Jody Daniel: Blog

Hi all!
And here we go again...

I do hope you are all doing well.

So far, the summer has been wet and windy and even hail the size of golf balls has caused devastation to our gardens and a few roofs are still floating in the stratosphere. Only a few days of sunshine came along.

When the Indian Ocean spawn cyclones that try their best to blow Madagascar to smithereens, Mozambique tries to shield the continuant, but more than once the spill over hits the northeastern parts of South Africa. Rivers becomes angry and try to wash everything back to the ocean...

The weather prophets blame El Nino and La Nina. Others blame global warming. Global warming? And here I sit in high summer with long pants and a jacket. Really?

Well, swirling the ice in my whisky, I had an idea. (A brain fart – if you like to call it that.) An idea to make this lousy weather spawn a story...

That’s how “Let the River Run” was born...

Here is chapter 1 of “Let the River Run.” I do hope this one will resonate with you. Enjoy!

I also, by accident, stumbled across the voting for the 2025 Clitorides Awards. Big was my surprise to find that “Jody Daniel” was nominated for “Author of the year,” as well as “Estrella De Asis” was nominated for “Epic Erotic Story of the Year,” (I still don’t know where the ‘Erotic’ comes in, but that’s beside the point.) Also, “Rosa Rio” was nominated for “Best Romantic Story of the Year.”

I do appreciate those nominations as it reflects that someone, somewhere thought of “Jody Daniel” and his stories. Thank you to the readers for those nominations. (Now if only all of the 1162 followers can go and vote...)

All the best and God bless!

Bye 4 now!

Hi all!
I do hope you are all doing well.
My old saying: There’s a time to come, and a time to go... And the time for “Whispers in the Forest” to go... has now come.

I should have ended it at chapter 14. But my editors insisted there was room for another chapter, and that “another chapter" morphed into three more chapters.

So, here is chapter 17 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!

But fear not! “Let the River Run” is into chapter seven and chapter one will grace your screens shortly.

I wish to thank you all for the good reception "Whispers in the Forest" got from you and hope "Let the River Run" will build on that.

Thanks to the endurance and persistence from my editors to put up with my yarns. Guys, Thank You!

You know that when you get a WhatsApp from your editor saying that: “Yeah, a nice weekend ahead. All I need is another Let the River Run chapter to edit.”

That makes me wonder... Does he like to edit my stories? Or do I keep him from running with his buddies...? One will never know, would one? LOL!!!

All the best and God bless!

Bye 4 now!

Hi all!
I do hope you are all doing well.

I’ve been following the lively debate among readers regarding Ruan’s rank insignia—specifically the "pips vs. bars" discussion—and I thought it was time to set the record straight.

When it comes to military heraldry, "Captain" doesn't look the same in every corner of the world. While many of us are used to the British/Commonwealth three-pip system or the US twin-silver bars, Ruan’s uniform follows a different tradition.

The Anatomy of a Volynia Air Force Captain:
In the Volynia National Army (and by extension, the Air Force), the rank of Captain is represented by the specific shoulder board. Here is a breakdown:
• The Four Stars: Unlike the Western "three pips," a Volynian Captain wears four eight-pointed gold stars arranged in a horizontal line.
• The Vertical Bars: At the shoulder seam, there are two vertical gold bars featuring a distinct zigzag "v-pattern" embroidery.
• The Service Emblems: The insignia is completed with a gold button featuring the Volynian Coat of Arms (the silver Falcon and shield) and a wreath containing crossed rifles, signifying the wearer's status as a commissioned officer.

Why the confusion?
The debate is understandable! Most Western readers are conditioned to look for:
1. Three Pips: The British Army/RAF standard.
2. Two Bars: The US Air Force/Army "Railroad Tracks."
However, Ruan’s world is built on different heritage and specific international regulations. So, when you see those four stars and twin decorative bars on his flight suit, make no mistake—you are looking at the rank of a Captain.

In 1991 Volynia got independence from the USSR and went back to their Kingdom and democratically elected Parliament system, thus breaking the tradition of using the USSR two side by side stars on a gold two paralleled stripes for the rank of captain.

And to take the confusion further; the rank of Captain in the rest of the world is not the same as Captain in any Navy. A Navy Captain is equivalent to a Colonel in the Rest of the armed forces. (Some of my readers and even a Captain from the Indian Navy, when they found out of my rank before I retired, though that I commanded six or eight platoons. (LOL!!!)

And that Indian Navy Captain commanded a Carrier that I stood on the flight deck of when I was a boy of 9. The ship was then in the Royal Navy fleet when the Royal Navy visited Cape Town and later sold the carrier to India. Small world, isn’t it?

I for many years had the gold 3, five-pointed-stars, decorate each shoulder as a Commissioned Officer. And although I retired, I still hold that Commission and are entitled to be addressed as “Captain”, something that I don’t insist on, but many of my ex-colleagues still address me as such. Looks like if you retire, you are just placed on permanent vacation. LOL!!!

Hopefully, this clears up the "pip" count and lets us get back to the cockpit, romance and action!

So, here is chapter 16 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!

All the best and God bless!

Bye 4 now!

Hi all!
I do hope you are all doing well.

Thank you for all the emails and comments. A warm welcome to the new followers as well. It’s good to have you here.

Things are starting to heat up for the Queen and the Duke, but it seems like the two lovebirds just take it in their stride, and Volkov’s headaches are mounting. It’s tough to be the Head of Security for a Queen. LOL!!!

So, here is chapter 15 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!

All the best and God bless!

Bye 4 now!

Hi all!
Let me first just remind you that the country of Volynia is fictional and not to be confused with the real country Vholynia. Volynia and the fictional cities, streets and the Palace of the OLD Crown do not exist but are pure fictional for this story. Although the location, and political policies of Volynia is modelled after the real country of Moldova. The Reason for that is that Volynia is being used as a Kingdom.

I had numerous emails and comments that the readers can’t find the country Volynia in any Google search, only a country called Vholynia that is geographical not in the right location. LOL! YES! That is true. But focus your eyes on Moldova and you will be 50% correct.

I will be concluding “Whispers in the Forest” in a week or two and is currently writing on a new saga.

This new story will play out in South Africa in total – so, no geographical fiction! Although the plot of the story is half true and half fiction. (Imagination is something great – isn’t it so?)

The new story will involve: A pilot, of course! (The MC.) A Bell Textron B222SP helicopter. (LOL) Two Game rangers. (One ranger is a tracker. One ranger is the “boss” of the outfit and for some South African historians will have a name that will jog your historical memories.) A persisting storm that will flood parts of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Lowveld of South Africa. And, oh yes – before I forget – a honey-blond Reality show TV presenter, also a game ranger but with a twist.

There will also be some “turd-burglars” in the story. So, there you have it!

For those of you that want to Google the location: Here is some name-dropping: Kruger National Park. Pilgrim’s Rest, Skukuza, Sabi, Graskop, Hazy View, Punda Maria. Elephant Camp, Sabi Sabi, Sandringham, Malelane, Sabi Sands... And of course, the Sabi River.

Do you nice people require a map?

The first chapter is in the bag and back from the editors. Oh yeah, the title? “Let the River Run.” A metaphor for much of the plot of the story...

In the words of Carly Simon: “Let the river run! Let all the dreamers wake the nation. Come, the New Jerusalem...”

Happy search!

So, here is chapter 14 of “Whispers in the Forest.” Enjoy!

All the best and God bless!

Bye 4 now!