I grew up without a TV in the home, so I read everything I could get my hands on. I believe the type of historical recreations I embraced had a lot to do with my writing style and "voice" that I employed in BAD KARMA: The True Story of a Mexico Trip from Hell. Although I hadn't written anything since junior high school, I put myself into the head of the authors above and endeavored to tell the story in a straight-forward and engaging way. My goal was to put the reader in the scene with me. My book is approaching 40,000 copies sold, an Amazon #1 for more than a year, and recently optioned for a movie, so I believe I have succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.
I wrote...
Bad Karma: The True Story of a Mexico Trip from Hell
By
Paul Wilson
What is my book about?
In the summer of 1978, twenty-one-year-old Paul Wilson jumps at the chance to join two local icons on a dream surf trip to mainland Mexico, unaware their ultimate destination lies in the heart of drug cartel country. Having no earthly idea of where he'll get the money to pay his share, and determined to prove his mettle, he does the only thing he can think of: He robs a supermarket. And, if karma didn't already have enough reason to doom the trip, he soon learns one of his companions is a convicted killer on the run, and the other an unscrupulous cad. Mishap and misfortune rule the days, and mere survival takes precedence over surfing.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Ghost Soldiers: The Epic Account of World War II's Greatest Rescue Mission
By
Hampton Sides
Why this book?
I was only eight days shy of the Vietnam war draft when it was halted, and it instilled in me profound respect, admiration, and a sense of debt to the brave men and women who answered the call of duty sacrificed in duty to our nation. I'm drawn to historical works, be it historical fiction or nonfiction accounts, of wartime through the ages. My fiance's father was the youngest US Army Ranger during WWII in the story that this book recounts, so reading it brought a special significance to me.
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A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II
By
Larry Alexander,
Adam Makos
Why this book?
Another WWII historical novel, this one in the European theater. Makos is an extraordinary storyteller! The depth of research and care he puts into his works is astonishing. I love reading his work because you can get fully immersed into what it must have felt like to be there, and get the raw emotions the soldiers were experiencing.
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Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor
By
James M. Scott
Why this book?
I've always had an interest in aircraft, and particularly WWII era craft, probably because my dad was a reconnaissance photographer in the Army Air Corp in the Pacific theater of WWII, where a guy in his role averaged only 7 missions before being killed. (He flew 27.) Knowing more about this whole experience and dynamic gave me a lot better insight into why my dad was such a tough SOB with us.
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On Desperate Ground: The Epic Story of Chosin Reservoir--The Greatest Battle of the Korean War
By
Hampton Sides
Why this book?
Another terrific job of research and forensic investigation by Hampton Sides brings to life the worst defeat suffered by the Allies during the Korean War. I was drawn to this on two fronts: First because of the way Hampton can bring together all of the threads that constitute a "moment in time" type of story. And secondly, because once again, my fiance's father was a key figure in the story. (He passed September 10, 2020, at the age of 96). He shared many of his first-hand remembrances of this and the "Great Raid" (the subject of Ghost Soldiers) that he'd participated in. Truly our greatest generation!)
