Interview With An Author: Oliver Dahl

Hello once again, and welcome to My Miraculous Mind! This has been a great December hasn't it . . . well, I could do without the extreme cold, and the busyness, and the commercialism . . . but other than that, hey! great December people.
It has been especially great for My Miraculous Mind, ideas have been flowing in and I have not missed a week of posting, and a special shout out to the cast of "Scrooge A Christmas Carol" at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse for making my earlier post The Backstage Story my most viewed post on this blog ever.
So, people have interesting friends, some may be firefighters, some may be detectives, some may even have pilots who they know. But it seems appropriate that since I am an author, I have friends who are authors. I decided to interview an author friend of mine, those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning will remember I mentioned him in my second post "It's Called . . . What?"
He is the one, the only, Oliver Dahl!
He and I met through our family actually. My mom and his mom went to high school together and about two years ago, Oliver's mother mentioned that Oliver himself had published a book and wanted to be an author, after that my mom replied that I wanted to be an author and was in the process of writing a few books. So, Mr. Dahl and I started emailing each other (mostly I would ask questions about publishing and he would answer them). We have known each other for about 2 years now and have never met each other face to face. Oliver resides in the wonderful state of Idaho and I still find it funny that we've never met because I go up to Idaho like once every 1 to 2 months to visit some family . . . go figure.
Anyway, I emailed Oliver a couple days ago and ask him some questions which he graciously answered, so here you go, my interview with the author: Oliver Dahl!

1. How many books have you written?

I have written five books. Two of them (soon to be 3!) have been published.

2. What was your favorite book to write?

Each book is fun in their own way to write. The Dreamers was a blast just because it came so entirely into my mind. Lies was great because I felt like I was writing poetry.

3. What is your favorite book or series that you've read?

I really love the "Pendragon" series by DJ Machale. Percy Jackson, the Underland Chronicles, Michael Vey, Fablehaven, and too many others to list are also great.

4. Are you working on writing any new books write (pun) now?

I'm currently working on sending "Lies" off to several editors. I'm also in the works of writing a book entitled "Beneath,"
 

5. If the answer to the question above is yes, could you give us a small synopsis or preview of your new story?
 

 "Beneath," is about a kid who wins a trip to Paris. While there, he sees something he shouldn't have and is kidnapped by a strange race of people that live under the catacombs of Paris. There, he discovers an evil plot and the wild world that resides under the city.

6. Do you belong to any writers circles or writing groups?

On Facebook, I really enjoy the "Go Teen Writers" group. Everyone there is so awesome. Besides that, I'm really not.

7. What sort of awards have you received for your books?

My first award was in October of 2011, when I was named one of Idaho's Top 50 Idaho Authors. Just this year, that was leveled up to the honorary mention of Top 10 Fiction books in Idaho.

8. How did the idea for the Dreamers Adventures come into your mind?

Funny enough--a dream! I got hurt in the dream, and when I woke up, I was based where I had been hurt in the dream. This got me thinking, "What if there were people who this happened to in their dreams?" And this kind of snowballed into what is now The Dreamers Adventures series.

9. Is there any advice or words of inspiration that you can give to aspiring authors both young and old that may be reading this post?

Keep writing! I say it every time, and there's a reason. You can't publish what you don't have written. You can't even edit what you don't have written. You can write horribly if you edit well. Get something down on paper first and then work on making it good later.

10. In a few of your blog posts, you have mentioned a series that you have been working on called "The Stone Chronicles" can you tell the readers anything about this series?

Haha, it's the series I started writing in like fourth or fifth grade! It snowballed, or maybe avalanched from a 100 page novella to over a one hundred thousand page epic novel by the time I was in seventh grade. I haven't had the heart to rewrite it for a third time. There's just SOO much that happens. And I love it SOOO much, I can't bare to let it be anything BUT perfect.

Thanks for having me!

 

Thank you Mr. Oliver Dahl for becoming the interviewee of my post and for everyone reading this, read his books, they are fun, good story line, and reasonably priced.
Christmas is a comin' and the goose is gettin' fat, and "The Dreamers Advenutres: A Story of Sam Kullen" is a great story for someone wanting to go to a futuristic city, or ice caves, or even floating islands!
Oliver has a blog titled "The Dreamers Adventures" link shown here. 
And recently he has opened a website www.oliverdahl.com. 
So, I hope you enjoyed this post and I hope that you will enjoy my future ones.
Thank you for reading!
If you have any questions, comments, book recommendations, or maybe even blog post ideas that you would like to see, email me at keatswinter@gmail.com!      

Without A Clue . . .

For about a month and a half now, I have been working on my newest book, titled: Without A Clue . . .
I am currently at around 21,000 words and 100 pages in. So, being this far in, I have decided that I will allow you to preview the prologue of it.
Here it is!

Prologue

It was a dark and stormy night . . .

That is probably the most famous opening to any mystery novel ever. And that is how I plan to open this one.

There seems to be something about dark and stormy nights that makes one want to commit a crime. What it is, I’m not sure. Could it be the eeriness in the air that gives an evil atmosphere? Could it be that since rain is relaxing, the thief is more steady?

Whatever the reason, it is a great opening.

So Ladies and Gentlemen . . . .

It Was A Dark And Stormy Night . . . .

So, there you have it. The prologue of "Without a Clue . . ."
It is a mystery novel and a humor novel that the whole family can read together.
I am planning on having it be about 350 to 400 pages. Here is a small synopsis: Without a Clue . . . is the story of two nitwit detectives who are hired to investigate the robbery of an expensive necklace, little do they know, the more they dig into the mansion, the more and more trouble they find.
Don't worry, I'm still working on "The Great Toy War!", It's being edited and the cover is in the process of being created.
So, thank you for reading and feel free to check out past posts including The Backstage Story, and the preview of "The Great Toy War"
If you have any questions, comments, book recommendations, or even blog post ideas that you would like to see here, email me at keatswinter@gmail.com
Thank You! 

The Backstage Story

I must admit that I do love Christmas! Who doesn't? Probably the most famous Christmas story is Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol. At the Terrace Plaza Playhouse it is their Christmas tradition to do the musical Scrooge, A Christmas Carol every year. Last year happened to be their 20th anniversary of the show. Last year is actually when I started performing there.
It is a wonderful show with a wonderful cast. I highly recommend it!
Let me describe something for you . . .
You're sitting in your seat at the Playhouse, a program lies in your lap, open to the page of the cast list of Scrooge, A Christmas Carol. Soon, the lights dim, you get butterflies in your stomach, it's starting. A man in the sound booth up behind you at the top of the rows of seats says into a microphone, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, please turn off your cell phones and enjoy this performance of Scrooge, A Christmas Carol!" you begin to applaud as the lights onstage begin to twinkle to life showing 1843 London, chimney sweeps begin to dance as the shops behind remain frozen, and as the sweeps leave, the little London townspeople and shops come to life and try to get people to buy "Hot Soup!" and "Toys for the Little Ones!" School boys and girls enter and line up to either side of the stage, two pickpockets get caught by a suspicious bobbie. Once again, they freeze and once the music starts, they sing. The opening number, one of the best. It is the number that can make or break a show. If it's good, then people can not help but love the rest of the show. If it's kind of unngh then it takes a lot to bring it back up. The opening number ends with all the people having their arms raised and them yelling "Merry Christmas!" and then exiting, soon people's attention will be directed to the upper stage where Scrooge himself is working with Bob Crachit and Fred's little speech about Christmas. What a Great Show!
But what people don't know, is what really goes into a show. All the time and effort people put into this. What people don't realize is that the actors, directors, and costume designers, along with stage crew are people who give up three months of their lives even more so for directors and costume designers.
Let me show you the Backstage Story of Scrooge, A Christmas Carol.
It all starts with the audition . . .
Actors look and see that the audition is coming up three months before December which happens to be the actual start of the show. They think of what song they are going to sing, practice, fill out the audition form, and on the day of the audition, go over to the Playhouse. They will sit on benches in the rehearsal hall with their stomach tingling and soon their name is called. The actors go in one at a time and are welcomed with open arms by the director and assistant directors, at the Terrace Plaza Playhouse, they truly do treat you like family.
About a week later (this year it was about 2 days) the cast list is up. The actors scan the list anxiously to see what part they were given if they were given one at all. I myself was given the part of Young Ebeneezer.
There are the first rehearsals, for practicing the opening number, costuming, blocking (setting up the scene), practicing, talking, acting, practicing, a little more blocking, and did I mention practicing?
As the time for the opening night approaches, the actors get Butterflies in their stomach, and soon, the doubts roll in: Will I forget my lines? What if I mess up and make a fool of myself? What if I do something wrong?
All of these thoughts are soon discarded as the actors go on stage, but we're not at that point yet in this post.
The dress and tech rehearsals are the last thing to to do before opening night, basically you run the entire show as it would be performed, only with no audience.
Soon, it is opening night, the actors wait backstage nervously speaking in whispers as the audience files into the arena and get ready for the show. The director gathers everyone into the rehearsal hall where it all started about two months previous and she gives a little pep talk, they practice the opening number one last time, and then they pray for courage and a good performance. And finally, they go to their positions on stage, where the actors, tired, worn, yet practiced and sharp, give you Scrooge, A Christmas Carol!
I hope that this gives you more respect for those actors who do this job, it is definitely more difficult than you could possibly imagine yet they do it well.
I encourage you to come and see this show at Beverly Olsen's Terrace Plaza Playhouse. It runs the following dates: Dec. 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 23. (By the way, if you want to see me as Young Eb. see the Ivy cast, Dec. 6, 9, 13, 16, 18, 20)
Like I said before, they treat you like family at that playhouse, the director and her husband (or as known to the audience as Christmas Past and Scrooge) are some of the best actors you could ask for (aside from myself and my family, yes, I guess that's kind of bragging, but if you don't believe me, come and see the show for yourself)!
Thank You for reading this post! And Thank You to the actors of Scrooge!
Until Next Time . . .
If you have any questions, comments, book recommendations, post ideas that you would like to see on My Miraculous Mind, email me at keatswinter@gmail.com!  

 

Attitude of Gratitude

Hello Everyone!
As November approaches I (with help) have decided to do a post on gratitude.
Thanksgiving is one out of two of my all-time favorite holidays (unless you count birthdays as holidays, then it would be one out of three).
Now, we are so focused on getting Turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing that we forget what this holiday is meant to be to be about.
Gratitude.
Now, I'm not just saying that you need gratitude around Thanksgiving time. I'm saying that you need it all year round. Say thank you to people who do things for you- it makes them feel good and for all you know, you made their day by saying those two words.
Do things for other people so that they may show appreciation to you. (Even if they don't show appreciation, you will feel better inside, knowing that you may have lightened their load.)
Gratitude can be completely silent, as well. Keep a gratitude journal.  Everyday write two things that you are thankful for, I guarantee that you will feel happier. Thank the Lord for everything you love in your prayers. Show an attitude of Thanksgiving in the world around you.
I promise you that your gratitude will not go unnoticed.
The Pilgrims of the 1600's thanked the Lord for their new allies who helped them survive, they had gratitude for their life, liberty, and happiness.
So, around this Thanksgiving season, remember to have an Attitude of Gratitude!
Thank You!

If you have any questions, comments, book recommendations that may be mentioned in a future post, or anything of that matter, email me at keatswinter@gmail.com!  
  
 

IT"S FINISHED!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls!
I am proud to bring you this special announcement that will blow your mind!
Are you ready . . . . Drumroll please . . . .

I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED WRITTING MY FIRST BOOK!!!

As many of you know, I have been working on my middle grade novel, The Great Toy War. Well, after about a year of writting, I have finally finished!
As I am in the editing phase, I cannot give you an exact page count or word count but I can tell you that I am around two-hundred pages.
Now, I suppose I should tell you what the book is about.
It is the story of Tommy Plinkerton and his brother Charlie. They end up coming into possesion of a rubber bouncy ball and are shrunk down to the size of toys. Tommy happens to meet the Green Army Men and Charlie the tan. Tommy finds out that he is the General of the green toy soldiers and is involved in the Great Toy War. A war that has raged scince the creation of the first toy. Every toy fights in the war and they are battling for dominion over the other armies. There is a twist thought, the ball that Tommy and Charlie have, if it comes into the possesion of any of the armies, it will give that army the power to win. The book recounts Tommy's battles and his protection of the ball.

So, spread the word and feel free to spread this post all over the internet! The more readers I get, the better!
A special shoutout to the Twin Falls Public Library Board for reading and enjoying the things I write! (Is Idaho awesome or what!)
If you have any questions, comments, or anything of that sort, feel free to email me at keatswinter@gmail.com
Thank You for your support, past, present, and future in my work. Read on, write on, dream on!
Yours truley, the author,
Keaton Winter!

The Slightly Exaggerated Perils of Scout Camp! (The names in the following stories have been changed to protect the guilty, and the innocent)

Story Number 1. The Car Ride Up.
It was on Saturday the twentieth of July that nine boy scouts went up to Camp Old Spoon. Their names go as follows: Billy (the senior patrol leader), Big T, Dragonfly (patrol leader of the Wolverines), Nancy (on the contrary to what you may be thinking right now, Nancy is a boy), Beef, Chap, First Class (the patrol leader of the Stags), The Flirt, and Boondogle.
These boys were excited to go. They had just eaten sugar coated sugar cereal and a sugar filled sweet roll, the perfect things to give young boys before a who knows how many hours car ride.
Three leaders were to take the boys up to camp. BJ, BB, and BR.
The first thing that needed to be done was to have count off. Billy was 1, Dragonfly was 2, Nancy was 3, Boondogle was 4, Chap was 5, Beef was 6, The Flirt was 7, First Class was 8, and Big T was 9.
After a long confusing count off, they were ready to go. Billy, Dragonfly, Boondogle, Nancy, and Big T were with BJ. And everyone else was with BB. 
The car ride, when you have more than two twelve and thirteen year old boys, can seem much longer then it really is. And this car ride was quite a while even without the boys. Dragonfly had managed to smuggle his portable gameing device into the car without BJ's knowing. So while BJ was driving, all the boys were busy watching Dragonfly fight off bad guys.
"Yeah! High Score! Stand down ya silly little goblin!" Dragonfly exclaimed.
BJ looked at the boys through the mirror with a puzzled look on his face. "Um.... we are just having a thumb wrestling competetion. And um..... I have won the most times out of everyone." said Dragonfly nervously. BJ stared a little longer then shrugged and said, "Well good luck with that boys," then he went back to driving.
After a while the boys got tired of playing the video games (surprising, right?) and went to looking out the window.
 Three out of the five boys in that car were second years when it came to scout camp. They decided to tell stories to the first years of their adventures of Camp Troll. Of course they had to make it as dramatic as possible in order to highten the excitement by saying things like a bear came into their camp (their scout leader snoring), or that they got stranded on a small island (the overnight canoe for their wilderness suvival merit badge).
All the boys had brought a stash of candy with them. First Class actually brought a small bag and a duffel bag! Billy had brought (for the car mind you) a pack of gobstoppers, a sandwich, a pack of chips, and a gatorade. For the camp he brought, more gobstoppers, mike and ikes, sugar babies, mints, gum, graham crackers, cheese in a can with crackers (it's not scout camp if you don't have cheese in a can), and two packs of beef jerky.
The year previous when Billy was a first year scout, their scout leader's car's AC was broken, in the summer, with leather seats, and Billy had run out of his drink. It was heck.
The stories had lasted them about and hour when their leader, BJ, decided it was time for a challenge. First he handed them a pack of doughnut holes in order to get them off track so that it would be harder for them to figure the riddles out. "Okay boys, I want to go home but I can't because the masked man is there, who is the masked man?"
The boys decided to work together on this, well. . . three boys did, one of the second years haden't heard it when their leader told it last year, and the first years of course hadn't heard it, only Billy and Nancy and BJ knew the answer.
It took them nearly and hour to work it out and even after all the clues that could have been given were given, the boys were no closer then when they started. They were compleatly clueless.
"The answer is a catcher at a baseball game! You are at third base, you want to get to home base but you cannot because of the catcher." Everyone nodded and one of them slapped their forehead with the palm of their hand.
The next riddle was In a cabin in the woods, Fred and Sally are found lying dead on the floor in a puddle of water and a pile of broken glass, how did they die?
This one as well stumped the boys untill one of them asked the million dollar question "Are Fred and Sally some sort of animal?"
The second year scouts and BJ got very excited at this question.
"Did they drown?"
"Quite oppisite actually."
"Are they fish!"
"YES!"
"But how did they die?"
"Should we tell them?"
There were nods from the second years and BJ told the first year scouts. Fred and Sally were fish, the window was open in the cabin, a breeze blew in and knocked over the fish tank.
The third and final one was probebly the hardest and definetly the dumbest. If the blind man had seen the saw dust, he wouldn't have walked away without saying anything.
If I were to go through the entire process of how these scouts went through this, this would be one loooooong story. So I am just going to tell you the answer that it took the scouts an hour and a half to figure out.
The blind man was a midget in the circus and when he stuck his cane into the saw dust it sank so he thought he was getting taller so he left the circus.
Go figure.
They were about  40 minutes from scout camp, and we had the perfect mixture of exaution and excitement.
Never allow the scout camp sign to decive you. After passing the sign it is about 2 or 3 more miles down a dirt road before you reach the camp. 
The boys past the sign but the first year's first thoughts were "Where is the camp?" and the second years were like, "Yep, this is the same as last year."
So they waited until camp was in sight.
When the scouts arrived they had to wait in the car for about ten minutes while their leader went and checked them in to their camp. Then when he returned they pulled the scout trailer into Camp Old Spoon. They searched for about another ten minutes to find their camp, but eventually they found it. An old faded sign read FLYING EAGLE.
They pulled in and jumped out of the car to stretch their legs. And that was the begining of the boys' PERILS OF SCOUT CAMP!

Story Number 2. The First Evening.
The first night at scout camp is usually the one where everyone rests and relaxes.....HA!
They arrived at their camp and began unloading. BJ told them not to put the sleeping pads on the dirt ground, so where did the scouts put them? Where else, on the dirt ground.
The boys grabbed their bags and tents and looked for a place to set up their tents. Some of the scouts were tenting with each other such as Billy and Big T, and Dragonfly with Chap, and Boondoggle with First Class, and Nancy with The Flirt. Beef was tenting with his dad who happend to be BB the other adult leader.
Billy planed to tent with his brother and his dad when they came down on Thursday near the end of the week.
Everybody had taken the spots that were in the shady part of the camp so Billly and Big T had to pick a spot where the only time there was shade was in the morning (and if you have ever been to scout camp, you would know that the best place to be is when it is shady in the afternoon and not in the morning). The mornings at scout camp are often cold, though some can be quite pleasant actually, and quite warm in the afternoon.
Billy had to find a spot for his dad and his brother so he began his trek to find a spot with shade.
One spot was quite nice but it was down wind from the KYBO's. Bad idea. He looked around a little longer and found a pretty good spot in the shade. He set it up for quite a while and when it was done, BJ called them over to the table in the kitchen area. "Alright boys, we are serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner to the entire stake from now until Sunday evening." The boys groaned, they didn't like the idea of having to be the last ones to eat for two straight days, "So go get the scout stove, we are having spaghetti, salad, and bread sticks. Billy, get assignments out to the boys."
Billy nodded and said to his men, "Alright, First Class, Chap, you boys are with me, we are going to cook breadsticks. The rest of you boys, get together the spaghetti and sauce!"
After getting the stove, the boys complied. Billy would not have been surprised if the two stoves they had weighed 75 pounds a piece and 50 percent of that weight would have been from the grill part.
The spaghetti was all that was needed to be cooked at the moment. So BR decided to play a game with the boys.
For anyone that has never played "kick the can" this is how it goes. Say you had 10 people. You would dig nine holes in a circle at least two feet from one another. All ten people would get a stick that is two and a half to four feet long. Everyone except for one takes their sticks and places the tip of it in a hole in front of them. Then you take a can and the person in the middle must hit the can with his stick into somebody else's hole while the person tries to keep their hole protected. If you take your stick out of the hole, the person who is hitting the can is allowed to steal your hole by sticking their stick tip into it. If they do that then the person who originally had the hole is now the person in the middle. If the person in the middle is able to knock the can into the person's hole, then the person who had the hole has to go into the middle while the person in the middle gets the hole.
The scouts had 2 cans. They compleatly demolished them. Seriously, you couldn't even tell they were cans anymore. There was some blood shed playing the game. A few of the times the stick hit a leg instead of a can.
And of course when it comes to scout camp and you get cut or bruised, you have to come up with a heroic story for how you got your "Battle Scars".
The game was over once the cans were unusable, after the game was over it was time to get the breadsticks ready.
A scout stove is something that you must be very careful with, if not used correctly you will most likley get your eyebrows singed off. It nearly happened to Billy and Dragonfly their first year at Camp Troll.
It nearly happened to First Class and Boondoggle.
Now, when it comes to precooked breadsticks, you must get it down to a sience. Billy, First Class, and Boondoggle did no such thing.
The ingredients you need to make precooked breadsticks are:  1 or 2 sticks of Butter, Garlic Salt, and most importantly the breadsticks.
To cook these you must butter the stove (the scouts had several sticks of butter on hand, you will see why it was a good desicion in a minute). Then you must place the breadsticks on and brown them while seasoning them with the garlic salt.
There were more than fifty breadsticks to cook and they could fit about twenty to twenty-five on the stove at a time.
While cooking the first batch, a little fly decided that the best place to land would be on a hot stove. It started hopping around and to scouts this was very entertaining so Billy, First Class, and Boondoggle didn't bother moving it until they were sure it was dead. After they scraped it onto the ground they agreed that the fly landing on the stove did not leave that group and that if anyone asked about the flavor then they would say it was a special seasoning.
"Billy, will you butter the stove for the next batch?" asked First Class as he and Boondoggle placed the finished first batch into a warmed pot to keep them fresh.
Billy nodded and tooked the quickly melting butter and started to butter the stove,
It was going well at first but after about two seconds the butter fell out of its wrapper and onto the stove.
Billy wasn't sure what to do so he kind of hopped around looking for something to get the butter with while saying out loud, "Guys, guys, butter alert!"
First Class and Boondoggle looked at him then at the stove and then their eyes went wide. Soon all three scouts were saying, "Get it! Get it!" and eventually Billy picked up a spatula and picked what was left of the butter of the stove.
There wasn't much but what was on the stove, they spread around with a knife and threw the breadsticks on as quickly as possible.
By the time the second batch was done people were starting to arrive to eat.
When it came to passing out the breadsticks, the numbers of the food dropped a little too fast for comfort.
The boys eventually were able to cook the breadsticks quickly but then they decided to just deliver the food to the people. They placed a huge stack on a paper plate and handed it to Billy. As soon as he went to the first table it was like a shark attack! They emptied the entire plate, if there is anything you should know about scouts it's that they sure can eat.
Billy went back for more and got another plate full, he took them and they lasted a little bit longer that time but they still went quickly.
He went out three more times and each time came back with an empty plate.
Finally the cooks were allowed to eat. They dove upon the food as if they had not eaten in days even though they had filled up on candy, chips, and soda not two hours before.
The food actually was not too bad.
After the food, the troop built a fire and the stake gathered around it.
The scouts sat through about and hour of poorly preformed skits and songs sang off tune but hey, that's scouts for ya. The Stags and Wolverines preformed a skit that was famous in the troop, the skit known as Silly Billy.
It only needs two actors in it but BJ told them thst they needed to incorporate anyone who wanted to be in it and that was about everyone in the troop.
Billy and Nancy always played as Billy and his friend (guess which one Billy played as). They were famous for the parts.
Nancy would go on first and act as if he was widdling a stick.
Billy enters with hands clasped together as if he is holding a bug.
Nancy: Whacha got there Billy?
Billy: Got myself a butterfly.
Nancy: Whacha plan on doin' wit' dat there butterfly Billy?
Billy: Gonna get me some butter.
Nancy: Silly Billy, you can't get no butter from no butterfly.
Billy: Jus' you see, jus' you see!
Billy exits and enters with a some butter.
Nancy: Where'd you get dat butter Billy?
Billy: Butterfly.
Billy exits then enters as if he has a bug.
Nancy: Whacha got there Billy?
Billy: Harsefly (horsefly(country accent)).
Nancy: Whacha plan on doin' wit' dat there harsefly?
Billy: Gonna get myself a harse!
Nancy: Silly Billy, you can git no harse from no harsefly.
Billy: Jus you see, jus you see!
Billy exits then enters as if he is riding a horse.
Nancy: Where'd you get that harse Billy?
Billy: Harsefly.
Billy exits then enters as if he has a bug.
Nancy: Whacha got there Billy?
Billy: Dragonfly.
Nancy: Whacha gonna do wit' dat' there dragonfly?
Billy: Gonna get myself a dragon.
Nancy: Silly Billy, you can't git no dragon from no dragonfly.
Billy: Jus you see, jus you see!
Billy exits then enters running and screaming.
Billy: RUUUNN!
Nancy: BILLY! WHERE'D YOU GIT THAT DRAGON!
Billy: DRAGONFLY!
Billy exits then enters as if he has a bug and has a sly smile on his face.
Nancy: Whacha got there Billy?
Billy: Ladybug.
Nancy: Shoo Billy I'm wit' you!
Nancy puts his arm around Billy's shoulder and the two exit.
The skit was a sucsess.
After a while, the other troops began to leave until it was just Billy and his troop sitting around the last burning embers of the fire, the hot coals made their faces orange. "Well, I dunno about you guys, but I'm turning in," said BJ. The scouts nodded their agreement and got into their tents. The majority of them were so tired from the ride up that rather then getting into their PJ's, they just hopped into their sleeping bags.
Billy laid down with his head against the pillow and was about to doze off when Big T said, "Hey Billy, Do you have any idea what we're doing tomorrow?"
"We're goin' to church," said Billy, his voice slightly muffled from the pillow. After about ten more minutes of questions from Big T. The scout finally decided to let Billy doze off into a nice, slightly cold, scout camp slumber.

To Be Continued....

For any questions, comments, or anything of that matter, email me a keatswinter@gmail.com
Thank you for reading!

  




 



     
     
    

The Armed Forces

Armed Forces

First of all I want to say Thank You to all those in the Armed Forces who are willing to die for those you do not even know. I would also like to thank their families who sacrifice so much, as well.

What is patriotism? Many would say it is a feeling of duty to your country. But it is much more than that. Patriotism is singing along to the national anthem and tearing up when it is over. Patriotism is shaking the hand of a veteran and saying thank you when you see them in a store. Patriotism is celebrating the Fourth of July but celebrating Independence every day. Patriotism is being respectful on December 7^th and June 6^th and September 11^th. Patriotism is having a copy of the Constitution of the United States of America, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights in your home.   

Ever since 1774, we have been sending brave individuals to fight for our freedom, starting with the Army and soon after we had the Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

Let’s start with the American Revolution. We sent brave men to go and do something that would get them killed because they knew that what they were doing was right. They left their families to serve their country as so many are doing today. Those men crossed the frigid waters that Christmas with General George Washington as their leader whom they followed faithfully even to their deaths.

The next war was the War of 1812. At the Battle of Fort McHenry, Francis Scott Key watched in the darkness as the British fleet bombarded the fort. As the guns illuminated the night sky, Francis saw that the American flag was still flying over the fort. This inspired the poem The Star Spangled Banner, which later became our national anthem, starting with those famous words: “Oh, say can you see? By the dawn’s early light...” We stood strong that night, not retreating from the bombardment, knowing full well that the only way to win was to stand strong and stand together.

31 years later the Mexican-American War began, in which we fought for what was ours, though others claimed what was ours was theirs.

 

The next major war was one of the most famous and most tragic: The American Civil War. Brother fought against brother, friend against friend, father against son. Boys as young as 9 years of age paid the price of freedom with their blood. One army fought for the freedom of others, the other fought for a way of life. At the battle of Gettysburg we lost more men than we did in the War in Vietnam.

 

In the year 1917, we became involved in the First World War. By 1918, we were sending 10,000 troops to France every day. By the end of the war we had 110,000 deaths in our ranks. The conditions of the trenches were terrible. The rain caused the ground to become mud puddles making it amazingly hard to move around. It was as cramped as could be in those trenches. And in WWI the world was introduced to Chemical Warfare. Tear Gas blinded our boys, Mustard Gas burned them, Chlorine Gas drowned them. The process of death when it came to gas was slow and painful. 20 different gases were used in the span of those four years of war. The First World War was known as The War To End All Wars. Unfortunately, it did not.

 

Little over 20 years later, the Second World War began. And like the first, we tried our best to stay neutral. But to no avail, for we were dragged into the war by the Japanese when they attacked our air base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941 and so on December 8, we declared war. The tragedy of the attack on Pearl Harbor reached around the country by December 8 and the Americans were both infuriated and remorseful at the same time. Those ships that had been sunk are the final resting place for all of the sailors that died that day. We sent our boys overseas to fight to stop the wrong that was being done all over the world. On June 6, 1944 our Marines, Navy, Air Force, and Army liberated France on D-Day, Codename: Overlord. The casualties of D-Day reached up to 5,000 out of 50,000 of our troops dead and only 1,200 of the Germans dead. Not long after, in the winter of 1944 also known as the Battle of the Bulge, we pushed the Germans to retreat by the first of the new year. During the span of late 1944 and a majority of 1945, we freed thousands of Jewish people and those who were empathetic to their cause from the concentration camps. The President ordered that we take pictures of these “death camps” because he knew that some would say that it never even happened. He knew that there would be some who would say that the Holocaust was not real. And that is happening. They are not teaching this in our schools. We need to teach this or else it is sure to happen again. The casualties of this war reached up to 60,000,000 to 80,000,000 deaths, more than 2.3% of the world’s population. I pray that we will never have another war like that terrible war again. I do know that if it happens, we have the strongest and bravest men and women on the planet that will come to our aid.

 

 

The Korean War, also known as America’s Forgotten War was next. I will make a statement here and now. This war will never be forgotten. It, like every other war, will haunt our country forever. The U.S. suffered casualties of 33,686 deaths in battle and 2,830 deaths not in battle. 373,599 South Korean civilian deaths have been reported and 137,899 South Korean military deaths. My great-grandfather served in the war in the Navy, he was my best friend. I looked up to him and I want to be like him. The Korean War may have been known as America’s Forgotten War, but I say: "You Are Not Forgotten, Nor Will You Ever Be."

One of the bloodiest wars America has ever known was the Vietnam War. I had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Rocky Olson, a veteran of Vietnam. He had written a book called Sgt. Rock Last Warrior Standing. The book is the first hand account of his experience in Vietnam when he served with the 101^st Airborne Division. I had read the book and I had found it to be amazing. He was a kind man and he asked me if I ever planned on joining the Army. When I said it was a possible career choice, he said: “Well here are some tips for you: One: Graduate from college first, then you will go into the Army as an Officer and they don’t send Officers into combat. And two: Don’t go into the infantry. I was in the infantry and it is the most dangerous.” I knew that this was worth remembering so I have remembered those words of wisdom. He gave me and autograph on the back of a business card for I had forgotten my book, this is what the card said:

Keaton-

Do your best

Make your

Mother proud

Sgt. Rock

Every time I read that card I say aloud: “I will.” When I read that book, I realized that man had been through so much and had seen things that no human being should ever have to see. Rocky Olson is the perfect example of a classic patriotic American man. The US soldiers who fought in Vietnam didn’t get the welcome back they deserved. Rather than being welcomed back with cheers and pats on the back, they were welcomed back by the anti-war mobs. As one soldier had put it: “Welcome to the airport that I left on. I saw some people pointing at me, I just had to get home and get out of that uniform. Something I had become so proud of had become something to be ashamed of.” The anti-war people called the soldiers Warmongering savages even though not one of them had even done as little as sit down and have a glass of water and little chat with one of the soldiers. They did not now the heck that the soldiers had been through. In Korea and Vietnam, we were fighting to stop communism, but now in this present day, we are allowing communists to basically run our country. We are letting anti-Americans into the country. America is becoming a socialistic prison and we are all too blind to see. The casualties of the Vietnam War reached up to 58,220 American deaths, 444,000 enemy troops, the republic of Vietnam lost somewhere between 171,331 and 220,357 troops. You veterans of this terrible war went through much. I hope the best for you and your families.

For the next couple of wars there is a story I would like to tell you. It is the story of Joe and Earl Granville from Carbondale, Pennsylvania. They joined the 109^th Pennsylvania National Guard. The recruiter told them that that regiment hadn’t been called to combat in 52 years. Two weeks after their training had began, the attack on the twin towers had happened and they were shipped to Bosnia and were put into different Platoons. Joe would ask Earl whenever he could, "You all right bro? Staying Safe? Are you keeping out of trouble?"  A while after their deployment was up, Joe called Earl saying, "I’m volunteering for Iraq, are you in?" Earl said, "Let’s go." Joe met his wife, Stephanie, when they were training at Fort Drum. They were married the day before Joe left for Iraq. In June of 2005, Joe and Earl were Convoy Security, one of the most dangerous jobs in the Army. Many civilian and military lives were taken in that job. The brothers worried for each other, always. Five of Joe and Earl’s buddies were killed when one of the Convoy trucks hit and IED just outside of town. The brothers had known those men for years. Joe had never gotten over their deaths. Though both brothers were devastated, Joe took it harder than any of them. Joe had a terrible case of Survivor’s Guilt. They got home from Iraq in June of 2006, Earl went back to college. Joe got a job at the state prison. He and Stephanie had their second child. In December 2007 Earl volunteered for Afghanistan and by February he was being shipped out. Joe could not go for he had two kids. In June 3^rd 2008 Earl and his Platoon were in HUM-Vs when his vehicle hit an IED. He was launched from the vehicle. When he came to he saw his HUM-V. It was completely obliterated. "I have to see if my men are okay," he thought. Earl tried to stand, but he could not. That’s when he looked down and saw that his legs were as messed up as could be. Then a friend came over and started praying over him and Earl thought, Is this it, am I going to die? He kept asking if his buddies were okay and the men said "Yeah, yeah, they’re just fine, we’re working on them". But then Earl saw some body bags, and that told him all he needed to know. He was flown to a hospital in Germany where the Doctor said, "Son, we’re going to have to amputate your left leg, but we think we can save your right one." Earl replied with, "Doc, do what you have to do, I’m just happy to be alive." His family visited him in the hospital a few weeks later; his mom, his dad, and his brother Joe. When the nurse came in and took the blanket off Earl’s legs, Joe left the room. Joe blamed it on himself that Earl lost his leg. Joe visited Earl in the hospital for three years. Yet Joe didn’t seem well. Earl kept saying, "Man, I’m going to be okay. I’m alive, there’s nothing you could’ve done". Joe would go silent and Earl would say, "Bro, talk to me. I love you." Joe was so full of guilt for his brothers-in-arm’s deaths. He started visiting the graves if the men who were in his Platoon. Then the 109^th was called again to go to Iraq. Joe would’ve gone like lightning but after what happened with Earl. Their mother went to command and asked them not to send Joe. At the same time, Stephanie’s unit got called to go to Iraq. It was a hard year for Joe, he had a job, he had to take care of his kids, and he worried about Stephanie. When his wife came home, they had their third child and Joe got a job as a trainer in the Army. He became more and more depressed. He became anxious; he would lose his temper over tiny things. Stephanie suggested he see someone. She told him it was not a sign of failure to ask for help. Joe started seeing a doctor once a month. Then in December, the 109^th got called up again to go to Quetta. They didn’t send Joe. December 18^th 2010, Stephanie and the kids were wrapping presents and Joe said he was heading to the store to get a new shirt. He kissed her on the cheek and said "I love you." The police found his car parked at a bridge in Carbondale. Joe jumped. He left no note. Just a Christmas present for Stephanie in the back seat. If only he just talked to his family. They didn’t see the signs. Earl, Stephanie, Mom, Dad, the kids, they were all crushed. There were over 1,000 people at Joe’s funeral. People stood in the freezing rain to say goodbye. Earl wept, he loved Joe so much. He would’ve given everything for Joe to have lived. You can see the story here.

From the very beginning to today, Americans will always fight for Freedom. Let us not forget those who will not come home. And let us not forget those who make sacrifices to keep us safe. We cry for you and we cry with you just as we celebrate for you and we celebrate with you. Let us raise our American flags high in honor of those brave men and women who are willing to give up their lives so that we may have Freedom. From the bottom of my heart, I thank all of you out there who have or are now serving in the military, reading this or not.

THANK YOU

Keaton Winter

Random Things That You Most Likely Don't Know About Me!

The title says it all!
I am going to tell you random things about me, my life, and my mind!
1. I am in tae kwon do! I am currently a purple belt (many people ask how high is that, the order of belts goes as follows: white, yellow, orange, green, purple, brown, red, and black).

2. I was 9 when I had my first book idea.
3. When I am not writing, I am a singer and an actor.

 

4. I love to draw and sketch! I am really big on art.
5. I am home schooled. Lovin' it!
6. I keep an idea journal with me where ever I go.
7. A few of my favorite TV shows are: Duck Dynasty, The Amazing Race, Celebrity Apprentice, The Office, Everybody Loves Raymond, Studio C, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and many more.
8. I am a history buff (especially WWII).
9. I am of big fan of John Wayne.
10. I am super close to becoming an Eagle Scout.
11. I am also a big fan of Danny Kaye.
12. My favorite play/musical of all time is Les Miserables.
13. Alfie Boe is my all time favorite singer.
14. Favorite food: Corned Beef and Cabbage.
15. Favorite soda: Root Beer.
Now there are many more things that I could tell you about myself, but I think that fifteen things are adequate for the moment. Be sure to read my post in which I put the first chapter of my book!
If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or anything of that nature. Email me at keatswinter@gmail.com!
ENJOY!
  

Preview!

Hello Everyone!
I have just written my HUNDRETH PAGE of the book I'm currently writing!
And so to celebrate, I am going to give you the chance to read the first chapter of my new book, The Great Toy War!
Here it is:

Chapter 1

THE HERO OF THIS STORY

                Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a toy? If so, than this is the book for you. This is the story of a boy who had the extraordinary experience of being a toy. This is his story, and it begins at home.

                It was a Friday afternoon, school had just gotten out and Tommy Plinkerton was outside waiting for his brother Charlie while he set up his toy soldiers in their “Strategic Positions” in the grass right across the sidewalk.  The green grass provided adequate cover to hide his soldiers from the enemy. Finally, Charlie came outside holding a load of tan toy soldiers in his bulging t-shirt. “Okay, give me time to set up,” Charlie said as he started setting his troops up. Suddenly the sun went out.

            “Tommy?”

“Yeah?”

“Is it me, or did mom and dad forget to pay the sun bill again?”

“You’re crazy.  Can’t you feel the earth shaking?”

                Both Tommy and Charlie looked up at the same time and immediately looked away when they saw the meanest kid on the block and his little toady, Travis Patterson and Andrew Dooley. Travis looked to be about three feet taller than Andrew and even had the beginnings of a mustache.  This fact alone made Tommy wonder whether or not Travis was really the appropriate age to be in the sixth grade. He had yellow stinking teeth and he wore a Civil War era Confederate cap that he always claimed was “cool” and honestly it was kind of was.  Andrew was about as tall as Tommy and Charlie, nearly five feet.  He had light brown hair and wore a brown leather jacket that was too big for him, and he was chewing a piece of gum obnoxiously with his mouth open.  Tommy was immediately reminded of a cow chewing his cud.

                Travis bent over Tommy, his shadow looking menacing, “Hey, coward of the county,” Travis let out a big roaring laugh, “Oh good, at least the kid who wants to pound me to a pulp is a Kenny Rogers fan,” thought Tommy. This brought no comfort.

                “Listen twerp, I think that you think you’re a high and mighty on this block.  Well you know what?  You’re not, and if you keep thinking so, we’re gonna have problems, because I’m number one around here, the head honcho, alpha, Kapeesh?”

                As Travis said this, he stepped on one of Tommy’s toy soldiers and broke it.  Actually, he obliterated it.   

“See ya later pipsqueak,” Travis sneered sauntering off majestically.

Once the coast was clear and the threat of the bullies was gone, Tommy and Charlie went back to playing. Tommy picked up the remains what used to be his captain and shrugged.  He placed it gently in his pocket.  “Just ignore them Charlie, you know what they say ‘Water off a duck’s back.”

“So whaddaya want to do later?” Charlie asked continuing to set up his soldiers for the impending battle. 

“Well we can’t do much. That new couple who just moved in is coming over for dinner later, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, the Cramplocks.  They seem nice.”

“Yeah, I guess so.  Are we gonna battle or what,” Tommy said more businesslike.

“Of course we’re gonna battle; just let me finish setting up my guys.”

After a couple of minutes, Charlie was ready.

 Now these battles that Tommy and Charlie do are not those typical five minute battles that so many children do where the soldiers fight and then die, end of story. No, their battles are full of heart, violence (you can’t have a toy soldier battle without violence), and full out strategy. They also named every battle they fought.  Let’s face it, important battles have names.

 “So Charlie, are you ready for ‘The Battle of Mail Box Grove,’” said Tommy.  (The battle was named this for they were right next to their mail box.)

“I am, Tommy, but remember if I choose to retreat I have the entire yard, but if you choose to retreat, you will have to jump into the gutter, which I think would be a little extreme for your men, don’t you?  That was probably a tactical error on your part,” he said grinning.

“It’s a good thing I never retreat,” said Tommy.

“You’re stubborn General Plinkerton, that’s the thing that may cause your downfall,” said Charlie while moving one of his soldiers and giving his best tough voice.

“We will battle for a while and then we will camp for the night, got it men?” Tommy briefed his men. He made them all say “Yes sir!” and then gave some orders as if they understood. “Look! It’s the tannies!  Fire when you get a good aim!”

“Return fire!” Charlie ordered.

The battle that ensued was fierce that “First Day” with many casualties, Charlie’s men tried to push Tommy’s men to the edge of the grass and into the rain gutter. But Tommy’s men fought back valiantly with machine guns and took out many of Charlie’s men. But the Tan Soldiers would not give up. They went back and fired their rifles taking out approximately half the machine gunners.  Tommy and Charlie decided to have their armies camp out near the battle fields for the night.

“What are you doing?” Charlie asked Tommy.

“I’m writing ‘No Man’s Land’ on the side walk.

“I see.  Need any help?”

“Sure,” and with that Tommy handed Charlie a piece of chalk and together they created a great-looking No Man’s Land. There was barbed wire, which was an x, a spiral, then another x. There were large puddles and even mines. By the time Tommy and Charlie were finished, it was the next day of battle for their soldiers. Unfortunately, this day was worse than the last, with many more casualties, but thanks to Tommy’s great strategy skills, he won the battle. While distracting the enemy, Tommy flanked Charlie’s men from behind. Eventually Tommy accepted Charlie’s defeat.

“How do you do that?” Charlie asked.

“Do what?” replied Tommy.

“How do you do that strategy thing? You have never lost a game of strategy.”

“I’m not sure; it just comes to me,” Tommy replied casually.

Suddenly the front door opened and Tommy and Charlie’s mother called for them.

“Tommy, Charlie! Come inside and get ready.  Quickly! The Cramplocks will be here any minute.

“Okay mom,” the boys said in unison as they wiped their chalk-stained hands on their shirts.

They stood up and shook hands. “Congratulations, General Plinkerton,” said Charlie.

 “You, too, General Plinkerton.  You are truly a worthy adversary,” he said solemnly.

Together they picked up the toys and rushed inside to get ready for a special visitor that unknowingly would change their lives forever.

It's called.....what?

Read a book people! Log off of Facebook, turn off your game consoles, pause whatever movie you're watching, and pick up a book!
In the last month alone I finished reading about three books. Books are like a video game or a movie that you can read. You could have more adventures with one book then you could have with five video games!
In a way it's like Facebook you get to meet friends and have fun with them. Think about it! Would you rather melt your brain in front of a TV for most of the day? OR, would you rather go to far away lands and meet people that are much different than you and me and do things you never thought you could do?
I always am reading between five and eight books at a time (don't ask why). And though some books aren't exactly ones I'd put on my "must read list", I still find one that I want to start over as soon as I finish it.
Here are just a few books I would recommend, in no particular order:
The Dreamer's Adventures (Information can be found here)  (On a side note, Oliver is a friend of mine.)
Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
The Adventurers Wanted series, by M L Forman
Eventide, by Tracy and Laura Hickman
The Hobbit (Who doesn't like J R R Tolkien?)
The 39 Clues (Both history and adventure)
As Time Goes By, by Jerry Borrowman
Popular Clone, by M E Castle
Argo, by Antonio Mendez
Life Of Pi, by Yann Martel
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain (Personal favorite book, and author. Just make sure it's unabridged)
The Princess Bride, by S. Morgenstern (Abridged by William Goldman)
Chickens in the Headlights, by Matthew Buckley (If you're looking for laughs)
Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling (Duh)
The Adventures of Tintin, by Herge (Awesome adventure comics)
Maus, by Art Spiegelman (great WWII graphic novel)
Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson (Hey, who doesn't like a trouble making little boy and his sidekick stuffed tiger?)
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, by Jennifer Armstrong (Good history book)
Those are just a few books even though I have many more!

So as soon as you are done reading this.... Go Pick Up A Book Because Your Adventure Awaits!