Starlight Ranch Survival

2014-05-09T20:08:00.005-05:00

Don't Panic!!

You wake up with a blinding headache and blood running down the side of your face. Where are you and what happened? Or, you just shot a beautiful 10-point Buck during an out of town hunting trip, and you suddenly look up to see darkness is already falling and you are alone. Or, maybe your canoe overturns crossing some rapids, and you struggle to make your way towards shore while all your gear floats away.

In each of these scenarios, you are faced with a possible life or death situation, where what you do next may be the key to whether you survive or not in the hours and (possibly) days ahead. Some will think nothing is wrong and that they are sure that they can make their way back without trouble. Only later to find themselves completely lost. Some may actually panic at the thought that they are totally alone in the deep wilderness and that they could die. Many people will actually run hither and yawn into the wilds about them until they are really lost. And finally, there are those who carefully consider all options, plan a course of action, and then stick to the plan until help arrives or they self-rescues by their own hands. This last way can be seen on the news almost every night, as crews are rescued after weeks at sea, a man walks out of the frozen wilds to save his family, or the woman who lost her way on a hiking day trip survives for many days by finding available food in the waters and plants about her. All of these scenarios are based on true stories which took place within the last few months, and are noteworthy for that very fact; they all survived almost impossible odds.

One story that didn’t make the news, but is worthy of note, is of a man who in September of 2009, was camping far from civilization in the deep woods of Northern Minnesota. After several days of wonderful peace and restful sleep, the man woke up to find a cold, damp rain was falling and his campfire had consumed the last of his dry firewood. So, he picked up his chainsaw and walked a short distance down the trail to where he had seen a dry fallen tree that he could easily cut up and spilt for firewood. Seeing nothing to stop him but a deep mat of wet leaves, he faced the trail and started up the saw, goosed it a time or two to warm it up, and turned left and stepped forward to start the cut. Unbeknownst to him was a tree root that was hidden in the leaves, and as he stepped forward, his right foot tripped on it. Immediately the leg collapsed, and he started to fall, he instantly decided to throw the buzzing chainsaw away from him so as not to fall on it. But in doing so, his body turned, and he fell more towards his left side, which made it impossible to use his hands to break his fall. When his head was about 14 inches above the ground, the top of his head impacted the side of a tree, and he was shocked to hear bones snapping in his neck as his head was driven straight back towards his shoulders.

Deeply stunned by the impact, he laid for several moments until his thoughts cleared and then realized the full depth of the disaster in front of him. For one, he was deep into the woods that required a walk back to the campsite itself, then a four wheel ATV, and finally a four wheel drive truck to just reach the nearest road. All of this ran through his mind as he lay on the cold wet ground with the rain falling on the side of his face. Next he thought of what would be needed for someone to come and rescue him, and the number of minutes, hours, even days before anyone would realize he was out of touch and decided to check up on him. Reaching the bottom of that train of thought, he knew that he would die of exposure long before anyone would come looking for him. Next, he tried moving just his fingers and arms to see what he had available to him. They moved but with considerable pain that was only matched by the pain that with being created by the bones and muscles of his neck. Another check showed that he had movement in his legs as well! Thank God!

Slowly, moving only an inch at a time, he fought his way to a sitting position with his back to a tree. The unsupported side of his neck was terrible; even so, if he did not try to turn his head he could endure it. Gaining determination to survive, he thought about the phone in his pocket. Because he was so far from a cell tower, he knew that he would have to stand on his wooden deck and raise the phone above his head to call anyone. This was now impossible due to the damage in his neck, which did not allow him to reach up that high. Taking a minute, he could see a tree branch lying next to him on his left side (he could only look left) and reaching out, used it to turn off his chainsaw. Quiet quickly returned, as he thought through all the steps needed to call 911 on his cell and the time it would take for anyone to arrive to help him. This quickly turned to hours due to a number of factors, like wilderness travel, location coordinates being unknown, and the needs of the rescuers to enable them to reach him. If only he could reach the river nearby!

So after lying there for nearly an hour, the man used just his legs to push himself to a standing position and carefully walked back to his campsite where his dog, Maggie was happy to see him. Moving only his body, he tore open the dog food bag and got additional water for the water bowl; he had realized that the dog could starve to death before another would find her. All of this movement and weight lifting was terrible but necessary for both of their peace of mind. The man then walked over to his ATV and bracing himself; he climbed aboard. Everything went black for several minutes before he could reach over and start the heavy machine. Then he began what he later described his “16-point turn” to get the ATV turned around and headed down the trail he had cut only yesterday. At one point in the trip back to his Ford truck, he had to stop, reach down and pull each leg up to rest on the wheel well in order to cross a largely flooded area. Again, a very painful event.

Reaching his truck, he parked the ATV and started up the truck in order to reach the road still more than two miles away. Again he performed a 16-point turn (normal is 3!) and made his way through the woods until he stopped by the two lane blacktop road about 30 miles east of Baudette, Minnesota. Finally, he could make a call for help but to whom?! Again he figured time, distance, and need for rescue. Deciding to call his wife over 450 miles away (you never know!) he told her of his accident and asked what he should do. Stay there or go?

The nearest EMT was 30 miles away and could take well over than an hour to response if they were busy already. Or he could drive carefully to Baudette himself, limiting his speed and movement to what was totally in his control. Here, a normal person would have waited until help appeared, but he had already rescued himself against impossible odds, and his physical condition was changing for the worse.

The man could already feel the muscles in his shoulders and neck swelling, making it harder to breathe, and he could no longer swallow as his throat was swelling shut, as well. So he was drooling slightly down the side of his face. He might not have that hour to wait! Telling his wife to call 911 in Baudette to have the ambulance there to met him at the grocery store in town; he put on his truck emergency flashers and pulled slowly onto the highway. Never going over 30 mph, he drove to the local food store and parked with his flasher still on. After almost twenty minutes, he heard them drive up, to the front of the store! This was too much! Getting out, he walked up to the ambulance and told them he was the pickup.

“My God, he’s walking!!” someone shouted out. Later the man could only say high praise for the crew as they stayed with him through the ER, aided in positioning him for the CT-Scan, and helped to cut off his clothes when needed.

“My God, look at that! He tore every muscle in his neck! He should be dead!” Were the comments both during the CT-Scan and later by the local doctor. As the man had broken the C-2 Sinuous Process bones on the right side of his neck, chipped the C-3 vertebrae in front (which made his throat swell ), and crashed every disc in his neck. The C-2 vertebra, located in the neck, is the same one Christopher Reeves broke, and it sits right at the base of the head and supports the heavy skull above it. A large percentage of C-2 fractures are fatal. Today, this man is still alive because he took to time to STOP, SIT, and THINK about his survival. He didn’t panic! And even when he had reached a rescue point, he made another life or death decision; which was later credited in saving his life as the doctor stated that he would have died because of the swelling in his throat if he had waited.

The time taken to drop to one knee, clear your mind, and think slowly of every possible option you may have, is worth every kiss from a loved one once you get safely home again. Rushing into the darkness can leave you more miles from safety than when you started. And, trying to swim after your gear as it floats away will expose you to hypothermia, drowning and death. But, what about the man who was found walking out of the wilderness for help? Well that man had stayed and aided his family when their car overturned during a sledding trip. To keep warm, they burned a tire for heat overnight and shared body warmth. This family was lucky, as just like the man in the story, they had not left word where they were going, when they would be back, and exact instructions on how to find them in case of an emergency.

This is not about Bug-Out-Bags and what you should carry with you at all times. It is about a mental process by which to aid in surviving a disaster, while it is happening, and what steps you should do to come out alive on the other side. Stop doing anything, sit down or kneel until you need to move again, and after taking a few deep breaths, think about everything you passed reaching that point. Think about passing that strange rock or tree; remember your steps as you walked along a pretty part of the trail. Think about how to get back the last place you remember clearly. Then think about where to go next. Was the Sun on the right or the left; was the trail open or steep? And so on. An excellent example of this bcan be found in Will Smith’s new movie, “After Earth (2013)”, in which he instructs his son to calm down, “take a knee” and think about his situation. Later, on his own, Will’s son uses this technic to solve a problem during a life or death scenario to save them.

For the wet traveler, forget the gear and think about getting warm and dry! Take everything off and do pushups or jumping jacks until you feel a little warmer. Ring out your clothes as best you can, beating them against the rock, if necessary, to remove the water, and lay them out to dry. While everything is drying, try your best to start a fire! Here I would carry a lighter on a cord around your neck to aid in doing so. Flint and steel are fun, but you could die before you get a spark going.

All these steps can save your life if you don’t panic! How do I know? I was the guy that broke his neck in the Northern Woods of Minnesota in 2009. Having said that, I hope you can learn how to survive with a little luck and to learn not to panic.

About the Author

I have been a number of things in my life to include USAF Security Police Officer, Photo Intelligence Specialist, Nuclear Weapons Targeteer as a member of the Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff (JCS/JSTPS) in the Regan years, and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Section Emergency Coordinator (SEC) State of Minnesota, American Red Cross Disaster Services Instructor/Mass Care Specialist, NRA Firearms Instructor, and BCA Minnesota Permit to Carry Instructor to name just a few. But through all of this I have been a survivalist and a prepper, and I have used my skill sets to actually survive a number of life challenging situations where my only hope of survival was saving me.

I currently live with my wife and too many cats and dogs off grid in Mountain View, MO. I can be reached at DFranck@aol.com My Facebook page at DonaldFranckBooks. And on Twitter at @dfranck1.

2014-04-22T17:03:00.000-05:00

At the Pond

Views of the new Cabin

2014-03-20T23:34:00.002-05:00

Questions and Answers

I will be releasing the boxed set of Darkness Reigns, Volume I/II by the end of March at the savings price of $5.99 on Amazon. I also will be adding this to my paperback collection in April which will include the first 2 chapters of Running for Home, Book 3. Hopefully this will make it easier for my readers to save money and boost sales as well.

2014-03-20T23:29:00.002-05:00

At the Pond!

I was finally able to get down the hill to the Pond. The weather was warm and I really enjoyed watching the fish and the dogs swimming in it.

Fishing Hole

There are some serious eating fish in it now!

2014-03-11T20:03:00.004-05:00

Questions and Answers

Here is the new cover! I had issues with the picture format for some reason. This will hopefully be released this coming winter.

2014-03-10T20:33:00.001-05:00

At the Pond!

Well, the snow is gone and the mud is three feet tall and rising! Or at least it seems that way to Fran and the dogs as they struggle to get the truck from point A to point B without a tow truck assist. One thing Fran did tell me about was our fish in the pond. It seems they are getting to be monster size and they need to get thinned out before we try to add more bait fish and minnows. So it may be time for me to break out the fishing pole and start thinnin' that herd!

On the author side, Running for Home is started and I need to do some sitting at the new (old) computer and start talking again. And I did take a few minutes to develop the new cover for Plague : 2014 which is shown below. I like to use a cover as a carrot to get me working!! What do you think?

This title brings me up to three books scheduled for release this year and should prove exciting for my readers! I hope you will all give them a try as they are released and please post a great 5 star review on Amazon! Hint hint!!

2014-02-18T22:00:00.000-06:00

Questions and Answers

Everyone is talking about snow!

This is our pond totally frozen over. Hope fish don't die!

2014-02-15T23:14:00.000-06:00

At the Pond!

Well, Fran was very lucky as the only damage was the tire rim and a strut. But it still cost over $500 after the tow and repair bill...ouch! But, I can live with that as only minutes before she had been on the blacktop at 60 mph! That same thing then would have been fatal for sure!

On other news, after weeks of snow and ice it has finally gotten above 32 degrees and things are melting! About time!! Besides seeing more birds, Fran had a close up and personal with a very large possum that she "thought" was dead after Jazmine stopped shaking it. Picking it up by the tail, she put it out of reach to take care of later. ONLY, later the possum was gone! Yes, it was playing "possum!" Wish I took a picture as this one was about 10 pounds or more!

2014-02-12T15:40:00.001-06:00

Questions and Answers

Well, I will soon know the total damnage to my truck. But a wheel falling off is never good. As bad as that is, is also missing a critical MRI to find out the cause of my arms going totally numb. Can't walk and now cannot eat...well not easily. Serious bummer.

2014-02-03T20:46:00.001-06:00

Questions and Answers

Sorry things are running behind! I developed a bone infection in my left elbow that has pretty much crippled my writing, eating, sleeping abilities to a terrible extent. And while it has finally allowed me a few minutes of sleep at night, my abilitiy to hold a thought and to act upon has been tasked. And pain has taken on a whole new meaning as it were.

BUT, my mind is still free and I am developing a new and devasting storyline based on real events taking place across the globe. In the island nation of Madagascar, the Bubonic Plague has taken hold and appears that it may be causing an increasing number of deaths. Strangely, almost all news has stopped, with nothing is coming out that the disease is now dying down or that it is out of control (a more likely possiblity). Last reports were made around Dec 21th, 2013 and stated that the disease had developed into a drug resistant airbrone type. Seriously!

So, take an injuried writer and a mind set free to scare the hell out of you in the coming weeks as Plague: 2014 hits the ground running. Right up to your door!

2014-01-11T18:45:00.000-06:00

At the Pond

Well, sales of Go the Distance are starting to rise! And I am hearing great things being said about it!

The co-founder of Prepperlinks wants to expand and help promote my books. To include my writing articles and how-to items plus tie them into the Prepper Matrix. The Prepper Matrix is a flow chart type visual planning guide. In any case, I said yes!

Newest book covers just released!

Newsest book released. "Go the Distance"

Paperback
ISBN: 1492277177
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQSEZ96

New Book in the works!!

2014-01-05T18:41:00.000-06:00

At the Pond

The first edited draft of Go the Distance is completed and I am finalizing the cover at Createspace currently. So I hope have both paperback and Kindle edition ready by February 1st 2014.

The wife says this is the best one yet!

2013-12-12T16:30:00.000-06:00

I wrote this in 2006 and I thought it would be good for Christmas.

DFranck

Portfolio | BecomeA Fan

The Bird

The cool morning air felt wonderful to Brown Speck as she lifted her wings. The Sun was just clearing the eastern edge of the village and dew shined like bright jewels upon the grass. Dropping to the ground and dipping her beak, she filled her crop with drop after drop of the dew. Oh the sweetness! As water was scare and hard win. So, every chance must be taken to refresh herself. Giving a happy chirp she jumped into the air and flew to the fig tree. There to feast on ripe figs and sing with others of her kind.

On the desert floor, families journeyed from village to village with each family headed to the village of their birth as directed by the King of these lands. Many traveled well with fresh camels and donkeys and large tents covered them during the chill nights and small glass cups of tea refreshed them during the heat of the day. Others did not do so well as they walked step by step across the burning sands and rock and what shade they could find only lasted but a few short minutes. Water, water to drink, oh that was a treasure. By the time many reached the oasis, the water was bitter and nearly black with the foul spit of the camels. So the women carefully poured the foul mixture through layers of fine cloth in the hope of making whatever was left, drinkable. In the heat of the day, they all rested as best they could. Then moving on again as the day passed into late afternoon.

Brown Speck rustled her feathers then worried a parasite from under her left wing. Throwing it into the air, she snapped it up with a flick of her beak. Looking around her, many of the others from her flock were still asleep. They would only awake as the Sun's light dimmed at end of day. Then it became a busy time as each rushed to find seeds, look for figs, and drink water from the puddle by the village well. And then maybe, finally, sing to one another.

Men also moved about in the cooler warmth of the afternoon. And in the far distance, a small group of travelers could be seen unhurried, unable even to hurry. They made their way slowly down the long road to Brown Speck's village. The villagers paid little notice as a weary man lead his donkey toward them. The woman was seated on the donkey and was visibly in pain and discomfort. But, no one offered them aid, no one even cared to look at them, except to curse as they passed. The Villagers honored the King as he demanded, but they cursed the ones who had to travel to distant villages many years in their past. They cursed the foul smelling peasants that had no coin to pay the Inn Keeper's fee. Or the coppers to pay the Baker's price for fresh bread only one copper for stale bread before the pigs got it. Another copper for a handful of dates and figs of which this man shared with the woman. A clay pot gave them water from the well which had been pulled up from deep underground. At least, this water was fresh, cool, and clean and it helped to wash the desert dust from their lips. Spitting out the date seeds, the Man placed his fingers on the wide stomach of the Woman. A smile appeared as the Baby kicked once and then again. And the man bowed down and prayed that they would complete their journey before the baby made it's way into the world.

Interested in the date seeds, Brown Speck flew down to the ground. Pecking at the small pieces of sweet date meat still on the drying seeds, She hopped from seed to seed, pecking here, worrying off sweet meat there. She let her interest in food foolishly guide her. No one saw the Cat as it moved slowly from behind the village well and, with a leap and a bound, it landed on Brown Speck! Razor sharp claws pulled at feathers and flesh in an instant. Brown Speck tried again and again to fly away! Pain! Pain! Fear! Fly! All raced through her in that instant and she knew that there was only a single heartbeat left to her. Then a shout and a stone startled the Cat. It bounded away as quickly as it had appeared. Feathers raining from its empty teeth. Brown Speck shuttered. Pain! Pain! Fear! Fly! A single wing answered her call. But, the other lay torn and red. Brown Speck's right wing had been laid bare by the claws of the cat. There was now no hope, no chance, and no dream of flight again. Only minutes remained before the cat returned to feast on her still beating heart.

The Man who had thrown the stone just stared at the small bird as it tried again and again to make its broken wing fly. He picked up another stone and moved to finish the cat's work. But, then as he moved toward a hand came out of the darkness to stay the stone. Reaching as best she could with her wide belly, the Woman folded the bird's wings against its sides. Making cooing sounds and a warm breath it became the small bird's whole world as sizes, shapes, and smells flooded the area around it. Seeing the woman with the bird, the man shook his head and looked down at the ground. Nodding down again to make his point crystal clear. The woman's looked only at the small life within her fingers. This life needed a chance, so did her baby, they both just needed time. Sighing, the man dropped the stone and went to care for the donkey. He knew that sometimes you had to lead with your heart. Even when it was wrong. And this was one of those times as he saw it. But, as he returned, the woman had a smile on her face as she carefully dropped drops of water onto the bird's beak. Overcoming fear, Brown Speck filled her crop with this lifegiving water as she felt it slowing the rapid beating of her own heart. There was still pain and fear, but not the madness of flight.

The next day's journey was a repeat of many other days. The same slow walk in the hot blinding sun. The sips of water for the woman and the donkey the smile of refusal from the man. And drop, vital drop, for the bird from the woman's hand taken from her own mouth as the man watched. It was only a bird, the man's face seemed to say, again and again, the baby as needs as well. But, the woman just smiled and placed the bird against her own beating chest and there it rested. Later, after the heat of the day, the man walked into another village. There again, another copper for stale bread, another for figs, and ..curse the King.. two coppers for a plate of spiced meat to share between them. A feast after days of bread and spoiled dates and the woman smiled and laughed as the baby made its presents known. Kicking enough to move the cloth over her belly. The man too smiled and rested his hand over the cloth. Thereby, feeling for him, the wonder of life.

Brown Speck chirped as the woman fed bits of dates to her. The wing still was painful and lifeless. But the flesh had sealed out the sickness from the claw marks and the fever had started to go back down. Pecking a final bit of date, the woman's hand gave a drop of water to the bird. And then she was returned to the woman's breast. A soft beating heart in the woman's stomach matched the slow loud heartbeat of the woman. Life echoed life.

As dawn came upon the land, the man and woman were again on the road. A final day of travel! And then, maybe .. rest., if only for a short while. The woman's face was pale and marked by pain the life inside her was fighting to be born. Soon. And the man prayed they would find a place for the birth. Being born on the side of the road was a matter not to be thought upon and his village was near, almost in sight. He hurried the donkey as much as he could. And moved on in the late afternoon while the heat was still molten. But, the village was finally in sight even if there were miles still to go. The bird chirped as the baby kicked. As if to say, be patient, a few hours more and you will be free. And then they could all rest in the village of its birth.

The dust of the desert coated their hands and faces and the Inn Keeper looked at their threadbare robes. No gold or silver here, and no copper to be had either. The Inn Keeper shook his head and started to move away when the woman let a small sound of terrible pain cross her lips. The Inn Keeper heard the sound, as did the Inn Keeper's wife. Both looked closer at the woman upon the donkey, they saw the woman's pinched face and the stain appearing on her robes. They both nodded their heads toward a small mud hut in the back of the Inn. Then walked away.

The woman smiled! Shelter, even poor shelter, was welcome news. And the man helped her down from the donkey's back and kicking together some straw and hay, the man laid his own sleeping robes over it. Then helped the woman to lie upon it. A roof of dirt and straw, how brightly it seemed to her. The walls, mud also, but firm and looking down upon her, her donkey, another, a horse, and two sheep. They were in the stables! The woman smiled for a moment before the pains stopped her. Seeing a clay bowl, the woman reached into her robes and carefully placed the injured bird within it.

Brown Speck had seen many creatures born in her short life. And knew that the woman would soon bring forth the life within her. The bird remembered the eggs she had laid in her youth, how they later became young, her young. How she had given them water, and pieces of figs and dates. Seeds, bugs and flies came later to make them stronger. The desert gave life, but harshly. And nothing could be wasted. The man came to the woman with a clay bowl of fresh water and clean rugs. He washed her face and arms. Cooling her from the heat of the day. Being alone, he washed her legs and stomach as best he could. This was not a task he had done before. Sheep and goats, yes, even his donkey was born into his hands. But, never a human child.

Brown Specked watch as the new life could at last be seen. A patch of flesh with brown hair. Just like her feathers, how wonderful..! Brown Speck chirped and then started to sing!! The bright clear notes seemed to ease the woman's pain so she sang louder. Making each note as long as she could! She flexed her wings and sailed into the air. So that all could hear her song of joy! Because now, Brown Speck had seen new life being born. And she knew that this life was needed upon the world. And Brown Speck flew into the night singing her song of welcome. So that all would know that he was here, at last.

2013-11-16T21:44:00.001-06:00

Questions and Answers

Here is the new cover for Book 2 of A Private War: Payback is a Bitch! Murdoch's Return. This book is planned for release in 2014. What do you think?

2013-11-16T20:01:00.001-06:00

Questions and Answers

I'm back to writing again after a period of illness that had left me weak and bedridden. But, the need to write and to create has gotten me back into my chair and good stuff is coming from my fingers. The scheduled release of Darkness Reigns, Book 2 "Go the Distance" is now scheduled for Spring 2014. Which should work out well as I hope to turn right around and start on Book 2 of "A Private War."

Cover for Go the Distance

It is also news nthat my wife, Francine will be taking a major part in wsriting Book 3 of Darkness from Judy's point of view. This is something that is already appearing in Book 2 as Judy reviews and

discusses issues taking place in the compound. This book is hoped to be more of a preparations guide for life off the grid. As this something she knows well due to our real-life ednvironment.

2013-11-08T15:33:00.000-06:00

Questions and Answers

Dr D

With the weather changing quickly, we need to ensure that all of our livestock and pets will stay warm this winter. Replace the straw in their pens with fresh to aid them in staying healthy and don't forget to clean their water tanks and bowls. For chain link dog kennels, consider plastic tarps around the sides and top to stop the cold bitting winter winds and wet snow. And use mounds of straw under and around their dog houses for insulation from the cold ground.

For us, dress in layers so that we can remove items as we work and later replace as we start to cool down. Good boots, wool knit cap, and gloves are a must in poor weather and can save your live if you break down far from home. Also, ensure your vehicle has a sleeping bag, stove, candles, and snacks for when you do get stuck out overnight as temperatures can drop well below freezing after the sun goes down.

Stay prepared and stay warm this winter season!!

Lola Dec 2012 - August 21, 2013

2013-08-30T15:19:00.003-05:00

2013-08-30T14:46:00.000-05:00

Questions and Answers

The new books are now available on Amazon and a bookstore near you. Plus, the newest upcoming book, Go the Distance is already well in hand and we are looking at a Christmas 2013 release in paperback. The Kindle version will follow.

2013-08-19T17:04:00.001-05:00

Questions and Answers

Here is the paperback cover for A Private War, should will be released within the next few days once it passes final review at the printers. This will be a worldwide release. Both books have taken a toll on me but I am exited to seen this going to print after more than 25 years on the back burner. There is just nsomething about holding something you made in your hands.

2013-08-18T20:52:00.001-05:00

At the Pond

Well, I have been spending alot of hours getting Darkness Reigns and A Private War ready for for publishing into paperback versions. Darkness will be nearly 400 pages long and nearly 300 pages for War.

This was created on CreateSpace cover maker and will be used for both the Kindle nebook and paperback releases next month. Pretty darn awesome!

Look for it September 1st on Amazon!!

2013-08-03T21:49:00.002-05:00

Questions and Answers

There, 33 Chapters hot off the edit room floor and into my unofficial readers group. Fran literally yelled at me last night after I sent her my last few chapters. Forgot about the cliffhanger type ending when I had quit typing. "You stopped!! Now?!!! I wanted to see how that ended!!

Awesome!!!!!!!

See Darkness Reigns! Coming in September!!

2013-08-02T20:34:00.000-05:00

Questions and Answers

After some considerable soul searching, I decided to reserve the last 3 days of my "A Private War" free promotion for a more advanced notice release period. I did this last night after what I thought was 3 full days but in reality was only two so some of you got shorted a book. Because of this I received some "complaining" by those who missed out on the free download. But over 300 people did get it so I felt ok in stopping early.

What every one needs to understand about these "free" promotions is that the author, and Amazon, do not receive a single dime. By giving away 300 copies, I lost out on making $2.76 per copy or approaching almost $800. So, if you missed out, I'm sorry. But, I will have another one in a few weeks with better start and end dates.

As an author, I hate giving away work that took me months of hard work to complete for zero return. But as a reader, I love these same type of promotions.
...
I hope this clears up the misunderstandings.

Don in MO

http://starlightranchsurvival.blogspot.com/

2013-07-23T14:26:00.002-05:00

Updates

Well, it has been some time since I have posted an update and I should let you know the latest. I have been working hard on rewriting and updating my ebook, "A Private War" and I completed it last night.

As you can see I have new cover art and better Kindle support for the Kindle Fire and Kindle software for PC/MAC. So I hope you find it a much better read. And if so, please stop by the Kindle webpage and post an a feedback message.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZCY9YE

Your positive or negative review is badly needed to reflect the current version's status. Good or bad!!!

I have also come up with a new design for my next book called "Darkness Reigns".

This should be released soon but health issues have really slowed me down on this one, including a bad left shoulder that makes writing difficult. But, I hope this new series book will generate some interest as it moves closer to the release date now set for September 2013. Figers crossed on this one.

2013-06-07T15:46:00.005-05:00

At the Pond!

Well, we have finlly moved completely onto the farm as the Park Model RV is now sitting up near the barn and just waiting to be placed in tis final location. Because of the rain, we are having to await a professional mover to park and block it farther into the trees.

While you cannot tell too much from this photo, the pond itself has flooded over the dam and well into the front yard. As our location received over 4 inches of rain from one storm alone. This is so different from last year with the exceptional drought.

Here is how the water looked when we first settled here and it has been a joy for all of us. The biggest change has been the size and number of fish in the waters surrounding it. We stocked two years ago with some 3-4 inch bluegills etc and catfish. They are now somewhat monsterous as noone has tried to really catch any so far. We know the Grass Carp are huge as we see their top fins running over 4 inches out of the water. The albino (white) catfish run from 18 inches to nearly 2 feet in length! Not bad for a 1/2 acre pond! And all of the fish have been spawning as we can see the fry all along the shallows. Awesome!

2013-05-29T18:39:00.000-05:00

Communication Ideas

We live in a world criss-crossed by countless waves of energy, from cell phone microwaves, AM/FM radio stations, gigahertz satellite signals for phone/internet usage and tons of others. But as so many found after Hurricanem Sandy and the Moore, OK EF5 tornado, the cell towers and hardline connections to the outside world can disappear in a heatbeat. Thus leaving everyone shaking dead cell phones and wondering where to turn. One option is the use of ham radio relays that pop up within hours of a disaster and can be used for "health and welfare" message traffic as time permits. But in the beginning, they will be busy with emergency traffic for shelters and the movement of vital supply requests. But even today it is possible to buy a number of different base/mobile/handheld radios that don't need a license and they can reach outside the disaster area. I'm talking about CB radios like truckers use and that REACT members use during their operations to assist others in need. Also there are handheld or HTs that can be found in Wamart and countless sporting goods store, the Family Radio Service (FRS) which can reach across neighborhoods and short distances of up to 5 miles. Some contain multiple radio channels to cover a wide range of services to include GMRS and MURS what may require a simple license but which add power and range to the system. Stepping up again to ham radio, a simple test can allow you to use VHF and UHF freqs on up into the gigahertz range. One thing this does is allow users to recieve and send digtal messages using APRS and Echolink for voice messages into distant radio repeaters across the world. Some HTs have this ability already built into them and can allow anyone to reach out anywhere.

My whole point of all this is to talk about "Earl." Who or what is Earl? Well, Earl is a thing, not a person and it has a number of features that seem ideal for people to have for everything Mother Nature can throw at us. It is similar to an early Kindle or Ipad yet has some awesome abilities as it can use hundreds of Android Apps! It has a built in GPS tracker , weather station w sensors, built-in solar charging, Bluetooth 4.0, weather proof, AM/FM/SW/LW radio receiver, and well as a built-in FRS/GMRS/MURS analog and digtal two-way radio system!

So, with all these features it should be selling soon to outdoors lovers everywhere and should be high on the list for future emergency/disaster survivors! Until June 9th, 2013 you can save 30% by senting in $249.

www.meetearl.com

In case you are wondering, I am getting nothing out of this, I just love the idea and wanted to let people know!! My money is going down on Friday!!