Things happen when one is motivated to make them happen! As of March, 2004, I have signed an agreement to get one of my books published; have been paid for presenting some of my Scouting stories within a national Scouting magazine; started work on two other novels and, well...
I have written five books and am in the middle or starting of four other books.
"Black Eagle" is the first book. No, it is NOT about me, but rather a post-Vietnam story of racial change and how one Black war veteran tries to cope with those changes. The lead character, Nicholas Candey, is thrown into Andy Warhal's "15 minutes of fame" by his actions during a shooting at a shopping mall in Georgia. After the character smooths the situation, and questions his reasoning for even getting involved, he is taken on a whirlwind ride of TV and radio appearances, parades and personal appearances at things that previously people had spat at him during. He finds out that things has not truly changed, but rather simply been taken "under the water, where "they can grab you from below without even showing their faces, tear your legs....and destroy you while above, you are still smiling and waving."
"Patches and Pins" is the second book, 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 represenative 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 African-American face on it to more deeper thoughts on why "do it". It is earthy and also uplifting. Portions from "Patches and Pins" can be read online and has been appearing on the Scouts-L youth groups discussion list and on the Rec.Scouting and Misc.Writers USENET discussion groups over the past five years. It is "Patches and Pins" which has been approved for publishing and if any year is the year that this will get out to the public, 2004 is it! I hope you enjoy it!
"Eagle Feathers" (Was "The Commandments, The Laws and Those Rules") is the title of the third book, which takes "Patches and Pins" forward to the present. Like "Pins", it is full of stories told "on the Scouting trail" or "off the Scouting trail" and catches the reader up to the present. Unlike "Pins", many of the stories and portions are not all uplifting, but rather reflect the realities of a changing society and the attempt to include everyone in that society. 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. There are extracts from "Stacked Deck", the other working title of this book, which are also found on several electronic forums over the past seven years.
"Hope This Helps!" is the title of my self-help book for Scouters. Questions and my responses culled from the Scouts-L, Rec.Scouting, Rec.Scouting.USA, and AOL's Scouting forums along with questions sent personally to me over a nine-year period are featured here. It is one person's response to those nagging questions but an inside look at how the BSA manages its programs, why do they do the things they do, and suggestions and information on how you can get youth members movitavated and moving...
"Naturally" is the title for the second Mike Candey novel, which places the Vietnam veteran back on active duty after a long period of National Guard (and political) service. During his service, he is introduced during a Hail and Farewell to a young woman suffering from developmental disabilities. The two do not hit it off at first, but the relationship evolved into a love relationship, something that the parents of the woman, whom introduced the two together, does not approve of. Fearful that their "cash cow" and youngest daughter is being used by this "worldly man", they attempt to hide her from life. Candey is able to coax her from hiding but is he willing to marry a 35-year old woman with the body and mind of a 15 year old?
I get many of the ideas for my books from my Dad, SFC (Ret) Robert L. Walton, whom served in Vietnam when I was six years old, and on rare occasion, would even talk about his travels up and down the Ho Chi Minh Trail by 2 and half ton truck; from my many experiences as a Scouter, Exploring leader, and recreator; from my many talks and visits with other military people (many of which whom are also Scouters); and from my life itself. As a provider for developmentally disabled individuals, I bring to "Naturally" a understanding of the population and an appreciation for their needs to be "just like you and me". "Patches and Pins" and "Stacked Deck"'s many stories are from my many encounters with many people in and out of Scouting whom affected me and whom I had the pleasure and honor of working with.
"Siblings" is complete but I am waiting on feedback from several people I patterned the characters after. It is a different story but one which needs to be told in today's changing society. It is the book I promised my Godsister I would write and one in which I am proud to share in parts online.
"Wreathless" is still being worked on but should be complete by the end of this year. It is the first of a series of books I want to write about the stories behind the many volunteer roles found in Scouting. I started this with Paraprofessionals, the half professional-half volunteer job I and several others held while we were in college.
I am glad that you wanted to know more about my books and what I write about. I am very proud of them, even though I have not made a dime 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.
Your comments, like to anything here, are always welcomed as well as your criticism of the ideas and the books here.
There are portions or extracts from several of these books linked from a separate page. I welcome your feedback.
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, Ms. Flauding and Cora Wood taught me, on what I know.
Settummanque!