Books in Development
Much of what is in this section is very preliminary. In some cases the manuscripts are ready to go to a publisher. In others, they're just concepts or outlines.
Most of all, what is in this section could change in a heartbeat. But, the list gives you an idea of what is coming. When, and in some cases, if I finish the book, is up in the air. As things change in my writing life, this page will be updaed, so stay tuned.
Initially, there were four books planned, but right now, there are seven. The first two - Raider of the Scottish Coast and Carronade - are out. So, here's the status of the five remaining books:
Death of a Lady - takes place from summer of 1780 until sometime in 1782. Manuscript written and hope to submit it to Penmore in January 2022.
Last Battles - the plot occurs in the last years of the American Revolution. While most of the fighting ended in 1782, it took over a year to finalize a treat. The manuscript is written and needs work. Expect to send it to Penmore sometime late in 2022.
For a Few Francs - takes place during the Quasi War with the French in 1788 - 1800. Jaco is recalled to join the newly formed U.S. Navy. Jaco and Smythe renew their friendship because they are facing a common enemy, France. The first draft should be finished by the end of 2021.
Fight We Shall - Takes place during the wars against the Barbary Pirates in 1802 - 1805. England (and Darren) is embroiled in the Napoleonic Wars and Jaco has a chance to help his friend. The plot summary has been written.
Powder & Shot - Takes place during the War of 1812. Darren and Jaco are again enemies and Jaco is tasked with turning back a convoy of troops send to reinforce the British attack on New Orleans. The convoy commander is Darren. The plot summary has been written.
Only four books are planned in this series. The first novel, Flight of the Pawnee, will be released by Crossroad Press in January, 2021. The other three are:
MANPADS - takes place in 2016. Al Qaeda wants to use man portable anti-aircraft systems a.k.a. MANPADS, to shoot down six airliners taking off from six cities in the U.S. to bring the U.S. air transportation system to a halt. Derek gets involved because the Sullivans, his neighbor in Ivanhoe, discover two SA-14s on their property that failed to fire. Manuscript is written and needs one more "run through" before it is sent to Crossroad Press sometime in January or February.
The Ass'm Draggin' - takes place in 2017. Derek is asked to form a company to operate helicopters for the Afghan government to provide logistics support. In the story, he as to battle corrupt contractors, spies and of course, the Taliban. Detailed outline of the manuscript has been completed.
Strawberry 9 - Takes place in 2018. A chartered Lockheed L-100 (civilian version of a C-130) by Derek's firm and carrying $50 million in cash disappears off radar, only to be found in the Saudi desert. The crew is dead and the money, including the CIA officer accompanying the money are gone. Detailed outline of the manuscript has been completed.
Red Star of Death - takes place in 2001 and 2002. Janet Pulaski, a freelance assassin, quietly retired in 1982 to live with her girlfriend. In 2001, in the aftermath of 9/11, three intelligence agencies, the Cuban Dirección de Inteligencia, the CIA and the Mossad began looking for Janet because they want to take advantage of her skills. In her prior life, all three organizations had been frequent "clients" who offered her contracts through a third party. Her lover just died of uternine cancer and she moved to Dallas to start a new life. She decides to help one country hunt down a well known terrorist and in the process finds spiritual fulfillment she never had. Manuscript is ready to go to a publisher.
Retribution - takes place between 1945 and 1968. This is the story of four men, one SS officer wanted for war crimes, one American Air Force pilot, a Soviet NKVD officer tasked with finding Nazi war criminals and a young German who was spirited out of Germany to Palestine in 1936. Their lives slowly interwine until they finally capture the Nazi. Manuscript is written and needs one more pass to finish polishing it.
Hannenkam - takes place in 1968. A young American ski racer who grew up in Germany is trying to make the U.S. Olympic team. In the process, he finds the head coach having an affair with a 16 year-old U.S. skier and that one of the Austrians brought in as a coach is wanted for war crimes. Detailed plot summary is completed.
Outsourced - Takes place in 2003. A consultant in a firm hired to help manage an outsourcing procurement find himself dealing with a corrupt procurement officer, a board member in cahoots with one of the competitors for the contract, another competitor trying to bribe their way to a win and a client project manager trying to do the "right" thing to preserve his career. Detailed plot summary is completed.
Rather than write a memoir or a detailed history of my father's, my son's and my aviation careers, Gold & Silver Wings is collection of anecdotes from our experiences flying airplanes from World War II to the early 2000s. The focus is not on the combat flying with two exceptions about flying the B-26 which have never been told.
In the manuscript, you'll find stories that will make you smile, some that will make you cry and some that will force you to ask what were they thinking.
The manuscript is done, however, I am waiting for my son to retire from the Navy so I can add more stories from his flying career. In the Fun and Dumb section of this website, you can read some of the stories from the book that are being published by the Grandpaw Pettibone chapter of the Association of Naval Aviation.