Tag Archives: Normandy Invasion

e-Publishing, MAKE COOKIES PLAY BAGPIPES, Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies, Progress, Update

Is Writing Hell?

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The Four Before MeA Stray, astrayEarlier today I responded to a Twitter post by E.H. Night — author of “The Four Before Me” and “A Stray, Astray“.  She spoke about the weird prioritization that some of us get into.  With her endeavours she was considering making her 3rd-priority book her 1-st priority project or leave it where it’s at.  I understand this — I DO THIS!!!  Then came the question common to creatives of “Is this hell?”

I replied talking about my familiarity with this dilemma — I didn’t have a solution for her, only that I understand.  It came to me though to use this to update everyone on my book projects and where they’re at …. otherwise put, it’s my excuse to blog this week. hell

Before finishing “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies” (book 1) I started on a bagpipe sheet music book comprised of my own compositions (book 2).  This got put on hold to start on my second recipe book (book 3).  Summer 2018 this second recipe book (book 3) got put on hold to write (book 4) my military & patriotic Highland bagpipe tunes & tune history book.  From my sheet music and tune history book (book 4) I got inspired to write a history book about one of the men who landed on Normandy as part of the D-day invasion (book 5).  When I started it (book 5) I knew that I was going to have to gather my notes and set it aside for later.  I’ve accomplished this and now I’m trying to complete my sheet music and tune history book (book 4) so I can have it published no later than June 2020.  The only problem with that is the audience I developed from Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies (book 1) are ready and looking for another installment of recipes (book 2). hell

Clear as mud — RIGHT?!?

So is being a creative-type, having so many projects we want to bring to life a form of Hell? I don’t know — I’m only saying that I understand — that E.H. Night and all the other creative folks out there reading this is that you’re not alone.

For a mostly full list of my projects (Hell?), please see Upcoming and Completed Publishing Projects.

E.H. Night LINKS hell

Announcement, Progress, Update

Bill Millin and D-day

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As you’ve seen from following my blog, checking in with my upcoming publishing projects page, or from my comments on Facebook or Twitter, I am busily working away on my next one … no Two, no THREE books!  While one of these is a recipe book I’m excited about, the one at the forefront is rather unique indeed.

SCUBA
Not actually me but you get the idea

Since July 2018 I have been actively working on a fundraiser project for a veterans organization I am a member of.  The goal has been to produce a book of (get ready for this…) Military & Patriotic Highland Bagpipe Tunes & Their Histories.   The original intention was to  have this book published in time for spring/summer of 2019.  Then I got some contract work as a professional SCUBA diver (no, really) and I had to adjust … well … a LOT of my time and endeavours.

William Millin Normandy Invasion 1944
Bill Millin visiting France 6 June 1944

This Highland bagpipe sheet music book has sets of tunes representing the US Military, US Civil War, WWI, WWII, along with a Scottish and American patriotic set, and two other sets of historic military themed tunes.  To give better relevance to the WWII set I realized I needed to open the section with explaining who Bill Millin was and what he did on D-day, 6 June 1944.  This launched me into a rabbit-hole of research!  This essay is nearly complete — which is GREAT because it is the largest of the remaining steps to accomplish to completing this book.  Word has gotten around as to what I’m doing with this Bill Millin essay, and something came back to me.

You might be amused to know…

JAVA JAVA JAVAOn Tuesday I met with a retired USMC military historian.  We spent 3 amazing hours talking about Bill Millin history at a local coffee bistro.  He is interested in assisting me with information gathering and being a sounding board for my understanding of it all.  This gentleman has offered to draw from his resources.  He also had some interesting points on what it takes to effectively present history to a general let alone specific audience.

Pegasus Bridge June 1944 Horsa gliders
Pegasus Bridge, 9 June 1944; Horsa gliders visible in the background.

Right now I need some enlightenment to finish my essay about Millin for the bagpipe sheet music book.  The outfit he was in was involved with the famous Pegasus (bridge) objective which was taken just after midnight by men of the 6th Airborne on 6 June 1944.  What I need to know more about is what happened after they left the bridge.  With this essay complete, the rest of my book project is downhill on roller skates while eating cake!

IN THE MEAN TIME …

Please check out my recipe book “Make Your Own Darn Good Cookies“.  I published it just over a year ago — not only am I quite pleased with it, I’ve been receiving rave reviews from others!  It is available on Amazon and Smashwords — I also have some free recipes available here on my site.  If you have read it and enjoyed it — please take a few minutes and write a review — on Amazon, Smashwords, and now I’m on Goodreads.  This not only helps me get noticed as an author, it helps other readers to know what to expect.

Thank you & ENJOY! ~ Don