Mike Walton's Stories and Books
These postings and stories are taken from one of the following books:
NOW AVAILABLE
"Brewed Awakenings"
One of my personal goals has been to publish a book or to contribute heavily toward a book which would do more than
sit on my coffee table or rest on a shelf in my home. While I have not completely realized that dream yet -- "Patches and
Pins", my first effort in writing is still with two major editing houses after a year and may be out later this year (I know...I
keep saying that...but I'm more hopeful now than before!) -- I am extremely excited to let you know about this effort.
Gisela von Brunn, Will Harrison, Jeannie Mobley, Steve Pulley, Leslie S. Russell, S. Michele Smith, Mary Kay Williams
and me, all members of the Internet freewrite group, Coffee House Percolator for Writers, got to talking one
day back in 2005 and thought it would be a brilliant idea to put together a collection of their short stories, poems, and
essays and publish them in a book: Brewed Awakenings. So buy a copy, brew yourself a real cup of coffee (none of
that sissy instant stuff), and have a go at it.
If you want to know more about "Brewed Awakenings" (and even purchase a copy of your own), I invite you to go to:
http://www.lulu.com/brewedawakenings This is our storefront
http://www.lulu.com/content/265765 ; this is our purchase page,
and also where you can download a free preview of the book.
By the way, if you would like to purchase a copy, there are several shipping options to choose from. For those of you living Stateside,
I recommend either the slow but cheap United States Postal Service USPS Media Mail rate, or the faster but still fairly inexpensive USPS
Priority Mail rate. The others available are pricier.
American Scouting Digest content
Many of you are aware that I write for American Scouting Digest,
a wonderful companion magazine to those three others (Boys' Life, Scouting, and ProSpeak) published by the Boy
Scouts of America. I came on board with the startup of this magazine, in the same way that I came on board for previous magazines
which unfortuantely failed financially. ASD is grounded on the premise that the American Scouting programs are something to be
honored and cherished -- at the same time examined and dissected as well. It is a pro-Scouting, pro-leadership, pro-outdoors
magazine with color photography you would be proud to place on your coffeetable or work desk.
I keep copies of ASD at my office at work, and look forward to each issue -- not just to see what my editor removed from my stories,
but to read others' works and to enjoy a quality magazine which has kept consistantly on schedule since it's introduction in 2002. I
am proud of my association with Rob and the team, and look forward in continuing my association with them as the magazine grows.
People ask me if I am paid for my articles and contributions to ASD. I am compensated but I have agree to defer my compensation
in exchange for getting the magazine out on a consistant schedule. While waiting doesn't pay my car note, my insurance, nor my
child support payments, I know that eventually I'll be paid and I enjoy writing for the byline and the experiences!
Check out the current issue and subscription information at
http://www.americanscoutingdigest.com
COMING SOMETIME SOON
"Patches and Pins" was completed before I left
the Scouting program for the first time in 1987. It is a series of
stories and background on why I feel Scouting is so important to a youth's
life; more importantly, why I viewed Scouting as one of the most
important things I have ever done during my life.
The book starts with my earliest Scouting experience, as a new Cub Scout,
called a "Bobcat". It winds itself through my primary, middle and high
school experiences, onward to National Scouting service as an elected
representative and later as a volunteer, and onward through my
paraprofessional training and experiences.
It takes the reader to a military training area in central
Europe, to the National Scout Jamboree in Virginia and finally ends in a
decision -- the most important one I had to decide for myself and my young
family. The stories are a mixture of basic Scouting lore with a
Black/African-American face on it to more deeper thoughts on why "do it".
It is earthy and also uplifting.
(The original name of the book, "Patches and Pins: The Quest for the Silver Beaver
and all of the other Crap" has been removed...mainly because the quest is over. The
book will be published with the title "Patches and Pins: Guidance and Advice from a
Black Eagle.")
Taken from this book are the following:
And these "Scout Law" points:
and Hungry
"Eagle Feathers" (Previously named "The Commandments, the Laws
and those Rules") is the title of my second book, which takes "Patches and Pins"
forward to 1997. Like "Pins", it is full of stories told "on the
Scouting trail" or "off the Scouting trail" and catches the reader up to my leaving
the National Scout Jamboree in 1993 and attending the National Order of the Arrow
Conference in 1994 and later serving on staff at the 1997 National Scout Jamboree. Unlike "Pins",
many of the stories are not all uplifting, but rather reflect the realities of a changing society and
the attempt to offer everyone in that society the grand opportunity to become a Scout or Scouter.
Unfortunately, Scouting has resisted much of that change in "inclusion"
and there are reasons -- valid reasons -- why this is so and why the BSA
has been so successful. I attempt to answer some of those questions posed by some in today's
society in this book.
Taken from this book are the following:
There is also a series of stories I wrote for the 90th Anniversary of
the Boy Scouts of America which was carried by a few smaller, regional newspapers.
Here they are:
Sunday,
Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday,
Saturday,
Old Habits...(Adult Content)
"Kaylee's Book" is a book recently finished
and written originally for our adopted daughter-to-be:
Daddy, What Am...What Color Is This?
"Daddy, What does 'neggar' mean?"
Adult Content Version
Daddy, Did You Have TV Growing Up?
Those Topless Girls At Hooters
"Debe Barnes"
Taking the Long Way Home
(Adult Content)
"Wreathless" is an ADULT novel explaining what happens
when young people are entrusted to serve as Paraprofessionals in one state. It is based on my
own Paraprofessional experiences over three years within Kentucky and Tennessee.
"Siblings" is an ADULT novel telling about two people related
by love. It is based in part on my personal experiences with my sibling, Cynthia.
I have reluctantly PULLED samples of both "Wreathless" and "Siblings" from this site. Many people felt that
the content was too racy for a "Scouting site". As The Tree grows, I may graft them onto a new site away from
the regular Scouting and military branches here. I am very proud of what I wrote, and reviews over the years
indicate that I am on the right trail with the content (they found the cuss words, sexual content and descriptions
"not something I would expect from or associate with Mike Walton".)
Samples from both are still archived on the Internet ("once it's posted, you can't get rid of it!") somewhere.
I am glad that you wanted to know more about my articles, short stories and books and what
I write about. I am very proud of them, even though I have not made any real
money yet from any of them. I hope to. I hope to give back to Scouting and
the military what they have given me and my family over the years and in the
process, to continue to support my family and hopefully my sis's family too.
Your comments, like to anything here, are always welcomed as well as
your criticism of the ideas and the books here. You may
post me directly to
express your opinions and thoughts.
Of course, if you have a lead on a publisher, please let me know. I
don't do sci-fi, horror, or historical novels. I write, as Mrs.
Cosby, Kay Flauding and Cora Wood taught me, on what I know.
Settummanque!
(This logo indicates content which has adult
content, themes, and/or words and should be read by individuals 17 years of age and
older. Some of the stories have a "clean version" which either deletes or modifies
the adult content or words; "Wreathless" and "Siblings" do not.)
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