In those days I thought I knew so much...

These are pictures of a place called Colonial Williamsburg. The last time I was there was with a group called The Youth Action Singers. This seems like another lifetime ago. It was 1977. The trip was a ministry tour up the eastern seaboard to NYC and specifically to Brooklyn and Queens. 

In those days I thought I knew so much... looking back I realize just how much I didn't know. I guess age and time is a great teacher. I was telling a friend just today to be careful asking God for wisdom because it comes to you through the school of hard knocks. It's great to have and we all have a little by the time we have white hair... lol. But, I truly believe that an abundance of wisdom comes from a life of unpleasant experiences. The thing about life is that its experiences are not always positive... the negative must come with the good. Wouldn't it be grand to only get the positive? but then, how would we know the difference if all we get is positive experiences... doesn't the negative experiences mold us faster than the positive ones? I know that when things are wonderful it is then that I'm satisfied with myself and I don't grow or become more than I am. It's when things are uncomfortable that I press myself to change. Maybe you're the same way too.   

The animated snake...

The snake in the book trailer, just as on the cover, is a construction...an animation. Of course I couldn't train a snake to climb across the cut outs of the lady figures and climb up the knife in the perfect pose to match the cover.  Snakes don't take orders very well... and remember that "under it's skin a snake is still a snake." - quote from "Premeditated Pandemonium."  

Follow this link to see the 80's style trailer for "Premediated Pandemonium."

Follow this link to see the 80's style trailer for "Premediated Pandemonium."

Everyone, check it out at noon today!

This is an all call for friends and fans. Today at noon when the book trailer for "Premeditated Pandemonium" is released lets go online to YouTube and get as many hits for my new book trailer as we can. Search for "Premeditated Pandemonium Trailer" and watch.

Watch for the premiere of my new book trailer...

A new book trailer for Premeditated Pandemonium will premiere on YouTube Thursday at noon. Watch for it. I must admit I am thrilled to see the book trailer go live. The animation is unique and yet reminiscent in a traditional way of the action adventure hero genre. Yes, I am so very excited! I can hardly wait for it to go live. Look for it Thursday Feb. 28th at 12:00 noon.

The video is tagged as: Book Trailer, Premeditated Pandemonium, Crime Drama Novel, Mystery and Suspense Novel, Detective Evan Chavez, D.A. Janie Fulbright, General Matthew Goldstein, President Edgar J. Tarkington.  

Harlan Ellison on the topic of writing...

People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter and you work, and that’s all there is to it.

- Harlan Ellison -

“Remember: Plot is no more than foot prints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations.

“Remember: Plot is no more than foot prints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to  incredible destinations. Plot is observed after the fact rather than before. It cannot precede action. It is the chart that remains when an action
is through. That is all Plot ever should be. It is human desire let
run, running, and reaching a goal. It cannot be mechanical. It can

only be dynamic. So, stand aside, forget targets, let the characters, your fingers, body, blood, and heart do.” 

- Ray Bradbury

Steven King on the topic of Short Stories

“A short story is a different thing altogether – a short story is like a quick kiss in the dark from a stranger.” 

 - STEVEN KING

Quote by E. L. Doctorow

Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

- E. L. Doctorow - Billy Bathgate, Daniel, Ragtime

Quote by Louis L'Amour

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”
―Louis L'Amour– Riders of the Purple Sage

Clive Cussler, one of my literary heroes

This is a photo of Clive Cussler, one of my literary heroes. I love his adventure books and highly recommend them. The NUMA Corp. and his adventure hero Kurt Austin will never let you down in the area of thrills.

40 years of LOVE

This might seem like it's just a tourist pic but it's not... not to me.

This might seem like it's just a tourist pic or another view of New York city. In fact I suppose it is a tourist pic as I took it with my instamatic camera. What makes this pic special is that I took it from the observation level of the World Trade Center Towers, floor 100 was called The One World Observatory I believe. You can see the shadow of the twin towers in the photo. That was a special trip... I think it was 1977 and the Youth Action Singers were on tour up the eastern sea coast which ended in various events hosted by churches in Queens and Brooklyn. I took a couple weeks off from University which resulted in my dropping a couple of classes and lowered my grade in others... but it was a fabulous trip. The return tour to Texas went through Saint Louis and down the Mississippi River. (Those were the days when I thought I could actually sing... LOL. I suppose I was decent enough for group choral,) It's ancient history now... Good times and great memories though. 

I'm locked into the planning stages of a new novel.

I'm locked into the planning stages of a new novel. It feels like I'm building the gears of an intricate machine of thrilling mystery. This is another Evan Chavez adventure. Of course the beautiful Assistant District Attorney of Tarrant County will be at the heart of the plot as she falls head first down the rabbit hole of suspense. It's up to Evan and his motley crew of detectives to unravel the tangled web before it explodes into mass murder. Coming soon... "Premeditated Mayhem." Expect it about June 1st. Until then catch up on the adventure hero Evan Chavez in my novel "Premeditated Pandemonium." It's on sale online at Amazon.com and locally in Lubbock at Josey Books and Records.

Follow the glittering stars.

Follow the glittering stars to books by Dan-Dwayne.

Available at Amazon .com and in Lubbock at Josey Books and Records.

The Three Musketeers of P.F. Brown Elementary.

Well here we are, the three musketeers of P.F. Brown Elementary. It's me (for sure), Karla (Parks) McNeal, and Lee Moffit and we look like we're planning some new neighborhood adventure. This must have been taken about 1963 (or so) and to me it seems a world away. Those were the days of inventive adventures for sure. We didn't have PlayStations or the internet and phones were all attached to cords in the wall. We entertained ourselves with activities. A little tape, one of my dad's empty razorblade holders, and an antennae from a broken radio and I had an instant micro-listening device (non-functional of course.) Add an extra loop of tape to the back and it was a spy-bug worthy of any '00' agent. A backyard swing-set could become a fortress with the addition of a bit if cardboard and some colorful crayons. Those were glorious times. Sadly the three musketeers have grown apart and we rarely see each other. Like all long ago childhood friendships the sands of time seem to bury it and life's rat-race takes over. Truly, it's our own fault... maybe there will be a day when the three musketeers of P.F. Brown will ride again... or maybe not.    

Little friends who came to hear me read.

Little friends who came to hear me read a selection from my book for children "The Land of Neither Here nor There." Look for my next book event coming soon.

Book signing at Josey Books and Records to promote my book for children.

Saturday's book signing was fantastic. The people at Josey Books and Records are amazing and made every effort to help me sell my books. I had good sales and more importantly I met some new friends. Lots of people who came by and talked with me about my books... other books... and even writing in general. Even some old friends came by and visited with me. (A shout out to the Chastine family, especially Aubry, who I haven't seen in eight years.) It was a really good time. I also had some little friends stop by and listen to a story from my new book "The Land of Neither Here nor There."

Today is a special promotion time for "The Land of Neither Here nor There."

Today I'll be promoting my book for children, "The Land of Neither Here nor There," at Josey Books and Records in Lubbock, Tx. I'll be doing a storybook reading (from my book) for the kids at 10"00am and at 2:00pm. Come out and visit with me today. The address is 5217 82nd Street and I'm looking forward to meeting all my internet friends while I'm there.

Next Saturday I'll promote my book for children

Come by and see me.

See you at Josey Books and Records this Saturday. I'll be there to sign books and general meet and greet. Come by and see me.