Cliches, Typos, Etc

I rec'd the paperback version of my book "Da Nang Damned!"and it was exciting to up the package and see my book in print! I immediately opened it up and began flipping pages. One of the things I noticed was usually at the end of one or two sentences there would be a question mark inside a box. At first I had no idea what it meant and was upset. I had edited the book many times & had it reviewed by a proofreader. I probably could of had it edited or proofread again, but decided if I strived for perfection, the book would never get published.

With all the steps to getting a book from Word to Amazon's format. It's possible something in the file got corrupted. But more likely Amazon is questioning my use of a word or my grammar. So I'm going to go back to the original manuscript and make corrections and download a new document. Hopefully that will take care of the problem.

PG or R Rating?

When I decided to finally write my novel, I had to make many decisions regarding style and substance. I spent a lot of time mulling over the tone of the novel, characters, setting, etc. But one area I didn't have to think about was do I give my book a PG or R rating?

In my humble opinion, profanity, sex and violence is so prevalent in our culture that unfortunately we have become immune to it. It's everywhere! TV, print, everyday speech and of course the internet. When I was young I rarely heard any swearing or cursing, even among my friends. In fact it wasn't until I went in the service that I was really expose to profanity, but even there it was understood that you spoke two languages Navy & English. I remember an old crusty Master Chief warning us that when we were home on leave or on a weekend pass to town that we cleanup or **##! language.

In writing my book Da Nang Damned I decide to model myself after Clive Cussler's style of writing. Cussler is one of the most prolific and successful writers of fiction today. He's the author of the Dirk Pitt series and other great books. His books are filled with great heroes and villains, but no where in his books will you find any profanity, in your face sex scenes or violence for the sake of violence.

Now I'm not stupid. I know sex and violence sells. But I also believe I should stay true to who I am. Sure I can swear in at least four languages and truth be told do on occasion let fly with one or two four letter words. But I want to write books that I would be ashamed to have my Mom or my grandchildren read. So call me old fashion but that's just the way I prefer to write.

Write About What you Know

Writing a novel is hard work! First you have to come up with a good idea, the a plot, characters, setting and then the real work begins. Most works of fiction have to be a minimum of 50,000 to 60,000 words. Believe me that's a lot of words. Remember when you were in school and the teacher assigned a 250 word essay? I hated those essay. Usually my first question was doe "The End" count towards the 250 word minimum?

I envy those writers who can write about strange beast and distance planets. I pretty sure they never visited any of these faraway worlds. I found writing about something I know and/or experience makes the job of writing a lot easier.

My book "Da Nang Damned!" is about a group of Seabees deployed to Vietnam. I did serve with a Seabee Battalion MCB 53 and I was deployed to 'Nam' from January 1968 to September 1968. I also live four years in Conway, NH, the setting of the second half of my book. So writing from my own experiences helped me create a book that I hope is authentic. I can still close my eyes and see the camp outside of Da Nang. I can smell the air, taste the girt and feel the heat and humidity.

I hope I was able to create a book that will help my readers experience in some small way what it was like being deployed to 'Nam'. As important growing up in New England, living at the base of Mount Washington in Conway, NH I now winter all to well. I've fished the Saco River and hiked the mountains. I've crossed country skied when the temperatures were well below zero. My very special friend Bill Pike has a cabin in a remote part of Vermont and I used it for the final showdown. So in many ways writing this book was easy.

WHY I WRITE WHAT I WRITE

As I mentioned before "Da Nang Damned!" is my first book. Why did I write a book about Vietnam and the effects the war had on guys who fought in 'Nam'. Well the answer is simple. I write about things I know something about and experienced, at least to some degree.

I did spend nine lovely months is the heat, rain, mud & blood on that wonderful tropical paradise from January 1968 to September 1968. I was a member of a U.S. Navy Seabee (Mobile Construction Battalion). Lastly I was born and raised in New England and lived for four years in Conway, NH.

I'm always amazed at writers who can create a whole world of fantasy, strange worlds, beings and super powers. I write and hopefully will continue to write about things I'm familiar with and hopefully my readers will enjoy the authenticity it brings to my novels.

Also as a reader of novels I personally like reading about characters and events that have a little realism. Characters who have similar problems, challenges and issues that most of us have and putting them in situations that could happen to me makes for a great read.

That doesn't mean I don't enjoy and appreciate fantasy. I do! It just the direction I want to go in my writing is towards realistic everyday people dealing with realistic situations. As a student of history I try to weave historic events into my novels.

My next pots will look into my characters. Thanks for reading and enjoy!

Here's a link to my book: Da Nang Damned!

If you purchase a book please leave a review.

By the way a dollar of each sale of Da Nang Damned! goes to the Carroll County Veterans Independence Project. VIP currently is negotiating the purchase of an old Army Reserve Bldg. Plans are to turn it into a homeless shelter and training facilities for veterans.

INTRODUCING "DA NANG DAMNED!"

Finally, after 50 Years I've completed and published my first book, "Da Nang Damned". It's a story about Rick O'Neil and Ted Troutman. Here's a quick preview:

Buried in a Vietnamese river is a dark secret. A secret that if discovered will topple a rich and powerful crime boss.

Rick O’Neil, finds himself fighting two wars, Vietnam and his own private war. While on deployment to Vietnam, Rick along with two friends become involved with Tony Marchesi a streetwise punk from Brooklyn.  After witnessing Tony murder a Vietnamese the men take a vow promising to never tell anyone of the murder.

Forty years later Marchesi has built a  legitimate business using monies gain from a life of crime and is busy planning his son’s run for congress.  Jimmy who has worked for Marchesi since returning from Vietnam commits suicide. But before he dies he sends his sister information detailing Marchesi’s criminal activities telling her to send them to Rick upon his death.

Rick’s carefully constructed life comes crashing down when he receives the information. Rick must to decide if he wants to tear open old war wounds and face his demons or keep silent. With the help of his friends he wrestles with his conscience all the while trying to stay one step ahead of Marchesi and his hired gun.

Drawing on his own Vietnam experiences author Pete Turner crafts a novel dealing with one man’s conflicting emotions and the high cost of war.

This is the first in a series of books about Rick and Ted. I have two more books in the works, plus a western novel. Sio I have a lot of writing ahead for me. After getting my first book written is like the dam has broke and ideas, plots and characters seem to flow out like water.

The book is available on Kindle as an ebook and hopefully I'll have it also as a paperback. I'm planning to donate a dollar from each sale to the renovation of an old Army Reserve bldg into a Veterans Homeless Shelter and training facility.

The price of the ebook is $2.99. I'll price the paperback at as low a price as possible so everyone can enjoy reading them. I should point out that you don't need a Kindle Reader anymore to read these books. When you go on to the website simple click on the Kindle App and down load onto your device.

Here's a link to my book. If you order and read one please leave a comment and thanks! 

Da Nang Damned!

WELCOME!

Welcome to my blog "Writer and Raconteur" I chose that title because it more closely identifies with my style of writing and my personality. You see I think of myself more as a story teller (Raconteur) than a writer. Let me tell you writing is hard work! Being a Raconteur is easy, at least for me. Now being a good Raconteur is an art and skill that if you're serious about story telling & writing takes practice and dedication.

For example, I'm known as some one with a quick, sometimes biting and a great sense of humor. Quick with a joke or story. But writing! Man it has taking me nearly 50 yrs to write my book "Da Nang Damned!"  About 47 years thinking about it and three to finally get it down on paper and then to publish on Amazon Kindle. Okay maybe it was laziness, something I'm known for or just being unsure of my ability to write. I guess you'll be the judge. Below I have provided a link to my Kindle page and I'd love to hear your comments.

So the point/goal of this blog is to offer my experiences writing and to share some insights into my characters and the process of creating a book. I'll also preview new books that I'm working on and no I don't think I have another 50 yrs to write another book!

Finally I hope I'll inspire in some small way your own desire to write. So stay tune!