Second blog on Ghent Belgium published.

Today my second article in the Mormon Times has been published, also a reference in the Deseret News online edition. Having a great time writing these pieces and finally getting my name out there so maybe interest will be generated in my books. I have no idea if it will make either print editions like the first article did. Here is a link to the Mormon Times.

http://www.mormontimes.com/article/19278/A-modern-day-exploration-of-the-medieval-city-of-Ghent

the passing of a true hero

A few years ago I watched the HBO mini-series "Band of Brothers" for the first time. I didn't have HBO when it first aired but actually watched the first episode on an airplane while on my way to Europe. I became compelled to watch the entire ten hour series and purchased it. I've since watched it several times and I admit it's my favorite movie, television series, or anything else that I've ever had the opportunity to view.
Its a true story written by Stephen Ambrose about Easy company and their jump into history on D-day of world war II. It then follows them through their battles and exploits until the taking of Eagles Nest in Bavarian Germany at the end of the war. Watching this you become familiar with the men who helped preserve our freedom and one man really stands out in the show. Major Richard Winters, who should have received the congressional medal of honor for his service and bravery. He was everything I would want my sons to emulate in a role model.
He passed away on January 2nd, the same day my article in the Deseret News was published. I wish I'd only had the opportunity to meet Major Winters sometime during his life.
Dick Winters is just one of thousands. He just happens to be the one that I learned something about. My own father served in both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters of World War II and I'm just as proud of him. Thank you, to an entire generation of those who fought for our freedom and those who continue to fight.

More blogs submitted and making good progress on the Ireland story

Two more blogs accepted by Deseret Connect for the Mormon Times. One telling about our experience last September in Ghent, Belgium and Gravensteen Castle. The other telling about Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands last April. Hopefully they will be published soon and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that other stories will make the pring edition of Deseret News.

Didn't accomplish very much on The Eye of Magog for about 3 weeks. Now for the last two days I've found myself back in the nich. 52,000 words right now and 90 pages complete. I'm guessing, and I don't know why this happens, that it will be finished around 75,000 words like the first three novels. I really, really like this story.

I'm thinking about writing a non fiction book about the feelings fathers go through when they find themselves divorced. Its something I underestimated and I think the father's voice needs to be heard. This book would be written using a different name and would go into detail about what has happened to me but nobody will ever know it is me. My kids, ex wife, present wife, will all be protected. I'm thinking about approaching Deseret Book about this and seeing if they are interested before I start.

Working now at the terminal, A section. Its been a long time since I've worked on live airplanes with flight crews and passengers waiting. Little bit of anxiety goes with it.

I guess thats enough for now. I hope people are enjoying Whispers from the Past. I've only had good feedback from friends and co workers which makes me happy and motivates me to do more. I also hope the article in the Deseret News was enjoyed by those who read it. I actually got invited to go on a safari in Kenya by the art director of Hogle Zoo and a lady in Samoa emailed me and told me I need to travel to her country. Does this qualify as fan mail?

Published on January 1st edition of the Deseret News !!!!

Tonight I was checking my email and found one from my mom in Bountiful, Utah. She congratulated me for having my article published on the front page of the Deseret News travel section. Sure enough, my one time blog for the Mormon Times has become the cover story in the Deseret News....!!!!!   I'm pretty excited. Amber, I'm so glad we got to take the trip to Thailand together. I love you soooo much as I do your sisters and brother. I miss you and hope you do well while at BYU. 

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700096397/Tourists-allowed-to-play-with-tigers-at-Buddhist-sanctuary-in-Thailand.html?pg=2

An end to the holidays

Well, it didn't happen like Kim and I had planned but the holidays come to an end tomorrow. Unfortunately I've had bronchitis the last 3 or 4 days which has kept me from doing some of the things I had wanted to....like go to work tonight.  :)  Connor, Heather, and Amber all left for home today and I'm already terribly sad and missing Connor tremendously. He and I have such a good time together and he enjoys it here in Texas whenever he can come. Amber and Heather had plenty of time with their friends and sister Megan but I sure would have liked to spend more time with them for Christmas. We had so much planned that we didn't do like ty dyeing t shirts and stuff, we didn't do it because we were incomplete. Anyway, Connor enjoyed ice skating, the movie Tron, the Tarantula train from Grapevine to the stockyards, and so many other things. It was a good few days with him. I can't wait until I get to see him again.

I've written my 2nd article for the Mormon Times but it has not been edited yet. I haven't written anything new in the Ireland book for a couple of weeks but look forward to that opportunity when I start my new shift at work. Terminal A section A1...I'll be working on live planes again instead of driving or parking them.

Been an emotional week.....I hope the recovery comes quickly...

Published in the Mormon Times online edition

It's been a while since posting and this is for good reason, I was waiting for today!

This morning my first travel blog was published in "The Mormon Times" online edition. It's the story about my daughter Amber and I traveling to Thailand to see the tigers of the Buddhist Tiger Temple. I hope you will all read and enjoy the blog because there are many more to follow.

Because of my job with American Airlines, I have the opportunity to travel a lot. I love the other cultures I've visited and have tried to express my admiration and interest by writing my novels. Now I have another voice with the newspaper and I'm going to take every advantage of it.

Thanks to my beautiful wife Kim. Her encouragement and support have been immense. I could not have done any of this without her. Her knowledge of the English language and her own creative writing ability is THE reason why I'm published and why I love to write. Thanks sweetheart.
http://www.mormontimes.com/article/19018/A-thrilling-visit-to-the-Buddhist-Tiger-Temple

Bangkok and the Tiger Temple blog

My first blog has been accepted by Deseret News Corporation for the Mormon Times! Not sure if this means it will definitely be in print or not but its gone to the editors and hopefully will be on the online version soon. My thanks to Kim for proofing it for me and tweaking it in ways that only made it better. Thanks to Amber for going on such an amazing trip with me a few years ago. We played with actual tigers!

Next blog idea will be Ghent Belgium and the castle of the counts.....hopefully we can keep this ball rolling. Getting my name out there is a huge thing because I need help promoting my novels. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Bitz and Pieces

I've been at work 9 hours already and still have 5 1/2 to go. While I've been sitting here a few thoughts have crossed my mind....here they are

I have 25 copies of Whispers from the Past available. It would make a great Christmas present for teens or older. If anyone would like one please contact me or go to Amazon.com where its still available as a paperback or for the kindle.

Flew to Utah to see Connor three days ago. While I was attempting to get my rental car to go pick him up from day camp (he is off track from school) I was told my license had expired and they could not rent me a car. I had renewed online on November 1st but the new licnese had not arrived yet and I'd forgotten the one I've been driving with wasn't any good. I didn't get to see Connor and I still feel very bad about the missed opportunity.

Kim and Logan are in California celebrating Christmas three weeks early with family-wish I could be there but I had to stay behind to work. My days off don't coincide with theirs. Anyway, wishing and hoping Kim and Logan have a great time while I am working and trying to make extra money to pay off the plane tickets I've had to purchase for my kids to fly down here for Christmas....can't wait to see them!!!!!!

Hoping to take Connor to Portugal in February when he is off track again. I have all kinds of things planned. Lots of castles and palaces as well as a church made of bones and skulls and a marionette museum. I pray it all works out where I can get him a passport in time so he can enjoy the international travel his sisters have enjoyed for a decade.

Stoked about an opportunity

Big, big news! I've emailed the editor of a Salt Lake City newspaper about possibly reviewing "Whispers from the Past" and they are interested and a copy is in the mail. As if that isn't enough, the same editor wants to know if I'm interested in writing articles on travel for the online version of the paper. I'm stoked to say the least. I've spent some time looking for travel blogs that I could write and now this opportunity, or at least possibility, would be even better. :) I have a long way to go but I'm as qualified as anyone to write travel articles just because of the extensive amount of trips I've taken out of the country with my kids and wife Kim. I think the standing tally is 24 countries in the last eleven years. Keeping my fingers crossed that they like my book and hopefully a long standing relationship will be the result.

Big weekend in football. I have to say that I'm so for the University of Utah beating their rival BYU even though my beautiful daughter Amber is a Cougar. Good luck to the Utes and best wishes for making a good bowl game. Probably the Las Vegas Bowl since TCU will be going to a BCS game.

Still writing "The Eye of Magog" and thinking its pretty good. I know some things I'll need to change even before finishing the first copy. Thanks to the people who have read my stories and offered feedback to me, its proven very helpful.

Chris

A visit from Connor

Last week I put Connor on a plane home after a wonderful two week visit from Utah. He was off track from school and spent most of the time with us in Texas. I just want him to know how wonderful it was to be with him. Here are some pictures taken at the Romanian Food Festival in Colleyville and the mini railway train by Fort Worth Zoo.  I miss him already !!!!

The Eye of Magog

The Eye of Magog is becoming pretty cool! I love to write when thoughts and ideas pop into my head because I'm so into my own story. I'm just about 34,000 words and based on the first 3 novels this would put me at just about the half way mark. Of course I don't know how many words this will end up with and I try not to plan that way. Animals are starting to play an important role in the story which I never would have expected when I first started out writing. I really like it!

For those who have read Whispers by now, please give me your feedback either using the email on my website or just making comments here on the blog. Bookmark the website if you like, I enjoy people that keep coming back.    www.chrisahale.com

Thanks for checking in.....

Chris