American Lightning

As Howard Blum was researching his book he thought about 911 and how it correlated to the terror bombing of the Los Angeles Times building in the early 1900s. Into the story of the bombing and the apprehensive times Blum wove the lives of three of the men involved in shaping those times: William Burns, a renowned detective, Clarence Darrow, a renowned defense attorney and David Wark Griffith, one of the pioneers of motion pictures.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Reclaimed Trivet

Old houses need new pipes periodically and when that happens some parts of the house, particularly those parts where the old pipes are hidden have to be taken apart. When part of the bathroom tile had to be removed to make way for the new PEX piping I saved as many of the cobalt blue squares as possible knowing that I'd use them sometime in the future. This is the result of that thinking.

Big Russ and Me

Tim Russert’s dad didn’t think he had that much to do with winning World War Two since he was only a parachute rigger, far removed from the actual fighting. Even at that he experienced the horror of what war is all about when the plane he and a friend had snagged a ride in crashed almost killing Big Russ.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

The Man who loved China

What do you do if you're a gifted linguist? Why, you find a compatible teacher and learn Chinese. With that accomplished what do you do next? You finagle your way into a diplomatic post, destination China in the midst of a horrendous war with Japan. Now that you're in China what do you do? If you're Joseph Needham you exercise your curiosity by asking innumerable questions and observing all the ins and outs of Chinese society and then you make one of the epic journeys of all time to the westernmost reaches of the vastness of China.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:
https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Exiting the labyrinth

Minotaur Books put me through their labyrinth but today I exited without benefit of string. All this has to do with a mystery contest they are sponsoring. This is a very conservative publisher as can be observed by how the contest is organized and run. First you must send an SASE to get the entry form. When that arrives you can peruse the 3 pages to find out the exact requirements and where you should send your contest entry. When you're ready you must print a double-spaced sequentially numbered copy of your script. Next you must write some sort of cover page with your vitals and any published credits. Then you must complete the entry form. Finally you must burn a copy of your script onto a CD. When all those materials have been stuffed into a mailer envelope you're almost out of the labyrinth. All that's left is going to the Post Office and shipping the materials via Media Mail with delivery confirmation. Whew. Now it's the usual wait.

The Soul of Battle

I just finished reading this book by Victor Hanson. He examines the motivation of Epaminondas (an ancient Greek who called Thebes home), William Tecumseh Sherman (Uncle Billie) and George Patton to find out why these men were such brilliant leaders and why they were able to achieve the victories ascribed to them.

If you wish to read more of my comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479444762&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Alternative Reality

Woodworking is the number one hobby in the U.S. I am one of those hobbyists. Here's the latest project to come out of my woodshop: a replacement keyholder for one that served for years.

Brain maze

Once the decision says "go" then you enter the brain maze. If, in my case, you're writing a sequel then the characters (at least some of them) are already in print with developed foibles, personality traits, etc. but they aren't any more static than Joe or Jane on the street so new things have to be adhered to them and those things lie hidden inside the brain maze.

Larry McMurtry said that once he has a title ("Lonesome Dove") he can begin to write. His brain maze probably has a toll gate that requires the currency of a title. I can get behind that. I'm peeking and poking in my own maze for a title for the sequel to "Massacre at Fort Sage."

Even with some preliminary notes as to a direction for the story, the title still remains encased in a conundrum. Funny but the title for the book that this will be the sequel to was magically there before one word jumped onto the page. Ah, that this one would be that straightforward.

And the kicker is that this sequel has to take a backseat to a mystery that I'm finishing for a contest sponsored by Minotaur Books.

Interesting that the brain maze can allow you to wander in various paths some of which relate to the sequel, some to the other works that are suggested by friends, family and etheric happenstances. The maze is also a prompter suggesting things that have to be an amalgamation of experience, observation and craft. The maze is truly a work of magic.