about me

I'm a 60 year old free lance writer, married, living quietly in Vermont.

This will most likely be my only novel.
"When Pride was Not an Option!"

First, "Please' don't cold call message me just to ask me to read, rate, critique, or swap reads. If you have read at least part of mine, or just wonder about me from reading this, that's one thing. Anyone is welcome to contact me, with questions, or just to chat. It will of course make me curious about who you are and I will check out your page.

Otherwise I am not here to push your book up two points or help you stay on the editors list.

There are those I've met that believe the quality of what they wrote will promote itself, and I'm glad to have met them, and look forward to meeting more like them. I do like making friends and having real conversations.

In return for respecting my wishes I will not post "When Pride was Not an Option!" all over any messages to you and will not plug it in your comment section. I am more interested in making a good book, than a good impression.

If you do not, watch out. I can plug my manuscript at 600 rounds a minute! (the same speed as an M-60 machine gun)

What I have written is what it is. If something great happens because it was on here, Way cool!

If it doesn't, that's okay. It will still snow in Vermont.
Many people all over the country have read it even before it was on here and said It affected them in special ways and made them feel a need to share personal things about their own lives with me. which I loved hearing. They told me how they laughed and cried. So, I've already accomplished what I set out to do. The rest is just gravy.


Secondly, please try to overlook the many punctuation mistakes. I'm comma and excalmation mark compulsive and I catch myself jumping tenses from past to present.

If you catch one, please remember, at the time I was writing those words, I was right there, and it was right then, and find it in your heart.

I'm working hard to tighten it up and am at Chapter 18 now, probably working as you read this

There will be a new ending, or eplogue if you will. and maybe another chapter as new memories come flooding over the levee.

Each time I go through it new memories surface. I take the time to deal with them, then go on. It is affecting me but I think helping me too, so I will keep doing it until someone takes it out of my hands and publishes it, or I run out of ink. Thank you for understanding.

I took the time to explain because unless it is read completely, questions will be missed, and the answers wont make sense. They all interconnect, like a mystery
It's a long book like "Gone with the Wind" long and covers three generations. It will end, for the reader anyway, when I finally say "That's it!". You will need to settle in for this, but those that made it, said it was worth it.

One manuscript, two stories.

The first half of my book is about my young innocent life, enlisting in the Army, then volunteering to go to Vietnam, because "I thought it would be neat." I share my thoughts when I find out otherwise.

People younger than fifty have no real understanding what the Vietnam Veteran found when he (and she) returned. All they know is that troops are supposed to be welcomed home and treated with respect. There was a time that it wasn't that way! The second half is all about the way it was, and how I came to be what I am today,
Still Shaky Dave

This year is the 50th anniversary of the beginning of that war!

There is no swearing. There is a little bit of mildly explicit material. and a couple sexual references. I tried not to be graphic because our younger generation needs to understand what happened so that kind of treatment will not happen again. And they need to have the option of reading a book about it without being exposed to stark realities and vile language. Some grownups have also appreciated the difference and told me so.

I did swear then, quite a bit! I don't now. You will know where they belong and If you need them to add to the story, use any one that fits.

I put innermost thoughts down on these pages and if you have the time to read it from beginning to end, you will come away with a new understanding, or your money back, including shipping and handling.

I welcome any E-Mails from other people interested in the subject, and would be glad to talk about it. Feel free to write me at
stillshakydave@aol.com
I wish you only peace in your heart!

David
I recently did a radio interview on the subject. The link is below if your interested.

http://www.sourgrapeproductions.com

favourite books

The original King James Bible inspired by the Lord (Which by the way is exactly 400 years old this year. Could it have anything to do with the weather???)
Mice and Men
April Morning by Howard Fast
& The T.V. Guide (snicker)

my websites