| Beating the Drum from 4RV * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * |
| November 2007 Newsletter |
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If you want to receive issues of this
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Copyright 4RV Publishing LLC. All rights reserved.
Please forgive us for no October issue.
In this issue:
Case of the Missing Coach
Red Dirt Book Festival see
www.4rvpublishing llc.com/4RV_Events.html
Interview with Doc Gator
Upcoming events
Contest
Coming in December:
Interview with Holly Jahangiri
Review: Case of the Missing Coach
In this issue:
Case of the Missing Coach
Red Dirt Book Festival see
www.4rvpublishing llc.com/4RV_Events.html
Interview with Doc Gator
Upcoming events
Contest
Coming in December:
Interview with Holly Jahangiri
Review: Case of the Missing Coach
Case of the Missing
Coach comes with two covers;
however, once the first cover sells out,
the new cover, as shown here, will
take its place.
In the book, an unknown someone is
determined to shatter the Jonesville
Chargers' dream. The Base Stealers
Club takes on a kidnapper as well as
trying, with the rest of the team, to win
a national championship.
Reviews for Case of the Missing
Coach have been positive, and one of
the reviews, by Susan Thompson of
Novelspot will be in the December
Beating the Drum.
Coach comes with two covers;
however, once the first cover sells out,
the new cover, as shown here, will
take its place.
In the book, an unknown someone is
determined to shatter the Jonesville
Chargers' dream. The Base Stealers
Club takes on a kidnapper as well as
trying, with the rest of the team, to win
a national championship.
Reviews for Case of the Missing
Coach have been positive, and one of
the reviews, by Susan Thompson of
Novelspot will be in the December
Beating the Drum.
Doc Gator, Up Close and Personal
Doc Gator, aka E. Norbert Smith PhD, and I spent two days together at the Red Dirt Book Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He drew
people to him with his alligator skulls and photos. We visited a bit during slow times and finished the interview by email.
Under Norbert Smith, the scientist has one book published by another company, Passive Fear, an interesting non-fiction book about
his experiences studying alligators in South Texas.
When asked for a brief history of his life and how this history affected his writing, Doc Gator chuckled and retorted, "I am old."
"Now, Norbert, you're not that much older than I, so what does that make me? Wait, never mind. Don't answer that." I have to laugh
because the man is a comedian at heart.
"You probably don't want all of this, but I was born in Oregon, July 6, 1941. After my parents divorced, my mother moved us to the
family farm south of Weatherford, Oklahoma, where I live now. I have always loved wild animals especially reptiles," he added.
I checked my notes. "Then living on the farm where you had access to some wild reptiles led to your studying them later?"
"I remember chasing mountain boomers (lizards) into their holes and peering in ... wondering what they were thinking. Many years
later I studied some of the descendants of these same lizards and used heart rate telemetry to discover their heart rates slow when they
retreat to the safety of their burrows. Zoologists are not made, but are born. I was a zoologist from early childhood." Doc Gator sipped
his Diet Pepsi before he continued.
"My education only helped me ask better questions. I remember attempting to write my first book in third grade, about how God
made all animals for a purpose. Little has changed over the decades."
Norbert Smith provided so much material about his life, education, and studies that I had a hard time deciding what to use and what
not to use in the interview. Although he went through a dark time in his childhood and turned inward, that inward path, as he says, "...
developed an even deeper love for science. While still in high school, I became interested electronics and secured an amateur (ham)
radio license." His novice call sign, KN5PHD, was prophetic of things to come. He has a PhD that he can legally tack on his name.
"Next question, you told me you had an early love for electronics, which you used in the Air Force and for three years after you were
discharged. Then you decided to attend college and give up your promising electronics career to study biology. However, didn't the two
interests join to take you in a new direction?" I wrote his answer as he gave it.
"The second week in college I met Dr. Hobart Landreth. He had a major NSF research grant to study orientation in rattlesnakes and
needed a telemetry system to track them. In 1970, the only transmitter available transmitted only ten yards and lasted eight hours on
batteries." Doc Gator gave a slight shrug. "Within two months, I designed a complete telemetry system for tracking rattlesnakes. My
transmitter was smaller and lasted eight months on batteries. Plus we could track rattlesnakes for distances over two miles." He gave
his 1,000 watt grin. "I was smitten and knew I would use electronics in my biology studies for the rest of my research career, and I did."
"You are a bright man, Norbert." I glanced at my question list again. "So what do you do in your leisure time?"
"Since I'm retired, I have lots of leisure time and spend most of it reading or working on my computer. I lead an online small group for
New Life Church in Colorado, which (the group) has over 100 members worldwide. I try to write some each day and have nine books
provisionally accepted for publication."
"What keeps you writing?"
"Okay, this is a difficult question. I think my writing grew out of my love of animals and perhaps from my decades of teaching and
wanting to share and educate others. We certainly do not write for the money. I'm actually in the hole over $9,000 with my books and
doubt I will ever earn it back ... still I enjoy writing. Perhaps I should seek counseling."
I nodded. "Perhaps any writer needs counseling." I glanced at my watch. "I'll ask a couple more questions and then let you go. I
appreciate your patience. I know you have some books in the works, and the latest project is to get Road Rambling, about your decade
of over-the-road trucking. But, do you have a particular writing process or technique that you use?"
"No doubt this will not seem enlightened, but I try to work on at least two books at a time - I'm easily bored. Also I really to set aside
some time each day to write. I have found if I fail to do this, days become weeks, and soon months pass by without my writing. No, it's
not easy, but seems to work for me."
"The important thing is it works. How do you feel when you complete a book?"
Doc Gator grinned. "This is easy. I am always relieved - like finishing an unpleasant, but necessary task - and ready to move on to
the next project. The actual completion means little, because, as you know, the actual publication often takes a very long time. I do get
a sense of accomplishment when the finished product is in my hands, and I can give copies away to friends. I like sharing the best."
"All right, I had other questions, but I'll stop with this one. What advice would you have for a new author?"
"Consider any other thing. Writing is mostly endless frustration and rejection. One can accomplish both of these in other ways.
Writing books should be avoided. Writing magazine articles is much more rewarding, and I have written lots of them. Technical writing
is difficult, but the most rewarding. I like the fact that people all over the world still cite my scientific papers."
"Thank you, Norbert, for your time and thoughts." I put my lists and notes to one side.
"This certainly took lots of hours to complete - I do hope it was useful." Norbert gathered his things to leave.
"Yes, everything was useful, and I'm sure readers will enjoy getting to met the real Doc Gator up close and personal. Thanks again."
Current book from 4RV: Al-the-Gator and Freddy Frog
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Doc Gator, aka E. Norbert Smith PhD, and I spent two days together at the Red Dirt Book Festival in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He drew
people to him with his alligator skulls and photos. We visited a bit during slow times and finished the interview by email.
Under Norbert Smith, the scientist has one book published by another company, Passive Fear, an interesting non-fiction book about
his experiences studying alligators in South Texas.
When asked for a brief history of his life and how this history affected his writing, Doc Gator chuckled and retorted, "I am old."
"Now, Norbert, you're not that much older than I, so what does that make me? Wait, never mind. Don't answer that." I have to laugh
because the man is a comedian at heart.
"You probably don't want all of this, but I was born in Oregon, July 6, 1941. After my parents divorced, my mother moved us to the
family farm south of Weatherford, Oklahoma, where I live now. I have always loved wild animals especially reptiles," he added.
I checked my notes. "Then living on the farm where you had access to some wild reptiles led to your studying them later?"
"I remember chasing mountain boomers (lizards) into their holes and peering in ... wondering what they were thinking. Many years
later I studied some of the descendants of these same lizards and used heart rate telemetry to discover their heart rates slow when they
retreat to the safety of their burrows. Zoologists are not made, but are born. I was a zoologist from early childhood." Doc Gator sipped
his Diet Pepsi before he continued.
"My education only helped me ask better questions. I remember attempting to write my first book in third grade, about how God
made all animals for a purpose. Little has changed over the decades."
Norbert Smith provided so much material about his life, education, and studies that I had a hard time deciding what to use and what
not to use in the interview. Although he went through a dark time in his childhood and turned inward, that inward path, as he says, "...
developed an even deeper love for science. While still in high school, I became interested electronics and secured an amateur (ham)
radio license." His novice call sign, KN5PHD, was prophetic of things to come. He has a PhD that he can legally tack on his name.
"Next question, you told me you had an early love for electronics, which you used in the Air Force and for three years after you were
discharged. Then you decided to attend college and give up your promising electronics career to study biology. However, didn't the two
interests join to take you in a new direction?" I wrote his answer as he gave it.
"The second week in college I met Dr. Hobart Landreth. He had a major NSF research grant to study orientation in rattlesnakes and
needed a telemetry system to track them. In 1970, the only transmitter available transmitted only ten yards and lasted eight hours on
batteries." Doc Gator gave a slight shrug. "Within two months, I designed a complete telemetry system for tracking rattlesnakes. My
transmitter was smaller and lasted eight months on batteries. Plus we could track rattlesnakes for distances over two miles." He gave
his 1,000 watt grin. "I was smitten and knew I would use electronics in my biology studies for the rest of my research career, and I did."
"You are a bright man, Norbert." I glanced at my question list again. "So what do you do in your leisure time?"
"Since I'm retired, I have lots of leisure time and spend most of it reading or working on my computer. I lead an online small group for
New Life Church in Colorado, which (the group) has over 100 members worldwide. I try to write some each day and have nine books
provisionally accepted for publication."
"What keeps you writing?"
"Okay, this is a difficult question. I think my writing grew out of my love of animals and perhaps from my decades of teaching and
wanting to share and educate others. We certainly do not write for the money. I'm actually in the hole over $9,000 with my books and
doubt I will ever earn it back ... still I enjoy writing. Perhaps I should seek counseling."
I nodded. "Perhaps any writer needs counseling." I glanced at my watch. "I'll ask a couple more questions and then let you go. I
appreciate your patience. I know you have some books in the works, and the latest project is to get Road Rambling, about your decade
of over-the-road trucking. But, do you have a particular writing process or technique that you use?"
"No doubt this will not seem enlightened, but I try to work on at least two books at a time - I'm easily bored. Also I really to set aside
some time each day to write. I have found if I fail to do this, days become weeks, and soon months pass by without my writing. No, it's
not easy, but seems to work for me."
"The important thing is it works. How do you feel when you complete a book?"
Doc Gator grinned. "This is easy. I am always relieved - like finishing an unpleasant, but necessary task - and ready to move on to
the next project. The actual completion means little, because, as you know, the actual publication often takes a very long time. I do get
a sense of accomplishment when the finished product is in my hands, and I can give copies away to friends. I like sharing the best."
"All right, I had other questions, but I'll stop with this one. What advice would you have for a new author?"
"Consider any other thing. Writing is mostly endless frustration and rejection. One can accomplish both of these in other ways.
Writing books should be avoided. Writing magazine articles is much more rewarding, and I have written lots of them. Technical writing
is difficult, but the most rewarding. I like the fact that people all over the world still cite my scientific papers."
"Thank you, Norbert, for your time and thoughts." I put my lists and notes to one side.
"This certainly took lots of hours to complete - I do hope it was useful." Norbert gathered his things to leave.
"Yes, everything was useful, and I'm sure readers will enjoy getting to met the real Doc Gator up close and personal. Thanks again."
Current book from 4RV: Al-the-Gator and Freddy Frog
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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Upcoming Events:
4RV authors will be participating at the Durant,
Oklahoma Centennial Clock dedication and
festivities: Doc Gator, V. Gilbert Zabel, and
Jaquelyn L. Graham. December 1, 2007 - 11 AM
4RV authors will be participating at the Durant,
Oklahoma Centennial Clock dedication and
festivities: Doc Gator, V. Gilbert Zabel, and
Jaquelyn L. Graham. December 1, 2007 - 11 AM
Contest
Deadline: February 1, 2008 -
please mail in time to meet
deadline
Rules:
*Children's book, juvenile, or
middle-grade book
(geared for readers aged 8 - 12)
Complete rules found here
Deadline: February 1, 2008 -
please mail in time to meet
deadline
Rules:
*Children's book, juvenile, or
middle-grade book
(geared for readers aged 8 - 12)
Complete rules found here