Location: Tucson, Arizona

This winter has been a roller coaster ride, yet neither of us threw up! Not even once. Put Kay on a real coaster, however….

In this lifestyle issue:

1. Roughing It
2. Two New Books
3. RV Rally & Seminars
4. Maintenance of Animates & Inanimates
5. 2024 Annual Voyager Flute Festival

1. Roughing It

Those of you who follow our misadventures on Facebook know Kay and I survived for three months this winter without refrigeration. But wait, you might ask, don’t you live in a camper? So, what’s the big deal?

Folks, we live in a motorhome, with emphasis on the syllable HOME. This is our only home. All the time. We are not camping at this stage of our lives. For those of you who are sticks-‘n-bricks dwellers, imagine no working refrigerator in your house for one-fourth of an entire YEAR. And then ask your question again.

Don’t get me wrong. We got by just fine. Borrowed an ice chest from our daughter Michelle (thanks, Hon) and fed it, on average, four sizable bags of ice per week to tuck around our food. One saving grace: our motorhome features a small chest freezer in the “basement” (accessible via storage-bay doors outside, below “the house”).

So I’d go “shopping” in the cooler and freezer outside, sometimes in the rain, often in rather cold weather, three times a day at mealtimes. And because we are a vegetarian and a vegan, we needed to shop for our bulky fresh organic produce every other day (ten miles into town). That became our routine. And it worked.

But imagine what a luxury it was when the parts finally arrived to repair our seven-month-old refrigerator/freezer! Yeah, kids, it’s the little things in life we take for granted that we shouldn’t!

So, for 3+ months we “enjoyed” a non-working fridge/freezer plopped in the middle of our kitchen-slash-living room. Then, ahhhhhh….

2. Two New Books

Yup, it’s been a busy winter in addition to myriad distractions. Tom Kasprzak, my writing partner and I, cranked out two more exhilarating Sam Travis Adventures. Firing on all cylinders out here, kids. We’ll launch one this summer and another in the fall. Crazy, huh?

If you haven’t checked out book one of our Sam Travis series, click HERE. Look for LETHAL TRAIL (book two) in late May or early June, and a few months later, LETHAL BOUNTY (book three). Our early (pre-publication) readers proclaim these are our best yet in this genre. Watch this space for these outdoor adventure stories that will keep you turning pages and staying up past your bedtime.

Grab your sneak peek at the cover art for both books below (from left to right: back cover, spine, and front cover of each):

Here’s a peek at one scene from LETHAL TRAIL:

May 20, 1988

Framingham, Massachusetts

* * *

Sam Travis hadn’t visited the Massachusetts Environmental Police Academy a half-hour west of Boston in years. But he was ordered to appear. He knew by whom and why. The academy’s commandant and he needed to finish something together. Trust didn’t come easy these days, not even within law enforcement. So they treated this like an off-the-books operation. Both knew how to do that all too well. But their unfinished business had nothing to do with the academy. 

Travis hadn’t forgotten this place: the painted brick buildings, the sense of excitement and anticipation in the air… so thick he could almost smell it. If it hadn’t been for the discipline this place instilled in him, his life might have gone in a very different direction. Not a good one.

A gilded sign of gold, black, and green, with white letters near the facility’s entrance gate and guardhouse announced this was a military-style installation:

Environmental Police Academy

Framingham, Massachusetts

Some of the old-fashioned buildings on the campus looked even more old-fashioned with pillars and porches. Groups of cadets marched with drill instructors counting cadence. Memories—mostly pleasant—flooded Sam’s mind at the sights and sounds. How long had it been since he was a cadet? He felt as old as some of these structures. He’d dragged his mind and body down some hard roads since then. Approached an ordinary door on the main floor of the administration building. The sign on the door read:

Captain L. Jamison, 

Academy Commandant

Sam knocked and entered the outer office. His smile was a mask to cover what was going on inside. What was his secretary’s name? He pretended he remembered until he got close enough to read the name plate on her desk. “Ellie, so good to see you again. Remember me?”

Ellie blushed. She had passed her prime a decade earlier, but she was still a beautiful woman and a force of nature. “Officer Travis, it’s good to see you, too.”

“I’d come around more often, but I’d hate to make your husband jealous.” He winked. 

Ellie’s blush blossomed even as she smirked. “Like you have a shot, young man.”

They both chuckled. As expected. She said, “Go right in,” and she winked back at him. He shook his head from side to side. Too much woman for him, anyway. 

One quick knock later, Sam swung open the door to Jamison’s office. “Sir.” Neither man smiled. They were about to discuss how they might bring down a corrupt federal agent from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, or USFWS—a fed—and likely another high-level conspirator or two in the bargain, maybe within their own organization, as well. Sam would do whatever it took to both disguise the venomous hatred he nurtured for both of these criminals, and to go to any lengths to see these dirtbags in prison, or preferably, in the ground. He ensured his neutral mask did not crack.

“Sit, Sam. Let’s get right to it. How the hell did Mason slip away?”

***

Look for LETHAL TRAIL Early Summer 2024

And how about the first historical scene from LETHAL BOUNTY

(before the story jumps forward to 1989):

Charlestown, Massachusetts 

June 17, 1775

Ankle-deep in the blood of their dead and dying compatriots, he and his aide crouched behind a redoubt—one of the earthen barriers his men had hastily constructed on the ridges during the night. Still visible through the dense clouds of smoke in the stagnant air that stung their eyes and burned their lungs, the sun now hung high in the early afternoon sky. It was an otherwise brilliant day. 

Despite an incessant hail of musket balls, they bobbed their heads up to risk yet another glance down the hill from their impromptu command post at the advancing British troops. The redcoats were at least double their own numbers, and possessed superior training. Ten yards away with fire in their eyes, the reckless British bastards leapt over mounds of their fallen and advanced with ruthless abandon. Like they have for the last six-and-a-half hours. These were battle-hardened professional soldiers of the realm. The young colonel now doubted the wisdom of holding these hills against such a force with the now-dying or already dead farmers and shopkeepers in his own ranks. This is madness.

Most of his troops, twelve-hundred strong at the onset, were raw civilians, but harbored a passion for freedom from the oppressive Crown. That passion pounded in their hearts. Those who still lived, anyway. While this battle had only been joined at sunrise this day, they were now thrust into the third bloody month of this brutal siege on their own city. They fought to take back their own neighborhoods, their own homes. The new Continental Army dared not relent as long as their families and friends remained in the clutches of tyrants. Worse, the Crown’s considerable occupying force now terrorized all of Boston, Middlesex County, and beyond. He shouted over the din of musket fire, now growing more sporadic from their side, “Lads, they’ve already paid dearly, far more than we. In the future, they’ll think twice before—”

“Sir, sorry to interrupt,” his aide gasped. “Runners are reporting in. Squad leaders report their surviving men have little or no powder remaining. What are your orders, sir?” The aide stood shoulder-to-shoulder with one of the runners. The runner’s face of crimson blinked against the blood dripping from his brow into his eyes. 

Colonel William Prescott was a man of action, and valor, but also of conscience. He nodded as he wiped the sweat from his brow and addressed his fanatically loyal aide, “The rest of our militia dies here along with General Warren and the others if we do not now retreat. You’ve done well, boys.” He glanced around at his youthful command staff that had mustered in haste. “They’ll not soon forget this battle here atop Breed’s and Bunker.” Then, to the runner and to his aide, “It is time to muster elsewhere and abandon these wretched mounts to the King’s ruffians. Order retreat.”

His aide saluted. “Yes, sir.” At that moment, the left side of his aide’s face disappeared into a pink mist. 

***

Look for LETHAL BOUNTY Fall 2024

3. RV Rally & Seminars

I presented two writing/publishing seminars at the 106th FMCA (Family MotorCoach Association) International Convention in Perry, Georgia a year ago. They asked me to return to do the same at their 108th Convention. That’s one of the reasons we’re now here in Tucson. This rally was smaller than Perry. “Only” 1,200 RVs here vs over 3,000 in Perry. A helluva lot of fun and a beautiful desert venue.

4. Maintenance: Animates & Inanimates

Moving from city to city makes it a challenge to not outrun healthcare. So, we go like hell to get all our doc appointments, tests, eye exams, and hearing aid appointments in before we move on. Same with motorhome “health care.” Biggest issue here is waiting on parts. Yup, both animates (us) and inanimates (our motorhome) require regular care and feeding.

Kay found some doctors here in Tucson she really likes, and as a disabled vet, I’m able to leverage Veteran’s Affairs here (and elsewhere). If they can’t help me on some specialty, they refer me to a local civilian medical facility they trust. Good healthcare here, and more accessible than Florida.

Finding an RV service center we trust AND can fit us in is always a challenge on the road. We needed oil/filter changes on both the main engine and the generator. We also needed the chassis lubed (pretty important on a 40,000-pound bus), the rooftop A/Cs and diesel boiler serviced, rooftop caulking inspected (since I’m no longer allowed “up there” after my fall two+ years ago, now), a bathroom fan replaced (as stuff ages out, we replace it), and a few other tidbits (aren’t there always other tidbits?).

Then, there’s waxing, going to a local Jack Furrier Tires for four new tires on the drive axle in a week or so, and we will outrun one part we couldn’t get in time (one of five heat exchangers for the furnace), so we’ll get that done in the San Francisco area where we’ll stop for a few weeks (Petaluma). It never ends. Keeps life interesting.

5. 2024 Annual Voyager Flute Festival

The season is winding down here. Another reason we’re in Tucson this time of year is the Annual Flute Festival organized by my friend Paul Surhoff at the Voyager RV Resort. This festival draws talent from all over the Southwest, and is an annual celebration of music and heritage of our country’s indigenous peoples and their culture (the rest of us are just immigrants!). I am enamored of the Native earth “religions” (they merely think of considerately connecting with all that is around us, including each other). This remains their proud heritage.

We enjoyed being entertained by an award-winning flautist, vocalist, and storyteller, Shelly Morningsong and her talented husband Fabian Fontenelle. They’ve been performing traditional Zuni/Omaha dances and playing traditional music since they were children. Shelly and Fabian still live in Zuni Pueblo, New Mexico, celebrating the tribe’s traditional lifestyle every day, and they travel to entertain and educate.

The audio isn’t great, but what a feast for the senses! If this interests you, check out Shelly’s website in the link above (click on her name). She offers CDs of their music as well as her own custom Native clothing & accessories, all handmade. A delightful couple, Shelly and Fabian. And their performance is so… atmospheric.

And then there’s JP Gomez, a talented young man who’s been through so much, expressing and healing himself through his flute music. Says it transports him. JP is also a talented flute maker.

That’s it! So, until next time, and wherever….

Let’s roll!

Gene

P.S.

Oh, allow me to share a recent watercolor painting I’m rather proud of as I seek to rediscover my neglected painting skills. Below is a street scene from the Caribbean Island of St. Lucia in the Windward Island chain a few hundred miles off the coast of Venezuela and Trinidad. Kay and I sailed through there many years ago with our dear friends Doug and Marti. A wonderful memory. I’m striving to achieve a loose but vibrant painting style (yeah, I have a long way to go):

Location: Mesa, Arizona

They say you’re healthier if you are driven by purpose. Not to an unhealthy extent, of course, like me, maybe? It’s not as if I have a choice, even though I tell myself I do… at 5 AM each and every morning as I pound away on my laptop!

Reflecting on 2023, like all of you, I’m sure, Kay and I have spun through a tornado of activity this past year. And we’re just an old “retired” couple (fifteen years, now)! Let’s see….

In this issue (a gaggle of short cameos):

1. Condo Gone
2. RV Rally
3. Motorhome Facelift
4. Minnesota Summer
5. South Dakota Residents. What!
6. Month in Yellowstone
7. Arizona Winter
8. This Writer’s Continuing Education
9. 1st Sam Travis Adventure
10. 2nd Aubrey Greigh Mystery
11. Thanksgiving Up North
12. New Flutes
13. Character-Building Exercise
14. Moving On
15. Artificial Intelligence Rant
16. Writer’s Competition
17. Book Sale

1. Condo Gone

Well, we sold our lovely Southwest Florida home of twenty-two years in March and moved into our beloved bus to continue pursuing our dream as full-time itinerant land-yacht voyagers.

We’ve been indulging in this lifestyle three-quarter-time for eight years already, having lived in 42 states for a few weeks to a few months at a time.

It hasn’t been all that difficult moving from a 2,000-square-foot condo to a 300 square-foot home on wheels, but we do miss our Florida friends and neighbors. However, we’re now making lots of new friends and refreshing old friendships out here on the road, as they say.

2. RV Rally

Kay and I attended America’s largest RV rally in Perry, Georgia . 3,500 RVs in attendance with at least twice that many people at the Georgia State Fairgrounds in Perry, Georgia.

Quite a party!

I presented a series of writing/publishing seminars and sold a few books, too. It was not only a party.

3. Motorhome Facelift

Visited our motorhome manufacturer’s factory service center in Indiana.

Had a new residential refrigerator/freezer installed in the bus, plus they addressed a host of other preventative maintenance items for us

4. Minnesota Summer

Spent an utterly delightful summer in beautiful Rochester, Minnesota, our home town, with family and friends.

We were fortunate to bear witness to our granddaughter’s senior prom and graduation.

5. South Dakota Home?

We changed our “state of domicile” (new drivers’ licenses, vehicle registrations, license plates, voter registration, mail forwarding service) from Florida to South Dakota.

Not that we plan to live there any time soon. Zero income tax state, and they only require us to spend one day in-state every five years (to renew our drivers’ licenses). Everything else (vehicle registrations, plates, voter registration, etc.) we can do via mail. AND it’s a darn nice state.

6. Almost a Month in Yellowstone

Spent almost a month exploring Yellowstone Park (Kay was in heaven, I captured some great images),

7. Arizona Winter

8. This Writer’s Continuing Education

• I attended a delightful Writer’s Digest University’s Annual Conference on Writing Historical Fiction. This was a fascinating collection of speakers who offered some great tips on research, period characterization, and a variety of other historical fiction-writing subjects.
• Enrolled and attending a BBC Maestro Masterclass on How to Write Popular Fiction taught by none other than Lee Child (the Jack Reacher novels/movies). Lee’s only sold 200 million books, so what does he know?
• Old joke: What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Try-lingual. How about someone who speaks two languages? Bi-lingual. And someone who only speaks one language? An American. Why do I bring this up? Because I bought into a lifetime subscription of Babbel, the popular language education program. I have access to all language learning courses. Right now, however, Español is kicking my butt. I’ll get there. My objective is to write a short story in continental Spanish. Maybe a few poems, too. Crazy, huh?

9. First Sam Travis Adventure

Finished writing and published the first book in my Sam Travis Outdoor Adventure Series, Lethal Game at the end of July with my collaborator and friend, Lt. Tom Kasprzak, a retired Massachusetts Environmental Police Officer. And we’re putting the finishing touches on the second exciting book in this series, Lethal Trail, which should be out a week or three after the new year.

10. 2nd Aubrey Greigh Mystery

I published my second Aubrey Greigh Mystery, Dancing With Death (Sept. 2023), in print and ebook editions (free in Kindle Unlimited), and its audiobook edition (self-narrated) this month. I now have two audiobooks published: Voodoo Vendetta and Dancing With Death.

Give them a listen on Audible, Amazon, or iTunes! And don’t forget to leave a review! Please?

11. Thanksgiving Up North

Flew to Minnesota for Thanksgiving when we reaffirmed our deepest love of our family, including a heart-glowing family reunion, staying at our dear friend’s beautiful home in their absence (thank you, Nola & Robert!).

Even though we love summers “up north,” we reaffirmed Minnesota in the winter is not for us, even though we grew up there!

Unfortunately, Kay came down with one heck of a cold, so I represented us at a family reunion.

Net: we LOVE Minnesota! In the summer!

12. New Flutes

I’m within spitting distance of finishing two new Native American style flutes, both new designs I’ve struggled with (my first “big bore” flutes, that is, with a. bore diameter larger than one inch), including my first-ever double flute. Designed and worked on these in the woodshop at Val Vista Village in Mesa, AZ. I’ll finish them after we move down to Tucson (tomorrow). I’ll finish tuning, woodburning, and a few coats of varnish, inside and out.

13. Character-Building Exercise

As I have described for some of you on Facebook, our seven-month-old refrigerator/freezer failed while we were in Minnesota for Thanksgiving, and we’ve been living out of a cooler for the last month. Could be several more weeks before parts (new compressor, etc.) catch up with us after we move to Tucson. This has been an adventure in attitude, and we’re doing just fine living out of a cooler and small “basement” freezer in the motorhome.

14. Moving On

Now, we’re winding up the last twelve hours of a three-month stay at the gorgeous amenity-rich Val Vista Villages in Mesa, Arizona on New Years Eve. My favorite amenity is the state-of-the-art woodshop. I come to Mesa to build flutes.

If you are of a mind to share in my latest rant of what I call Relevant Fiction, read on to the next section, brave soul….

15. Artificial Intelligence Rant

Artificial Intelligence? Computer generated- or enhanced-images? Sci-Fi come to life? Again? So what?

My latest novel, Dancing With Death, explores the pervasive use of AI & CG, but unlike the tired tropes of Terminator tech, or yet another take-over-the-world phenomenon, I’m distressed by what’s become a boring crutch to the entertainment industry (amidst mass mayhem and murder, of course) that exploits writers, artists, and actors while robbing viewers and readers of solid plots, fascinating characters, and authentic sets.

AI & CGI are dumbing us down!

Having just released the audiobook edition of “Dancing With Death,” I thought it might be appropriate to share with you the audio of my “Author’s Note” here within the audiobook’s closing credits. If it would amuse you, check it out below and do let me know your reaction.

And if you’d like to hear me really butcher a few different characters’ voices (yes, I am the voice artist), click play below, if you dare, and then wait for it….):

So, I had hoped to offer you the published audiobook edition of Dancing With Death before Christmas; however, a few RV snags along the way delayed me by a couple of weeks. It is now available. As always, I’d love to know what you think of the production (I’m becoming more efficient at recording and editing, but these audiobook projects still consume a ton of time and energy. If any of you are audio engineers and/or stage performers, you get it!

16. Writer’s Competition

While I have not focused on adding literary credentials to my name as an author in the past, I figured it was time to head in that direction. Toward that end, I threw my hat in the ring in a personal essay competition. You know, by starting small. Hopefully, I’ll hear how my entry fared before I die (time elapsed on these things drives me crazy). I should know by mid-January after submitting last October.

In the meantime, are you feeling bold enough to watch me bare my soul for all to see? If so, take a gander at this short essay, my submission I call Confessions of a Compulsive Believer. Just click once anywhere inside the box below and you’ll be able to scroll down to continue reading—if you dare:

17. Book Sale

Call me crazy, but I’ve lowered the price of all my books as low as they can go. That means $2.99 for every one of my ebooks, and a few pennies above printing and fulfillment costs on all my paperbacks. I have less control on audiobook prices, but consider visiting my Amazon author page and do a little post-holiday browsing.

As Toby Stiler in the Dancing With Death audio clip above might say, stay in touch, for cryin’ out loud, will ya?

That’s it! So, until next time, next year, and wherever…

Let’s roll!

Gene

P.S.

Location: Sedona, Arizona

Listen up! You ask for audiobooks? I listen. Now, so can you.

Keep reading for a special offer!

I’m on fire, kids! Less than three weeks since releasing Dancing With Death, and less than seven weeks since publishing Lethal Game, I bring you the AUDIOBOOK edition of my first Aubrey Greigh murder mystery Voodoo Vendetta on Audible.

Check out my affiliate link HERE.

And yes, I’m already recording the audiobook edition of my 2nd Aubrey Greigh Mystery: Dancing With Death (hopefully done before Christmas 2023).

Now the offer I hinted at above:

• Already an Amazon Prime member? Get TWO FREE AUDIOBOOKS on Audible! Why not make Voodoo Vendetta your first?
• After your two free titles, whether you’re Prime or not, get your own super Audible membership deal for just $5.95/mo for FOUR MONTHS (best deal ever).
• Then, your membership is just $14.95/month for continued access to thousands of audiobooks.
• Plus, they toss me a few bucks if you join Audible using THIS AFFILIATE LINK (enough to pay for a few gallons of diesel, anyway, for Miss Kay’s and my home on wheels).

But now, I also desperately need reviews!

So… take pity on a starving vagabond author-slash-voice artist? Get the book, listen to it, and let me know what you thought of my star-studded performance!

Still not sure? Listen to this sample of Voodoo Vendetta and decide:

You can snag a different audio sample by following THIS LINK (click on “sample” right under the cover art). Now available from Audible, Amazon, and soon from Apple iTunes. Ya know, I think I’m getting the hang of this stuff!

By the way, Voodoo Vendetta is composed of ninety-one two-to-fourteen-minute chapters (equivalent to 422 pages in its paperback edition). Total listening time: ten hours, fourteen minutes. Nicely digested a few chapters at a time, or a lot more in one sitting if you’re punishing yourself with a marathon cross-country drive and need to stay awake! Or walking and listen while you exercise.

That’s it. Now, you know what this old vagabond has been up to for the last several weeks (besides publishing two more novels, well into drafting two more, entering a personal essay competition, traveling through South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, communing in the Navajo-Yavapai Nation, and now wandering the Arizona desert en route to the Phoenix area for a few months (Mesa) before we meander farther south down Tucson way after New Years.

Oh, and we’re flying back to Minnesota for Thanksgiving.

Never a dull moment in this old folks’ rolling home, our beloved eight-wheeled touring wagon (plus, our four-wheel-drive “toad,” a.k.a. the Jeep we call “Gypsy”).

Big fun, right?

Stay in touch, for cryin’ out loud, will ya?

That’s it! So, until next time, and wherever…

Let’s roll!

Gene

P.S.