Jody Daniel: Blog

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!

Hi all!
Now that the spring is in the air and old man winter is slowly finding its way NORTH, things are just peachy here in sunny South Africa. Who cares about what the politicians are concocting up again. They are just a bunch of loony criminals that hide under diplomatic immunity, and not worth my worry.

The good news, (for some of you — (Critics included.)) is that the follow-up on “The Sound of Thunder” is doing well. Chapters one to three has been received back from the editors and chapter 4 is nearly on its way to them.

In line with my new policy of writing the story complete before posting is doing well. I have more time to check and recheck facts, and SPELLING that the editors miss… (Sorry big guys…), and a few other things as well. Maybe sometimes add some clarity to a previous chapter, so the story reads correctly, and you are not caught by surprise on something.

A story has a life of its own, and sometimes the STORY dictates what is happening or going to happen, and not my pen hand, writing it to my carefully devised plan. Nooo… The story has the final say! Therefore, it is sometimes called for, to go and add, or change something in a previous chapter. If that chapter was posted, oh boy, what is done was done, and very hard to change.

So, I hope you guys are good with the way I’ll be posting in the future. I tried it with “Amelia,” and it worked out well.

Now, this was just to say “HI” to all, and assure you I am still around, working hard behind the scenes to get “To Cheat the Devil,” out to you as soon as it comes out of the oven.

I thought of naming it "To Shout at the Devil," but that title was already used by some extremely good best selling author. (That made a couple of million on that book!)

I then ran across a song that had the words in the lyrics; "Well, I can't say, I cheated the Devil, but I drank his beer for nothing... and then I stole his song..." And I thought, "That's it!" Let's cheat the devil a bit.

What say you?

Keep well and stay safe!

Bye 4 now.

Hi all. There’s nothing better than to realise you’re in love. Wherever that love is here, or somewhere else. What will the future hold for Bruce as he makes a shocking discovery…

Sorry, but this is the END. The Spirits, and the Ghosts must now retreat… and rest. They should be where their destiny lies… Wherever that may be.

Until next time.

Keep well and stay healthy!

Bye 4 now!