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Ghost of the Fox

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Inspiration

I was reading a large volume about the American Revolution when I came upon the section about the “Battle of Trenton.” I recollected that Mrs. Logan, my fourth grade teacher at Park Avenue Elementary School in Port Chester, NY, had read us a story about George Washington and his victorious army at Trenton. For some reason or other it had remained vivid in my memory. Since I knew the area in New Jersey and Pennsylvania where I had toured more than once with big bands, I thought I’d write a children’s story based on this battle. It would take place in that very area, but with a different twist, this has two stories written as one. The first part is historical-nonfiction which continues without a break into the second half of the story that is fiction. Besides the book I was reading, I researched other books including the encyclopedia, and was amazed how close in detail the accounts were about the same story. All the authors must have had Mrs. Logan as their teacher. I hope this story will inspire you to read more about George Washington and how our great country won its independence.

Play Story

Download eBook

Ghost of the Fox

Check out the bookstore!

Click here for print editions of your favorite stories.

Inspiration

I was reading a large volume about the American Revolution when I came upon the section about the “Battle of Trenton.”  I recollected that Mrs. Logan, my fourth grade teacher at Park Avenue Elementary School in Port Chester, NY, had read us a story about George Washington and his victorious army at Trenton.  For some reason or other it had remained vivid in my memory.  Since I knew the area in New Jersey and Pennsylvania where I had toured more than once with big bands, I thought I’d write a children’s story based on this battle.  It would take place in that very area, but with a different twist, this has two stories written as one.  The first part is historical-nonfiction which continues without a break into the second half of the story that is fiction.  Besides the book I was reading, I researched other books including the encyclopedia, and was amazed how close in detail the accounts were about the same story.  All the authors must have had Mrs. Logan as their teacher.  I hope this story will inspire you to read more about George Washington and how our great country won its independence.

While I was trying to absorb the contents of the book, I began re-editing my novel, “Diary of a Young Musician,” that received Highly Recommended by “Midwest Book Review” two years ago. My small publisher in Indiana went bankrupt last year after being flooded out, and in the process all the author’s books were lost, including mine. I’m now self-publishing the book with Fideli Publishing, and copies are now available on my website, Felix Mayerhofer.com. The book also received FIVE STARS from amazon.com. The saga of “Plug Your Book,” will continue with another article, soon.

Good News! My children’s book, “The Three Little Godfathers,” has just been released and it’s available both in my Bookstore in “Felix the Storyteller, audiochildrensbooks.com, and amazon.com.

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Download eBook - King of The Ice Cap

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Inspiration

A short story in our local newspaper in Port Chester, NY, in the early 1950’s caught my eye, because it mentioned the ice cap of Greenland. A buried American B-17 bomber had been discovered on the ice cap after having been missing since the Second World War. The article said the airplane was being flown to England when it got lost in a blizzard as it was about to land to refuel. The crew got out safely, but the bomber remained buried and hidden for many years. I could relate to that story. I remembered when we flew to Greenland how difficult it had been to land at BW-1 Air Force Base. After flying over the fjords with our wing tips almost touching the mountains on either side, the plane then had to make a sudden right turn into a slightly uphill runway. Since I had already written one Eskimo story, I thought this might be an interesting sequel.

I recently read a well-written and informative article by Karen McWilliams in the May|June 2009 edition of SCBWI Magazine, where she wrote about the book Plug Your Book! Online Marketing for Authors by Steve Weber. The article truly excited me because I felt the book she basically reviewed was exactly what I’d been looking for. Weber gave examples of ways for authors to promote their books online. He had helped launch over 1,000 books online as well as assisted many publishers in building online marketing departments.

I immediately ordered the book and it arrived in a couple of days. Karen was right, it’s an easy read but it stops right there. Karen said she had very little computer skills but had no trouble understanding what Weber had to say. That’s the difference between younger and older computer users and I’m in the latter category. When I plugged into some of the URL’s I got confused–old age setting in. I know I’ll eventually get it but it will take longer. I’ve had the same problem ever since my early 60’s, when I learned to play the piano, reviewed my jazz band arranging skills that I hadn’t done for years, and began studying jazz and classical guitars. I did them well, and at the same time I was writing my 38 children’s stories and novel. I had to eventually stop playing piano and the guitars when my fingers and hands began bothering me in my 70’s. This was all accomplished after I retired, but being older it took longer to absorb the material.

I’m sure the further I get into Plug Your Book and my mind eventually soaks up the material, it will become easier, and I should get the expected results. I already have a website that Weber recommends building, and three of my books are on amazon.com, so I’m slightly ahead of the game. It’s going to be a struggle for while, so I’ll continue this series to let you know my progress…if I haven’t given up the battle. If I’ve stopped you’ll know Father Time has taken over.

The above article will be the first of a series dealing with this book.

The invitation to be interviewed on local TV began with my friend Kirk Finley, Sports Director and Anchor Reporter for Time Warner Cable, Channel 3 in Lancaster, CA. He had come to my house the previous week to drop-off a CD he had edited from another show a year earlier when he had interviewed me for SO-CAL NEWS-3. It had been about my book, “Diary of a Young Musician: Final Days of the Big Band Era,” when I was going to have a book signing at Barnes & Noble.

While Kirk was at my house I showed him my new website, “Felix the Storyteller,” my son David had created and built. He was truly impressed with the site, especially the 31 cover illustrations by Disney animator John MacFarlane. He asked how I happened to get the idea of recording the stories myself. I told him my wife Shirley and I began editing and making small changes to improve all 38 of my children’s stories during the summer of 2007, taking about four months. I told Kirk a former student of mine, Susy Christiansen, now a composer with Disney, had suggested I go to a recording studio and record all 38 of my stories, but I felt totally insecure about doing them. Shirley and I realized it would be an expensive undertaking, so we decided to postpone the decision. A few weeks later Shirley bought me a first-class microphone and interface for Christmas. I now had my own small recording studio. My first attempt at recording one of my own stories was an excruciating experience, making me aware I needed practice—lots of it! I thought to myself, could buying that microphone have been a mistake? I had planned on personally recording only one or two, then hire a professional to do six or seven others. The only reason why I was going to record them was that David told me children liked to hear authors narrate their own stories. At the same time he had almost completed my new website that he’d volunteered to do. I emailed him the first two stories I’d recorded for his personal critique. Being a former editor he rejected both, but gave me great advice how to improve them. I must have learned my lesson well because his next critique a few weeks later was an ecstatic experience, telling me the third recording was fantastic, and the fourth was even better! I thought he was just being kind. He said they sounded so good I should record the other three or four myself rather than hire a professional. Instead of recording seven or eight as I had originally intended, I did 10, then 20, with 30 as my goal, but ended up doing all 38 stories that took me ten months to complete, a monumental task! I used GarageBand to record them on my Mac.

Kirk Finley really enjoyed hearing the story how I began recording, and before returning to the studio he asked if I would like to be interviewed again. I said I would. “You should tell the interviewer the same story you just told me,” he said, “it would be of interest to viewers.” I was surprised when Kirk called the next day and asked if I wanted to be on a show the following day, I would be a last minute replacement for someone who had cancelled. My allotted time would be seven minutes, about the time it takes me to take a long breath! Kirk took notes over the phone about my three careers for the host of the show. The way I figured it would take about an hour or longer to answer the number of questions he asked.

When I arrived at the studio the next morning I found out I was to be the last one interviewed by Mitchell Chase, host of “The Local Edition.” When it was time to be interviewed the crew immediately shuffled me in front of the cameras. With a few adjustments to my seat the host introduced me. Mitchell began the show by asking how I got my start as a professional musician. He then asked a question or two about my teaching career, and finally about my website and children’s books. I didn’t even have time to get nervous. Thanks to Mitchell Chase the entire interview was a great success, another notch in my belt.

I also read to three wonderful classes at St. Mary’s Catholic School: First grade, Mrs. Boyd; Second Grade, Mrs. Fuentes; and third grade, Miss Catalla and Miss Rios.  Because I didn’t have time they were given one of my shorter talks, but I still added a little humor.   I can’t help trying to be a comedian no matter what age level I’m speaking to.  They all expressed their thanks by sending me letters or drawings that showed off their talents.  They were truly appreciated.  Below are a few samples of letters I received from Mrs. Fuentes class.  Every child in her class were superior printers, a terrific discipline that could be carried over to every subject:

Dear Mr. Mayerhofer–I like the book Wobbly Bags a Thief because people need to learn to respect others. Also, people need to be safe and careful…Elijah

Dear Mr. Mayerhofer—I enjoyed you reading Wobbly Bags a Thief. It was so exciting for me. God bless you. Thank you…Ashley

Dear Mr. Mayerhofer—I liked the book Wobbly Bags a Thief. I would like you to come and read us another story. It was lots of fun…David

Dear Mr. Mayerhofer—I loved the book you read to us, Wobbly Bags a Thief. Thank you for taking your time to read to us. I would love to read your other books…Amanda

Dear Mr. Mayerhofer—I like your jokes you told us. I like the book Wobbly Bags a Thief. It was a funny story…Bernice

When I arrived at the clubhouse, I was informed there would be another speaker before me, causing me a little uneasiness. When the speaker was introduced I was stunned! She was a representative from our local water district who had been asked that day to talk to the group. The previous evening, an overflow crowd of 200 angry residents of our city had attended a riotous meeting of the water board, who were going to raise the rates by possibly up to 300 percent. The board ended up raising the rates that evening by a vote of 3-2. You could see the quandary I was in having to follow that speaker. While giving her talk why the water district raised the rates, she was asked a question by one of the little old ladies who would be seriously affected by the new rates. The air became contentious with more angry questions. The speaker happily left immediately after her allotted 12 minutes.

While she was speaking I adjusted my talk in my mind hoping it would work out…it did not! It was the first time I’d ever addressed an audience with angry faces who could care less about an ex-musician who used to play with big bands. Every story that had brought laughs in the past fell like a lead balloon. There wasn’t a one. I ended my speech in exactly 12 minutes. I thought the meeting was over but I was wrong. The minutes had yet to be read and short talks to be given by about eight other officers. I made a fast exit after thanking the president for inviting me. I don’t think a person in the room heard a single word of my innocuous talk. In the future I’ll make sure I’m the only speaker and that I be given an allotted time of at least one half hour.

Being a children’s writer, I’ve gone through libraries and bookstores perusing through hundreds of children’s stories by reputable publishers to help me become a better writer. I’ve become totally disenchanted. Thank God there are the obvious exceptions! The children’s publishing world is in deep trouble and it’s not because of our present economy, the problem had already existed.

After reading the Sunday comics in the AV Press (the delight of the day), I looked at “The Mini Page,” as I always do, and my blood pressure went up a notch. This Sunday’s edition featured children’s books where the topic was “The Power of Hope.” There were the usual save the environment books; others to help the world and it’s inhabitants; stories that gave children comfort, and another about being true to one’s self. I was sure every rugged boy was clamoring to read that one. To be fair there were others that looked good but they were in the minority. I’m not going into the politics of this whole issue, but women editors in the publishing world who have a special agenda, are in control of the books children read.

What happened to good old stories about American patriots, like George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Andrew Jackson and others? There should be stories about the heroes of our wars and the heroic exploits of soldiers, airmen, and sailors, both men and women, who fought and died for our country in great battles, such as Felluga in Iraq.

Not only did I love stories like Ivanhoe, and Paul Revere, but I also read every Nancy Drew mystery during summer vacation when I was nine. There was excitement and mystery in each story, where that series attracted both boys and girls for her rugged individualism, the type that built America, as we knew it. Are the books presently being read by our children building character and love of country, as it did for us when we were their age? I don’t think so