Roy Days!

Another Book signing today in sunny Roy, Utah.

Wish me luck!

            

I love America

I have stood and looked up into the faces of these bronze giants.

The Iwo Jima Memorial is a reverent place.

It's a good place to stop and think.

To remember.

To pray to God we are smart enough to learn from lessons which we

as a nation of fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers have paid so dearly for….

”For all who bear its scars, the battle for Iwo Jima, 58 years ago (February 19-March 26, 1945), still looms gargantuan, unbelievable, devouring; not measurable by Guadalcanal, Peleliu or Belleau Wood, but by its own arena, complexity, ferocity and the character of its combatants, whose American casualties were one third of all Marine Corps casualties in the war.

Of the 3,400 coming ashore with the 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division, then -- Captain Haynes recalls only 600 were standing when the battle closed. Yet, it wasn't ferocity alone -- certainly Korea and Vietnam had that -- but a dedication on either side giving the Marines an enemy so resolved, inventive and so masterful as to make the ground itself a powerful ally.

For the 70,000 Americans, Iwo Jima was the step to the Japanese heartland and to the end of an awful war. For the 22,000 Japanese defenders, Iwo Jima was the defense of their very hearths and homes as it was part of the Tokyo Imperial Prefecture (county). It was assaulted by the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions of the Fifth Marine Amphibious Corps, which included supporting sea and air units.

Iwo Jima was the only Marine battle where the American casualties, 26,000, exceeded the Japanese -- most of the 22,000 defending the island. The 6,800 American servicemen killed doubled the deaths of the Twin-Towers of 9/11.”

(Excerpt taken from Iwo Jima: A Remembrance, By Cyril J. O'Brien)

Announcing Harley!

What is not to like about this guy?

Release September 2014

Amazon and kindle only

So what have I been doing?

Besides feverishly writing book #13?

I've been spending some serious book signing time with three of my favorite guys!  

 

What a fun day at Layton Freedom Days!

My very first customer was a Korean War Vet named Marvin.

He was ex-Army and still full of mischief.

I could almost see the young man he used to be.

Marvin was the start to a very fun day.

I'll also be at Roy Days and Peach Days.

Stop by and visit!

Inspiration For the Day

I begin again with the words of author and motivator,

James Owen, in my heart and in my mind.

"If you really want to do something,

No one can stop you.

But if you really don't want to do something,

No one can help you."

There is no try.
Only do…

Which are you?

Shout out to a real hero!

Retired Staff Sergeant Travis Mills!!!

Dear fans - Sometimes I have to take a break from my fine world of fiction and romance to enter a better place where real heroes live, breathe and inspire me. Below is an article from Mike Rowe, the guy on Dirty Jobs who also narrates Deadliest Catch. I totally love this guy. Mike's okay too.

"Say hi to Retired Staff Sargent Travis Mills, formerly of the 82nd Airborne, US Army.

As you can see, Travis has undergone a few structural modifications, most visibly in the leg department. Likewise, his left arm is more machine than flesh, and though his right arm appears to be around my waist, it really isn’t. Like the rest of his limbs, it’s been missing in action for some time.

I met Travis a few weeks ago in DC at The Science and Engineering Festival, and spent a half hour talking, mostly about Dirty Jobs. He wanted to tell me how much he and his buddies appreciated that show while on active duty. He wanted to know what it was like to work in so many “difficult and dangerous situations.”

Can you imagine? How exactly does one answer a question like that from a guy like this?

On the day we met, I was a little stressed out. I had just moderated a panel on the main stage, and I was rushing to the other end of the Convention Center to meet with a bunch of CEO’s to discuss mikeroweWORKS. I was late, and there were three-hundred and fifty thousand people between me and where I needed to go, all of whom wanted to say hello and take a photo. My security team was cutting a swath through the crowd, and I was trying very hard not to look like a complete douche. Then one of the event organizers ran over and grabbed my arm.

“Hey Mike, there’s a guy backstage who really wants to say hello.”

“That’s nice,” I said. “Tell him to get out here and do it.” I was walking fast, head down, determined to maintain forward momentum. If you stop in a situation like that, you never get started again.

“Well,” said the guy, “it would be easier if you came to him. It’ll just take a second.”

“Why? His legs broken?”

“Uhh...not exactly. But he’s just around the corner. I think he was in the war.”

I told the security guys to sit tight, and followed the guy down a long hallway, looking at my watch as we fast-walked into the backstage area. Then we ducked behind a blue curtain, and Travis Mills stood up to greet me. Actually, he kind of unfolded himself from a chair, and came toward me with a very wide smile. He then extended a prosthetic arm and offered a plastic hand, which I automatically shook.

“Mike Rowe! What an honor! I’m Travis Mills, and I’m very, very pleased to meet you.”

I’ve seen a lot of things over the years, and I’ve gotten good at pretending there’s nothing unusual when there clearly is. But I was completely unprepared for this.

“Ahh...shit,” I said. “What happened?”

“IED. Afghanistan.”

“Damn. I’m sorry.”

“No big deal. It’s been two years now. I’m good. Tell me something though - are you gonna do anymore Dirty Jobs?”

“Uhh...what?”

“Dirty Jobs, man! When are we gonna see some new ones?”

“Well Travis, that show was cancelled. I’m working on something new though that I think will be just as good. Maybe better.”

“Hey, that’s great! I got new legs and you got a new show! Tell me all about it!”

That’s how the conversation started. My show. My foundation. My book. Etc. But I eventually steered it back to him, and learned that Travis is one of only five quadruple amputees to survive that level of injury in the recent wars.

He has a motto: Never Give Up - Never Quit.

He has a Foundation. He’s featured in a new documentary. He also has a wife and a kid, and a deeply personal commitment to help other wounded Vets cope with their injuries. But when I asked why I hadn’t seen him in any of the typical commercials and PSA’s for wounded veterans, his answer was stunning. He said he didn’t consider himself to be wounded.

“I’m not a victim, Mike. And I refuse to be portrayed that way. Case closed.”

Fact is, Travis is missing more than a few original parts; he’s missing all traces of self-pity. And that’s presents a challenge for mortals like me. Because it’s a hell of a thing to feel put out because a crowd of fans are making me late for an important meeting, and then listen to a guy with no arms or legs tell me how lucky he is, and how much he appreciates all my hard work.

That’s called a gut-check, and I could use one from time to time. Especially on Memorial Day, when the biggest decisions I face are what to grill and which type of frosty beverage to enjoy. This year, as I resolve these and other important issues, I’ll think of Travis Mills. A guy who went out on a limb for me, in every way possible.

Thanks Travis.

And Happy Memorial Day to you all.

Mike

PS. His story is incredible. Check it out, if you have the time.

http://www.travismills.org/about/

My man Harley is a flirt and a tease...

So here's a tease for my favorite fans…

For a split second, Judy wavered, the sight of him dripping wet and aroused more temptation than she’d anticipated. The steamy bathroom was no help. Primal attraction crackled between them. She licked her lips, her body ready and willing to comply. Harley held out his hand in invitation. Despite the emergency call from the hospital which she ought to be responding to, she’d thought of joining him in the shower right then and there.

“You going or coming, darlin’?” he’d asked, a sexy smirk tweaking his lips and the innuendo unmistakable. He looked so damn irresistible with water dripping off his chin. The brat. How could he tempt her like that when she had to be on the ER floor in less than twenty minutes? And dressed.

“Join me,” he coaxed, the deep rumble vibrating from him and through her through his fingertips. “Come on in. The water’s almost as hot as you.”

“I can’t,” she whispered even as she leaned in. Her feet might have been firmly planted on dry ground, but her common sense was already stripped bare and pounding out a happy dance.

“Sure you can.” He reached a gentle hand for the back of her neck, and took a step forward, his head lowered for a hello darlin’ kiss.

Is Harley hot or what?

Not sure? Just wait.

He'll be on Amazon in September

Then you'll know….