In celebration of the 4th of July (which is a big deal to some folks in the United States) I'm throwing the tea into the harbor and declaring a huge discount on 2 great books in the Tomahawks and Dragon Fire series -- Books 3 and 4:

Clamorous Harbingers is only 99 cents for a few days beginning July 3,

and

Promise of Carnage and Flame is only 99 cents for a few days beginning July 3.

Book 1, Threading the Rude Eye is already a 99 cent bargain, so if you haven't dipped into the series yet, now may be the best time ever to do so.

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I'm chugging away at book 6--with about two-thirds of it complete. I had to go back this week to add something I had not included in two earlier chapters. I felt a little foolish, abashed even. Real authors don't forget stuff like that, do they? However, I read something from another author today who noted that an unexpected new character had introduced herself into his story. I remember that happening to me while writing Smoke when I realized that I was going to need another character halfway through the story. So, yeah, real authors do realize stuff that should've been obvious if we had thought it through better the first time.That's part of the writing experience. It's a journey of discovery--but without Steve Perry.

Speaking of journey. I recently had a decades late epiphany that the word comes from French "journee" derived from the Latin "diurnus." "Journee" meant what could be accomplished in a day, or a day's travel, and only the latter meaning has survived in English. If you think about it, you might come to consider that you can enjoy the journey by enjoying each day for what it holds, or enjoy the journey by accomplishing what you can for each day given. Really, you can consider it "Any Way You Want It" as long as you do it "Faithfully" and "Don't Stop Believing" -- otherwise, we might be forced go go our "Separate Ways."

Forgive my little digression, but I love etymology (which is not the science of eating everything) and my worse witticisms on the Journey matter.

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Back to the topic of the Independence Day. Let me share an excerpt of something I wrote on the blog on July 4, 2017, concerning a 5 minute parade of veterans we do in our small town every Fourth of July:

Adams' letter also mentions parades as a form of celebration. But why do we do this parade? Why a parade of a handful of veterans, whose number shrinks with each passing year? Maybe the answer varies for each of us. To borrow from the words of Patrick Henry, "I know not what course others may take, but as for me," I do it because I am minting memories. We take this hot summer day and put it beneath the steel press of patriotism, stamping upon it the indelible impression of our flag and national identity; we remember the blood and treasure spilled to obtain and to secure the liberty and inalienable rights upon which this nation was founded; we honor not only the founding fathers, but those still living among us who have served to secure the freedoms for which so many have given the last full measure of devotion. There is plenty of time for pleasurable pursuits, but short is the time to honor those who have offered more than mere lip service to liberty. This parade and the community participation is one way for me to honor, and to teach my children to honor and appreciate liberty, and those who protect it.

Full post is here.

And if you're a big fan of the Fourth of July and the Declaration of Independence -- you need to read Truth in Flames. You will not be disappointed.

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If you've stayed with me this long, here's your payoff: These are free and discounted books that just might make your head spin. Check them out. You deserve a new book for the long weekend.

Fantastic Free Fantasy

Sci-Fi and Fantasy with Action Galore

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Honor Roll with special thanks to these subscribers:

Lois for her stunning review and heroic defense of The Shrinking Zone.

JBudd for reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, In Death Bedrenched, Power to Hurt, The Shrinking Zone, Clamorous Harbingers, Promise of Carnage and Flame, and Truth in Flames

Colleen for leaving ratings for several of my books on Amazon

Rob for leaving a review of Threading the Rude Eye

Michael for leaving reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, and The Shrinking Zone

Mayra for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

Gloria for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

ShannonC for a review of In Death Bedrenched

Jan for reviews of Threading the Rude Eye, Power to Hurt, Clamorous Harbingers, Promise of Carnage and Flame, In Death Bedrenched, The Shrinking Zone, Truth in Flames, Justice in Season, and Justice Resurgent.

Bonnie for a review of In Death Bedrenched.

PAR for a review of Threading the Rude Eye

-There are many other reviews of my books, of course, but I don't know whether those reviewers are also subscribers to this newsletter.