Hunter's Oath Mentor Cover Art

Mentor has been a long time in the making, and I am so excited to be this close to sharing it with you.  In a few weeks we'll begin pre-orders, so be on the lookout!  Until then, enjoy this artwork by Dan Pitts Designs.

 

Preview of Hunter's Oath Book 3: Mentor

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Hunter's Oath: Mentor (Preview)

The Michelangelo of Lego

I was never the guy who was going to grow up to be a professional athlete.  I was somewhat athletic, but attending a large high school, I learned early on that I wasn’t on the athletic level of a lot guys I knew.  I wasn’t that guy.  But, over the years I have had the good fortune of knowing a few professional athletes:  An NFL Running back and Cornerback, a MLB Pitcher, and an NBA Small Forward.  I really look up to these men.  It’s impressive to me the level of success they’ve been able to accomplish. 

They inspire me to be better at what I do.

Thinking about those men, I realized that each of them has one thing in common – one trait that helped make them the men they became. 

They work their butts off.  In EVERYTHING they do. 

I’m serious.  If you sat these guys in a room and told them their job was to build a structure out of Legos, they would attempt to create the most glorious edifice you’ve ever seen.  They would put everything they have into it.  Here’s the interesting thing though…they probably don’t love Legos.  I’m pretty sure Legos aren’t their passion.  Who knows, they may even hate them.  But it wouldn’t matter.  It wouldn’t matter because they have all bought into a similar life philosophy.  Anything they set their minds to do, they attack it with the intensity of a runaway freight train.  It’s ingrained in them.  It’s who they are.  It’s how they rose to the level of success they achieved.  It’s how they approach life.  They work.

I see a lot of young people with big dreams but no work ethic.  They rely on their talent to get them by which only takes them so far.  They work hard on the things they care about, but let other things slip by offering little or no effort.  Big dreams require big work.  And a strong work ethic comes from giving your all in everything you do.  If it’s worth doing, then do it right.   

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ~ Colossians 3:23-24     

1st Grade Freedom

If you were to walk into a room of 1^st graders and ask, “Who in here is a good artist?” or “Who in here is a good singer?” – it is likely that all of them would raise their hands.  Many of them may even start drawing or singing for you at that very moment! 

I can’t help but wonder at what point do we lose that?  At what age do we start comparing ourselves to others and coming to the conclusion, “I stink.”  Sometimes we grow up and overcome that negative thinking, but many times we don’t.  

STOP!

Life is too short to constantly compare ourselves.  Do what you love to do!  Do it just because you love it!  If you love to sing…SING!  If you love to write…WRITE!  Do what makes you happy – what you enjoy.  It will make your life and the lives of those around you infinitely better.  

Licking the German Shepherd

The 1986 movie Stand By Me ends with the line,

“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?”

Stand By Me is a movie that resonates with people.  I don’t know all the reasons why but when I watch it, it’s like I can “feel” what it was like to be that age again – to have those friends.  And remembering back to when I was twelve, I have to say I agree with the author’s sentiment. 

There’s something about being around that age that’s difficult to explain.  Your friends are everything to you.  You worry about what they think about you, you constantly have “stuff” you need to talk about or do, and you share secrets that could ruin your 7^th grade reputation.  But you share them anyway.  You do it because it’s your friend and you trust them.  Every day feels brand new even if you’re doing the exact same thing you did yesterday.  You can have fun doing absolutely nothing if you’re with your friend. 

My best friend when I was twelve was Richard.  To me, he was like the Zack Morris of our neighborhood.  The coolest guy I knew.  When I reflect back on those days it seems like a lifetime ago.  A time when dirt bikes were Harley Davidson’s and pine cones were hand grenades.  But when I think of Richard, I still see the kid I grew up knowing.  Times change and people move on, but traces of those friendships remain. 

It’s like you can offer up a sly wink that says…I know how

goofy you used to be.

So, connect with your childhood friend.  It’s easier now than ever before.  Just say “Hey, I was thinking about the time you licked my German Shepherd,” or whatever your story is.  I KNOW they’d be glad to hear from you.

   

Christmas Cactus Cologne

My dad has been gone almost fourteen years now.  I wish I could sum him up in a few sentences for you, but there is so much that could be said.  A single blog just isn't enough.  He was loud, stubborn, funny, and strong; the life of the party and a man who loved to laugh (His nickname was “Smiley” for goodness sake).  He had a number of odd friends and loyal companions.  Yes, friends, TLC would have salivated at the sight of that motley crew.  A “reality show” before reality shows existed!

A man of eccentric ways and strange ideas, my father was generally convinced he was on the verge of some great new discovery or life changing invention.  There were times as a kid when I would be fortunate enough to be part of these schemes – or either I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.  But nevertheless, I was thrown into the mix. 

A large part of my involvement generally consisted of me being sent to “find” certain items.  Many hours of my young life were spent scavenging dumpsters, combing through scrapyards, and basically loading and unloading truckloads of…well…junk.  As I got older, my dad thought there was nothing I couldn't find for him if I tried.  Whether it was a part for a lawn mower that no longer existed, or a very specifically shaped piece of scrap metal for the new “engine” he was creating – if it was at all possible, he expected me to find it. 

Towards the end of his life, he told me about this cactus cologne he wanted.  He had seen it on some late night infomercial, and he wanted me to find it.  Of course, he remembered absolutely no details at all about the product – only that it existed.  And for once, I tried.  Not like when I was a kid, I mean I REALLY tried to find it.  For almost I year I searched, Googled, asked around.  But I never found it.

It suppose it shouldn't have bothered me so much, but it did.  It bothered me that he died before I was able to find it.  For fourteen years, whenever I thought about it I’d do a search for it.  Fourteen years!  And this year, guess what.  I found it!  And I ordered it!  I am now the proud owner of a small cheap bottle of cactus cologne.  And when it arrives, in honor of my father, I will wear it.  At least for one day ;)   Merry Christmas, Nobles.  

Update on Book 2: Chaser, from the Hunter's Oath Series

Hunter’s Oath Book Two: Chaser is coming along, although maybe not as fast as I’d originally hoped!  (Then again, that may be true of all creative endeavors).  However, I am very excited about this second installment in Callie’s story.  It is a fast paced read with lots of hairpin turns, and I have had a lot of fun writing it.  Chaser is in its first round of editing now which can be a slow, arduous process but necessary nonetheless.    

The story picks up right where we left it at the end of book one with Callie having returned to base after her frightful encounter upon the mountain summit in Alaska.  Though she survived the confrontation with the deadly Neo, she finds that her troubles are far from over.     

The main difference between Rook and Chaser for me has to be pacing and intensity.  As I said earlier, the story moves along quickly.  There are more hunts, more powerful Neos, and the level of danger Callie must face has increased.  On top of that, the structures and safety precautions O.R.I.O.N. spent decades developing begins to fracture, and the veil between the Neo and human worlds is showing signs of crumbling.  Callie’s role in the story changes from being an unwilling participant to becoming the last hope for both Neos and humans alike.  The decisions Callie must face have more dire consequences and the threat from her enemy grows more and more intense.    

Hunter’s Oath Book Two: Chaser is coming soon!