Tag: Counter Terrorism

Award
Authors

Award Winning Author Gives Serpents Underfoot Five Stars!

Award winning Author, Lee Boyland, says Serpents Underfoot is a good first novel.

Yesterday, I noticed that Serpents Underfoot had received another review, so naturally I went to check it out and discovered I had gotten another 5 Star review. This time from an award-winning author, Lee Boyland,  Lee has several books out on Amazon.com. Check some of his titles out here!

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Lee Boyland’s Review

I posted Lee Boyland’s review here in its entirety. It really made me feel good to get this review and I am certainly working hard to improve my style in future works. Thank you, Lee, for your honest review. It is certainly appreciated.

Award

The story begins in 1966 in Vietnam and fills the first six chapters, then moves back to the US. A young US Army lieutenant is thrown from a helicopter inserting a patrol, injured, and then rescued by a Vietnamese girl who returns to the US as his bride. At this point the story transitions to their son, a US Navy SEAL. The author does a good job of describing the real Vietnam war on the ground, the inhuman crimes committed, not by the US but by the Vietcong and North Vietnam army. Hope some of the flower children now running the country read these chapters.

Other reviewers have discussed the plot and in a couple of instances the books grammar and style. Monday morning quarterbacks who should attempt to write a novel. I am sure the author’s style will improve with future works. For me, the story is the important thing. Is the plot feasible? Are the characters believable? Is the action realistic? In this novel they all are.

Smuggling ten small nuclear devices across our border is possible, however, the “suite case nukes” in the story would not be 2 KT. Considering their source, a yield of .3 to .5 KT would realistic. This said, a .4 KT nuclear detonation in a city would be catastrophic. Such small devices exist and in the US are referred to as SADMs, small atomic demolition munitions for use by Special Forces behind enemy lines.

Isn’t that an awesome review?

You can get your copy of Serpents Underfoot (Kindle) here, or paperback here. I would love to hear what you think of the book!

It is also available online from Barnes and Noble as well as Books-A-Million

5 star
Book Reviews

Another 5 Star Review for Serpents Underfoot!

Thank you, DeeDee, for the awesome 5 star review!

Serpents Underfoot just received another outstanding 5 Star review on Amazon.com. Thank you, DeeDee, for the wonderful review. It really means a great deal!


Outstanding! A Definite Must Read for Lovers of History, Action and All Military Folk … Past & Present

5 star

I loved this book — a lot! I got this book a couple of months ago but just started reading it last week. Result was I wished I had put it at the top of my book list when I got it. Literally once I started, I couldn’t put it down and I can’t remember the last time I not only could say that, but actually read a book well into the night. Reason was it was so interesting. I just had to see what would happen next. I found Mr Gilbert’s character development and overall story integration amazing. This book and what it was about just was so well done it gripped me. So I very strongly recommend this book!!  ~DeeDee

While chasing reviews should not become an end to itself, a good review certainly means a great deal to an author. It certainly does to me. I still remember just how much it meant to me when I got that first review from a stranger who enjoyed my book, and I realized that people (who, shall we say, were not biased in anyway) were actually enjoying what I had written.

There is also no question that the more good reviews a book has, the more other prospective readers will be inclined to purchase and read the book!

If you like a good counter-terrorism, military action/thriller with a touch of romance, I hope you will consider checking Serpents Underfoot out! I really don’t think you will be disappointed. When you’re finished reading it, please leave a review! I would really love to hear what you thought.

don't quit
Authors

A Writing Tip: Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Writing is not a get rich scheme!

So you want to write? That is great! Here is a great tip. Don’t quit your day job. Success can come, but it is a marathon, not a sprint!

Writing is certainly very cool!

don't quit

I love to write! And, the fact that I have a published novel, a counter-terrorism action/thriller, selling on Amazon.com amazes me to this day.  It is pretty damn cool!  Serpents Underfoot has been on the market for a little over a year now. It has gotten a lot of great reviews. I believe it currently sits at about 17 reviews. And they are mostly five star.

There have been a few 3 and 4 star reviews as well. And, one 1 star review. (This reader objected strongly to the fact that there were a couple of adult scenes in the book. But hey, sex is a part of life as well. However, most people I have talked to thought these scenes were tastefully done.)

Success takes time and hard work.

So far, I have managed to sell about 100 books through Amazon.com. This does not count books I have sold myself at book signings, or have given away for promotions. I work hard at marketing. I am working with a marketing consultant, spending time using Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, blog posts, and other media formats trying to promote my book. The point here is that it is a lot of hard work. It takes patience and dedication. I put in some long nights, because in addition to all this, I also have a day job. Why am I doing this? Because, I am going to succeed!

Don’t quit your day job.

So, to repeat, I have sold 100 books through Amazon.com over the last year. Given that the average number of sales for a self-published book is 20 copies, I think I am doing pretty well.  The point to all this is that, if you are looking for a get rich quick scheme, this is not it. The chances of writing that instantly successful novel that sells millions of copies in the first six months is about a good as hitting the powerball in a state lottery without first buying a lottery ticket.

The people who self-publish full time will tell you that they spent years getting to where they are today. So, it’s better that you don’t quit your day job! Just keep plugging! Write, learn from your mistakes, and don’t quit!

Bad Ass Burger
Authors

Bad Ass Burger at Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar

 Definitely One Bad Ass Burger

bad ass burgerImagine if you will, a massive 10 oz. Angus Beef beef patty cooked to order with American cheese, and buttermilk batter-dipped deep-fried bacon. Then add horseradish mayo, lettuce, tomato, and a pickle. Now that’s a bad ass burger! You don’t even need the fries … but they are excellent as well!  Wash this all down with a draft Red Oak Bavarian Amber Lager and you really can’t get much better than this. It is not a lunch (or supper) for the meek at heart. The number of calories in this burger is a bit scary, but then it’s not something you’d want to eat everyday anyway. You could fast the day before. Then go on a cleansing diet the day after. I am all for eating healthy and many bloggers blog on that very subject. But, hey … a good burger once in awhile can’t hurt!

I first discovered Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar here in Cary, North Carolina in a magazine I was reading while getting the oil changed in my Nissan Xterra. The article covered the Top 25 Burgers in the United States and there, coming in at #14 was the Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar in Cary. Right then and there, I knew I would have to check it out. I am certainly a big burger fanatic. My favorite burger has always been the “Big Nasty” at the Stock and Barrel in Knoxville, Tennessee.  I am not sure I could choose, between the two, which is better.

Another favorite of mine at Bad Daddy’s is the Pastrami Reuben Burger, but that is definitely a story for another time because it is also an amazing burger. Especially if you are a fan of Reubens!.

Speaking of Bad Ass!

You should check out my novel, Serpents Underfoot, available on Amazon.com for $3.99 (Kindle version). It is also available in hardcover and paperback.  It is a bad ass, action-packed story of good versus evil with plenty of heroes and villains, political intrigue, romance, and American pride. And, when you do read it, please take time to leave a review. I am truly interested in your thoughts. They will help me make the sequel even better!

Book Reviews

Book Review: American Assassin by Vince Flynn

American Assassin: An exciting read from start to finish!

Mitch Rapp is a trained assassin on a mission. His mission is to rid the world of terrorism one terrorist at a time. Since reading this book, I have learned that the Mitch Rapp series first appeared on bookshelves in 1999 with the release of Transfer of Power and that this book along with Kill Shot are prequels to the earlier books. I really enjoyed this book as an action-packed adventure tale. While certainly not a literary masterpiece, it moves well and keeps the reader interested. There are also some good examples of spy trade-craft as well.

Plenty of Excitement and Action

The story moves like a roller coaster ride, If you are an action junkie, this book will keep your interest. You will not want to put the book down but only to turn to the next page to see what happens next. Past administrations have gone soft on terrorism and their policies have allowed terrorists to really take hold, establish fund raising activities, and indiscriminately attack innocent victims around the world. The new CIA director has had enough, and realizes that they only way to beat terrorism is to eliminate the terrorists and the criminal activities that support them.

The CIA director creates a organization whose job is to recruit and train assassins to work off the grid. This gives the U.S. government “plausible deniability.” Mitch Rapp is one of these assassins. A young man, he was a successful college student and a nationally recognized athlete with a girlfriend who is the love of his life. When she is killed by terrorists who blew up Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, his life ended. He was a man lost. Then something changed. He found a new purpose in life. That was to kill the terrorists responsible for this evil attack.

My Recommendation

This book is not a “great work” in the classic sense. But, readers who enjoy counter-terrorism yarns will love it. I do plan to read the other books in this series as time allows.  For my recommendation, I give it 4 out of 5 stars, because I love stuff like this and I couldn’t put it down. It may not be suitable for young readers due to the violent content.

Oh! And, don’t waste your time on the movie. It did the book no justice at all!

Also, if you have read this book and did enjoy it, you should give Serpents Underfoot a shot. I bet you will enjoy it too!

Books By DC Gilbert

Skadoosh! Another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Review!

That’s right, I wrote Skadoosh! I am celebrating another Five Star Review for Serpents Underfoot!

What is skadoosh, you may ask? It’s a secret technique from the movie, Kung Fu Panda.  The “word” kind of stuck in my brain. I use it as an exclamation of thankful appreciation, kind of like ‘Bingo” or “Yippee.” My novel, Serpents Underfoot, has just scored another Five Star Review on Amazon.com!  So yes, I could have written “yippee,” but “skadoosh” just sounds so much cooler!

Thank you, Kathleen Palazzolo, for your great review and kind words. This makes a total of nine … not that I am keeping count or anything! Reviews like this really make it all worthwhile and I really appreciate the feedback.

I am hard at work on the sequel, Montagnard.  Of course, my goal is to make it even better than Serpents Underfoot.  I did learn a good deal writing the first novel, so this should turn out to be the case. Soon, I will be posting some teasers and sample chapters on my website.

It is Friday, so I hope everyone has a bodacious weekend ahead of them!

P.S. Please remember to occasionally check back here for updates … and, I do have an email subscription form! I promise not to spam anyone, but I will announce things like Advance Review Copies if anyone is interested in getting one … of course, that will be a bit off yet!

book signing great review
Books By DC Gilbert

Survived my first official Book Signing!

And … a great time was had at the book signing!

Book Signing

My first Official Book Signing!

Tuesday, February 27th, I arrived at McKay’s Used Books and CD’s in Knoxville, Tennessee to set up for my first “commercial” book signing for Serpents Underfoot. The book signing was scheduled from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. It was a bit intimidating.  I mean, what if nobody buys a book? How silly would I feel then? Anyway, I got set up and waited. My daughter-in-law Leah, a great photographer, came by to take s few pictures for me. That was very kind of her, and she also did a great job!

The First Hour

The first hour went pretty slow. A few people looked as they passed by, but nobody stopped. I started to wonder if my initial worries might come true. Leah and I chatted about odds and ends, but book sales-wise, it was looking pretty grim. We noticed a military service member come in. He did stop by, and we chatted a bit. He was a Captain in the U.S. Army. I had served in the Army from ’79 to ’83, so we discussed Army life for a bit. I ended up giving him a book and signing it for him to thank him for his service. I figured, at least I could give one book away!

The Second Two Hours

Book SigningHowever, I think giving the book away started something!  A few minutes later I had sold a few books. People were stopping by and asking questions about the book, me, how long I’d been writing, etc. It was fun at that point. Then Brad Walker stopped by and chatted a few minutes. Brad is an Isshin-ryu colleague of mine and also sells real estate in Knoxville with Keller Williams. As time went on, I sold more books. All-in-all it was a great experience and a lot of fun. I am looking forward to doing more. I guess I will start in the Cary area, then maybe Charlotte and Asheville!

If I Missed You at the Book signing

Serpents Underfoot is available at several online booksellers: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Books-A-Million. Anyone interested in acquiring a signed copy can always reach me through my website. I am willing to ship the book about anywhere. I have shipped one copy to the UK so far.

I am also working on the sequel, Montagnard, and will be posting excerpts in the not too distant future.

Onwards and upwards!

Book Signing

One More Thought!

If you have purchased a copy of my book, Serpents Underfoot, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your support!  If you read my book and you enjoyed it, please take the time to give it a review on whichever website you happened to purchase it from. Reviews are a big help to authors … especially good ones!

Books By DC Gilbert

Book Signing at McKay’s Books in Knoxville!

My Very First Book Signing …

Five Star Review book signingHello friends! I will be having my very first book signing on Tuesday, February 27th, from 12:00 to 3:00 pm at McKay’s Books in Knoxville, Tennessee. This is pretty exciting! It is a lot of work establishing yourself and getting your name out there. Every little bit certainly helps. If you are out and about during this time period, I hope you will stop by and say hello!  And, maybe … even buy a book.  I will have both paperbacks and hardcovers available.  I will also have a sample chapter from my upcoming sequel. Please let your friends, family, and even acquaintances know …

Currently Available At …

Serpents Underfoot is currently available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle versions on Amazon.com. It is now also available online from Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million.  I guess it takes a lot of work to actually get a book on the shelf in the brick and mortar stores, but I am working on it!  I am also working to get it out on Audible, iTunes, and other media outlets.

Montagnard

Now I am busy working on the sequel to Serpents Underfoot.  I don’t want to put any spoilers in here, but it will involve a return to Vietnam, more Navy SEAL action, and some interesting twists and turns. It will be an interesting story … a lot of history, excitement, and of course … new adventures for JD Cordell and his faithful K9 partner, Ajax!  The research has been interesting. Because of their support of the American forces fighting in Vietnam, the Montagnard people were nearly wiped out by the communist government after the War. I have found that there is quite a large group of Montagnard folks that were resettled in the United States after the war and are now living near Cary here in North Carolina.

 

More to follow!

 

Inlet, NY
Authors

The Raquette Lake Library Has Serpents Underfoot!

Raquette Lake Library has Serpents Underfoot …

Raquette Lake LibraryHave you been to the Raquette Lake Library? Growing up my summers were spent at Raquette Lake. First tenting at Golden Beach Campsite, then tenting on the lot my family bought near Burktown, and later at the camp we built on that lot. There was boating, fishing, waterskiing, hiking … and trips to Raquette Lake village, often by boat, to buy supplies, do laundry, and sometimes visit the library.

There were also trips to Inlet and Old Forge to shop or go to the movies, as well as the occasional trip to Lake George to enjoy parks like Story Town, Gas Light Village, and Fort William Henry. There was also Potters Family Restaurant! It was a wonderful time in my life.

That is why it makes me especially happy to have copies of my novel, Serpents Underfoot, in these two libraries. It is very cool! Serpents Underfoot is available at Amazon.com and at retail outlets such as Barnes and Noble or Book-A-Million. A pulse-pounding counter-terrorism thriller, Serpents Underfoot, has been receiving great reviews. I hope you will give it a read!

Book Reviews

Thanks, Martha, for the Five Star Review!

Reviews, Five Star ReviewAnother Five Star Review for Serpents Underfoot!

Thank you, Martha, for your thoughtful comments and great Five Star Review on Amazon.com. That makes 6 so far!

I continue to be surprised by the number of women who enjoy this book. I think Martha’s review shed some light on this for me.  While it is a counter-terrorism-type, military thriller … which in my mind, would appeal more to men, woven through the story are elements of love, family, morals, loyalty, politics, deceit, and justice. It is not just about war. It is also about many of the things that made this country great!

Core American Values

A strong sense of family, a belief in God ( or for some, a higher purpose), love of Country, sacrifice, and a strong sense of right and wrong. I guess these things would appeal to a broader base.  It is just pleasing to see so many different people enjoying the book.

So, My Shameless Plug

Five Star ReviewChristmas is just around the corner! I bet you have at least one reader on your gift list for which this book would make a great Christmas present!  Get them a  great book to curl up with and read on a snowy, winters day while sipping on a hot cup of tea, hot chocolate, a glass of wine, or even your favorite bourbon!

If you were to get them a copy of my book, Sophie and I would greatly appreciate it!

Work on the sequel progresses!