ken barber

Happy New Year, fellow fans of Thomas and his buddies! May 2017 be your best year yet.

Allen,
Can we hunt Andrew down and tie him to his computer, laptop, typewriter, hell make him use a pad and pencil, whatever it takes...Lol Just teasing cant wait for chapter 12.

An inside source tells me soon. 

An inside source tells me soon. 

Interestingly enough not at all what I expected. I guess I expected more of a march cadence which has that one constant bass beat. This is more of a War Anthem or theme song than a cadence. However, I don't remember a time that Author used it as a cadence other than when approaching towns or battlefields, as a Nation or Unit Anthem should be used.
I do say that when listening to it I could almost hear the beats echoing off the valley walls and the french in their camps scrambling to figure out where the notorious El Toro was going to attack from.
I love it. Great Choice, even if it didnt fit with my imagination. your choice now enhances my enjoyment of the Story. 
One question. HOW LONG ARE WE REQUIRED TO WAIT FOR BOOK 2?

Interestingly enough not at all what I expected. I guess I expected more of a march cadence which has that one constant bass beat. This is more of a War Anthem or theme song than a cadence. However, I don't remember a time that Author used it as a cadence other than when approaching towns or battlefields, as a Nation or Unit Anthem should be used.
I do say that when listening to it I could almost hear the beats echoing off the valley walls and the french in their camps scrambling to figure out where the notorious El Toro was going to attack from.
I love it. Great Choice, even if it didnt fit with my imagination. your choice now enhances my enjoyment of the Story. 
One question. HOW LONG ARE WE REQUIRED TO WAIT FOR BOOK 2?

Clear your schedule Marc C. Stock up on snacks. 

Clear your schedule Marc C. Stock up on snacks. 

WTF. I want more more more. I am absolutely in love with this story. It is the best damn story I have read in a long time and should be published professionally. The historical accuracy and gripping energetic pace made me picture being on the plains of Portugal and Spain right there beside His majesty's 1st Drum Corp and Auxiliary. Damn find writing Arthur. Now anxiously awaiting book 2. 

Clear your schedule Marc C. Stock up on snacks. 

WTF. I want more more more. I am absolutely in love with this story. It is the best damn story I have read in a long time and should be published professionally. The historical accuracy and gripping energetic pace made me picture being on the plains of Portugal and Spain right there beside His majesty's 1st Drum Corp and Auxiliary. Damn find writing Arthur. Now anxiously awaiting book 2. 

Clear your schedule Marc C. Stock up on snacks. 

WTF. I want more more more. I am absolutely in love with this story. It is the best damn story I have read in a long time and should be published professionally. The historical accuracy and gripping energetic pace made me picture being on the plains of Portugal and Spain right there beside His majesty's 1st Drum Corp and Auxiliary. Damn find writing Arthur. Now anxiously awaiting book 2. 

WTF. I want more more more. I am absolutely in love with this story. It is the best damn story I have read in a long time and should be published professionally. The historical accuracy and gripping energetic pace made me picture being on the plains of Portugal and Spain right there beside His majesty's 1st Drum Corp and Auxiliary. Damn find writing Arthur. Now anxiously awaiting book 2. 

Ok so first I started reading some of the comments here and quickly stopped, Too many spoilers,
I have just started chapter 4 of this story and i have to tell you I am enthralled.
When I first started reading this I equated it to two different series Alexanders Kent's "Midshipman Bolitho" and Bernard Cornwall's "Sharpe" series. Imagine my surprise when Sharpe makes a cameo appearance in this story. Both series are the foundation of what started me writing, This one so far is just as good if not better than those to published stories.  The pacing of this story is spot on, its one of those "one more chapter" stories. You just can't seem to set it down.
 
Arthur, sir you are to be congratulated this is probably the best story I have read in a very long time.
Thank you

Jack,
Wow that is what I call feed back.
 
Cyclone was my first "published" story and I did make a lot of rookie mistakes. I focused more on pacing than the character development, This is something I am trying to correct in book two which is why the chapters are very slow in coming out. Also I was never happy with the speed of Dale and Travis relationship but I wanted "To get it out of the way". 
 
Everyone loves Carl and Rick, I tried to make them as lovable as possible because every story needs a comic and an under dog. Carl handles almost everything thrown him with a smile and a laugh. Rick see's himself as just the lowly cook in a group of very high powered people so he immerses himself in his task and trust me even if dale messed up something in his kitchen there would be hell to pay.
 
Travis is an enigma every time I try to tone him down he comes out even more perfect. Carl's nickname for him "Captain Gorgeous" was originally Captain Perfect but when I wrote it it was too condescending.
I am hoping to explore Travis's family a little more in book two and hopefully that will create a little more of a human element to him. The problem is  I created him as Dale's rock, but I think I made the rock to strong and now I cant find any cracks. 
 
In book two I intend to reduce the core group and then work on them in detail. Book two will focus on Dale, Travis, Carl, Rick and Shane. Oh and of course the ever faithful bodyguard Max.The rest will slowly become supporting characters.
 
Cyclone is the only completed story I have posted. Dawn's early light is an on going part of the Revolutions story.
 
Thank you very very much for the feed back the constructive criticism is always welcome as I only want to learn to be a better writer.
 
Ken B

The perfect baked omelette. 
1/4 lb of smoked turkey chopped small
1/4 Swiss cheese shredded
1 bunch fresh scallions
6 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
garlic (I use fresh and crush to cloves)
salt 
pepper
blanch chopped scallions in 2 tbs of water in the micro for 1 min. Drain off excess water add chopped turkey, cheese garlic salt and pepper set aside 
in a separate bowl beat eggs with cream  add meat, cheese and seasoning mixture stir well
pour into lightly oiled 8 inch round pie pan
bake at 375 for 30-40 or until center is set  (use a toothpick If it comes out clean it's done)
you can substitute the meats and cheeses with any you like also fresh spinach in place of the scallions is a good sub
i will post a pick as soon as it comes out of the oven  
 

Cloud Nine Coffee
1/2 ounce Baileys Irish Cream

1/2 ounce Frangelico
1/2 ounce Amereto
1/2 ounce Khalua
6 ounce fresh hot coffee
whipped cream
cinnamon or nutmeg
add Baileys, Frangelico, Amereto, Khalua to coffee top with whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon or nutmeg
It goes down super smooth so remember its two full shots of booze in each mug. Great for an after dinner coffee or a cold snowy afternoon.
Would make a great compliment to D'Artagnon's Banana Bread or Brownies.

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Parker,
Zach and Jeikor are right the limitations are placed to make it a challenge to get us to try to do something we normally would not. Whether it be the word count or the theme. When we started these contest in 2014 (the Halloween contest was the first of my memory serves me) the idea was to not so much make it a contest, even though that is an element but a way for the writers to try different things. We also open it up to everyone In an attempt encourage people to try writing. As Jeikor testifies that part works well too. 
We have tested different lengths and found the range we have established in this contest works the best. It's a bit more than some authors are used to writing (me included) and a bit short for some. 
I hope that explains it and I hope you give it a try. 
 

Back by popular demand our most exciting anticipated short story contest of the year. Ready for some thrills, screams, laughter and just good old fashion Halloween pranks. I am already working on my story. Who else is in for this one. 

I truly can't believe how fantastic this story is. I can't stop reading it. 

I truly can't believe how fantastic this story is. I can't stop reading it. 

Arthur,
Thank you for another moving chapter in the Drummer Boy Saga ! We all appreciate your fine writing skills here,
.  Cheers,
.       John C

Ok so first I started reading some of the comments here and quickly stopped, Too many spoilers,
I have just started chapter 4 of this story and i have to tell you I am enthralled.
When I first started reading this I equated it to two different series Alexanders Kent's "Midshipman Bolitho" and Bernard Cornwall's "Sharpe" series. Imagine my surprise when Sharpe makes a cameo appearance in this story. Both series are the foundation of what started me writing, This one so far is just as good if not better than those to published stories.  The pacing of this story is spot on, its one of those "one more chapter" stories. You just can't seem to set it down.
 
Arthur, sir you are to be congratulated this is probably the best story I have read in a very long time.
Thank you