Releasing Soon

If you have followed my recent post, I’ve been discussing the release of the second edition of One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up. Each week I get closer to the release date, but the final steps include the process of formatting the manuscript for an e-book and paperback. For those like me that self-publish, we know that this is time-consuming and often a frustrating process.

In my last post, we discussed the importance of a book blurb. WRITING THE BOOK BLURB. I offered three examples of blurbs I wrote and asked for your opinion. I appreciate the advice of those that responded, and I agree with the majority. I’ve decided to use it with a minor modification.

This post, I’m using a pre-release marketing technique by revealing a section of the manuscript. Please click on the continue link and enjoy an area from the book. When done, leave me comments. Does it entice you to read more?

Book Blurb

“That Others May Live” is the creed of the PJ (para-jumper). This is an account of one man’s story of what it meant to be PJ. The book follows him through months of arduous training where only the best, and those with the desire to push themselves to the limit, become a PJ. It is this man’s narrative of his burning desire to prove his worthiness of wearing the renowned maroon beret.

One Month, 20 Days, and a Wake Up, recounts his deployment to Vietnam, where he’s forced to adapt to the horrors of war. His story, based on actual events, has several rescue missions he and his PJ brothers complete where not all the rescued return alive. Serving with the 37^th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service, he and his team, through an adverse and daring rescue, return a down pilot. For their bravery, they’re awarded the Air Force’s, Commendation Medal. Follow the narrative that brings purpose, validity, and honor to those with whom he proudly served.

The part of the book I’ve chosen to share finds our protagonist going through Survival School. He and two other classmates are out in the woods of Eastern Washington state involved in their training exercise.

Book Excerpt:

“…Our pass/fail training exercise simulated a rescue operation requiring us to transport an injured person by handmade litter to a predetermined site where a rescue helicopter met us. Dividing into groups of three, we rotated daily playing the patient. We brought one full canteen of water and the items in our backpack. We kept our patient and ourselves alive while navigating to the designated rescue site. The instructor told us to anticipate taking three days, but they gave us until sundown on the fifth day to reach our destination.

With a smirk on his face, the instructor said, “Failure to check-in at the rescue site by sunset of the fifth day—” He paused to ensure we listened. “we will eliminate you.” He laughed, slapped his thigh as he walked away, and continued chuckling as he left our assembled groups.

Shit, I find nothing funny about this. He’s an asshole.

The afternoon before our exercise began, our groups navigated to distinct locations. We spent the night; the test began at sunrise. They separated our groups by several miles and our position created uniqueness with our individual missions. Each team had to navigate a rushing stream and rocky elevations. It created difficulty carrying the litter when the foliage became thick. Although my group didn’t experience it, we could have encountered bears and wolves in these woods.

 

On the second day, I played the patient. We had spent several hours navigating through thick brush and up steep hills. The torrent creek we came upon had a steep embankment on both sides. The lead person decided one man stayed with the patient and the other scouted downstream looking for an easier egress. The enhanced crossing point, when found, required us to backtrack at least a mile through rough terrain.

Once we arrived at the determined area to traverse the stream, it exhausted both men carrying the litter. As they rested, I acted bored. “Oh—ah. I’m hurt’n. I want water.” When they ignored me, I got louder. “Oh—I want water. I’m hungry” When I didn’t shut up, they gave me some water. My annoyance and my dramatics went unappreciated. Even when they didn’t, I found it entertaining and continued my performance.

To get across the stream required traversing large and slick rocks. With the rocks so far apart, we laid down the litter and one man jumped over, then, on their bellies, the men stretched both directions to pull the litter with the patient over. When crossing the second, wide-spaced area, I continued my moaning extra loudly. Suddenly, I found myself submerged in the rushing water.

Damn—that’s cold. Those sons-of-bitches deliberately dumped me.

I gasped for air when I hit the frigid water. As the strength of the raging current carried me downstream, I bobbed out of the water watching my teammates laughing…”

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