'The Inca Prophecy' for Christmas!

So who has family members who like to read? Well, what better present for Christmas than 'Whispers from the Past' and 'The Inca Prophecy'? Both books are written for teen age and up and have been enjoyed by all who have read them. Both books are available in paperback from amazon.com or from me personally. Contact me and I'd be happy to send a copy of either for only $10.00 plus shipping. Or, you can order a paperback from amazon.com for 10.95, or 6.95 for the kindle or nook.

Listen to professional Utah model Reesa Marie and get yours today. "Another fantastic easy read... Well written, adventurous & exciting! As always I can't wait for the next one :)"

Home.....and already missing the city of Istanbul.

Been home now for 2 days and already missing Istanbul. Kim and I had such a wonderful time and found the people to be extremely helpful and friendly. For example, we were sitting outside the Suleymaniye Mosque when a local dentist asked us where we were from. We ended up eating lunch with him at a local outdoor cafe.

Ancient inverted Medussa Head in the basilica cistern

Kim inside Hagia Sofia

In addition to the people, and waking up every morning to the mosques call to prayer, the Ottoman architecture was amazing. Between the mosques and the palaces, we were both very impressed. Also pretty cool was the Basilica Cistern which is basically an ancient underground water tank. In addition to the Ottoman influence, there is still Roman relics which include the Hippodrome and the aquaduct which were both pretty cool.



The ancient Hagia Sophia



We took a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait and even went to a dinner show where a belly dancer mugged me...too bad the flash on the camera didn't work when Kim tried to snap a picture.


Pretty talented dog. (check out his shades)




Kim looking at the Asian side of Istanbul



The Blue Mosque

 Turkey is an amazing country and we're so glad we could both spend a week there. I hope you enjoy these pictures.

First day in Turkey

Our first day in Turkey was pretty casual compared to previous trips Kim and I have taken to Europe. But, we did see some "must see's" within the city of Istanbul and the area of Sultanahmet. We were able to see the "Blue Mosque" as well as the Hagia Sofia museum. (Hagia Sofia was a Christian Basillica by Constantine and later a mosque when the Ottoman Empire took over.

We were also able to see the Basillica Cistern which was pretty impressive too. It's like a very elaborate underground water tank with 336 columns holding up the ceiling. This column, and one other, show a Medussa head and was probably pillaged from Christian structures before the cistern was built.

Turkey here we come!

It's been a while since I've posted anything and for this I apologize. I've been consumed with some events going on in my life which have kept me from not only posting here, but I've not written an article for the Deseret News for some time either. Hopefully soon!

Two days to Turkey. Kim and I decided we would throw caution to the wind and head for Istanbul on tuesday. We debated for several weeks if this was where we should go, or should we try Scotland or Italy instead of our original choise of Turkey. Right now, things look good for traveling standby as long as we can get to Washington DC to catch our international flight.

We have some wonderful plans and I'm sure an article will come out of this trip at least. Who knows, maybe I'll be inspired to continue my Daniel and Kylee stories with a trip to Eurasia. I'll keep you all posted.

I'll definitely keep this blog up to date while we are gone.

CAH

Wonderful weekend with a B-17

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Yesterday Kim and I had the opportunity to fly on 'Sentimental Journey', a world war II B-17G that was on tour this week in Ogden, Utah. We took off around 9am and flew for half an hour and it was as much fun as I've ever had no an airplane. Based in Mesa as part of the Commemorative Air Force, Sentimental Journey is a beauty to behold. After take off, we were permitted to walk around the inside and view the ground, and plane, from all angles.

This was something I've wanted to do for a long time. Thanks to Kim for going with me and sharing so many of my same interests. We both truly have "it" in our blood.

My heart felt thanks to the people of this generation. To the men who flew and served on the planes and the women who stayed home to build them, and everyone else who sacrificed to preserve the freedom I enjoy today. These people are almost as rare as this great warbird and all those who love America owe them so much. They were an example for all those who have served since.

Thank you again.

CAH

Finally Finished

Finally, 'The Inca Prophecy' is completed. My thanks to my wife Kim and my editor Darlene Oliver for their enormous efforts and help. I really do appreciate what they have done.

The Book has been sent to the printer and should be available very soon at amazon.com, on the kindle and the nook, as well as from me.

It's always a really cool feeling to see your efforts, no matter what the endeavor, come to fruition. I love to write, it's not something that comes easily to me but I love to be creative. Once again, I hope the people that read 'The Inca Prophecy' will enjoy it as much as my first book, 'Whispers from the Past'.

thank you for giving me the opportunity to add to your enjoyment!!

CAH

in just a few days.........

I've finished making my corrections to 'The Inca Prophecy'. Kim will make her corrections this weekend  and monday we'll submit the new text and I'll order about 50 copies for my friends at work and abroad....Reserve your copy now!!!

Finally!!!!! Some progress.

Yesterday, at approximately 6pm, Kim and I finished preparing my second novel for publication. Thanks to Kim for her devoted help and her ability to figure out how to do things on the computer. The book is 'The Inca Prophecy' and I ordered three proof copies from Amazon.com. Once I receive them, and they have been read and corrections noted, I will resubmit the book and it becomes available for purchase. It's been a long time coming and I can't wait to see it in my hands.

Approximately two weeks ago, we were returning to DFW from a long weekend spent at Kim's cabin in Big Bear California. We disembarked from the plane and walked through to the unsecure side of the airport to get our luggage. I noticed a good friend who works with me standing by the luggage carousel with his three daughters. The oldest one, approximately eleven years old, was jumping up and down when I approached. I disbelieved she was excited to see me but that was exactly what was happening. She had read my first book 'Whispers from the Past' and her dad had seen me and pointed me out to her. Even though my stories have not been marketed, I'm so happy that the people who have purchased them have enjoyed them as much as they have. I hope 'The Inca Prophecy' gets the same reaction.

BTW....not only is 'Whispers available on amazon.com in paperback or for the kindle, as of yesterday it's also available for the Barnes and Noble Nook!

A Ride in History

It took 5 days longer than I had hoped, but was well worth the 45 minutes of flight.

Last Thursday, Kim, Logan, and I flew on the Southern Cross; A World War II era C-47. We took off from Meacham Field 630pm and flew around Fort Worth and then Arlington before returning to the airport.

The Plane yawed and dropped the entire way from the time the big soft tires left the ground to the time the plane landed. We were allowed to walk around the old fuselage and take pictures of both the inside and out. It was absolutely the funnest plane ride I've ever experienced, and the shortest too.

Here are a few of the pictures I took, which are limited because of the one time the plane yawed and the camera was dropped and broken; my wife is very sorry.

I can't wait to fly on my next warbird ride which I'm hoping will be later this year.

I love airplanes, writing, and my family.

It's been a while since I've posted, hopefully I won't forget anything I have to say.

Tomorrow morning, hopefully, I'll get my father's day present. We are going to to go fly on a World War II C-47 in Fort Worth. Basically, it's the same air frame as a DC-3 but was utilized heavily during the war. Anyone who watched the HBO special, 'Band of Brothers' would recognize it as the plane Easy Company jumped out of on D day and other jumps that were made.

It's not the bomber I want to fly on the most, but it will be fun and no where near as expensive. I'll take lots of pictures and post them on my blog as well as facebook.

'The Inca Prophecy' is soooo close to being published, I can taste it! The book itself is ready to print but I'm waiting for editing on the first two chapters of 'The Kiwi Conspiracy' to add at the end so people can see what the next story is about.

I can't wait to see it in print. I've had several people ask me when it will be ready. My friend Hector told me his daughter is reading 'Whispers from the Past' a second time and is awaiting anxiously the next installment. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

I've had a total of 8 travel articles published in either the Deseret News or the Mormon Times. I have 3 more submitted but haven't seen them in print yet. I'm really grateful for the opportunity to write about the trips I've had the opportunity to take. I hope I'll be able to continue to contribute.

Kim, Logan, and I went to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum today in Addison Texas. I took Connor to the same museum three weeks ago. In addition to seeing the regular planes, we got to see Ol' 927 again. This is the B-24 I'm hoping to volunteer on that is owned by the Commemorative Air Force. It was suppose to be flying now but after an annual inspection, they found vibration in the number 1 engine and it will probably be a month before they are able to fly it again. I want to work on it sooooo bad. Only two of them flying in the world and such a huge part of history. It was the B-24 that the national poster girl, Rosie the Rivetor, was created. Over 18,000 were built and a great deal of the work was performed by women who were left when their husbands went to war. I'm so proud to be American. I'm so proud my father was in the Navy during World War II. I'm so excited to have the opportunity to work on, or fly on, any Warbird.

Thank you to my wife Kim. She has worked so hard helping me get my stories ready for publishing. Her advice has proven invaluable. She's pretty cute to boot. Not only has she done marvelous things with my writing, but she also loves aviation and supports my love of flying, working on planes, and teaching me about helicopters.


Good bye for now.

Happy Mother's Day

My mom doens't read my blog. In fact, I don't think she would know how to even find it. But this one is for her.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. My mom has seen many of them in the past and hopefully many more in the future. I do want to take this opportunity to tell her how much I love her and appreciate everything she has done for me. When so many have turned away from me, my mom has always been a huge support. During times of trial, she was always there to tell me she had been praying for me and doing everything she could to help me make it through to the end. Thank you mom. In less than a month she will be celebrating her 87th birthday. I'm so glad I've had you and dad around this long in my life.

Also, I want to tell my wife Kim how much I love her and Happy Mother's Day to her too. She has picked up the pieces and done her best to assemble something respectable. I owe you so much and hope we'll be celebrating this holiday together 50 years from now. Ewwww...well...I'll be 98 then so maybe not.

And lastly for this week. The Deseret News has published a new article about my trip to Ireland with Heather. There are some cute pics of her too. I hope people who follow my travel articles in the Deseret News or the Mormon Times will enjoy this latest piece. Here is the link.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705372225/Emerald-Isle---a-beautiful-and-historical-treat.html?pg=2