Self-publishing

                         

Here I go... diving into the seemingly endless maze of the Self-Publishing world! An entire industry has been built around it. Mucho $$$$$... organizations promising you the NY Times Best Seller category if you go engage their services (well, not quite). It is a tad daunting. However, as a musician who's lived through the demise of the CD, I welcome the ability to self-determine my own content and marketing.
                                         Book publishing has been democratized.
Yes there are millions of new books being published every year, many of them self-published. Yes, the publishing industry is in the in the midst of serious transformation... But people are still reading.

                                    
               So here's the good news - ever an optimist, I like to share some cheer!

• Books are NOT going to disappear - humans enjoy sharing stories and information. 
• Book publishing is like buying a lottery ticket - if you don't publish you'll never know if you wrote a best seller.
• If you're creative, resourceful and like to think outside the box - then the world is your oyster. 
• You don't have to lug boxes of books around. Phew!

At the end of the day, writing is about the process... and that is what I love. Stay tuned... right now my book is being formatted for Smashwords! I'm on the roller coaster! Yipee!

First Book Club Review!

The first Book Club reading of Pursuit of the Golden Lily was successful! Ten ladies from Naples, Florida participated. They loved the book and had lots of questions! 

The novel is not yet published, but these fans were willing to print it so they could be the first readers! I am very grateful to Ruby and Sugar Rubin, who made all this possible. Due to my current work commitments I have had to delay my actual publishing date for a month, however, if you are part of a book club, or know of someone who is, please let me know and I will be sure to contact you the minute the book is available.

Ruby created a wonderful photo presentation that allowed the readers to journey with us into the book! If your book club would like to include this presentation too, we're open to possibilities - especially if you are in Florida, Maine, Quebec or Manitoba... or anywhere else for that matter!

Writing a novel and being able to jump into the story in real life has been an incredible experience! Stay tuned... the book will be available soon. 

Food & Lodging on the Journey

Fried Green Papaya Salad

My favorite dish, hands down! The only place we found it though, was at Zab Zab restaurant in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. Frequented by locals, this simple establishment is always packed. If you are in Kanchanaburi, do yourself a favor and go for a meal. The food was great and inexpensive. 

One of the things we loved on our journey was meeting entrepreneurs - we met quite a few, including couples running their businesses together. The Ten O'Clock Cafe, also in Kanchanaburi was one such establishment. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ten'o'clock

This small cafe satisfied our early morning coffee cravings, not to mention our lust for good deserts!

But there was one special dish at Ten O'Clock that captured our hearts. So much so, that the owners allowed us into the kitchen to see how it was made!

Omelette on rice with prawn.

The Chef                    

A blend of omelette, shrimp, mushrooms and rice covered with a divine sauce flavored with coconut and kaffir lime leaves - a signature ingredient in Asian cuisine.

Of course, what would a trip to Thailand be without tasting the ubiquitous Pad Thai prepared in its native land!

 The best Pad Thai I experienced was at the Green Tiger Vegetarian Guesthouse in Chiang Mai - which, by the way, is also a fabulous place to stay. The owners & staff were wonderful!

Paul

Roxy and friend

Mrs Green Tiger

Then, there was Vietnam! The food and hospitality in Vietnam were also incredible. First off, we stayed on the beautiful Cat Ba Island... at the Cat Ba Island Eco Lodge.
                            
Nestled in luscious green hills, this modest but comfortable lodge was just what we needed!  Plus, the island is known as the island of butterflies! There are hundreds of species there, we were astounded at their beauty. On the food side, we were treated to some cooking classes and learned how to make fried spring rolls.

                                           
                              
Oh.. did I mention that their breakfast mango pancake was amazing....
                           
... and that all the food was presented in a beautifully unique way!

We even got to sing karaoke with our fun hostess and the chef!
                                                  
After Cat Ba, we were booked on a three-day, two night cruise and home stay through Indochina Junk Boat Cruises. Everything was impeccable, from the boat....
                           
...to the five course meals, to the cabins... and let's not forget the views! One of the loveliest places I've ever visited on this earth.
                                 
Our home stay, in the village of Yen Duc, Vietnam, was a truly meaningful opportunity for us to engage in village life, learn about traditions and.... yes, enjoy authentic Vietnamese food. Our host Mr. Shan welcomed us into his home...
                                      
Our gracious guide Nah, was both knowledgable and delightful.
                                              
We learned about rice .... a mainstay of village life in Vietnam...
                      
  The women showed us the traditional process of cleaning the rice.
                                      
 All the food that Nah and her assistant made for us was grown or raised in the village... from the delectable morning glory vegetable, to the fish and shrimp, farmed right there, and the assortment of vegetables that we hand picked with them. Nothing like 'local' food! Wouldn't have missed this part of our journey for anything.
                                       
Finally, what would the trip have been without a mention of 'street food'. Our first night in Hanoi, we wandered up the road from our amazing Old Town Hanoi Hotel (well worth the visit - the staff are amazing, especially Mina) and found a fantastic array of street food...
                  
...along with some sweet characters to welcome us!
                                                             
From dinners held on a floating bungalow at Khao Sok Lake...
                                                    
.... set against the backdrop of southern Thailand's mountains...
                                                 
.. to simple home-assembled breakfasts,

     prepared at our bungalow on Railei Beach, Thailand...
                                                 
... our journey offered up some of the best culinary feasts I have ever experienced... and we got to stay at a fantastic array of small hotels - mostly very inexpensive - but always clean, welcoming and friendly! Cheers to Southeast Asia... and by the way, I didn't even get to our adventures in Laos, or Malaysia... that's for another time!
                                                     

Forgotten Heroes of WWII - Pacific Theater: Force 136

Major Hugh Paul Seagrim GC DSO MBE (1909-1944) 

 Nicknamed - 'Grandfather Longlegs'

One aspect of research that I relish more than anything, is discovering incredible people on whom I can base a character. As I was seeking a covert British team (to include in my plot), that would have been operating in the jungles of Burma during WWII, I came across Force 136, and subsequently the amazing story of Major Seagrim. Force 136 was a covert group of British commandos fashioned after Winston Churchill's Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.) that operated behind enemy lines in Europe. The preliminary S.O.E. team in Burma was called the 'Oriental Mission'.

The British Royal Air Force meticulously trained thousands of men from the Karen Hill Tribe, to bolster the ranks of British agents. The clandestine war Force 136 waged on the Japanese invaders, was strategically significant. You can read a more in-depth Article here.
Major Hugh Seagrim was one of Force 136's heroes. He loved the Karen people, and when the Japanese began waging a campaign of destruction against Karen villages, Major Seagrim heroically surrendered himself to the Japanese Imperial Army for execution, in exchange for the lives of the village inhabitants. The last two Survivors of Force 136 were found in 2009 within a mile of where their commander, Major Hugh Seagrim surrendered.
There are surely many unsung heroes of all wars, and in all walks of life. I am humbled when I learn of one. It reminds me of the great potential that resides within humanity. This is what gives me hope in the face of continuing horrors playing out on the global stage.
I am almost ready to publish Pursuit of the Golden Lily, please stay tuned - sign up for BLOG updates so you will be the first to know when the book is available! 

Human Trafficking

When I began writing Pursuit of the Golden Lily, I did not fully appreciate the quote: "The story writes you as much as you write it." - Billy Marshall Stoneking.

Now I do. 

A component of my life path has been to seek out, whenever possible, opportunities to raise awareness of social issues. So when the plot line of my story invited me to examine the nefarious world of sex trafficking, I accepted. The official number of known victims of sex trafficking is staggering - about 4.5 million globally (International Labor Organization). Sadly, one must assume that the actual number is much higher since most victims never escape their captors. 

While in Bangkok, we met with Sudarat Seerwat, Director of the FACE Foundation which confronts the issue of sex trafficking in Thailand. 

Sudarat and her team of volunteers advocate tirelessly to change laws; they do what they can to rescue girls and young women from pimps and brothels; they try to educate the police and the public about the issue. We were amazed by her energy and optimism in the face of such challenges. She has devoted her life to this. You can listen to Sudarat speaking on this a short Video.

Sex trafficking is a global issue. In North America the problem is on the rise. Gangs prey on vulnerable girls and boys, luring them in with promises of companionship, easy money and an exciting life. Don't think it doesn't happen on your street. It can happen to ANYONE. In the USA the National Helpline is:  

1 (888) 373 7888. If you encounter, or see a young person who might be in a precarious situation, call. One phone call could save a life.

To learn more read the The US State Department's Trafficking In Persons Report 2015

                      Thanks to Sudarat, and people like her, who are doing all they can.

Writing & Inspiration

Pursuit of the Golden Lily is my first novel, but not my last! I'm addicted. I loved writing this story. Perhaps equally enjoyable for me, was the research. Originally, I set out to write the story of my parents' wartime journeys - my father left me his POW diary and my mother wrote a short story, called Lamb and Butter - both accounts fueled my imagination. However, when a friend suggested I write a more contemporary tale, my creativity was challenged. But how could I accomplish my original goals, include my parents' wartime experience, and appeal to a wider audience? After an afternoon walking on the beach in Florida, I returned home in search of a secret from WWII. That's when I discovered the Golden Lily!

Sometimes referred to as Yamashita's gold, the Golden Lily campaign was an impeccably thought out operation, allegedly carried out by members of the Japanese Imperial Family from 1935 - 1945. Few people have followed the trail as extensively as Sterling and Peggy Seagrave. It was their fascinating book, Gold Warriors, that provided me with the information I needed to set the back drop for my mystery adventure! 

People like the Seagraves are few and far between; people who risk their lives in search of the truth, who do not shy away from sharing what they uncover. There are plenty of real-life players implicated in the saga of the Golden Lily - the legacy lives on. Consequently, there is a desire to bury what happened, to act as if all those in pursuit of the truth in the matter are merely 'conspiracy theorists'. But the Freedom of Information laws have thankfully allowed the release of certain documents that prove, beyond a doubt, that this nefarious operation was not a figment of anyone's imagination. I hope that Pursuit of the Golden Lily will play a role in helping to educate the public further. I am grateful to the Seagraves, and everyone else whose research allowed me to build a story enriched by their work.

********

I have finished the final draft and still aim to publish by March! Stay tuned!

An inspiring connection!

"Selfie" taken by Tiara Jacquelina! 

When I began researching and writing Pursuit of the Golden Lily, I was seeking connections to my father's life in post war Malaysia. Daddy often spoke about a good friend called Eddie Eu Eng Hock - they shared a love of jazz music. On a whim, I decided to Google Datuk Eddie Eu Eng Hock -  sadly he had already passed away. However, imagine my surprise when I discovered that his granddaughter, Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina Eu Effendi turned out to be a famous Malaysian actress and film producer. (Perfect inspiration for a character in my novel!) Tiara won two "Best Actress" awards for her lead role in the epic fantasy period film Puteri Gunung Ledang. The film was chosen as Malaysia's entry for the 2004 Academy Awards.

In addition to her acting roles, Tiara Jacquelina is the Founder and President of Enfiniti Vision Media, Malaysia's foremost production company specializing in musical theater, film, TV and live multi-media performances. Needless to say, she is a busy woman. Nevertheless, I thought it would be fun to reach out and see if I could connect to someone distantly related to my father's life in K.L. So I wrote her a message on FaceBook. To my delight, she responded and invited me to contact her when I had my trip dates finalized. As it turned out, Tiara and her husband Dato Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi were speaking at a Lean In Malaysia summit on December 5th - just when we would be in Kuala Lumpur! She invited us to join her at the summit, so we did!

 Tiara and her husband spoke about the important role men can play in supporting their partners, thereby enabling women to pursue careers and manifest personal goals. Their discourse was inspiring.
 Afterwards, despite their hectic schedules (they were leaving for Australia the next day to accompany their son and daughter to universities there), this wonderful family made time to take us out for dinner. It was fun - not only did we get to experience some wonderful Malaysian cuisine, but we got to creative mind-jam with the Enfiniti Team on Tiara and Effendi's next great venture. I think the two 'Eddies' - my father (Eddie) and his dear friend Eddie (Eu Eng Hock), would have been smiling in heaven! Amazing how life can be so magical!

PS - when you read Pursuit of the Golden Lily, see if you can guess which character Tiara inspired! Here's a hint - she doesn't appear until the second half of the story.