One of the finest novels written revealing the fictional evolution of a special forces soldier from enlistment to what he believes to be his last mission. Women will enjoy and benefit from this novel's information and revelations. A must read for everyone with someone in the military, or whose ever wondered about our military special forces. Real events fictionalized make this a cutting edge read and it is done in a format not blistered with profanity and explicit sex, but adequately recognizing what is real and important to the soldiers, including their personal lives.
Steve Newman is an author on the rise, and his impending release of his next novel, "Burnt Yellow and Red" is certainly going to be on my "to read list."
Joyce Godwin Grubbs is a good friend of mine who has written 9 books. Please join her on GoodReads and check out her work!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Pearls of Wisdom
As a young boy back home in Oklahoma, one of my earliest memories of my father was of watching him shoot the breeze with good ole boys around the bed of his pick up truck. Usually, I was sitting in the middle, being seen not heard as I listened to the pearls of wisdom that were shared. I had a big black dog named “Killer” and he was usually within an arms reach of me at any given time, especially when I sat there, in the back of that truck listening to my father and his friends speak about current events and try to solve the problems of the world.
There were expressions they all used that conveyed their sentiment in such a way that the meaning was automatically understood; although as a young boy, I never really knew what they were talking about, much less the subject. I did remember some of the expressions though. My dad would often say, “Only time will tell,” Or “Don’t get your hopes up,” or “Hope for the best, expect the worst.”
The other day my younger brother Clay used an analogy that I had forgotten. Clay wrote to me on face book in response to my last blog post, “Six Thousand Miles Later.” He wrote in response to my complaint that, despite all the success I had experienced, I still had not achieved the extraordinary success that is in my heart. He simply wrote, “It is like a thunderstorm.”
I thought about that for a while and he is correct, success is like a thunderstorm. We start with the clouds building and then most certainly there will be a flash or two of lightning. Then we may get a little precipitation and high winds. There may even be a tornado that comes along and wipes everything out, and then a deluge of rain, some hail. When it is all over, if we survive then inevitably the sun will come out and shine brightly. If we are lucky, a rainbow may appear.
I saw a picture of a double rainbow that appeared over Joplin just after the storm had passed. I thought that is Gods way of saying, “There is still hope!” Hope is something that we all cling to. Hope that things will work out. Hope that the storms in life will pass. Hope that we have chosen the right path. Hope that we will succeed. I hold out hope for my wife, for my kids, for my family. Hope for my country and our soldiers. I think we all cling to that word a great deal and by doing so we are able to make a difference in the lives of others.
The other day a young man asked me for advice as he had just joined the army and so I shared a few thoughts with him. “Keep your hopes high and your expectations real. Do one thing everyday to make things better for yourself and your unit. Always, always keep things on the up and no matter what, never quit. If things get really tough say, feet don’t fail me now and drive on. If you are wondering how it will be? Know that only time will tell and never, ever forget about your family. They are the ones that will be there for you when it is all said and done.”
I sure miss my dog, “Killer” but that is a different story.
There were expressions they all used that conveyed their sentiment in such a way that the meaning was automatically understood; although as a young boy, I never really knew what they were talking about, much less the subject. I did remember some of the expressions though. My dad would often say, “Only time will tell,” Or “Don’t get your hopes up,” or “Hope for the best, expect the worst.”
The other day my younger brother Clay used an analogy that I had forgotten. Clay wrote to me on face book in response to my last blog post, “Six Thousand Miles Later.” He wrote in response to my complaint that, despite all the success I had experienced, I still had not achieved the extraordinary success that is in my heart. He simply wrote, “It is like a thunderstorm.”
I thought about that for a while and he is correct, success is like a thunderstorm. We start with the clouds building and then most certainly there will be a flash or two of lightning. Then we may get a little precipitation and high winds. There may even be a tornado that comes along and wipes everything out, and then a deluge of rain, some hail. When it is all over, if we survive then inevitably the sun will come out and shine brightly. If we are lucky, a rainbow may appear.
I saw a picture of a double rainbow that appeared over Joplin just after the storm had passed. I thought that is Gods way of saying, “There is still hope!” Hope is something that we all cling to. Hope that things will work out. Hope that the storms in life will pass. Hope that we have chosen the right path. Hope that we will succeed. I hold out hope for my wife, for my kids, for my family. Hope for my country and our soldiers. I think we all cling to that word a great deal and by doing so we are able to make a difference in the lives of others.
The other day a young man asked me for advice as he had just joined the army and so I shared a few thoughts with him. “Keep your hopes high and your expectations real. Do one thing everyday to make things better for yourself and your unit. Always, always keep things on the up and no matter what, never quit. If things get really tough say, feet don’t fail me now and drive on. If you are wondering how it will be? Know that only time will tell and never, ever forget about your family. They are the ones that will be there for you when it is all said and done.”
I sure miss my dog, “Killer” but that is a different story.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Six Thousand Miles Later
Starting back in February, we had our first scheduled book signing in 2011 for “The Night Eagles Soared.” It was there in Charleston S.C. that I started speaking publicly when I practiced my material on my sister –in-laws book club. I finished the tour over the Memorial Day weekend at a joint book signing with author Jeff Falkel on Fort Knox Kentucky; both of which was a huge honor for me! Since February, we have traveled to the East Coast, the Midwest, up North and down South. I’ve met some incredible authors and fantastic readers in an effort to get the word out about my writing. Now my big “Spring Offensive” has come to an end as my wife and I start our move to our new home in Charleston, South Carolina.
Some of my favorite memories over the last five months came from the times when I was given a chance to speak publicly. I started my “Academic Lectureship” at Lake Erie College by speaking about the “Creation of Legacy”. I finished my speaking engagements at the Task Force Dagger Foundation’s, Ozark Fishing Adventure. It was there that I was given the opportunity to speak at the Bull Shoals Arkansas, VFW Benefit Dinner; which was held in honor of Our Warriors who attended the event.
One of the most memorable events at which I was given a chance to speak was at the 1st Annual Northern Oklahoma, Literary Arts and Book Festival in Ponca City, Oklahoma. For some reason it struck me to tell the story of my mother and her wayward ways. I spoke of how she named me and the dream I had a few weeks after her death in which she confirmed to me that there is a heaven for good people, for everybody with a kind heart, even if…throughout their lives they had claimed to not believe in God. I’ve since titled that story, “The Trust Fund My Son, The Trust Fund” and one day I may put it on paper. Still, the highlight of the NOLA festival was meeting fellow authors; Eyvonna Rains, Elaine Littau, Ursula Gorman, Kristi Burchfiel and many more!
Since we started the New Year, I have also completed my second book titled “Burnt Yellow and Red,” outlined a third book and I am in the process of writing a screenplay just for the fun of it. The places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, the fellowship shared has all meant a great deal to me. There were a great many lessons learned as well.
It has been a long road, six thousand miles, fifteen events, the screen writer’s workshop, and an interview on KTLO 101.7 Fm in Mountain Home Arkansas. I hate to admit it, but it was all punctuated by an indescribable need to jump on face book and tell everybody what was going on. For those of you who have brushed across my path during the great Spring Offensive of 2011, I will forever be grateful. Now it is time for me to work on my Southern accent since I hope to become a “Gentlemen Fahmah from South Kha-OH-line-ah.” My accent is like my war face…I need to work on it!
Steve Newman Aka….S. B. Newman, Author
Some of my favorite memories over the last five months came from the times when I was given a chance to speak publicly. I started my “Academic Lectureship” at Lake Erie College by speaking about the “Creation of Legacy”. I finished my speaking engagements at the Task Force Dagger Foundation’s, Ozark Fishing Adventure. It was there that I was given the opportunity to speak at the Bull Shoals Arkansas, VFW Benefit Dinner; which was held in honor of Our Warriors who attended the event.
One of the most memorable events at which I was given a chance to speak was at the 1st Annual Northern Oklahoma, Literary Arts and Book Festival in Ponca City, Oklahoma. For some reason it struck me to tell the story of my mother and her wayward ways. I spoke of how she named me and the dream I had a few weeks after her death in which she confirmed to me that there is a heaven for good people, for everybody with a kind heart, even if…throughout their lives they had claimed to not believe in God. I’ve since titled that story, “The Trust Fund My Son, The Trust Fund” and one day I may put it on paper. Still, the highlight of the NOLA festival was meeting fellow authors; Eyvonna Rains, Elaine Littau, Ursula Gorman, Kristi Burchfiel and many more!
Since we started the New Year, I have also completed my second book titled “Burnt Yellow and Red,” outlined a third book and I am in the process of writing a screenplay just for the fun of it. The places I’ve been, the people I’ve met, the fellowship shared has all meant a great deal to me. There were a great many lessons learned as well.
It has been a long road, six thousand miles, fifteen events, the screen writer’s workshop, and an interview on KTLO 101.7 Fm in Mountain Home Arkansas. I hate to admit it, but it was all punctuated by an indescribable need to jump on face book and tell everybody what was going on. For those of you who have brushed across my path during the great Spring Offensive of 2011, I will forever be grateful. Now it is time for me to work on my Southern accent since I hope to become a “Gentlemen Fahmah from South Kha-OH-line-ah.” My accent is like my war face…I need to work on it!
Steve Newman Aka….S. B. Newman, Author
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Taks Force Dagger Ozark Fishing Adventure
Task Force Dagger Ozark Fishing Adventure
This weekend my wife and I traveled to the Twin Lakes area of Northern Arkansas for the Task Force Dagger Ozark Fishing Adventure. The event was staged out of Bull Shoals Arkansas; which is an incredible community of patriotic citizens who went all out to make sure the participants enjoyed their visit. The entire trip was an extraordinary experience for both my wife and I; and so my hat goes off to the Task Force Dagger personnel that made it so enjoyable and worthwhile.
Jimbo Blakeslee and his wife Deb were the driving force behind the logistical organization for the event. They kept the ball rolling with military precision as the participants were given the opportunity to fish for Trout in the White River, visit the National Fish Hatchery below the Norfolk Lake Damn, attend a spaghetti dinner with the entire community of Pontiac Missouri, Fish Bull Shoals Lake several times and then attend an incredible benefit dinner at the Bull Shoals VFW post. The fishing was great, the chow was phenomenal and the local community went all out to show their support for our warriors.
The event revolved around providing Our Warriors with an opportunity to go fishing but the overall effort of the Task Force Dagger Foundation is to provide Our Wounded Warriors an opportunity to discover their new capabilities as they make the transition to becoming a civilian. The “Recreational Therapy” is instrumental in providing our soldiers an opportunity to reconcile their warrior spirit with the reality of civilian life. It is no small task and I salute the efforts of the foundation and encourage my readers to join me in supporting the Task Force Dagger Foundation as we move forward into the summer and fall.
God Bless them all!
This weekend my wife and I traveled to the Twin Lakes area of Northern Arkansas for the Task Force Dagger Ozark Fishing Adventure. The event was staged out of Bull Shoals Arkansas; which is an incredible community of patriotic citizens who went all out to make sure the participants enjoyed their visit. The entire trip was an extraordinary experience for both my wife and I; and so my hat goes off to the Task Force Dagger personnel that made it so enjoyable and worthwhile.
Jimbo Blakeslee and his wife Deb were the driving force behind the logistical organization for the event. They kept the ball rolling with military precision as the participants were given the opportunity to fish for Trout in the White River, visit the National Fish Hatchery below the Norfolk Lake Damn, attend a spaghetti dinner with the entire community of Pontiac Missouri, Fish Bull Shoals Lake several times and then attend an incredible benefit dinner at the Bull Shoals VFW post. The fishing was great, the chow was phenomenal and the local community went all out to show their support for our warriors.
The event revolved around providing Our Warriors with an opportunity to go fishing but the overall effort of the Task Force Dagger Foundation is to provide Our Wounded Warriors an opportunity to discover their new capabilities as they make the transition to becoming a civilian. The “Recreational Therapy” is instrumental in providing our soldiers an opportunity to reconcile their warrior spirit with the reality of civilian life. It is no small task and I salute the efforts of the foundation and encourage my readers to join me in supporting the Task Force Dagger Foundation as we move forward into the summer and fall.
God Bless them all!
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