Jody Daniel: Blog

Hi all!
Chapter 07 is going out to the editors, but here is Chapter 5 so long. LOL, the posting is catching up with the writing and editing, but I hope to be at least one chapter ahead by the time the story finish!

The story will now be taking on a more adventure / action theme, as all the elements are gathering in Somalia. With the next chapter the gang will be mid in the thick of things.

Things are going a bit slow on the romantic front, but there seems to be an ember still flaming in the fire to come.

Until next time.

Keep well and stay healthy!

Bye 4 now!

Hi all!
Chapter 07 is going strong, but here is Chapter 4 so long. I hope this “Travel Log” don’t bore you too much. BUT! To cart 4 Mirages, 8 Land Rovers, 26 people, and equipment over 3000 kilometres through 5 countries in Africa, take a lot of logistics, and planning.

ALSO, we need to establish a love triangle and all that little titbits that make a story believable, even if it is fiction! SO, the adventure will be in full swing in the next chapter or two, but, I am not going to give any spoilers. (All I can say is that after the editing of chapter 6, Some of my editors are biting their nails at the cliff hanger. LOL!!!)

Thanks for those that voted for this story. It is appreciated. Thanks for all the comments and emails. It is always welcome.

Until next time.

Keep well and stay healthy!

Bye 4 now!

Hi all! Yip, spring is here, or is it summer already with the temp running at 30 Celsius now? Anyway, such a nice sunny day, no wind, and no clouds.

Seems like a few readers (94%) DO like the story. I thank you for your votes and your kind words. The other 6%? Let me know what you want in the story, and I will see what I can do.

Here is Chapter 03 of “To Cheat the Devil.”

Until next time.

Keep well and stay healthy!

Bye 4 now!

Well, it’s time to post chapter 2 of “To Cheat the Devil.” I have to thank you all for the votes, comments and emails so far.

Yes, I know that the first few chapters might sound a little dark and cynical, but there’s a method to my crazy madness. All can’t be laughs and giggles. And this story portrays one of the “dark” countries in the “Deep dark Africa.”

Remember all the movies and stuff from the 1950s, 1960s and the 1970s, where people went to Africa on “Safari?” Well that was when Africa was unknown and Hollywood tried to romanticize the head-hunters and cannibalistic ideas.

I can assure you, there’s noting sinister about Africa. Only internal power struggles that kills the economies and let people starve. There’s no “Tarzan” living in the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo) or in the Central African Republic, or Chad, or Tanzania.

Either this story touches a nerve, or some are just not aware of what is happening. Operation Gothic Serpent? Does anyone know about this intervention? It was also known as “The day of the Rangers.”

No? Well let me name one other title: “BLACK HAWK DOWN.” Yes, operation Black Hawk Down was part of Operation Gothic Serpent, and was fought on 3 to 4 October 1993. Go Google “Battle of Mogadishu,” there’s a nice picture of “Super Six-Four” the Black Hawk US helicopter that was one of four that was shot down in the city of Mogadishu, Somalia. It was real, and not just the 1999 book by Mark Bowden or the $92 million 2001 movie directed by Ridley Scott.

EXTRACT FROM WIKIPEDIA:
“...As the operation was ongoing, Somali forces shot down four American Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters using RPG-7s, with two crashing deep in hostile territory. A desperate defence of the two downed helicopters began and fighting lasted through the night to defend the survivors of the crashes. In the morning, a UNOSOM II armoured convoy fought their way to the helicopters, incurring further casualties but eventually rescuing the survivors.”

END EXTRACT.

And thank you to the 81.8% of readers that think the story is worth at least a 9 or a 10. Even my one editor did not know that even today there’s still 500 to 800 US soldiers stationed in Somali. So I will pardon the 1, 2 and 4 votes. LOL.

Until next time.

Keep well and stay healthy!

Bye 4 now!

Due to public demand, (and persuasion from my Editors) the follow-up on “The Sound of Thunder,” will be coming to you in the form of “To Cheat the Devil.”

I know I said I will finish the story first, but after five chapters my one editor said it was time to hit the screens. So here goes…

There is a lot of background about the situation in Somalia, that must be dealt with. This has an effect on the actions of the characters in the story and the story itself. You need to understand Somalia, before you will understand the actions of the characters.

A lot of research went into this story, and it was not possible to relay all the facts. Only those that had a direct influence on the story would be used. I was fortunate to lay may hands on public domain documents that collaborate the facts.

So, Misters FBI and CIA, I am not Dan Brown, and neither a US citizen. Besides, all that is portrayed in this work of fiction are based on fact and public domain documentation, and in no way will compromise any of your fine work. Even the location of the UN Compound in Somalia is already known by the portrayed rebel faction and that said faction had already successfully attacked that said facility.

I hope you, the readers, will find this one what you hoped it to be.

ENJOY!

Until next time.

Keep well and stay healthy!

Bye 4 now!