). Washington's was a physical war that had many tentacles of politics, social order, and America's future course. Trump's Revolution is more social, but we could include national security, the future of politics, and of course, our future. direction. Where are we going?

Two, when it comes to style, the comparison ends there. Washington was known to be reserved, a quiet confident leader; whereas Trump is more obtuse, in your face, and (at times) crude. Where the comparison can be viewed is their style of leadership. Washington and Trump emphasize trust and loyalty above anything else. You might argue, don't all leaders want that? Not necessarily. A lot of times leadership is based on this for that. Consider why the Democrat party is in such disarray right now. There is no loyalty to a particular person. It's too an ideology. It can also be argued that dictators value loyalty and trust above everything else, but that is more so based on "If you don't ,I'll kill you." So, it's a feigned loyalty. If Washington was going to put his trust in Greene and Knox, two men who did not have the credentials as Lee and Gates, he was taking a huge risk, but because Greene and Knox believed in and admired Washington's bravado and ideas, they were willing to run the gauntlet for him. Loyalty and trust are born out of vision, and both Trump and Washington have a lot of that.

Three, purpose. Washington's purpose was to win independence for America. To separate it from the oppression and over regulation of England. Trump's purpose, in many respects, is not that much different, but his separation is from the Swamp (uniparty mentality), an oppressive, over regulated, corrupt industry complex.

Next, vision. Washington had an idea of what America could be post-war. His vision of westward expansion, individual rights, freedom, property, etc. and not that much different thatn the vision of Trump. He wants to restore people's rights. He doesn't want big government interference or some bureucratic body telling people what to do. He wants to unleash the power, energy, an inovatoin of America. Although one issue that Trump has to deal with that differs from Washington is immigration. That was not an important issue for Washington; however, the idea of sovereignty was. America's sovereignty has been under attack for decades and Trump wants to end that and make more sense of our immigration system. It is safe to say that Washington and Trump believed in America First.

Self-belief. I don't need to delve into that very much. Both men had/have a true sense of self-belief. Washington believed in what he wanted to do, how he wanted to do it, and who he wanted to do it with. Trump's recent cabinet choices clearly outline those same sentiments.

Divine providence. Ellis repeatedly "inferred" (my interpretation), that Washington rarely used the word God, but would often use providence. I would think both are mutually agreed upon, as meaning the same thing. Is it different if we say my parent or my dad/mom? No. It's understood either way. Besides, there are plenty of references in George Washington: In His Own Words where he refers many times to God. There are several accounts where Washington's life seemed to be spared during the Revolution, whether it was horses being shot underneath him or his overcoat showing bullet holes. It could be said thatnTrump's life was spared in Butler, PA and in Florida. It's hard not to dispute either assertion that providence played a role.

In closing, I would submit that Washington and Trump are similar in many ways. Both men were/are tremendous leaders whose vision was/is to make America free and great. To not cower to authority. To not be dictated to. Their management styles were similar in how they valued loyalty and trust above everything else. They were/are willing to take risks to achieve the end result. In some ways, our Forefathers entrusted Washington to "save" America from the British monarchy and oppressive rule. I believe Trump has been entrusted by the American peope to once again "save" America from the ravages of a warped ideology, corruption, and the practice of quid pro quo. It was said that Washington was the right man for the right time. I would say the same for Trump.

The Lamp of Liberty

2024-10-24T18:03:00.000-04:00

Thomas Paine once said, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” I would go one step further in that these are the times that try “good and noble people’s” souls. Fellow Patriots, we have entered a perilous time in our history, the chapter not yet written but clearly the outline evident. I echo Paine’s call to appeal to reason, to common sense, to put away your prejudices and presuppositions as I offer simple facts that are as bare as a newborn babe. We can no longer “turn the cheek”, or capitulate to a mob of malcontents. Our nation may be fractured, but not broken. Which means there is still great hope in Her revival of unity and purpose. But the hour to unbind Her from the rope that chokes this country is at hand. We live in a time where opposing opinions are no longer respected. Where our voice is further being suppressed or censored. We live in a time where we cannot even debate great issues of national concern to reach a consensus, to move the country forward as ONE. The very question of freedom, individual rights, equal justice under the law, and opportunity are in peril. America stands on a tethered tight rope that is splintering and splaying, the abyss the only alternative should it tear apart. The word “united” becomes an afterthought. Our Forefathers, who sacrificed everything to make us free and independent, relied on those who would follow to continue their vision, but in our current state, we are witnessing the dreams and ambitions of our forefathers vanish. The hope that is the beacon to the world, snuffed out. The following sentiments I speak freely and “without reserve.”

So true to the “Declaration of Independence” or Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” or Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, there is a time in a person’s mind where their toleration for usurpation, constricting of liberty, stripping of individual rights, and other assailable acts exacts its toll and the soul cries out, “No more!” Our sole aim is to arrive at truth and to uphold the responsibility to which we hold for God and country. Our means to celebrate individual liberty, God-given rights, and the pursuit of happiness is being drowned out by a tidal wave of historical revision, treasonous ideologies, and a new social religion. This tidal wave intends to darken our land and erase the ideas, the values, the faith, the love, the patriotism built on great achievements and yes, even mistakes of good, noble intended people. The judgment of those who wish to erase any notion of our history and founding exist upon a bevy of half-truths, misinformation, and warped sense of time and place, rejecting any sense of context, proportion, or perspective. The appeal to look at history through a lens of today belies any sense of reasoning or scope. The implements of their war on our country are not arms, for it has been said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” So they use clever words masked in lies and obfuscation promulgated by a soulless and complicit media, and through the eyes of academic know-it-alls who have little sense of the actual world around them. The noted professor who knows so much that he keeps but one jacket in his closet because his mind is cluttered with vaults of “knowledge” that to make a decision is stifling and paralyzing. They have infiltrated and infected nearly every institution we revere and respect: education, media, the judicial system, the military. To them the Constitution is written in pencil. Their aim is not to create a better United States, on the contrary, the only purpose for the application of united is to have One Party rule disregarding the hopes and dreams of millions who continually see this as the country of freedom, opportunity, individual rights, and justice. The utopia they envision is a world that will not exist because they exhibit the very things they loathe: hate, bigotry, racism, race and ethnic based identity, censoring, ignorance. Their world is an illusory attempt to make real what cannot be made real. Their ministry is the ministry of man where God is no more and never was. The universe of these people is filled with objects of fantasy and galaxies of the imagination. They swim in the cesspool of their own righteousness. Hearts empty, void of any true Patriotic blood. Party first, people last, always. Their means of compassion is a means to control. Their operation of goodwill is to hold asunder those they “lift up.” Like the mutant character “Rogue”, they suck the life force out of everything they come in contact with.

For years we have stood by relatively quiet, amiably compliant, busily making a life, and what have we for such conciliatory behavior - a hateful, fomenting, virtue signaling minority of unhappy people who have wriggled away the will of the people to the will of the most mindless, galactically stupid, unrealists to walk this earth. We have capitulated in order to appease, but the insatiable hunger of the predator cannot be satiated. We have deceived ourselves into this false space that only knows the bounds of its own creator. Their violations have been great. We have been spurned, called contemptible, liars, racists, bigots, and every “-phobe” associated with mankind. They think we are weak, unable to wage this battle, uninformed idiots of great magnitude, an ignorant adversary. How long do we stand by and watch the disintegration of all that we hold dear? Our parents have flaws, but we love them. We recognize our imperfections; the blemishes that mar Her beauty. Every country of note has its scars, some more than others. We do not hide our scars or wish them gone. We acknowledge them so as not to make the same mistake that caused them in the first place. We understand the human failings of our forefathers, but we recognize the greatness of them as well. Those who hold them in contempt are but jealous, intellectually inflated, gratuitous narcissists who deem themselves smarter than them. Hah! It’s easy to challenge those who are not here to defend themselves, so we must defend them for them, their posterity, and their contributions heralded around the world by countless millions of admirers.

For those who discount, discredit, and/or disgrace our flag, we know your intent. The ceremonial fold of the flag disturbs you. It is an honored tradition, and it often represents the fallen who helped to defend her so she may wave proudly atop any flagpole. It infuriates those who wish to unfurl their own version. The unity of her stars captured in a frame of blue, or the contiguous stripes even to one another with none having dominion over the other appear to cause those who wish her gone to turn away as if they are face to face with the Almighty Father who “Shed his Grace on Thee.” The flag is the left’s kryptonite and they wish to destroy her at all costs. Change the flag, change the country. By God, do not let them!

There is no longer time for debate or hope if we wish to continue to be free. We cannot ignore or abandon the noble struggle of this human experiment and deny ourselves the continued grace and glory that is innate in all. The object of our fight is freedom. The plight of our struggle is liberty. The outcome of this glorious battle is the pursuit of happiness. The lamp of liberty burns brightly when good people stand united in the preservation of Her ideals and rejects the misguided ideology and fancies of those that would extinguish that flame of pride, loyalty, love, equality, opportunity, and individual rights. This battle cannot be won with hope or trust in the powers that be, for they have abdicated their duties many times over. No, this war will be waged in the communities that wish to preserve, protect, and continue to pursue those ideals that made this country the beacon of hope She is. Do not stand idly by as the storm of radicalism and misguided promises swarm the land like voracious locusts destroying everything in its path. These people are termites and they eat away at the foundation of our freedoms. President Reagan said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.”

The sun shines brightly on our cause. It illuminates the continued pursuit of creating a more perfect union. Posterity for future generations must be won NOW! There is no reconciliation with radicalism or the ideologically demented. It must be stomped out with an emphatic unity call to defend our ideals and principles. We must wholly reject the notion that for the sake of progress that we yield our freedoms, our thoughts, our principles, our rights. As President Truman echoed, “We were not built on fear, but on courage, imagination, and an unbeatable determination...” It was not built to surrender to a false god of wokism or diabolical cabal. It was not built to supplicate ourselves to a small number of sad, unhappy, disgruntled, and hateful group of people. We defeated tyrannies around the world, fascism, naziism, socialism and the like. We cannot in good conscience allow the defeat of such greatness and contribution to come from within. And this storm does not stop at our shores. If it is successful, it surely will infect any Western Civilization that allows it to fester and gain momentum. If America represents the standard of what Western Civilization has for centuries been trying to build, surely Her demise will have worldly ramifications. Oftentimes as our history has exhibited, we are first in, last out when it comes to worldly contributions, assistance, and protection. Should She falter, who would protect the vulnerable? Will this new revolutionary mob of radicals protect the vulnerable? With what, money? Hopes? Adoption of “woke” policies? Their record of failure is on exhibit in virtually every major city in this country. The continued evidence of destruction lay in the rubble of inner cities, fractured families, untold violence, drugs, and failing education. That recipe of destruction is on full display. Pockets of prosperity designed only for those in charge. As they revel in their high rise, high priced conclaves of excessiveness wholly protected while those who suffer the miscarriages can only meander by and hope. Or the collapsing education system, once the harbinger of opportunity and hope, continues to fail minorities or the disadvantaged at nearly every turn; money being their remedy rather than addressing the root of what is truly missing: faith, family, and opportunity. The collapse of greatness is front and center, and if we do not stand united in Her cause, then we witness our own failings and look at our children with a forlorn sense of disappointment. I cannot in Godly conscience abandon my duty to continue the legacy of living and pursuing the ideals that made this country exceptional in so many ways. Paine said, “The Almighty has implanted in us these inextinguishable feelings, for good and wise purposes.” Let not that fire be extinguished. The robbers and thieves of “wokism” must be brought to a civil and communal justice. Much of the world has given away its freedoms and what have they to show? Millions desire to come to our shores because we are that LAST HOPE for mankind. If we perish our freedoms, we perish our honor and God-given rights.

If we fail in our mission to save this country, to preserve Her uniqueness, to continue to be exceptional in words and deeds, and to showcase Her unbridled contributions to the world and humanity, then what has the rest of the world to hope for? If the final flame of freedom be extinguished, the world plunges into a darkness of tyranny, tribalism, and destruction. The result being man’s regression not progression. Liberty and freedom keeps the world honest. Our pursuit to create a more perfect union is worth fighting and dying for. No country has a more diversified portfolio to offer the world. No country has a more diversified yet unified populace. No country can grant the wishes, dreams, hopes, and faith that we offer. We have dressed ourselves in a Patriotic uniform that fits all who wish to don the wardrobe of America. We cannot allow the Patriotic uniform to be torn away from our possession and cast into the fire of destruction. My fellow Patriots, do you have the will? We must be warriors for Liberty. We must be valiant in our attempt. I say STAND and FIGHT! The cause for Liberty is never too great. The loss of Liberty grave and permanent.

Scott A. Reighard

Please Allow me to Introduce...Me

2024-10-24T17:41:00.000-04:00

Hi, my name is Scott A. Reighard and welcome to my website, creatively named Scott A. Reighard. The only thing for sale on this site is me. Wait a minute let me correct that. The only thing for sale on this site are my services. I cover a variety of areas to write about using my vast and blessed experiences, as well as my background that includes teaching, military retiree, athletic coach, and business owner. I have a few other areas of expertise, but those are in the area of some of my hobbies: golf, sprint triathlons, kayaking, mountain biking, nature enthusiast, and writing. I have published three novels and a study guide that accompanies one of those novels. In addition to the novels, I have several short stories that I plan on making available on this site, in addition to some of my sappy poetry.

Also, please check out this other website snjmarket.com. I not only write, but I delve into the world of completeness. I think that is what Our Creator would want us to consider. Here, you will find a bevy of articles that deal with so many of life's situations, considerations, complexities, etc.

SNJMARKET.COM

To say I am blessed is an understatement. Yes, I have created most of my opportunities through hunger, musts, needs, and so on, but I also wanted to create an environment of happiness, joy, and personal intrinsic successes for myself. Strangely, I always enjoyed testing myself. I wanted to find out what I could handle/not handle, endure, experience and so on without endangering my life or of those around me. Therefore, many of the choices I made, I always considered those around me, and how my decisions would affect them.

When I was younger, I was much more cavalier in my thinking, doing, and saying. As I grew older, I had a responsibility to others. Some things had to change. I embraced those changes, and here I am just past the mid-century point and at a very happy point in my life. So, allow me to show you a brief look into my world and my hope is that by the end, you will enjoy the experience, or else I am going to get some pretty, heated hate mail. Either way, I hope you see something that will compel you to seek out my services and provide you with a quality, professional piece.

Again, welcome to scottareighard.com. Go ahead, click on one of the tabs above. It’s free!

Death in the Valley Posts Strong Sales

2013-11-06T10:28:00.001-05:00

Wow, it's hard to believe but just 10 months in to my third published book, Death in the Valley sales are strong and I thank all of you out there who have come to my rescue. Just kidding, but I really do appreciate all of you who have purchased, or downloaded the book on your Nook or Kindle.

Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

Andrew Keane is back as lead detective for the Roanoke County Police Department, and he faces the worst serial murder case in Roanoke history. In this tense and suspenseful story, Andrew welcomes a new partner, confronts life and death family issues, and battles the demons of forbidden love, not to mention trying to conduct an investigation. Just a few months removed from his last case, one that nearly cost him his job and his life, Andrew tries to solve a series of murders involving high profile locals and the killings rock the Roanoke community. Faced with media and department pressure, Andrew and his new partner embark on a roller coaster case that involves strange relationships, unscrupulous land deals, and back door politics.

I hope you have an opportunity to purchase my new book, and I would love to hear your comments. You can post them here or on whichever site you purchase the book.

Link:

Death in the Valley

Jamestown: Journey Back in Time, Second Edition

2012-03-17T19:35:00.002-04:00

Hey there, I just wanted to let you know that Jamestown: Journey Back in Time, Second Edition is now available.

I decided to revise the story I first published in 2007. I think this second edition adds a little spice that will lend itself to be more attractive to a young reader. I also added quotes to the beginning of every chapter to act as little themes for each chapter. It could make for lively classroom discussion as the teacher asks them to find a relation between the quote and the chapter.

Another item that was upgraded was the Study Guide. Teachers may find it helpful to use as a supplement for classroom instruction. And it's a real bargain given what other study guides can cost.

The links for each book is available here, I do so hope you check them out.

Jamestown: Journey Back In Time: Second Edition

Thanks.

A Website Must

2012-02-09T09:02:00.000-05:00

If you are not aware of this website, I encourage you to check it out.

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5919423-scott-reighard

Here you can find like-minded readers and share your thoughts and reviews for books you have read, list books you are currently reading, or you can create a wish list to share. You can also accept recommendations from fellow "Good Readers".

If you love to read this is a website for you. Happy reading.

A Plea From a Poor Player

2011-12-31T18:39:00.000-05:00

Good evening, you're probably wondering that I must not have a life if I am writing a post on New Year's Eve. Well, right now I do not have much of a life. I have been deployed since July 29, so right now my life is the military life. I have been able to do some writing, although much of it dedicated to editing Death in the Valley, the follow up to The Reunion Reaper.

I am currently on my third full edit. When I am finished with my edit, I plan on turning it over to a professional editor. Here is my question, if you know of a good book editor, could you recommend one? I have been all over the internet, and to be honest, many sound really good, and it has made the decision process very difficult. As you know, getting a manuscript edited can be very expensive, so I want to make sure I get a good one, but I do not have tons of money either, hence my dilemma.

This poor player's plea asks that if anyone out there who knows of a trusted, legitimate, professional editor, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful, healthy, prosperous, and peaceful 2012. Thank you.

String Story

2011-04-21T10:36:00.001-04:00

Today’s entry is somewhat unconventional, but I sometimes come up with this plan in my classroom to engage the students. I will do this after we read short stories, a novel, or a play. I call it a string story. We may add an extension to the story through the characters, or change a scene, etc. I begin the session by typing up the first line, then each student has an opportunity to add a sentence or (no more than) two, then onto the next student and so far.

In this string story, I asked fellow scribes from the Book Blogs site: http://bookblogs.ning.com/ to help me with a string story, and what follows is the result. These can go from short strings to a full blown story if the writer so cares. I hope you like what is written, and as always, we welcome comments.

"Listen, don't turn around, but I think we are being followed."
"Followed?" Solomon asked as he started to turn his head to look behind him.
   Angry, nervous, and most annoyed but staring straight ahead, Bill hissed between clenched teeth, tight jaws, "I think I just told you not to turn around!"
“Would you relax, it's three in the morning... You watch too much TV. Besides, who would want to follow us?”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Is that why you dragged me all the way down here? Seriously Bill, couldn’t this have been done at the bar or at the apartment?”
“No, I needed to bring you here because…"
Out of nowhere there came a low groaning sound and suddenly, whomp! It looked like a black cloak that swallowed Bill whole. Solomon wasn't sure of what it was and decided not to stick around to see either, so he took off running, feet pounding the pavement like a rampage of gazelle on the loose.
      Ignoring his own advice, Solomon panicked, glancing over his shoulder to try and ascertain the distance of his pursuer. This turned out to be a terrible mistake. Whatever it was, was coming for him... with Bill's legs and a foot minus a shoe, swinging wildly from its mouth. The sight of Bill's limp body horrified Solomon. His mind went blank, and his legs refused to move. Solomon's mind was racing...he knew he wasn't fast enough to outrun it. Then, he spotted it, a manhole access to the sewer. As luck would have it, the manhole cover was off, laying beside the hole. It was his only hope. As he scurried down the ladder to the world below, he took a fleeting last look at what remained of his best friend, Bill.
          Frightened and trudging along in the dark, a rank near suffocating bog of raw sewage clawed through the blackness and took hold of Solomon's sense. He reached for his collar to break the swelling stench when a gush of air rushed against his forward movement. His eyes were slowly beginning to adjust to the darkness and shadows could now be imagined or real, he wasn’t sure. As he took a few more steps he heard a muffled thud before him as a small blanket of water waved upon his legs soaking his bare legs. Startled, Solomon stumbled back, staring in the direction of the sound. A few meters beyond the sound there was a faint light shining from above. Solomon had difficulty discerning the source of the light, then realized another manhole had been accessed from the street above. As he lowered his eyes, there was the ghastly sight of his good friend's torso which lay at the bottom of the sewer well...half of his torso, anyway. Above him, from the open manhole, came the sickening, crunching sound of demonic teeth, chewing bone and sinew and muscle. Solomon shuddered in horror.
           With his back pressed against the wall, edging his way into the darkness, away from the bone crunching and slurping pulling on his guts, he began a silent chant. More like a prayer..."Whatever you are, please don't follow me down here. Whatever you are, please don't follow me down here." As he sank further into the protective shadows of the sewer, an eerie silence fell upon the air. Solomon gently traipsed along the slimy, sewer when a voice boomed.
    "My good friend," echoed a voice from beyond the eerie dank silence. "So you call yourself a friend and yet you dare not turn back to face me," the voice, quaking around him continued. Is that Bill in my head, or...Did I get a hold of some bad food at Taco Bell ? I feel like I'm going to vomit any moment......He tried to remember where he had put his pack of Rolaids..."No, wait!" said Solomon shaking his head. His whispering echoed through the tunneled sewer. "I must be delusional! I haven't eaten in hours! The darkness, the stench, and the fear are getting to me. My best friend was just killed by some fiend from hell." He literally shook himself, straightened his spine, and pushed on toward the next ladder that led to the surface.
          The slime had turned to sticky sludge as he hoofed onward. The sludge was so thick it nearly removed his right sneaker. He maneuvered along the edge, his breathing still heavy, his head still spinning from all that happened so far. Solomon's only comfort was the thought that whatever it was that had eaten his friend apparently could not make its way into the city's vast sewer system. It was then that he noticed his footsteps were being mirrored...wet, shuffling footfalls were clearly discernible, coming from behind him. His friend's voice came to him again, ringing with a metallic echo down the length of the subterranean channel...
   “I need you to come somewhere with me.” The words rang through his head. Bill had tried to warn me…but warn me of what... of what....what had he seen? Why did I follow him? Why?
    But Solomon, this time, resigned to heed his own advice and not turn around. Quivering he recited, fool me once, shame on you... fool me twice, shame on me! And CRA...CRA...CA-Boom! The entire foundation shook, springing Solomon out of bed drenched in sweat, shaking like a leaf.
    He wondered, “Was I dreaming?” And then remembered what his psychology professor had said..."Strange as it may be sometimes our physical and mental worlds are hard to distinguish"..AHA .. he thought and just as he sighed a relief, he looked down at his feet only to see the mud and slime on the rug.....

Hey there fellow Bill and Solomon scribes, I changed a few things around for flow and needed to change some lines between the two in order to maintain dialog and scene integrity.
Well, there you have it, a little string story. I thought we put together a pretty good little slice of an idea, don’t you? Thank you for participating; maybe sometime in the near future we can do it again.

What To Do?

2011-04-02T16:33:00.000-04:00

I guess in this day and age of self-promotion, I shameslessly join the herd. As a twice self-published author, I have been getting a lot of feedback, of which I am extremely grateful, that I not self-pub my third novel. Yes, it's a follow up story to The Reunion Reaper, titled Death in the Valley, but many, and not including friends, have suggested that I get my manuscripts professionally edited and pursue the traditional route. This is indeed a dilemma because there appears to be good arguments on both sides that say A, self-publishing is the wave and here to stay given our digital age, and B, notoriety can come via traditional publishing only. Hence my dilemma, what to do?

As a self-pub, we all know the product can quickly get to market; whereas, the traditional route can take years. So, as mother used to say, "Patience is a virtue." But how patient can I be?

I feel very confident about my editing skills relative to grammar/mechanics/technics; however, it would appear most prudent that I have a copy editor look at the story holistically. I am, and have been, a self-taught person. I, dare I say it, pride myself on learning things on my own. But I am truly at a crossroads. I am prepared to begin my fourth novel, yet another in the series, so benching Death in the Valley for a while does not seem all that bad, but I do have a small following clamoring for Death in the Valley because of my Ralph Cramden big mouth that touted its completion.

So, here is the purpose behind this entry. If anyone knows of anyone in the industry that would be willing to take a look at my manuscript, I would greatly appreciate any information sent my way. I know we all have dreams of being the next best thing, and perhaps I am asking the very question that every other person out there is asking as well, but I have not been one to market myself.

In advance, I thank you for reading this, and if anyone can assist me, I would greatly appreciate it. Have a great day!

My first novel if you are interested in purchasing a copy

2011-03-31T10:56:00.001-04:00

This was my first venture into the self-publishing world. It's a story of a 12 year old boy who, by way of a bizarre accident, journeys back to Jamestown in the early years and learns a lot about the struggles of early colonists, and more importantly about himself, and how good his life is in the 21st century. I hope you check it out.

Network blogging: check out this great blog site.

2011-03-31T10:50:00.001-04:00

2011-03-26T20:01:00.000-04:00

The Reunion Reaper is now available on Kindle for a great price. Get yours today!

Andrew Keane, a detective for the Roanoke County Police Department is onto a new case; one where classmates he graduated with from high school are being killed by a fellow graduate. What would produce such vengeance? Having attended the presitigious Palm Beach Preparatory School in Palm Beach, Florida, Andrew finds himself traversing the country as the body count begins to add up, especially for a killer who compares himself to some of the most notorious serial killers on record. For Andrew the chase not only jeopardizes his job, but his marriage, and possibly his life.

Newspaper Article on Moi!

2010-03-11T08:20:00.000-05:00

Hey there, hope you are doing well. As you can see by the subject title, I am in a featured article for the local newspaper. The editor, Meg Hibbert, was nice enough to sit down with me and talk a little about my new novel, THE REUNION REAPER. She did a previous interview with me when JAMESTOWN: JOURNEY BACK IN TIME came out in 2007.

I hope you check out the article, and as always, have a great day!

http://ourvalley.org/teacher-writes-murder-novel/ SORRY, the link is no longer available. Trust me, it was a great article. 😀

In addition to the kind article, I also wanted to share a few quotes from a few who recently completed the book. "The characters truly come to life. The plot is as palpable as a vintage red wine, smooth and full of body." Another reader said, "What an enjoyable read. Reighard has a way with words, and not just what he says, but how he says it. The narration is almost philosophical at times, and he allows his characters to go beyond the conformed boundaries of a typical suspense character. Truly, a great read."

To read comments like that makes me want to stop everyting else I am doing and continue my writing, so I thank any and all who have commented on the book at this point. And it is my hope the comments continue to come in. I am always interested in what people have to say. Take care.

"The Reunion Reaper" Finally Released

2010-01-15T18:29:00.001-05:00

Well, it's a reality, my new novel, The Reunion Reaper"is now available on Amazon.com.

It took longer than I had hoped, but when you have to do all the work; such as, editing, revising, editing, revising, and did I say edit, it takes time and its toll. I hope you will take advantage and order a copy, I feel you will be rewarded for your purchase.

Here's a brief overview: Twenty five years has passed since the 1983 class of Palm Beach Prep, a rather prestigious private school with a storied history, graduated, but now some of those classmates are being hunted down and killed by one of their own. The killer is bent on revenge.
When Andrew Keane gets the news that three of his fellow classmates are dead, he gets curious and starts sniffing around. Little does Andrew know that his involvement will get some of his friends killed, and jeopardize his job, marriage, and possibly his life.

Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+reunion+reaper