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FIRST BOOK PUBLISHED!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

I am proud to announce that I have published my first novel.  The e-book is available for immediate download to your Kindle, iPad, Sony Reader, Kobo, iPhone, Android, PC, or Mac at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44005 In a few weeks, you may also acquire the book at the on-line sites of Barnes and Noble, Borders, Apple, and Amazon.

The book is a work of adventure, science fiction.  The story is not set in deep space but is a very down-to-earth tale of a young traveler who uses his skills and intelligence to manage and rise above an impossible set of circumstances.  The book holds appeal for many readers and includes travel, invention, sport, romance, fighting for freedom, the love of family and friends, and a whole lot of flying.

The ideas for the book were spawned while soaring on thermals above the pastures of Central Florida.  I began the story in Saint Petersburg, Florida.  After two-and-a-half years of writing and editing, I completed the manuscript here in Arabia.  In all phases of the project, I turned to the skies for inspiration; however, in the Emirates, I have traded a glider over flat farmland for a microlight between the Hajar Mountains and the Gulf.

As an e-book, my manuscript is very reasonably priced.  You may acquire the work for less than the cost of one gallon of fuel in most of the world.  You could even give it as a gift and really become a patron of the arts.

After you have read the story, please write a brief review (hopefully a five-star accolade) on the Web site of the retailer.  This insight is of great value to others who are contemplating whether or not to acquire my manuscript.

Remember to tell others about the Fire Erzu of Qi' Lam and explain how they may purchase and enjoy the story.  For us indie publishers, we depend on you, our readers, to spread the word about our works.  May my story go viral!

If enough of you savor the work, we may convince the influential gentlemen of Hollywood to create a film from the book.  It would make an exciting movie!  To date, most folks are thinking of casting Liam Neeson in the role of Seripovo.  (You will have to read the book to decide whether or not you agree.)

Thanks for indulging my blatant self-promotion.  I need inspiration to continue with the sequel, The Third Race.

And They're Off!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011
One beast that is highly revered here in the Emirates is the camel.  They are lovingly raised for meat, milk, and racing.  Today, we shall have a look at the kyphotic thoroughbreds.


The race season here takes place during the cooler winter months on most Fridays and Saturdays.  The camels run on large courses that consist of concentric tracks bordered by a paved road.  The reason for the concentric circles is that camels will not cross a start-finish line like a horse and this way they are able to always run on a new section of the track.


The roadway adjacent to the track enables control of the running beasts.  Many years ago the jockeys were small, young boys of around five years of age from the subcontinent.  Since child labor is rather out-of-fashion, the jockeys are now radio-controlled, cordless drills with a whip connected where the bit would normally be placed.  Under those flashy silks is the lionheart of a Makita or a DeWalt.  The owners of the camels follow them in air-conditioned SUV's and spur them on with the electric jockey when necessary.

Camels can be unruly so there large numbers of handlers to control them, warm them up, and get them to the course on time.  Even so, sometimes they just insist on stopping and squaring off with another competitor.


When they run, they have a loping, splayed gate that is not too graceful.  The ungainliness does not prevent them from achieving speeds of up to 65 km/h.  This is very impressive since camels are most often seen moving very slowly in the desert while they conserve energy and keep their metabolisms low in the extreme conditions.


Camel racing takes place in most of the kingdoms of the Arabian Peninsula.  The owners are primarily royalty who spare no expense on these champions of the sand.  Individual animals have sold for several hundred thousand dirhams at auction.  Here it is truly the sport of kings.