I will admit, the war in Afghanistan seemed to be more a war of reaction.<\/p>\n
I’m reading a book about the Green Berets in Afghanistan called Gentlemen Bastards<\/em> by Kevin Maurer (he also wrote about the Navy SEALs). \u00a0This gives me a good overview of the Special Forces Army in Afghanistan. \u00a0Although the men went out on patrol, they weren’t always hit by snipers, IEDs, or RPG’s. \u00a0There was often constant fire on their bases or constant threat of fire. \u00a0However, it didn’t happen all the time. \u00a0It was always a surprise. \u00a0They were always on edge.<\/p>\n I can only hope that I do this book justice. \u00a0I know I’m not a war correspondent, that I’m going entirely by research, that this probably won’t pass a military sniff test. \u00a0But I’m trying to not end up like I did with WW2, and have three bookcases full of books on the Waffen-SS.<\/p>\n I’ve gotten back together with Al and hope that we can collaborate on more book covers. \u00a0I’m redoing Grim’s book cover to be simple purple silk with gold sigils embossed over it. \u00a0The second book is Grim looking up at an old Victorian mansion (Dottie’s house). \u00a0I haven’t finished the third book so I don’t know what I’m going to do.<\/p>\n I’ve also commissioned the first book of the War Mage series, the one that will take place in Afghanistan. \u00a0It will involve dragons, a female Marine dragon rider, and the first introduction of the Black Lions (Al-Asad Sud).<\/p>\n I’m also commissioning concept art for War Mage himself. \u00a0He will have the usual Army armor, but I want him to have specialized weaponry. \u00a0The walking stick (aka “pimp stick”) is one. \u00a0The formal “dress robes” will be necessary.<\/p>\n I still haven’t gotten around to a conflict. \u00a0Well, I did have a conflict when push came to shove with Sarah’s boyfriend Boz, which I have to rewrite. \u00a0And I suppose Sarah was a conflict. \u00a0I’ve set up how Brent will be captured (oops, spoiler), set up another possible conflict with a vampire. \u00a0I’m trying to figure out how to involve a shifter.<\/p>\n In my world, shifters and vampires could\u00a0work together. \u00a0In my world, vampires can come out during the day (though they prefer the evening because they don’t have to explain their complexions). \u00a0In Massachusetts, they have legal rights to exist, but it’s not federal. \u00a0In some parts of the country, they’re hunted down. \u00a0There are some asylum cities or states, such as California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, St. Louis\u00a0and New York City.<\/p>\n Vampires work in different places. \u00a0Dr. Bates is a slightly unusual case in that he can be in a room full of blood and doesn’t go nuts. \u00a0He’s an old, old vampire, so the mere smell of blood doesn’t make him crazy. \u00a0Younger vampires, however, are not allowed to work in hospitals or as EMT’s, police or firemen. \u00a0That means a lot of them are entrepreneurs, managers, bouncers, you name it.<\/p>\n Shifters are mostly werewolves, although there are some werebears, wearleopards, or other were-creatures. \u00a0None are of less mass than the person they are shifting from. \u00a0So there are usually no were-birds or smaller were-animals.<\/p>\n So I’m staring at the Story Cubes that I bought, trying to see if I can shoehorn how Brent finds out Tony is a shifter…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I will admit, the war in Afghanistan seemed to be more a war of reaction. I’m reading a book about the Green Berets in Afghanistan called Gentlemen Bastards by Kevin Maurer (he also wrote about the Navy SEALs). \u00a0This gives … Continue reading