Donald Drummond, and his wife Anne were both retired from professional careers, and agreed to go on a mission to unravel a mystery in Donald's extremely dysfunctional family. As they begin this incredible mysterious journey through the hidden family secrets, they begin to realize the dark journey might be "Mission Impossible!" Why did it take sixty years for Donald to meet his biological mother? Who murdered Donald's biological father? Did Donald's mother poison her husband? As the journey on the road to horror continues, the reader sits on the edge of her seat as chills tingle her spine, and the suspense has only just begun. As you continue to follow this disturbing journey into deception, conflict, and murder, you realize that maybe
some questions were better off left unanswered. John Wayne Cargile uses his expertise in psychology, and knowledge in religion to create an intriguing plot, with entertaining characters. This novel is packed with action and drama through surprising twists-and-turns to the end of the story. For the icing on the cake, the author covers the pages with reality, insanity, and a blend of romance. For added touches, he throws in madness, greed, and some flawed personalities that we usually see behind closed doors of a mental institution. I recommend this book to all mystery lovers who enjoy suspense, combined with action, and romance. The type of characters that the author created are as colorful as those you see in any of Alfred Hitchcock's finest movies. Did Donald and Anne find out too much? Was Donald's father in the Mafia? How many people were involved in the terrorist plot, and who knew about the conspiracy? As the reader follows the journey of deceit, the soap opera explodes as the saga continues in an ugly world of fear and regret, left
open for a perfect sequel. "THE CRY OF THE CUCKOOS" is a mesmerizing Masterpiece of the unexpected, and is as thrilling as THE DEVIL'S OWN with Harrison Ford, and Brad Pitt. Reviewed by Geri Ahearn, Phoenix, Arizona
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
A Northport Gazette article about author signing
Local author John Wayne Cargile will be signing copies of his novel, “The Cry of the Cuckoos,” at the University of Alabama Supply Store Wednesday, July 22 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
The supply store is located on campus at the Ferguson Student Union Center.
Cargile’s mystery, suspense, romance novel is receiving high praise from readers.
“A splendid combination of what most readers, like myself, desire in a good novel--mystery, mayhem, madness, and one of the most dysfunctional families you've ever seen. It would provide a team of therapists with full-time work,” writes John Lee of Mentone, AL.
“I enjoyed Mr. Cargile's story "Cry of the Cuckoos." There were many threads through out the story that many people can recognize; the interrelationship of family, love, the aging process, friendship and death. Mr. Cargile has a gift with conversation that is very realistic and supports and builds to the story line. While much of the story was very realistic, there was a bit of soap opera quality about Donald meeting his natural mother, only to have her die a few days later. I have recently moved to the Tuscaloosa area and found some good parallels to the history and culture of the area in this book. I read Mr. Cargile's column in the Northport Gazette and look forward to more books from this author,” said Jill Hannah of Northport.
“John Wayne Cargile takes us on a journey that starts with much intrigue and ends with bold characterization of family life sometimes better left unsaid. Even when all is well, it isn't.
“What an emotional jaunt Mr. Cargile leads us on, spilling forth with page turner characters and strong plotting that keeps one on the edge of his seat to finish this book. I enjoyed it no end.
“Mr. Cargile has my undying admiration for writing a book that has no holes barred. Equal in emotion and plotting to a William Faulkner book, this one is a real keeper and one you won't forget for some time! Thanks for the enjoyable read.....” writes Rita Hestand of Wylie, Texas.
“Cargile carefully puts in place background details which provide interesting technical and medical information. His training in religion, psychology, and philosophy, as well as his strong interest in integral psychology and spirituality, are apparent throughout John's writing. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" becomes a platform for him to help people integrate their mind, body and Spirit into a Holistic lifestyle. Cargile's character development reflects his understanding of flawed personalities. His narrative provides a related analysis of their symptoms, motivations, and resulting actions. The strength of character of the genuine religious or spiritual person is contrasted with the lip service and lifestyle of deception in those motivated by selfishness and greed. These characters become colorful composites, expressions of idealism, reality, and deception.
“I was quickly drawn into the story of "The Cry of the Cuckoos" and the theme of deceit and forgiveness. Cargile's writing style is crisp, direct, and engaging. While I found this directness appealing, it may be seen as too simplistic for others. Transitions of locale or time-frame and the pacing of conflict and resolution confronted by the protagonists were well-paced, maintaining the suspense element of the story.
“I felt the story ended quite quickly, somewhat abruptly; however, an "afterward" wrapped up all the loose ends and gave closure to unanswered questions. The final chapters create the possibility of a sequel. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" by John Wayne Cargile will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, intrigue, and romance. Cargile's writing is thoroughly entertaining and highly informative,” writes Richard Blake of Reader Views.
Cargile’s book is available at his personal website: www.thecryofthecuckoos.com or Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble Online and Books A Million Online.
The book is also available at the University of Alabama Supply Store as well as Little Professor Book Center in Homewood, AL.
Cargile was a recent guest on WYDE Radio 101.1 FM on the Lee Davis Show. Davis compared Cargile’s book as being “between a Tom Clancy and John Grisham novel.”
Cargile lives in the Mount Olive community near Coker in Tuscaloosa County with his wife, son and granddaughter.
He is currently writing his second novel, “Crooked Letter I.”
The supply store is located on campus at the Ferguson Student Union Center.
Cargile’s mystery, suspense, romance novel is receiving high praise from readers.
“A splendid combination of what most readers, like myself, desire in a good novel--mystery, mayhem, madness, and one of the most dysfunctional families you've ever seen. It would provide a team of therapists with full-time work,” writes John Lee of Mentone, AL.
“I enjoyed Mr. Cargile's story "Cry of the Cuckoos." There were many threads through out the story that many people can recognize; the interrelationship of family, love, the aging process, friendship and death. Mr. Cargile has a gift with conversation that is very realistic and supports and builds to the story line. While much of the story was very realistic, there was a bit of soap opera quality about Donald meeting his natural mother, only to have her die a few days later. I have recently moved to the Tuscaloosa area and found some good parallels to the history and culture of the area in this book. I read Mr. Cargile's column in the Northport Gazette and look forward to more books from this author,” said Jill Hannah of Northport.
“John Wayne Cargile takes us on a journey that starts with much intrigue and ends with bold characterization of family life sometimes better left unsaid. Even when all is well, it isn't.
“What an emotional jaunt Mr. Cargile leads us on, spilling forth with page turner characters and strong plotting that keeps one on the edge of his seat to finish this book. I enjoyed it no end.
“Mr. Cargile has my undying admiration for writing a book that has no holes barred. Equal in emotion and plotting to a William Faulkner book, this one is a real keeper and one you won't forget for some time! Thanks for the enjoyable read.....” writes Rita Hestand of Wylie, Texas.
“Cargile carefully puts in place background details which provide interesting technical and medical information. His training in religion, psychology, and philosophy, as well as his strong interest in integral psychology and spirituality, are apparent throughout John's writing. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" becomes a platform for him to help people integrate their mind, body and Spirit into a Holistic lifestyle. Cargile's character development reflects his understanding of flawed personalities. His narrative provides a related analysis of their symptoms, motivations, and resulting actions. The strength of character of the genuine religious or spiritual person is contrasted with the lip service and lifestyle of deception in those motivated by selfishness and greed. These characters become colorful composites, expressions of idealism, reality, and deception.
“I was quickly drawn into the story of "The Cry of the Cuckoos" and the theme of deceit and forgiveness. Cargile's writing style is crisp, direct, and engaging. While I found this directness appealing, it may be seen as too simplistic for others. Transitions of locale or time-frame and the pacing of conflict and resolution confronted by the protagonists were well-paced, maintaining the suspense element of the story.
“I felt the story ended quite quickly, somewhat abruptly; however, an "afterward" wrapped up all the loose ends and gave closure to unanswered questions. The final chapters create the possibility of a sequel. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" by John Wayne Cargile will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, intrigue, and romance. Cargile's writing is thoroughly entertaining and highly informative,” writes Richard Blake of Reader Views.
Cargile’s book is available at his personal website: www.thecryofthecuckoos.com or Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble Online and Books A Million Online.
The book is also available at the University of Alabama Supply Store as well as Little Professor Book Center in Homewood, AL.
Cargile was a recent guest on WYDE Radio 101.1 FM on the Lee Davis Show. Davis compared Cargile’s book as being “between a Tom Clancy and John Grisham novel.”
Cargile lives in the Mount Olive community near Coker in Tuscaloosa County with his wife, son and granddaughter.
He is currently writing his second novel, “Crooked Letter I.”
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Crooked Letter I -- Chapter Two
Birmingham, Alabama
The newsroom on the fourth floor at the Birmingham Iron-Herald was abuzz as reporters and editors finished assignments for the day. The morning newspaper was the state’s largest in circulation covering every major city in Alabama through stringers, The Associated Press and a five-person staff in Montgomery, the state’s capitol. The Birmingham office was staffed with over 100 writers and editors.
Readers looked to the Iron-Herald for its investigative reporting, especially when it came to being a watchdog over the state’s legislative process. Some of the top young writers from the journalism school at the University of Missouri came to Birmingham to ply their writing skills before moving on to larger newspapers like The New York Times, Washington Post or Los Angeles Times.
Rob McRobbie, 32, was one of the first journalists to apply at the newspaper before other university alumnus’s found their way to Magic City. He was considered the “old man” among the younger staff members. A reporter who aspired to report about civil rights found plenty of sod for honing their social skills. A sports writer had plenty of wiggle room as high school and college football ranked somewhere between Jesus and the late legendary coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, who some claimed could walk on water. An investigative reporter literally had enough territory to cover as those able bodied men and women did on the Oregon Trail. The state was wide-open for illegal gambling, prostitution, hate crimes and even terrorist organizations. The city ranked No.3 in the nation for homicides. Mostly it was black on black but, on occasion, reporters got more than enough fodder for their notebooks when a white man murdered a man of color. It was unusual, but it did happen. A black man taking the life of a white man was considered more serious.
McRobbie was familiar with Birmingham because he grew up on the western side of city in a poor-class neighborhood. He was a three-sport letterman in football, baseball and basketball. His high school English teacher told him his senior year he showed promise as a writer. She threw out the names of T.S. Elliott, William Wordsworth and Edgar Allen Poe. He knew following high school the University of Missouri’s journalism school was one of the best in the country. He applied and was accepted. After four years he returned to the city as a cub police reporter. Now he was the newspaper’s leading investigative reporter, known for his penchant to find the truth no matter how long it took. Research and details, as well as his knack for explaining complicated issues, were his strengths.
Only the year before, McRobbie was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism, only to see a former colleague, Rick Stutts, win it as a New York Times reporter. He was proud for his friend’s accomplishments. Who better to lose the most cherished prize in writing except to a good friend and confidant?
Feet propped on his desk, Rob leaned back in the swivel chair in his office and stretched his arms behind his head. Having an office alone without too much interference from other reporters was one of the perks for being an elite journalist. His colleagues worked in tiny cubicles. He wondered now how he ever dealt with such a closed-in space. He needed space. His editors gave him more leeway to write controversial stories about citizens who got themselves in trouble with the law or courts. His articles had put more than a few criminals in prison, the latest being the killer of his uncle – Judge Roy Mallard, a liberal federal appellate judge appointed by then president, Jimmy Carter. A white supremacist that belonged to the Society of Southron Patriots had been indicted for the murder when a mail bomb was sent to his luxurious home in a rich suburb of Mountain Springs. The homemade bomb detonated when Uncle Roy opened the package. He was dead on the scene. W.L. Medders was sentenced to Kilby Prison where he was on death row awaiting turn to see his maker by electrocution. Medders testified before the Grand Jury, Judge Mallard was a “nigger and Jew lover.”
McRobbie followed the case from beginning to end even though his editor, Angus McCarron, was unsure about assigning a relative of the judge to cover the story. It worked out in the end. McRobbie always felt Medders did not act alone. Someone higher up in authority gave Medders the order. McRobbie had been unable to prove it, but he vowed he would unravel the case before he died.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as his publisher walked briskly toward his office. He positioned himself upright in his chair, looked at the computer monitor, which had a game of poker on the screen. He was a whiz playing Texas Hold ‘Em or Blackjack. He often spent his off days in Biloxi, Mississippi at the casinos. Counting cards was his forte and casino managers tried to catch him several times. He moved around from casino to casino. He made more money at the tables than he was paid as a newspaperman.
He hurriedly closed the computer window before his boss caught him again.
McCarron wasn’t alone. In tow was a beautiful young lady in her early twenties. Rob winced. Did he have another young journalist to train?
“Rob, I want you to meet Miss Cindi Brown,” he heard McCarron say. He hardly remembered what his editor said afterward as he watched the shapely young woman, dressed in a blue business suit, blue high heels and a white blouse that revealed her luxurious buxom breasts. Her long, straight black hair hung down her boney looking shoulders and the twinkle in her deep brown eyes sparkled like the Fourth of July. Her long legs made her look more like a college basketball player. She was at least five-foot-nine, an inch shorter than him.
“I’ve been talking with Miss Brown for over two hours and decided her story deserved more than an article from our religion editor,” McCarron said, smiling at the young lady by his side.
What Rob was thinking when he heard his editor mention religion would violate one of the 10 Commandments.
He stared blankly into McCarron’s brown steely eyes. Neither his boss nor the young pretty lady smiled. Why would his editor give him a story with a religious angle?
“I’ll leave you two alone,” McCarron said, winking at Rob as he walked out of the office. “This might be a good story, Rob.”
“Please sit, Miss Brown.”
“You can call me Cindi,” she instructed as a smile crossed her smooth cream-colored face revealing perfect white teeth. Her lips were those of a gorgeous princess. The red lipstick was not inadequate looking. In fact, it accentuated everything about her. Her long black hair and ruby colored lips would attract any man. She had to be Latino, he thought. But, the name Cindi Brown didn’t match that of a Central American woman. He noticed the other male journalist looking into his office, and he closed the door.
“How may I be of help?” McRobbie finally managed to ask.
She fumbled with a brief case for a second before gathering a folder and placing it on his desk. The cover read, International Ministries for the 21st Century. McRobbie innocently let the file lay on his desk. He would read it later. First, he wanted Miss Brown to talk about why she was visiting, and why in the hell his editor brought her to him? He saved the latter thought for later.
“Mr. McRobbie,” she started awkwardly. “I am the public relations director for the International Ministries for the 21st Century. Have you ever heard of us?”
“Not sure I have, but go on, Miss Brown.”
“You might or not be aware we are holding our annual convention here in Birmingham next month. People from all over the world will converge on the city. The economic impact will be tremendous for the city. This is the Mecca of civil rights history and many of our members live in third world countries. But many come from Japan, Europe, Africa, South America, Mexico, Canada and even a few from China and Russia. We are a global spiritual organization that reaches out to people other than Christian. Some of our members are Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Our God is the God for all people. We believe God is Omniscient. The God we worship doesn’t belong only to the Jew and Christian, but to all people regardless of color and creed.”
“Hold on for a moment.” McRobbie held up his hand. He was certain that this beautiful woman who sat in his office could get really wound up in her ideology, and he wanted to stop it before she got carried away. He was not very religious although he believed in a Higher Creator. But religion was not something he talked about in front of friends much less a stranger.
“Why are you here?”
“Your editor seemed to think you can help our organization,” she said bashfully.
“I don’t know if you know it or not, but I am an investigative reporter. I investigate stories about people who are committed to harming other people, especially white collar crime.”
“Then, I must be talking to the right man. We need your help.”
******
McRobbie was finally able to make direct eye contact with the lady seated across his desk. He prided himself in being able to read body language, especially the eyes. It was something he intuitively did when interviewing subjects. He had been unable to look into Cindi Brown’s eyes because they had a look of seduction.
“After all I’ve told you about my work, you still want to talk to me about this convention you are putting on?” McRobbie got right to the point.
He saw her squirm a little bit in her seat, but her eyes were intently focused on him. It was an awkward feeling. She knew how to read body language and the language of the eyes as well as him, he thought.
“It’s a long story, Mr. McRobbie. But we need your help.”
“Who is we in the story,” he asked.
“The man who will be coming to Birmingham to speak to thousands of people at Legion Field is suspicious about this convention, and the people behind it. Dr. Ken Prior is an international speaker and author on self-development, one of the best known figures in the world when it comes to passions of the soul. He has written many books, been on the lecture tour for many years. He just went through a divorce. His wife left him for another man. They have seven children. He was running out of money before being approached by my boss through me. He wouldn’t be able to continue his lecture circuit without fresh money.”
“And, who is your boss?” McRobbie asked, finally taking his pen and scribbling down a few notes on his pad.
“I can’t say at the moment, Mr. McRobbie.” The subject before him began to tense her shoulders and he could see her eyes watering. “I shouldn’t be here. I must go.”
Cindi Brown stood up, picked up her briefcase and shook Rob’s hand.
“Wait just a minute, Miss Brown. You came here asking for help. If you are in such dire straits I need to know what this is all about.”
“I’ve already told you too much. I thought I could go through with this, but if my boss even knew I was talking to you my life could be in danger.” She went to open the office door.
“You must have told my editor more than you’ve already told me. Does he know what this is all about?”
“Mr. McCarron only knows part of the story, and he thought you would be able to investigate what we suspect to be happening concerning the convention. It’s more than a bunch of men getting together to fill their soul with spiritual energy. We feel that a larger picture is being framed by my boss, but right now it’s only a suspicion. Knowing my boss like I do, I can only imagine.”
“Sit down, Cindi,” McRobbie instructed. “I promise I’ll keep your suspicions to myself until we can accurately decipher what you’re talking about.”
Cindi sat down again and crossed her tan legs. McRobbie noticed. After all, he was great with body language.”
“Okay, now let’s start from the beginning,” McRobbie said.
“It all starts with Dr. Prior,” she started with a quiver in her voice. “He has been a leading exponent of men’s psychology for years. He’s helped many men learn from his teachings what it means to be a real man in the 21st century. The women’s movement pushed aside the man’s role in relationships, and he is reversing the challenge to men. He helps men take a deeper journey into the wounds, wonder, anger, grief and joy that comes from being a healthy man in the 21st Century.
“Birmingham is the pilot for this new enterprise. Dr. Prior is only a puppet in the show. We have over 100 young ladies set to embark on this city. They are called counselors, but in reality they are high society prostitutes.”
“Whoa!” McRobbie stopped her at this point.
“Why would someone bring in outside prostitutes to pick on little ol’ Birmingham? We have enough prostitutes around here.”
“They are going to pick their pockets, swipe their identity without asking for sexual pleasures. That’s the way it works. Besides the mayor of Birmingham is a sucker for any new ideas to bring attention to his city. He falls for anything and everything.”
“I can’t say I disagree with you on that point,” McRobbie said. This girl is good, he thought.
“The guys behind this scam have been around for years. It’s a carefully thought out plan. I know because I helped train the young women they are bringing to Birmingham.”
“Then you are in on this scam as much as anyone?” McRobbie was getting a little nervous and angry.
“That’s just the thing, Mr. McRobbie,” Cindy said, fishing for a handkerchief in her purse. “Since meeting the great Dr. Prior, I’ve changed my mind about my life. I want out of this mess, but I can’t. I am bound to these men or I will be killed if I go MIA.”
“Have you gone to the police or FBI about this?”
“No, I haven’t and I will not get them involved,” she told him. “Besides most of the upper management in your fine police department have taken cash to turn their heads concerning anything about the convention. You’d be surprised how much money has been passed around this state. My boss has his sights on the politicians in Montgomery. He is a big investor in the casinos on the Gulf Coast.”
“What’s his name?”
“I cannot disclose his name at this time. You will have to put on your Dick Tracy hat to follow these hoodlums. I am sick of them, and I want out of it. I’ve been with them since I was sixteen-years-old and the old man behind all of this thinks of me as his mistress. He loves me. I hate him. I turned over a new leaf after several meetings with Dr. Prior. I want a new life for myself.”
“Are you single?” McRobbie squirmed in his chair at the question. It was a little too personal, especially since he just met Miss Cindi Brown.
“I’m as single as they come, and I plan to keep it that way.”
Rob looked down at the notes he scribbled. It appeared he had nothing solid to go on except the word of some female nut case. He was beginning to wonder about her now. Was she actually telling him the truth or just trying to get out of jam and let someone else come to her rescue – like Rob McRobbie?
“Let me think on this for a day or two, Miss Brown. That is your real name, isn’t it?”
“You don’t believe anything I’ve told you, do you Mr. McRobbie?”
“I’ll do some snooping around and see if I can identify the men behind this alleged caper you’re talking about.”
“You cannot use my name in any stories you write. Do you understand? You will be dealing with something that is way over your head, and if you get too close to the fire, you will be char-broiled and used as Cajun meat in Creole.”
“Where are you staying in case I need to contact you?” McRobbie asked.
“I’m at the Hyatt Regency, room 532. I’ll be here only for a couple of more days and then return to Biloxi.”
“Is that where you are from?” McRobbie’s curiosity was taking on all sorts of what ifs – the attributes which make a great journalist. Every story has to answer who, what, when, where and how. Without them, there is no story.
Rob saw Cindi Brown to the elevator.
He walked away without a byline story for the next day.
The newsroom on the fourth floor at the Birmingham Iron-Herald was abuzz as reporters and editors finished assignments for the day. The morning newspaper was the state’s largest in circulation covering every major city in Alabama through stringers, The Associated Press and a five-person staff in Montgomery, the state’s capitol. The Birmingham office was staffed with over 100 writers and editors.
Readers looked to the Iron-Herald for its investigative reporting, especially when it came to being a watchdog over the state’s legislative process. Some of the top young writers from the journalism school at the University of Missouri came to Birmingham to ply their writing skills before moving on to larger newspapers like The New York Times, Washington Post or Los Angeles Times.
Rob McRobbie, 32, was one of the first journalists to apply at the newspaper before other university alumnus’s found their way to Magic City. He was considered the “old man” among the younger staff members. A reporter who aspired to report about civil rights found plenty of sod for honing their social skills. A sports writer had plenty of wiggle room as high school and college football ranked somewhere between Jesus and the late legendary coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, who some claimed could walk on water. An investigative reporter literally had enough territory to cover as those able bodied men and women did on the Oregon Trail. The state was wide-open for illegal gambling, prostitution, hate crimes and even terrorist organizations. The city ranked No.3 in the nation for homicides. Mostly it was black on black but, on occasion, reporters got more than enough fodder for their notebooks when a white man murdered a man of color. It was unusual, but it did happen. A black man taking the life of a white man was considered more serious.
McRobbie was familiar with Birmingham because he grew up on the western side of city in a poor-class neighborhood. He was a three-sport letterman in football, baseball and basketball. His high school English teacher told him his senior year he showed promise as a writer. She threw out the names of T.S. Elliott, William Wordsworth and Edgar Allen Poe. He knew following high school the University of Missouri’s journalism school was one of the best in the country. He applied and was accepted. After four years he returned to the city as a cub police reporter. Now he was the newspaper’s leading investigative reporter, known for his penchant to find the truth no matter how long it took. Research and details, as well as his knack for explaining complicated issues, were his strengths.
Only the year before, McRobbie was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in journalism, only to see a former colleague, Rick Stutts, win it as a New York Times reporter. He was proud for his friend’s accomplishments. Who better to lose the most cherished prize in writing except to a good friend and confidant?
Feet propped on his desk, Rob leaned back in the swivel chair in his office and stretched his arms behind his head. Having an office alone without too much interference from other reporters was one of the perks for being an elite journalist. His colleagues worked in tiny cubicles. He wondered now how he ever dealt with such a closed-in space. He needed space. His editors gave him more leeway to write controversial stories about citizens who got themselves in trouble with the law or courts. His articles had put more than a few criminals in prison, the latest being the killer of his uncle – Judge Roy Mallard, a liberal federal appellate judge appointed by then president, Jimmy Carter. A white supremacist that belonged to the Society of Southron Patriots had been indicted for the murder when a mail bomb was sent to his luxurious home in a rich suburb of Mountain Springs. The homemade bomb detonated when Uncle Roy opened the package. He was dead on the scene. W.L. Medders was sentenced to Kilby Prison where he was on death row awaiting turn to see his maker by electrocution. Medders testified before the Grand Jury, Judge Mallard was a “nigger and Jew lover.”
McRobbie followed the case from beginning to end even though his editor, Angus McCarron, was unsure about assigning a relative of the judge to cover the story. It worked out in the end. McRobbie always felt Medders did not act alone. Someone higher up in authority gave Medders the order. McRobbie had been unable to prove it, but he vowed he would unravel the case before he died.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as his publisher walked briskly toward his office. He positioned himself upright in his chair, looked at the computer monitor, which had a game of poker on the screen. He was a whiz playing Texas Hold ‘Em or Blackjack. He often spent his off days in Biloxi, Mississippi at the casinos. Counting cards was his forte and casino managers tried to catch him several times. He moved around from casino to casino. He made more money at the tables than he was paid as a newspaperman.
He hurriedly closed the computer window before his boss caught him again.
McCarron wasn’t alone. In tow was a beautiful young lady in her early twenties. Rob winced. Did he have another young journalist to train?
“Rob, I want you to meet Miss Cindi Brown,” he heard McCarron say. He hardly remembered what his editor said afterward as he watched the shapely young woman, dressed in a blue business suit, blue high heels and a white blouse that revealed her luxurious buxom breasts. Her long, straight black hair hung down her boney looking shoulders and the twinkle in her deep brown eyes sparkled like the Fourth of July. Her long legs made her look more like a college basketball player. She was at least five-foot-nine, an inch shorter than him.
“I’ve been talking with Miss Brown for over two hours and decided her story deserved more than an article from our religion editor,” McCarron said, smiling at the young lady by his side.
What Rob was thinking when he heard his editor mention religion would violate one of the 10 Commandments.
He stared blankly into McCarron’s brown steely eyes. Neither his boss nor the young pretty lady smiled. Why would his editor give him a story with a religious angle?
“I’ll leave you two alone,” McCarron said, winking at Rob as he walked out of the office. “This might be a good story, Rob.”
“Please sit, Miss Brown.”
“You can call me Cindi,” she instructed as a smile crossed her smooth cream-colored face revealing perfect white teeth. Her lips were those of a gorgeous princess. The red lipstick was not inadequate looking. In fact, it accentuated everything about her. Her long black hair and ruby colored lips would attract any man. She had to be Latino, he thought. But, the name Cindi Brown didn’t match that of a Central American woman. He noticed the other male journalist looking into his office, and he closed the door.
“How may I be of help?” McRobbie finally managed to ask.
She fumbled with a brief case for a second before gathering a folder and placing it on his desk. The cover read, International Ministries for the 21st Century. McRobbie innocently let the file lay on his desk. He would read it later. First, he wanted Miss Brown to talk about why she was visiting, and why in the hell his editor brought her to him? He saved the latter thought for later.
“Mr. McRobbie,” she started awkwardly. “I am the public relations director for the International Ministries for the 21st Century. Have you ever heard of us?”
“Not sure I have, but go on, Miss Brown.”
“You might or not be aware we are holding our annual convention here in Birmingham next month. People from all over the world will converge on the city. The economic impact will be tremendous for the city. This is the Mecca of civil rights history and many of our members live in third world countries. But many come from Japan, Europe, Africa, South America, Mexico, Canada and even a few from China and Russia. We are a global spiritual organization that reaches out to people other than Christian. Some of our members are Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist. Our God is the God for all people. We believe God is Omniscient. The God we worship doesn’t belong only to the Jew and Christian, but to all people regardless of color and creed.”
“Hold on for a moment.” McRobbie held up his hand. He was certain that this beautiful woman who sat in his office could get really wound up in her ideology, and he wanted to stop it before she got carried away. He was not very religious although he believed in a Higher Creator. But religion was not something he talked about in front of friends much less a stranger.
“Why are you here?”
“Your editor seemed to think you can help our organization,” she said bashfully.
“I don’t know if you know it or not, but I am an investigative reporter. I investigate stories about people who are committed to harming other people, especially white collar crime.”
“Then, I must be talking to the right man. We need your help.”
******
McRobbie was finally able to make direct eye contact with the lady seated across his desk. He prided himself in being able to read body language, especially the eyes. It was something he intuitively did when interviewing subjects. He had been unable to look into Cindi Brown’s eyes because they had a look of seduction.
“After all I’ve told you about my work, you still want to talk to me about this convention you are putting on?” McRobbie got right to the point.
He saw her squirm a little bit in her seat, but her eyes were intently focused on him. It was an awkward feeling. She knew how to read body language and the language of the eyes as well as him, he thought.
“It’s a long story, Mr. McRobbie. But we need your help.”
“Who is we in the story,” he asked.
“The man who will be coming to Birmingham to speak to thousands of people at Legion Field is suspicious about this convention, and the people behind it. Dr. Ken Prior is an international speaker and author on self-development, one of the best known figures in the world when it comes to passions of the soul. He has written many books, been on the lecture tour for many years. He just went through a divorce. His wife left him for another man. They have seven children. He was running out of money before being approached by my boss through me. He wouldn’t be able to continue his lecture circuit without fresh money.”
“And, who is your boss?” McRobbie asked, finally taking his pen and scribbling down a few notes on his pad.
“I can’t say at the moment, Mr. McRobbie.” The subject before him began to tense her shoulders and he could see her eyes watering. “I shouldn’t be here. I must go.”
Cindi Brown stood up, picked up her briefcase and shook Rob’s hand.
“Wait just a minute, Miss Brown. You came here asking for help. If you are in such dire straits I need to know what this is all about.”
“I’ve already told you too much. I thought I could go through with this, but if my boss even knew I was talking to you my life could be in danger.” She went to open the office door.
“You must have told my editor more than you’ve already told me. Does he know what this is all about?”
“Mr. McCarron only knows part of the story, and he thought you would be able to investigate what we suspect to be happening concerning the convention. It’s more than a bunch of men getting together to fill their soul with spiritual energy. We feel that a larger picture is being framed by my boss, but right now it’s only a suspicion. Knowing my boss like I do, I can only imagine.”
“Sit down, Cindi,” McRobbie instructed. “I promise I’ll keep your suspicions to myself until we can accurately decipher what you’re talking about.”
Cindi sat down again and crossed her tan legs. McRobbie noticed. After all, he was great with body language.”
“Okay, now let’s start from the beginning,” McRobbie said.
“It all starts with Dr. Prior,” she started with a quiver in her voice. “He has been a leading exponent of men’s psychology for years. He’s helped many men learn from his teachings what it means to be a real man in the 21st century. The women’s movement pushed aside the man’s role in relationships, and he is reversing the challenge to men. He helps men take a deeper journey into the wounds, wonder, anger, grief and joy that comes from being a healthy man in the 21st Century.
“Birmingham is the pilot for this new enterprise. Dr. Prior is only a puppet in the show. We have over 100 young ladies set to embark on this city. They are called counselors, but in reality they are high society prostitutes.”
“Whoa!” McRobbie stopped her at this point.
“Why would someone bring in outside prostitutes to pick on little ol’ Birmingham? We have enough prostitutes around here.”
“They are going to pick their pockets, swipe their identity without asking for sexual pleasures. That’s the way it works. Besides the mayor of Birmingham is a sucker for any new ideas to bring attention to his city. He falls for anything and everything.”
“I can’t say I disagree with you on that point,” McRobbie said. This girl is good, he thought.
“The guys behind this scam have been around for years. It’s a carefully thought out plan. I know because I helped train the young women they are bringing to Birmingham.”
“Then you are in on this scam as much as anyone?” McRobbie was getting a little nervous and angry.
“That’s just the thing, Mr. McRobbie,” Cindy said, fishing for a handkerchief in her purse. “Since meeting the great Dr. Prior, I’ve changed my mind about my life. I want out of this mess, but I can’t. I am bound to these men or I will be killed if I go MIA.”
“Have you gone to the police or FBI about this?”
“No, I haven’t and I will not get them involved,” she told him. “Besides most of the upper management in your fine police department have taken cash to turn their heads concerning anything about the convention. You’d be surprised how much money has been passed around this state. My boss has his sights on the politicians in Montgomery. He is a big investor in the casinos on the Gulf Coast.”
“What’s his name?”
“I cannot disclose his name at this time. You will have to put on your Dick Tracy hat to follow these hoodlums. I am sick of them, and I want out of it. I’ve been with them since I was sixteen-years-old and the old man behind all of this thinks of me as his mistress. He loves me. I hate him. I turned over a new leaf after several meetings with Dr. Prior. I want a new life for myself.”
“Are you single?” McRobbie squirmed in his chair at the question. It was a little too personal, especially since he just met Miss Cindi Brown.
“I’m as single as they come, and I plan to keep it that way.”
Rob looked down at the notes he scribbled. It appeared he had nothing solid to go on except the word of some female nut case. He was beginning to wonder about her now. Was she actually telling him the truth or just trying to get out of jam and let someone else come to her rescue – like Rob McRobbie?
“Let me think on this for a day or two, Miss Brown. That is your real name, isn’t it?”
“You don’t believe anything I’ve told you, do you Mr. McRobbie?”
“I’ll do some snooping around and see if I can identify the men behind this alleged caper you’re talking about.”
“You cannot use my name in any stories you write. Do you understand? You will be dealing with something that is way over your head, and if you get too close to the fire, you will be char-broiled and used as Cajun meat in Creole.”
“Where are you staying in case I need to contact you?” McRobbie asked.
“I’m at the Hyatt Regency, room 532. I’ll be here only for a couple of more days and then return to Biloxi.”
“Is that where you are from?” McRobbie’s curiosity was taking on all sorts of what ifs – the attributes which make a great journalist. Every story has to answer who, what, when, where and how. Without them, there is no story.
Rob saw Cindi Brown to the elevator.
He walked away without a byline story for the next day.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Crooked Letter I -- Chapter One
Note: This is a rough draft of a new mystery, romance, suspense novel. I'd like feedback as to whether or not you would want to read more after the first chapter. If so, I will continue to post. I am nearly half-way through, and I am excited. I believe it is even better than The Cry of the Cuckoos.
Biloxi, Mississippi
Carlos Caretti lounged in his crimson-colored recliner inside the luxurious suite on the The Rebel Belle, one of several floating casinos in the Back Bay of Biloxi. Three of his top lieutenants sat on a sofa as Caretti questioned his underlings.
The Rebel Belle was one of the most lucrative businesses he owned, although he joked in federal court when he was accused of being “The Godfather of the Gulf Coast,” that he was merely a “tomato salesman” working for $1,600 a year, and he had interest in real estate. Gambling was a legal business now in the state of Mississippi and Louisiana. The Rebel Belle was one of the Gulf Coast’s best casinos and most “profitable.” And, it was legal. He didn’t know if he was better off now or when he ran illegal slot machines, bingo or ran a bootlegging operation at a younger age. Of course, his family was better off now, he thought. He was mostly legal in everything he did business-wise. That was – almost everything.
Some people referred to Biloxi as a “Poor Man’s Riviera,” but there was nothing poor in Caretti’s life. He was the one of the richest men in the South. No one knew exactly how much the Sicilian from Italy had stashed away in foreign banks. He didn’t know exactly. He only knew he was rich. He left finances to his consigliore.
“How’s de business?” Caretti asked the three men gathered in the room. He smiled and the wrinkles spread across his tanned, rugged face. He was 72-years-old, bald but had lived a robust life. With his wife of over 50 years dead, he had women at his beckon call anytime he wanted.
“Going great, boss.” His son, whom everyone called “Little Joe,” was the first to speak up.
“How’s de business doin’ in Colombia?”
“Still flowing, thanks to our Colombian friends,” Joe told him.
“How about de girls?”
“We’ve got the girls working hard,” Juan Escobar told him.
“That’s good. Real good,” Caretti said, blowing a curly ring of smoke from his black Cuban cigar.
“How’s de casino business?” he turned to look at Manuel Torres, who sipped on a martini.
“Our gaming operation is solid, boss,” said Torres.
Caretti stood up and walked around his lieutenants, touching each on the face with a gentle smack. “Then all is well in our little spot in de world?” It was more a definitive statement than a question.
All three men nodded affirmative.
“I’m a little, how you say it, concerned about the girls,” he continued. “Joseph, have you spoken to our little girl lately? Is she doing as I asked?”
“Boss, she’s doing great. She’s out spreading the word about our new enterprise. You’ve taught her well. One day soon we will be able to offer hope to millions of men who need love and affection. This religion thing was a great idea. Only you could pull something like this off and get away with it.”
Caretti burst out with laughter at his loyal son’s suggestion.
“Where’s she now?”
“She’s in Birmingham setting up the big convention. You know…making the rounds with the press, radio and TV talk show hosts. She’ll have the city leaders in the palm of her hand before this is over. The city will make a few bucks, but we’ll be the cash cow.”
“Des will be just the start of great things,” Caretti said, leaning over his son’s right shoulder and kissing him on the ear. “Dese men in Birmin’ham won’t know what got a hold of dem until we’re done and gone with millions of dollars handed over to our sweet, innocent young ladies. All in the name of God. None of de men will squeal because it will incriminate dem to their friends, families and Church communities. We’ve taken care of the cops, right? And, de boys on de council? It’s amazing what money will do in a lawman’s hands and especially their esteemed police chief. You took care of dem, son?”
“Yes, boss. No one will get in our path. I have to give it to you, Papa,” Little Joe said. “You’re God when it comes to raking in the dough.”
“You’s not seen anything like what I’ve cooked up for the state of Alabamy,” Caretti laughed. “We’ve got to get dem politicians in Montgomery to legalize gambling. We’ve got to extend our business to Lower Alabamy.”
Biloxi, Mississippi
Carlos Caretti lounged in his crimson-colored recliner inside the luxurious suite on the The Rebel Belle, one of several floating casinos in the Back Bay of Biloxi. Three of his top lieutenants sat on a sofa as Caretti questioned his underlings.
The Rebel Belle was one of the most lucrative businesses he owned, although he joked in federal court when he was accused of being “The Godfather of the Gulf Coast,” that he was merely a “tomato salesman” working for $1,600 a year, and he had interest in real estate. Gambling was a legal business now in the state of Mississippi and Louisiana. The Rebel Belle was one of the Gulf Coast’s best casinos and most “profitable.” And, it was legal. He didn’t know if he was better off now or when he ran illegal slot machines, bingo or ran a bootlegging operation at a younger age. Of course, his family was better off now, he thought. He was mostly legal in everything he did business-wise. That was – almost everything.
Some people referred to Biloxi as a “Poor Man’s Riviera,” but there was nothing poor in Caretti’s life. He was the one of the richest men in the South. No one knew exactly how much the Sicilian from Italy had stashed away in foreign banks. He didn’t know exactly. He only knew he was rich. He left finances to his consigliore.
“How’s de business?” Caretti asked the three men gathered in the room. He smiled and the wrinkles spread across his tanned, rugged face. He was 72-years-old, bald but had lived a robust life. With his wife of over 50 years dead, he had women at his beckon call anytime he wanted.
“Going great, boss.” His son, whom everyone called “Little Joe,” was the first to speak up.
“How’s de business doin’ in Colombia?”
“Still flowing, thanks to our Colombian friends,” Joe told him.
“How about de girls?”
“We’ve got the girls working hard,” Juan Escobar told him.
“That’s good. Real good,” Caretti said, blowing a curly ring of smoke from his black Cuban cigar.
“How’s de casino business?” he turned to look at Manuel Torres, who sipped on a martini.
“Our gaming operation is solid, boss,” said Torres.
Caretti stood up and walked around his lieutenants, touching each on the face with a gentle smack. “Then all is well in our little spot in de world?” It was more a definitive statement than a question.
All three men nodded affirmative.
“I’m a little, how you say it, concerned about the girls,” he continued. “Joseph, have you spoken to our little girl lately? Is she doing as I asked?”
“Boss, she’s doing great. She’s out spreading the word about our new enterprise. You’ve taught her well. One day soon we will be able to offer hope to millions of men who need love and affection. This religion thing was a great idea. Only you could pull something like this off and get away with it.”
Caretti burst out with laughter at his loyal son’s suggestion.
“Where’s she now?”
“She’s in Birmingham setting up the big convention. You know…making the rounds with the press, radio and TV talk show hosts. She’ll have the city leaders in the palm of her hand before this is over. The city will make a few bucks, but we’ll be the cash cow.”
“Des will be just the start of great things,” Caretti said, leaning over his son’s right shoulder and kissing him on the ear. “Dese men in Birmin’ham won’t know what got a hold of dem until we’re done and gone with millions of dollars handed over to our sweet, innocent young ladies. All in the name of God. None of de men will squeal because it will incriminate dem to their friends, families and Church communities. We’ve taken care of the cops, right? And, de boys on de council? It’s amazing what money will do in a lawman’s hands and especially their esteemed police chief. You took care of dem, son?”
“Yes, boss. No one will get in our path. I have to give it to you, Papa,” Little Joe said. “You’re God when it comes to raking in the dough.”
“You’s not seen anything like what I’ve cooked up for the state of Alabamy,” Caretti laughed. “We’ve got to get dem politicians in Montgomery to legalize gambling. We’ve got to extend our business to Lower Alabamy.”
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Translating our feelings can overcome stress & depression
Too many people are being diagnosed with depression when in reality they are just unhappy, says an Australian psychiatrist Gordon Parker.
Parker conducted a study which included 242 teachers who were followed for a period of 15 years. During that time, more than three-quarters of them were found to meet the criteria for clinical depression. These criteria include having a “low mood” for more than two weeks combined with appetite change, sleep disturbance, drop in libido and fatigue.
Parker says that having such a low threshold for diagnosing clinical depression creates the risk of taking the normal ups and downs of living and treating them as an illness. He argues that treating these individuals will not be effective because there is nothing wrong with them.
I tend to agree. Feeling sad occasionally in response to our circumstances is a normal part of living. Emotional pain can be a signal that we need to make some changes in our lives. If you touch a hot pan and get burned, do you take a painkiller to deaden the pain or do you learn from your mistake and use a potholder the next time?
A recent telephone conversation with an acquaintance got me to thinking about stress, anxiety, depression and all that is associated with them. Her life at
home was under so much stress raising her children, she said, it was affecting her
job. She wanted to change job assignments thinking this would cure her stress at
home. She wanted to rid herself of the job stress and drop it on someone else. It’s not as simple as that!
Perhaps the root of the stress or depression is at the home rather than the job itself. If we get to the bottom of the stress at home, then we will bring a better
outcome to the job. We call it working from the inside, out. Fixing our internal
self is a good place to begin. It begins with you, not some other person such as
your husband or children or some external issue. Fixing this first will allow you to
overcome stress or depression. Depression, stress and anxiety are often companions, and this is a global problem. One in six people around the world will suffer from major depression at some point in their lives.
When new challenges and opportunities show up in our lives, we may diagnose ourselves as feeling scared when what we really feel is excited. Often we have not been taught how to welcome the thrill of a new opportunity, and so we opt to back off, indulging our anxiety instead of awakening our courage. One way to inspire ourselves to embrace the opportunities that come our way is to look more deeply into our feelings and see that butterflies in our stomach or a rapidly beating heart are not necessarily a sign that we are afraid. Those very same feelings can be translated as excitement, curiosity, passion, and even love.
There is nothing wrong with being afraid as long as we do not let it stop us from doing the things that excite us. Most of us assume that brave people are fearless, but the truth is that they are simply more comfortable with fear because they face it on a regular basis. The more we do this, the more we feel excitement in the face of challenges rather than anxiety. The more we cultivate our ability to move forward instead of backing off, the more we trust ourselves to be able to handle the new opportunity, whether it’s a new job, an exciting move, or a relationship. When we feel our fear, we can remind ourselves that maybe we are actually just excited. We can assure ourselves that this opportunity has come our way because we are meant to take it.
Framing things just a little differently can dramatically shift our mental state from one of resistance to one of openness. We can practice this new way of seeing things by saying aloud: I am really excited about this job. I am really looking forward to going on a date with this amazing person. I am excited to have the opportunity to do something I have never done before. As we do this, we will feel our energy shift from fear, which paralyzes, to excitement, which empowers us to direct all that energy in the service of moving forward, growing, and learning.
If a person feeds on negative thoughts all day long, every task and every trial that comes his or her way will be approached from a defeatist attitude. We have the ability to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. It takes practice, but it is worth it!
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Parker conducted a study which included 242 teachers who were followed for a period of 15 years. During that time, more than three-quarters of them were found to meet the criteria for clinical depression. These criteria include having a “low mood” for more than two weeks combined with appetite change, sleep disturbance, drop in libido and fatigue.
Parker says that having such a low threshold for diagnosing clinical depression creates the risk of taking the normal ups and downs of living and treating them as an illness. He argues that treating these individuals will not be effective because there is nothing wrong with them.
I tend to agree. Feeling sad occasionally in response to our circumstances is a normal part of living. Emotional pain can be a signal that we need to make some changes in our lives. If you touch a hot pan and get burned, do you take a painkiller to deaden the pain or do you learn from your mistake and use a potholder the next time?
A recent telephone conversation with an acquaintance got me to thinking about stress, anxiety, depression and all that is associated with them. Her life at
home was under so much stress raising her children, she said, it was affecting her
job. She wanted to change job assignments thinking this would cure her stress at
home. She wanted to rid herself of the job stress and drop it on someone else. It’s not as simple as that!
Perhaps the root of the stress or depression is at the home rather than the job itself. If we get to the bottom of the stress at home, then we will bring a better
outcome to the job. We call it working from the inside, out. Fixing our internal
self is a good place to begin. It begins with you, not some other person such as
your husband or children or some external issue. Fixing this first will allow you to
overcome stress or depression. Depression, stress and anxiety are often companions, and this is a global problem. One in six people around the world will suffer from major depression at some point in their lives.
When new challenges and opportunities show up in our lives, we may diagnose ourselves as feeling scared when what we really feel is excited. Often we have not been taught how to welcome the thrill of a new opportunity, and so we opt to back off, indulging our anxiety instead of awakening our courage. One way to inspire ourselves to embrace the opportunities that come our way is to look more deeply into our feelings and see that butterflies in our stomach or a rapidly beating heart are not necessarily a sign that we are afraid. Those very same feelings can be translated as excitement, curiosity, passion, and even love.
There is nothing wrong with being afraid as long as we do not let it stop us from doing the things that excite us. Most of us assume that brave people are fearless, but the truth is that they are simply more comfortable with fear because they face it on a regular basis. The more we do this, the more we feel excitement in the face of challenges rather than anxiety. The more we cultivate our ability to move forward instead of backing off, the more we trust ourselves to be able to handle the new opportunity, whether it’s a new job, an exciting move, or a relationship. When we feel our fear, we can remind ourselves that maybe we are actually just excited. We can assure ourselves that this opportunity has come our way because we are meant to take it.
Framing things just a little differently can dramatically shift our mental state from one of resistance to one of openness. We can practice this new way of seeing things by saying aloud: I am really excited about this job. I am really looking forward to going on a date with this amazing person. I am excited to have the opportunity to do something I have never done before. As we do this, we will feel our energy shift from fear, which paralyzes, to excitement, which empowers us to direct all that energy in the service of moving forward, growing, and learning.
If a person feeds on negative thoughts all day long, every task and every trial that comes his or her way will be approached from a defeatist attitude. We have the ability to replace negative thoughts with positive ones. It takes practice, but it is worth it!
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Celebrity worship could mean our lives are really rootless
Looking at the legions of fans mourning the loss of Michael Jackson, one might think celebrity worship is a modern phenomenon.
But from the gods on Olympus in ancient Greece to the bobby-soxers swooning over Elvis Presley to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie today, adulation of the stars is an age-old pursuit.
Jackson's sudden death last Thursday at age 50, just weeks before he was to launch a major concert tour, riveted the world. And hours earlier, the news that Farrah Fawcett, the 1970s sex symbol, had died of anal cancer captivated Americans who remembered her first for her role in TV's "Charlie's Angels" and later as a courageous woman sharing the intimate details of her battle with the disease. Earlier last week we had Ed McMahon, the sidekick to Johnny Carson, pass away.
The public's fascination with celebrities may seem new because we are such a media-immersed society, but it's really not.
When the composers Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt performed in the 19th century, women threw their underwear at them. And 80 years after the death of silent-film star Rudolph Valentino, fans continue to visit his grave.
Celebrities tap into the public's primal fantasies and basic emotions, lifting people from their everyday lives and making them believe anything is possible.
In the case of Jackson, with what appeared to be numerous plastic surgeries and skin bleaching, the weirdness resonates with our own internal suppressed hidden wishes -- for immortality, gratification of sexual impulses and our wish for ageless beauty.
Humans at the core are social beings, and research has shown that the less connected people feel, the more they turn to celebrities.
While worshipping the rich and famous is harmless in itself, it could be perceived as symptomatic of a rootless culture in which many people feel a sense of isolation.
What we know of them (celebrities) through People magazine and other media sources fills a gaping and painful void in our lives. The dwindling influence of religion adds to that sense of yearning in people, making the stars' exploits and eccentricities, their loves and losses, more than a form of entertainment.
Religion is faltering, and in the process people are grappling with infantile wishes, with magical thinking.
For the most part, star status conveys a sense of immortality and invincibility -- and we are shocked when they die.
With loved ones, long-standing rituals help people cope. But with celebrities, fans can be at a loss. We don't know quite how to mourn the loss of stars because we don't expect them to die.
Is it appropriate to grieve a star's passing?
When Alabama football coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, died in 1983 it was like we saw our cultural history disappear. You feel that someone you loved is gone, and it takes time to close the wound. Some of us haven’t gotten over it yet.
When a celebrity passes, the loss is personal -- not because we knew the celebrity but because they were with us as we grew up and as we had our own special moments.
If you're overcome with emotion, it might be satisfying to write down or talk through your feelings, either with a friend or into a tape recorder. Think of it as the loss of a family member and go with it. Although physically gone, deceased celebrities leave their art -- those are the memories.
But in a disposable culture such as today's, the mourning often doesn't last long.
Coach Bryant’s legacy hasn’t been as easy to replace as other celebrities, especially not in our neck of the woods which is the Tide Nation. No one has been able to replace him in our collective consciousness. Nick Saban could be the new replacement. Only time will tell.
When we fall into celebrity worship, we sometimes see that person in a glowing light. Their good qualities dominate the foreground of our perception and their negative qualities. They just don’t seem to have any. We knew Coach Bryant had a negative side. He liked to drink. No reporter dared to talk about his drinking or prescription drug problem while he was alive.
This temporary state of grace is commonly known as putting someone on a pedestal. Often times we put spiritual leaders and our gurus on pedestals. We have all done this to someone at one time or another, and as long as we remember that no one is actually “perfect,” the pedestal phase of a relationship can be enjoyed for what it is-a phase. It’s when we actually believe our own projection that troubles arise.
Everyone has problems, flaws, and blind spots, just as we do. When we entertain the illusion that someone is perfect, we don’t allow them room to be human, so when they make an error in judgment or act in contradiction to our idea of perfection, we become disillusioned.
We may get angry or distance ourselves in response. In the end, they are not to blame for the fact that we idealized them. Granted, they may have enjoyed seeing themselves as perfect through our eyes, but we are the ones who chose to believe an illusion. If you go through this process enough times, you learn that no one is perfect.
We are all a combination of divine and human qualities and we all struggle. When we treat the people we love with this awareness, we actually allow for a much greater intimacy than when we held them aloft on an airy throne. The moment you see through your idealized projection is the moment you begin to see your loved one as he or she truly is.
We cannot truly connect with a person when we idealize them. In life, there are no pedestals-we are all walking on the same ground together. When we realize this, we can own our own divinity and our humanity. This is the key to balance and wholeness within ourselves and our relationships.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
But from the gods on Olympus in ancient Greece to the bobby-soxers swooning over Elvis Presley to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie today, adulation of the stars is an age-old pursuit.
Jackson's sudden death last Thursday at age 50, just weeks before he was to launch a major concert tour, riveted the world. And hours earlier, the news that Farrah Fawcett, the 1970s sex symbol, had died of anal cancer captivated Americans who remembered her first for her role in TV's "Charlie's Angels" and later as a courageous woman sharing the intimate details of her battle with the disease. Earlier last week we had Ed McMahon, the sidekick to Johnny Carson, pass away.
The public's fascination with celebrities may seem new because we are such a media-immersed society, but it's really not.
When the composers Frederic Chopin and Franz Liszt performed in the 19th century, women threw their underwear at them. And 80 years after the death of silent-film star Rudolph Valentino, fans continue to visit his grave.
Celebrities tap into the public's primal fantasies and basic emotions, lifting people from their everyday lives and making them believe anything is possible.
In the case of Jackson, with what appeared to be numerous plastic surgeries and skin bleaching, the weirdness resonates with our own internal suppressed hidden wishes -- for immortality, gratification of sexual impulses and our wish for ageless beauty.
Humans at the core are social beings, and research has shown that the less connected people feel, the more they turn to celebrities.
While worshipping the rich and famous is harmless in itself, it could be perceived as symptomatic of a rootless culture in which many people feel a sense of isolation.
What we know of them (celebrities) through People magazine and other media sources fills a gaping and painful void in our lives. The dwindling influence of religion adds to that sense of yearning in people, making the stars' exploits and eccentricities, their loves and losses, more than a form of entertainment.
Religion is faltering, and in the process people are grappling with infantile wishes, with magical thinking.
For the most part, star status conveys a sense of immortality and invincibility -- and we are shocked when they die.
With loved ones, long-standing rituals help people cope. But with celebrities, fans can be at a loss. We don't know quite how to mourn the loss of stars because we don't expect them to die.
Is it appropriate to grieve a star's passing?
When Alabama football coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant, died in 1983 it was like we saw our cultural history disappear. You feel that someone you loved is gone, and it takes time to close the wound. Some of us haven’t gotten over it yet.
When a celebrity passes, the loss is personal -- not because we knew the celebrity but because they were with us as we grew up and as we had our own special moments.
If you're overcome with emotion, it might be satisfying to write down or talk through your feelings, either with a friend or into a tape recorder. Think of it as the loss of a family member and go with it. Although physically gone, deceased celebrities leave their art -- those are the memories.
But in a disposable culture such as today's, the mourning often doesn't last long.
Coach Bryant’s legacy hasn’t been as easy to replace as other celebrities, especially not in our neck of the woods which is the Tide Nation. No one has been able to replace him in our collective consciousness. Nick Saban could be the new replacement. Only time will tell.
When we fall into celebrity worship, we sometimes see that person in a glowing light. Their good qualities dominate the foreground of our perception and their negative qualities. They just don’t seem to have any. We knew Coach Bryant had a negative side. He liked to drink. No reporter dared to talk about his drinking or prescription drug problem while he was alive.
This temporary state of grace is commonly known as putting someone on a pedestal. Often times we put spiritual leaders and our gurus on pedestals. We have all done this to someone at one time or another, and as long as we remember that no one is actually “perfect,” the pedestal phase of a relationship can be enjoyed for what it is-a phase. It’s when we actually believe our own projection that troubles arise.
Everyone has problems, flaws, and blind spots, just as we do. When we entertain the illusion that someone is perfect, we don’t allow them room to be human, so when they make an error in judgment or act in contradiction to our idea of perfection, we become disillusioned.
We may get angry or distance ourselves in response. In the end, they are not to blame for the fact that we idealized them. Granted, they may have enjoyed seeing themselves as perfect through our eyes, but we are the ones who chose to believe an illusion. If you go through this process enough times, you learn that no one is perfect.
We are all a combination of divine and human qualities and we all struggle. When we treat the people we love with this awareness, we actually allow for a much greater intimacy than when we held them aloft on an airy throne. The moment you see through your idealized projection is the moment you begin to see your loved one as he or she truly is.
We cannot truly connect with a person when we idealize them. In life, there are no pedestals-we are all walking on the same ground together. When we realize this, we can own our own divinity and our humanity. This is the key to balance and wholeness within ourselves and our relationships.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Cry of The Cuckoos: an imperfect masterpiece
Henry Drummond, a well-known KKK member with mob ties and founder of the right wing supremacist organization called the Society of Southron Patriots, is murdered. What follows is a study of the effects of his legacy on those closest to him.
The society he founded is in turmoil; fully committed to a terrorist plot to kill Washington dignitaries at the Super Bowl and delegates at the United Nations, the separatist organization comes under the scrutiny of both the local authorities and the FBI. Panic sets in and more killing follows.
Drummond’s oldest son, Donald, finds out his mother isn’t who he thought she was and begins a descent into a dangerous depression. The whole family faces upheavals and strange revelations at every turn. Lives change and Donald continues to unravel.
Eventually the story takes on a feel somewhat similar to books like Arthur Hailey’s Airport, Hotel or Wheels. This is a good thing!
And The Cry of The Cuckoos could have been a masterpiece... Following a theme of deceit and redemption, the story is solid. You want to know what’s going on. Cargile can construct sentences with the best of them. Both the dialogue and the scene progression are crisp. He also knows how to move a story along.
But I don’t understand his usage of tense and some of the words he chooses. Not only does he flip back and forth between past and present tenses—sometimes within the same paragraph—he also uses words and tense in unusual and improper ways. One example is his insistence in referring to the noun poison as poisoning. It’s an odd enough choice that it pulls one right out of the story and makes you ask why he uses the word that way.
This is an accomplished writer and editor in the field of journalism. I can only guess that he’s a victim of the risk many self-publishers take: that is, he edited his own work.
I like the story, but the strange grammatical choices diminish my enjoyment. I give this book a 3 out of 5 instead of the 4.5 it could have been.
Copyright © 2009 Clayton Clifford Bye
The society he founded is in turmoil; fully committed to a terrorist plot to kill Washington dignitaries at the Super Bowl and delegates at the United Nations, the separatist organization comes under the scrutiny of both the local authorities and the FBI. Panic sets in and more killing follows.
Drummond’s oldest son, Donald, finds out his mother isn’t who he thought she was and begins a descent into a dangerous depression. The whole family faces upheavals and strange revelations at every turn. Lives change and Donald continues to unravel.
Eventually the story takes on a feel somewhat similar to books like Arthur Hailey’s Airport, Hotel or Wheels. This is a good thing!
And The Cry of The Cuckoos could have been a masterpiece... Following a theme of deceit and redemption, the story is solid. You want to know what’s going on. Cargile can construct sentences with the best of them. Both the dialogue and the scene progression are crisp. He also knows how to move a story along.
But I don’t understand his usage of tense and some of the words he chooses. Not only does he flip back and forth between past and present tenses—sometimes within the same paragraph—he also uses words and tense in unusual and improper ways. One example is his insistence in referring to the noun poison as poisoning. It’s an odd enough choice that it pulls one right out of the story and makes you ask why he uses the word that way.
This is an accomplished writer and editor in the field of journalism. I can only guess that he’s a victim of the risk many self-publishers take: that is, he edited his own work.
I like the story, but the strange grammatical choices diminish my enjoyment. I give this book a 3 out of 5 instead of the 4.5 it could have been.
Copyright © 2009 Clayton Clifford Bye
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Periods of high stress can make us feel cuckoo or crazy
Most of us feel a little cuckoo or crazy from time to time.
Those of you who have read my new mystery novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos, found out how periods of high stress can alter one’s identity.
The main character, Donald Drummond, finds out he has a biological mother he knew nothing about for 61 years. Upon receiving this knowledge he goes into deep despair. Anxiety disorders among other health issues begin to plague him.
Periods of high stress can make us feel like we’re losing it, as can being surrounded by people whose values are very different from our own.
Drummond’s father dies and the story reveals the father-son relationship was different from one another. They were estranged for many years. Drummond’s life unravels.
Losing a significant relationship and moving into a new life situation are other events that can cause us to feel off kilter. Circumstances like these recur in our lives, and they naturally affect our mental stability.
The symptoms of our state of mind can range from having no recollection of putting our car keys where we eventually find them, to wondering if we’re seeing things clearly when everyone around us seems to be in denial of what’s going on right in front of their eyes.
For most of us, the key to survival at times like these is to step back, take a deep breath, and regain our composure. Then we can decide what course of action to take.
Sometimes a time-out does the trick. We take a day off from whatever is making us feel crazy and, like magic, we feel in our right mind again.
Talking to an objective friend can also help. We begin to see what it is about the situation that destabilizes us, and we can make changes from there. At other times, if the situation is particularly sticky, we may need to seek professional help.
Meeting with someone who understands the way the human mind reacts to stress, loss, and difficulty can make us feel less alone and more supported. A therapist or a spiritual counselor can give us techniques that help bring us back to a sane state of mind so that we can affect useful changes.
They can also mirror our basic goodness, helping us to see that we are actually okay.
The main purpose of the wake-up call that feeling crazy provides is to let us know that something in our lives is out of balance.
Confirm for yourself that you are capable of creating a sane and peaceful reality for yourself. Try to remember that most people have felt, at one time or another that they are losing it. You deserve a life that helps you thrive. Try and take some steps today to help you achieve more balance and a little less crazy.
When we become overwhelmed and things are not going as planned, it is natural to hold tighter to our goals and try to force things to go our way.
In the process, we tie ourselves in knots, tensing our shoulders, jaws, and muscles throughout our bodies.
Our mind tells us that this is how to get a firmer grip on a situation that feels out of control, but as we create knots in our bodies we are blocking the flow of our energy, exhausting ourselves by exerting more effort yet accomplishing less.
At these times, though it may seem counterintuitive, our higher selves know it’s better to let go.
This may not be quite as easy as it sounds.
After the relief of our first decision to release, if we allow questions about how to get everything done to start again, the knots will be back before we know it.
So we need to be aware that this is a process to breathe through. First, we need to let go of our idea of what the perfect outcome should be, and allow that the intelligence that drives the universe knows better than we do how everything fits together for the highest good.
Then we might have to release our imagined consequences and realize that, in most cases, the worst that could happen really isn’t that bad. We may need to remember how to relax, first by taking deep breaths, then by meditating, and then perhaps seeking help from a loved one, massage therapist, or energy healer to clear the underlying knots.
We can ease our mental stress by prioritizing what we truly want to accomplish, and then delegating the rest to someone who has more enthusiasm for those things. When we relax and let life’s energy flow through our minds, bodies, spirits, and lives, we will find that we can accomplish more with less effort and feel good doing it.
We don’t have to tie ourselves in knots. Instead, we can let the ribbons of our energy unfurl to gracefully direct us through life’s abundant flow.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Those of you who have read my new mystery novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos, found out how periods of high stress can alter one’s identity.
The main character, Donald Drummond, finds out he has a biological mother he knew nothing about for 61 years. Upon receiving this knowledge he goes into deep despair. Anxiety disorders among other health issues begin to plague him.
Periods of high stress can make us feel like we’re losing it, as can being surrounded by people whose values are very different from our own.
Drummond’s father dies and the story reveals the father-son relationship was different from one another. They were estranged for many years. Drummond’s life unravels.
Losing a significant relationship and moving into a new life situation are other events that can cause us to feel off kilter. Circumstances like these recur in our lives, and they naturally affect our mental stability.
The symptoms of our state of mind can range from having no recollection of putting our car keys where we eventually find them, to wondering if we’re seeing things clearly when everyone around us seems to be in denial of what’s going on right in front of their eyes.
For most of us, the key to survival at times like these is to step back, take a deep breath, and regain our composure. Then we can decide what course of action to take.
Sometimes a time-out does the trick. We take a day off from whatever is making us feel crazy and, like magic, we feel in our right mind again.
Talking to an objective friend can also help. We begin to see what it is about the situation that destabilizes us, and we can make changes from there. At other times, if the situation is particularly sticky, we may need to seek professional help.
Meeting with someone who understands the way the human mind reacts to stress, loss, and difficulty can make us feel less alone and more supported. A therapist or a spiritual counselor can give us techniques that help bring us back to a sane state of mind so that we can affect useful changes.
They can also mirror our basic goodness, helping us to see that we are actually okay.
The main purpose of the wake-up call that feeling crazy provides is to let us know that something in our lives is out of balance.
Confirm for yourself that you are capable of creating a sane and peaceful reality for yourself. Try to remember that most people have felt, at one time or another that they are losing it. You deserve a life that helps you thrive. Try and take some steps today to help you achieve more balance and a little less crazy.
When we become overwhelmed and things are not going as planned, it is natural to hold tighter to our goals and try to force things to go our way.
In the process, we tie ourselves in knots, tensing our shoulders, jaws, and muscles throughout our bodies.
Our mind tells us that this is how to get a firmer grip on a situation that feels out of control, but as we create knots in our bodies we are blocking the flow of our energy, exhausting ourselves by exerting more effort yet accomplishing less.
At these times, though it may seem counterintuitive, our higher selves know it’s better to let go.
This may not be quite as easy as it sounds.
After the relief of our first decision to release, if we allow questions about how to get everything done to start again, the knots will be back before we know it.
So we need to be aware that this is a process to breathe through. First, we need to let go of our idea of what the perfect outcome should be, and allow that the intelligence that drives the universe knows better than we do how everything fits together for the highest good.
Then we might have to release our imagined consequences and realize that, in most cases, the worst that could happen really isn’t that bad. We may need to remember how to relax, first by taking deep breaths, then by meditating, and then perhaps seeking help from a loved one, massage therapist, or energy healer to clear the underlying knots.
We can ease our mental stress by prioritizing what we truly want to accomplish, and then delegating the rest to someone who has more enthusiasm for those things. When we relax and let life’s energy flow through our minds, bodies, spirits, and lives, we will find that we can accomplish more with less effort and feel good doing it.
We don’t have to tie ourselves in knots. Instead, we can let the ribbons of our energy unfurl to gracefully direct us through life’s abundant flow.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Keeping boredom at arm’s length through the creative process
I guess there are times when we all suffer from boredom.
I am in a post-partum publishing state of mind. After going through a book publishing process, which takes many, many months, and seeing your book actually in the print stage and on the market, I often ask “What next?”
Oh, I’ve got some ideas, and other novels to work on. I feel like a pregnant woman who has waited nine months for delivery and when the baby is born with all the excitement it entails, the woman, in most cases, suffers post-partum depression.
We experience highs and lows, but we must be able to keep ourselves from getting too high or diving too deep into depression.
I was on cloud nine this past week as I got a lead from a friend, a friend of a friend of one of Hollywood’s top movie producers – Steven Tisch, Academy Award winner for the Forrest Gump movie. He also happens to be co-owner of the New York Giants. The friend said she would get my book into Tisch’s hands and see what develops. Friends tell me the book would make a great movie. I found out Tisch married a woman from Tuscaloosa – Jamie Alexander. They have since divorced. Tisch still has friends in Tuscaloosa.
A radio interview last week placed me on another high when the show producer – Lee Davis – of WYDE Radio 101.1FM ranked my book, The Cry of the Cuckoos, somewhere between Tom Clancy and John Grisham. It was a great compliment.
Then there was a low. I went to a book signing in Birmingham. The weather was awful. I knew on the drive up that anyone getting out in this type of gully-buster weather probably needed a special award like a Courageous Cuckoo Fan button. The bookstore signing was a bust as only a few drenched customers came through the door. They were looking for certain items or picking up books they had ordered. I went home in a stupor, went to bed. Post-partum depression.
The human mind thrives on novelty. What was once a source of pleasure can become tedious after a time. Though our lives are full, boredom lurks around every corner because we innately long for new experiences.
Yet boredom by its very nature is passive. In this idle state of mind, we may feel frustrated at our inability to channel our mental energy into productive or engaging tasks. We may even attempt to lose ourselves in purposeless or self-destructive pursuits.
While this can be a sign of depression, it can also be an invitation issued from your mind, asking you to challenge yourself.
Boredom can become the motivation that drives you to learn, explore the exotic, experiment, and harness the boundless creative energy within.
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, boredom is perceived as a pathway to self-awareness. Boredom itself is not detrimental to the soul-it is the manner in which we respond to it that determines whether it becomes a positive or a negative influence in our lives.
When you respond by actively filling the emptiness you feel lurking in yourself, you cultivate creativity and innovation. If, when in the grip of boredom, you have difficulty acknowledging the merits of any activities you might otherwise enjoy, generate your own inspiration.
Before you find yourself beset by boredom, create a list of tasks you can consult when it feels like there is simply nothing to do. Referring to a list of topics you want to learn more about, projects you’ve yet to begin, or even pending chores can spark your creative energy and reawaken your zest for life.
When we are troubled by boredom, it is not that there is nothing to do but rather that we are not stimulated by the options before us. A bored mind can be the canvas upon which innovation is painted and the womb in which novelty is nourished. When you identify boredom as a signal that you need to test your boundaries, it can be the force that presses you to strive for opportunities you thought were beyond your reach and to indulge your desire for adventure.
We all experience periods where we feel separated from the loving ebb and flow of the universe. These times of feeling disconnected from the source may occur for many reasons, but self-sabotage is the most common cause for us choosing to cut ourselves off from the flow of the universe.
Reconnecting with the universe grounds you and is as easy as making a concerted effort to become interested in the activities you love or responding to what nurtures or stimulates you..
When you disconnect from the universe, your sense of purpose, creativity, and ability to be innovative are not as easy to access. You may also experience a deep and empty sense of longing or feel devoid of ideas or unworthy of love. It’s important, however, to recognize that being disconnected from the universe is never a permanent state, and it can be reversed any time you decide that you are ready to reconnect. When you are connected to the universe, all aspects of your being will feel alive as the flow of the universe pours through your being and into your life.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
I am in a post-partum publishing state of mind. After going through a book publishing process, which takes many, many months, and seeing your book actually in the print stage and on the market, I often ask “What next?”
Oh, I’ve got some ideas, and other novels to work on. I feel like a pregnant woman who has waited nine months for delivery and when the baby is born with all the excitement it entails, the woman, in most cases, suffers post-partum depression.
We experience highs and lows, but we must be able to keep ourselves from getting too high or diving too deep into depression.
I was on cloud nine this past week as I got a lead from a friend, a friend of a friend of one of Hollywood’s top movie producers – Steven Tisch, Academy Award winner for the Forrest Gump movie. He also happens to be co-owner of the New York Giants. The friend said she would get my book into Tisch’s hands and see what develops. Friends tell me the book would make a great movie. I found out Tisch married a woman from Tuscaloosa – Jamie Alexander. They have since divorced. Tisch still has friends in Tuscaloosa.
A radio interview last week placed me on another high when the show producer – Lee Davis – of WYDE Radio 101.1FM ranked my book, The Cry of the Cuckoos, somewhere between Tom Clancy and John Grisham. It was a great compliment.
Then there was a low. I went to a book signing in Birmingham. The weather was awful. I knew on the drive up that anyone getting out in this type of gully-buster weather probably needed a special award like a Courageous Cuckoo Fan button. The bookstore signing was a bust as only a few drenched customers came through the door. They were looking for certain items or picking up books they had ordered. I went home in a stupor, went to bed. Post-partum depression.
The human mind thrives on novelty. What was once a source of pleasure can become tedious after a time. Though our lives are full, boredom lurks around every corner because we innately long for new experiences.
Yet boredom by its very nature is passive. In this idle state of mind, we may feel frustrated at our inability to channel our mental energy into productive or engaging tasks. We may even attempt to lose ourselves in purposeless or self-destructive pursuits.
While this can be a sign of depression, it can also be an invitation issued from your mind, asking you to challenge yourself.
Boredom can become the motivation that drives you to learn, explore the exotic, experiment, and harness the boundless creative energy within.
In Hindu and Buddhist traditions, boredom is perceived as a pathway to self-awareness. Boredom itself is not detrimental to the soul-it is the manner in which we respond to it that determines whether it becomes a positive or a negative influence in our lives.
When you respond by actively filling the emptiness you feel lurking in yourself, you cultivate creativity and innovation. If, when in the grip of boredom, you have difficulty acknowledging the merits of any activities you might otherwise enjoy, generate your own inspiration.
Before you find yourself beset by boredom, create a list of tasks you can consult when it feels like there is simply nothing to do. Referring to a list of topics you want to learn more about, projects you’ve yet to begin, or even pending chores can spark your creative energy and reawaken your zest for life.
When we are troubled by boredom, it is not that there is nothing to do but rather that we are not stimulated by the options before us. A bored mind can be the canvas upon which innovation is painted and the womb in which novelty is nourished. When you identify boredom as a signal that you need to test your boundaries, it can be the force that presses you to strive for opportunities you thought were beyond your reach and to indulge your desire for adventure.
We all experience periods where we feel separated from the loving ebb and flow of the universe. These times of feeling disconnected from the source may occur for many reasons, but self-sabotage is the most common cause for us choosing to cut ourselves off from the flow of the universe.
Reconnecting with the universe grounds you and is as easy as making a concerted effort to become interested in the activities you love or responding to what nurtures or stimulates you..
When you disconnect from the universe, your sense of purpose, creativity, and ability to be innovative are not as easy to access. You may also experience a deep and empty sense of longing or feel devoid of ideas or unworthy of love. It’s important, however, to recognize that being disconnected from the universe is never a permanent state, and it can be reversed any time you decide that you are ready to reconnect. When you are connected to the universe, all aspects of your being will feel alive as the flow of the universe pours through your being and into your life.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Radio interview with Lee Davis
I had a great 10-minute interview with Lee Davis, host of The Lee Davis Show on WYDE Radio 101.1 FM Friday, June 12. We talked about how much research was done in the writing of The Cry of the Cuckoos. I told him that much research was done and pointed out specific examples. He compared my writing somewhere between Tom Clancy and John Grisham. What a compliment!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A review from John Lee (Mentone, Alabama)
A splendid combination of what most readers, like myself, desire in a good novel--mystery, mayhem, madness, and one of the most dysfunctional families you've ever seen. It would provide a team of therapists with full time work.
Though the last third ambles along almost to the point of losing a reader, the characters are so real and the story so well told it keeps your curiosity churning and the pages turning to see what happens to the Drummond Family all the way from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Texas. I highly recommend this book--a damn good read. John Lee (Mentone, Alabama)
Though the last third ambles along almost to the point of losing a reader, the characters are so real and the story so well told it keeps your curiosity churning and the pages turning to see what happens to the Drummond Family all the way from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Texas. I highly recommend this book--a damn good read. John Lee (Mentone, Alabama)
Monday, June 8, 2009
Reader comment about The Cry of the Cuckoos
this book is wonderfull it keeps you on your toes once you start reading it you cant put it down!!! hope book two comes out soon!!!!!!!!!!! Jenna Taylor and T.R. Pate.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Excuses are not in Dr. Wayne Dyer’s vocabulary
I joined a new internet site, BookBuzzr.com last weekend to market my book, The Cry of the Cuckoos, and I was surprised to see Dr. Wayne Dyer on the same site marketing his many self-help books. I’ve seen him on television and read some of the excerpts from his books. We are both in the same phases with our books that millions of other authors find themselves. The game is called PR and marketing.
Dr. Dyer has been called the “father of motivation,” by his fans.
The column I write titled, “Integral Life,” shares many of the same ideologies.
While he is on a very fast track and widely known nationally and internationally he certainly deserves the spotlight. His new book, “Excuses Begone!” was released in May of this year.
To think he grew up in an orphanage and foster homes blows my mind, but he was able to overcome obstacles we only read about. He has found some secrets to life which deserve more attention.
He's the author of over 30 books, has created many audio programs and videos, and has appeared on thousands of television and radio shows.
His books Manifest Your Destiny, Wisdom of the Ages, There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and the New York Times bestsellers 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, The Power of Intention, Inspiration, Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life, and now Excuses Begone! have all been featured as National Public Television specials.
Dyer holds a Doctorate in Educational Counseling from Wayne State University and was an associate professor at St. John's University in New York.
When he's not traveling the globe delivering his uplifting message, Wayne is writing from his home in Maui. I think I could write from Maui, but I prefer Mount Olive Road.
I couldn’t help but read some of the excerpts in his book which is made available to anyone choosing to download some of the points he makes in his new book. Here are a few.
1. Excuses Begone! is encouraging you to challenge patterns and feel inspired by a newfound awareness of the life hidden beneath your excuses. Invite yourself to move out of established thought patterns, and realize that there is nothing standing in your way of living at your highest levels.
2. You have an unquestionable ability to eliminate excuses—they’ll get up and go when they’re revealed as the false beliefs that they are. There’s simply no question about this!
3. You elevate your life by taking responsibility for who you are and what you’re choosing to become. You can transcend the ordinary, mundane, and average with thoughts of greater joy and meaning; you can decide to elevate your life, rather than have it stagnate or deteriorate with excuses. Go beyond where you presently are.
4. You can bring your desires to consciousness by disconnecting the power from your subconscious so that it can’t continue to run your life. Your subconscious (habitual) mind is accessible, so unearth the excuses buried deep within you. Become conscious!
“It’s a rare day when I don’t hear some variation of this excuse, including: “I didn’t go to college because it was too expensive,” he writes. “I haven’t been able to travel because I never had the funds,” and “I couldn’t go into the business I wanted because I had to stay where I was and earn money to pay the bills.”
“I call this belief lame and a cop-out, yet there seems to be almost universal agreement for its existence. You originated in a world of abundance, which you unquestionably have the ability to access.
“Whenever you discourage yourself with thoughts that your financial situation is preventing anything from appearing, that’s an excuse. If you instead decide to bring abundance awareness into your consciousness, you’ll shift your thoughts from I can’t afford it to ‘Whatever I need in the form of assistance to guide me in the direction of my life is not only available, but is on its way.’
“You’ll then consciously watch for the necessary funding to show up, but you’ll also be reminding yourself to believe that you have the ability to use abundance to elevate your life.
“Encourage yourself by realizing that you have the capacity to create a space within you that’s filled with peace and joy, an inner island of contentment that has nothing to do with money.”
The self-help age, while nothing new, is something to give a lot of attention to these days. Tried and true beliefs about ourselves and our limitations are excuses, as Dyer points out.
If we practice gratitude for the essentials of life we are giving ourselves a joy free of charge.
Dyer writes: “Oscar Wilde made this wry observation in 1891: “There is only one class in the community that thinks more about money than the rich, and that is the poor. The poor can think of nothing else.”
“I’d add that such thinking includes lamenting the fact that they’ll never have money. I advise tossing out this meme, and instead rewiring thoughts to connect with what’s intended to manifest, regardless of your current financial status.
“Whatever you feel is your dharma, and no matter how hard that calling seems to be pulling you, if you maintain the belief that you can’t manage to pull it off, I can assure you that you’re right. To paraphrase Henry Ford, whether you believe you can afford to do a thing or not, you’re right.”
Thanks, Dr. Dyer for helping us remember.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Dr. Dyer has been called the “father of motivation,” by his fans.
The column I write titled, “Integral Life,” shares many of the same ideologies.
While he is on a very fast track and widely known nationally and internationally he certainly deserves the spotlight. His new book, “Excuses Begone!” was released in May of this year.
To think he grew up in an orphanage and foster homes blows my mind, but he was able to overcome obstacles we only read about. He has found some secrets to life which deserve more attention.
He's the author of over 30 books, has created many audio programs and videos, and has appeared on thousands of television and radio shows.
His books Manifest Your Destiny, Wisdom of the Ages, There's a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, and the New York Times bestsellers 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace, The Power of Intention, Inspiration, Change Your Thoughts—Change Your Life, and now Excuses Begone! have all been featured as National Public Television specials.
Dyer holds a Doctorate in Educational Counseling from Wayne State University and was an associate professor at St. John's University in New York.
When he's not traveling the globe delivering his uplifting message, Wayne is writing from his home in Maui. I think I could write from Maui, but I prefer Mount Olive Road.
I couldn’t help but read some of the excerpts in his book which is made available to anyone choosing to download some of the points he makes in his new book. Here are a few.
1. Excuses Begone! is encouraging you to challenge patterns and feel inspired by a newfound awareness of the life hidden beneath your excuses. Invite yourself to move out of established thought patterns, and realize that there is nothing standing in your way of living at your highest levels.
2. You have an unquestionable ability to eliminate excuses—they’ll get up and go when they’re revealed as the false beliefs that they are. There’s simply no question about this!
3. You elevate your life by taking responsibility for who you are and what you’re choosing to become. You can transcend the ordinary, mundane, and average with thoughts of greater joy and meaning; you can decide to elevate your life, rather than have it stagnate or deteriorate with excuses. Go beyond where you presently are.
4. You can bring your desires to consciousness by disconnecting the power from your subconscious so that it can’t continue to run your life. Your subconscious (habitual) mind is accessible, so unearth the excuses buried deep within you. Become conscious!
“It’s a rare day when I don’t hear some variation of this excuse, including: “I didn’t go to college because it was too expensive,” he writes. “I haven’t been able to travel because I never had the funds,” and “I couldn’t go into the business I wanted because I had to stay where I was and earn money to pay the bills.”
“I call this belief lame and a cop-out, yet there seems to be almost universal agreement for its existence. You originated in a world of abundance, which you unquestionably have the ability to access.
“Whenever you discourage yourself with thoughts that your financial situation is preventing anything from appearing, that’s an excuse. If you instead decide to bring abundance awareness into your consciousness, you’ll shift your thoughts from I can’t afford it to ‘Whatever I need in the form of assistance to guide me in the direction of my life is not only available, but is on its way.’
“You’ll then consciously watch for the necessary funding to show up, but you’ll also be reminding yourself to believe that you have the ability to use abundance to elevate your life.
“Encourage yourself by realizing that you have the capacity to create a space within you that’s filled with peace and joy, an inner island of contentment that has nothing to do with money.”
The self-help age, while nothing new, is something to give a lot of attention to these days. Tried and true beliefs about ourselves and our limitations are excuses, as Dyer points out.
If we practice gratitude for the essentials of life we are giving ourselves a joy free of charge.
Dyer writes: “Oscar Wilde made this wry observation in 1891: “There is only one class in the community that thinks more about money than the rich, and that is the poor. The poor can think of nothing else.”
“I’d add that such thinking includes lamenting the fact that they’ll never have money. I advise tossing out this meme, and instead rewiring thoughts to connect with what’s intended to manifest, regardless of your current financial status.
“Whatever you feel is your dharma, and no matter how hard that calling seems to be pulling you, if you maintain the belief that you can’t manage to pull it off, I can assure you that you’re right. To paraphrase Henry Ford, whether you believe you can afford to do a thing or not, you’re right.”
Thanks, Dr. Dyer for helping us remember.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Wouldn’t it be nice to live in Mayberry USA again?
I don’t know about you, but when I am shopping (which is rare) I usually migrate to an employee who has a smile on his/her face.
Ever done that?
Wouldn’t you rather ask the direction to a certain item you are looking for if the employee has a smile on their face?
Or, when you are at the checkout counter, wouldn’t you rather see the checkout person smiling? After all, they are about to take your hard-earned dollar.
When I walk through a store to my destination and meet other shoppers, I look to faces with a smile and those who make direct eye contact.
I often wish that people showed more direct eye contact, salute in some way as to offer their spirit back to your spirit. In Hindu lingo a person who says or signs off with the word namaste is saying, “I bow to the divine in you,” or “I respect that divinity in you that is also within me.” In yoga, a person may leave you by using the word namaste. What they are saying is, “The light within me acknowledges the light within you.”
We often feel that we don’t have the time or energy to extend ourselves to others with the small gestures that compose what we call common courtesy.
It sometimes seems that this kind of social awareness belongs to the past, to smaller towns and slower times. I guess that is why I like Mayberry USA so much.
Yet, when someone extends this kind of courtesy to us, we always feel touched. Like someone who lends a helping hand when you are struggling with decisions at the grocery store on what it was your wife sent you there for in the first place. Some people extend a helping hand if you ask them their advice. It makes an impression because many people just walk right by. If you ask them for advice about a certain product and find a grimace on their face, you know you didn’t ask the right person.
Even someone who simply makes the effort to look us in the eye, smiles, and greets us properly when entering a room stands out of the crowd. It seems these people carry with them the elegance and grace of another time, and we are always thankful for our contact with them.
Common courtesy is a small gesture that makes a big difference.
An essential component of common courtesy is awareness and common sense-looking outside yourself to see when someone needs help or acknowledgment.
As a courteous person, you are aware that you are walking into a room full of people or that your waiter has arrived to take your order. Then, awareness leads to action.
It is usually quite clear what needs to be done-open the door for the woman holding the baby, move your car up two feet so another person can park behind you, acknowledge your friend’s shy boyfriend with a smile and some conversation, apologize if you bump into someone.
A third component is to give courtesy freely, without expecting anything in return. People may not even take notice, much less return the kindness, but you can take heart in the fact that you are creating the kind of world you want to live in with your actions.
When you are out in the world, remember to be aware of others, lend your hand when one is needed, and give this help without an ulterior motive.
The face is a complex palette of emotions. A slight turning up of the lips and a crinkling of the eyes can signal pleasure, contentment, happiness, or satisfaction. But in all cases, a smile is more than it seems.
A smiling person is often judged as more attractive, pleasant to be around, sincere, honest, sociable, and inviting and is considered more confident and successful.
Smiling is not a learned action. Even those born blind will smile when experiencing a joyful moment. A carefree smile is a quick and easy way to tell the world that you are open to new experiences and eager to meet new people.
It is assumed that a bright smile stems from happiness, but research has also shown that genuine happiness can stem from a smile.
Even a smile called forth when you don't necessarily feel like smiling can trigger the release of endorphins, brightening your day.
The simple act of smiling can help relieve stress by relaxing your facial muscles and encouraging you to focus on happy memories. And a forced smile, which only involves the muscles of the mouth, can easily turn into a true smile, which lights up the entire face. A smile motivated by real happiness is likely to inspire someone nearby to smile, possibly because of the expression's origins in the primate grin. That grin, which some scientists believe evolved into the smile, signaled that the one grinning was a friend rather than an opponent.
In ancient China, Taoists taught the benefits of the inner smile because they believed it insured happiness, health, and longevity.
One smile can lessen the sting of a negative mood and bring on a better one. But don't be self-conscious about it.
Smiling is universal and looks great on everyone. A smile, directed inward, outward, or at nothing in particular brightens the world and is a gift to those who see it.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Ever done that?
Wouldn’t you rather ask the direction to a certain item you are looking for if the employee has a smile on their face?
Or, when you are at the checkout counter, wouldn’t you rather see the checkout person smiling? After all, they are about to take your hard-earned dollar.
When I walk through a store to my destination and meet other shoppers, I look to faces with a smile and those who make direct eye contact.
I often wish that people showed more direct eye contact, salute in some way as to offer their spirit back to your spirit. In Hindu lingo a person who says or signs off with the word namaste is saying, “I bow to the divine in you,” or “I respect that divinity in you that is also within me.” In yoga, a person may leave you by using the word namaste. What they are saying is, “The light within me acknowledges the light within you.”
We often feel that we don’t have the time or energy to extend ourselves to others with the small gestures that compose what we call common courtesy.
It sometimes seems that this kind of social awareness belongs to the past, to smaller towns and slower times. I guess that is why I like Mayberry USA so much.
Yet, when someone extends this kind of courtesy to us, we always feel touched. Like someone who lends a helping hand when you are struggling with decisions at the grocery store on what it was your wife sent you there for in the first place. Some people extend a helping hand if you ask them their advice. It makes an impression because many people just walk right by. If you ask them for advice about a certain product and find a grimace on their face, you know you didn’t ask the right person.
Even someone who simply makes the effort to look us in the eye, smiles, and greets us properly when entering a room stands out of the crowd. It seems these people carry with them the elegance and grace of another time, and we are always thankful for our contact with them.
Common courtesy is a small gesture that makes a big difference.
An essential component of common courtesy is awareness and common sense-looking outside yourself to see when someone needs help or acknowledgment.
As a courteous person, you are aware that you are walking into a room full of people or that your waiter has arrived to take your order. Then, awareness leads to action.
It is usually quite clear what needs to be done-open the door for the woman holding the baby, move your car up two feet so another person can park behind you, acknowledge your friend’s shy boyfriend with a smile and some conversation, apologize if you bump into someone.
A third component is to give courtesy freely, without expecting anything in return. People may not even take notice, much less return the kindness, but you can take heart in the fact that you are creating the kind of world you want to live in with your actions.
When you are out in the world, remember to be aware of others, lend your hand when one is needed, and give this help without an ulterior motive.
The face is a complex palette of emotions. A slight turning up of the lips and a crinkling of the eyes can signal pleasure, contentment, happiness, or satisfaction. But in all cases, a smile is more than it seems.
A smiling person is often judged as more attractive, pleasant to be around, sincere, honest, sociable, and inviting and is considered more confident and successful.
Smiling is not a learned action. Even those born blind will smile when experiencing a joyful moment. A carefree smile is a quick and easy way to tell the world that you are open to new experiences and eager to meet new people.
It is assumed that a bright smile stems from happiness, but research has also shown that genuine happiness can stem from a smile.
Even a smile called forth when you don't necessarily feel like smiling can trigger the release of endorphins, brightening your day.
The simple act of smiling can help relieve stress by relaxing your facial muscles and encouraging you to focus on happy memories. And a forced smile, which only involves the muscles of the mouth, can easily turn into a true smile, which lights up the entire face. A smile motivated by real happiness is likely to inspire someone nearby to smile, possibly because of the expression's origins in the primate grin. That grin, which some scientists believe evolved into the smile, signaled that the one grinning was a friend rather than an opponent.
In ancient China, Taoists taught the benefits of the inner smile because they believed it insured happiness, health, and longevity.
One smile can lessen the sting of a negative mood and bring on a better one. But don't be self-conscious about it.
Smiling is universal and looks great on everyone. A smile, directed inward, outward, or at nothing in particular brightens the world and is a gift to those who see it.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Monday, May 25, 2009
The Cry of the Cuckoos Review by Jill Hannah
I enjoyed Mr. Cargile's story "Cry of the Cuckoos." There were many threads through out the story that many people can recognize; the interrelationship of family, love, the aging process, friendship and death. Mr. Cargile has a gift with conversation that is very realistic and supports and builds to the story line. While much of the story was very realistic, there was a bit of soap opera quality about Donald meeting his natural mother, only to have her die a few days later. I have recently moved to the Tuscaloosa area and found some good parallels to the history and culture of the area in this book. I read Mr. Cargile's column in the Northort Gazette and look forward to more books from this author.
The best education is not in the halls of a university
We put a lot of value on education, especially in the United States.
I know when I graduated high school it was almost a given that I go to college. A lot of my high school classmates did not go to an advanced school of knowledge, either getting married, taking jobs or just bumming around for awhile.
We kid one another at class reunions that most of the people we graduated with were in prison, but that was not the case. Well, at least, not in one instance.
A fellow classmate burned our high school down to the ground my junior year and we were without our beloved school. We were bussed to a high school in Birmingham for a year-and-a-half while the school was rebuilt. Ours was the first graduating class in the new school auditorium.
We helped build the school back for those coming after us by going out and collecting money from people in other communities. It was a lesson for life for most of us.
I wouldn’t trade places with anyone, however, for the education received at the institutions I attended. Only later in life did I feel a need for more education. This time it was on my terms and in a field which was self-serving at the same time.
What I learned from alternative schooling was about life, God, wisdom, compassion, love, death, birth, etc. The fact that titles came with this type of learning is insignificant to me. It was the process of learning something more valuable than a university degree in journalism, business, social services or the medical field. It was more of an education in Earth Learning.
Life is the process of learning, and the wisdom we acquire throughout our lives is the reward of existence.
As we journey the winding roads that lead from birth to death, experience is our patient teacher. We exist, bound to human bodies as we are, to evolve, enrolled by the universe in Earth School, an informal and individualized academy of living, being, and changing. Life’s lessons can take many forms and present us with many challenges.
There are scores of mundane lessons that help us learn to navigate with grace, poise, and tolerance in this world. And there are those once-in-a-lifetime lessons that touch us so deeply that they change the course of our lives. The latter can be heartrending, and we may wander through life as unwilling students for a time. But the quality of our lives is based almost entirely on what we derive from our experiences.
Earth School provides us with an education of the heart and the soul, as well as the intellect. The scope of our instruction is dependent on our ability and readiness to accept the lesson laid out before us in the circumstances we face.
When we find ourselves blindsided by life, we are free to choose to close our minds or to view the inbuilt lesson in a narrow-minded way.
The notion that existence is a never-ending lesson can be dismaying at times. The courses we undertake in Earth School can be painful as well as pleasurable, and as taxing as they are eventually rewarding. However, in every situation, relationship, or encounter, a range of lessons can be unearthed.
When we choose to consciously take advantage of each of the lessons we are confronted with, we gradually discover that our previous ideas about love, compassion, resilience, grief, fear, trust, and generosity could have been half-formed.
Ultimately, when we acknowledge that growth is an integral part of life and that attending Earth School is the responsibility of every individual, the concept of "life as lesson" no longer chafes. We can openly and joyfully look for the blessing buried in the difficulties we face without feeling that we are trapped in a roller-coaster ride of forced learning. Though we cannot always know when we are experiencing a life lesson, the wisdom we accrue will bless us with the keenest hindsight.
We are all almost always in the process of learning something new, developing an underused ability or talent, or toning down an overused one. Some of us are involved in learning how to speak up for ourselves, while others are learning how to be more considerate. In the process of becoming, we are always developing and fine tuning one or the other of our many qualities, and it is a natural part of this process that things tend to get out of balance. This may be upsetting to us, or the people around us, but we can trust that it’s a normal part of the work of self-development.
For example, we may go through a phase of needing to learn how to say no, as part of learning to set boundaries and take care of ourselves. During this time, we might say no to just about everything, as a way of practicing and exploring this ability.
Like a child who learns a new word, we want to try out this new avenue of expression and empowerment as much as we can because it is new and exciting for us and we want to explore it fully. In this way, we are mastering a new skill, and eventually, as we integrate it into our overall identity, it will resume its position as one part of our balanced life.
In this process, we are overcompensating for a quality that was suppressed in our life, and the swinging of the pendulum from under-use to overuse serves to bring that quality into balance.
Understanding what’s happening is a useful tool that helps us to be patient with the process. In the end, the pendulum settles comfortably in the center, restoring balance inside and out.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
I know when I graduated high school it was almost a given that I go to college. A lot of my high school classmates did not go to an advanced school of knowledge, either getting married, taking jobs or just bumming around for awhile.
We kid one another at class reunions that most of the people we graduated with were in prison, but that was not the case. Well, at least, not in one instance.
A fellow classmate burned our high school down to the ground my junior year and we were without our beloved school. We were bussed to a high school in Birmingham for a year-and-a-half while the school was rebuilt. Ours was the first graduating class in the new school auditorium.
We helped build the school back for those coming after us by going out and collecting money from people in other communities. It was a lesson for life for most of us.
I wouldn’t trade places with anyone, however, for the education received at the institutions I attended. Only later in life did I feel a need for more education. This time it was on my terms and in a field which was self-serving at the same time.
What I learned from alternative schooling was about life, God, wisdom, compassion, love, death, birth, etc. The fact that titles came with this type of learning is insignificant to me. It was the process of learning something more valuable than a university degree in journalism, business, social services or the medical field. It was more of an education in Earth Learning.
Life is the process of learning, and the wisdom we acquire throughout our lives is the reward of existence.
As we journey the winding roads that lead from birth to death, experience is our patient teacher. We exist, bound to human bodies as we are, to evolve, enrolled by the universe in Earth School, an informal and individualized academy of living, being, and changing. Life’s lessons can take many forms and present us with many challenges.
There are scores of mundane lessons that help us learn to navigate with grace, poise, and tolerance in this world. And there are those once-in-a-lifetime lessons that touch us so deeply that they change the course of our lives. The latter can be heartrending, and we may wander through life as unwilling students for a time. But the quality of our lives is based almost entirely on what we derive from our experiences.
Earth School provides us with an education of the heart and the soul, as well as the intellect. The scope of our instruction is dependent on our ability and readiness to accept the lesson laid out before us in the circumstances we face.
When we find ourselves blindsided by life, we are free to choose to close our minds or to view the inbuilt lesson in a narrow-minded way.
The notion that existence is a never-ending lesson can be dismaying at times. The courses we undertake in Earth School can be painful as well as pleasurable, and as taxing as they are eventually rewarding. However, in every situation, relationship, or encounter, a range of lessons can be unearthed.
When we choose to consciously take advantage of each of the lessons we are confronted with, we gradually discover that our previous ideas about love, compassion, resilience, grief, fear, trust, and generosity could have been half-formed.
Ultimately, when we acknowledge that growth is an integral part of life and that attending Earth School is the responsibility of every individual, the concept of "life as lesson" no longer chafes. We can openly and joyfully look for the blessing buried in the difficulties we face without feeling that we are trapped in a roller-coaster ride of forced learning. Though we cannot always know when we are experiencing a life lesson, the wisdom we accrue will bless us with the keenest hindsight.
We are all almost always in the process of learning something new, developing an underused ability or talent, or toning down an overused one. Some of us are involved in learning how to speak up for ourselves, while others are learning how to be more considerate. In the process of becoming, we are always developing and fine tuning one or the other of our many qualities, and it is a natural part of this process that things tend to get out of balance. This may be upsetting to us, or the people around us, but we can trust that it’s a normal part of the work of self-development.
For example, we may go through a phase of needing to learn how to say no, as part of learning to set boundaries and take care of ourselves. During this time, we might say no to just about everything, as a way of practicing and exploring this ability.
Like a child who learns a new word, we want to try out this new avenue of expression and empowerment as much as we can because it is new and exciting for us and we want to explore it fully. In this way, we are mastering a new skill, and eventually, as we integrate it into our overall identity, it will resume its position as one part of our balanced life.
In this process, we are overcompensating for a quality that was suppressed in our life, and the swinging of the pendulum from under-use to overuse serves to bring that quality into balance.
Understanding what’s happening is a useful tool that helps us to be patient with the process. In the end, the pendulum settles comfortably in the center, restoring balance inside and out.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Education Association and Alabama Education Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos. www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter,net. All conversations are confidential.
Monday, May 18, 2009
A reader comment about The Cry of the Cuckoos
Jill D. Hannah said: May 17th, 2009 7:05 pm
I finished the book yesterday and would love to get some extra background. How much of the book and the societies are real? Obviously the places are and the more famous personalities. Your characters were very believeable and the plot was riveting. There were alot of twists and turns that kept the reader guessing all the way through. Great first novel, I'll be interested in reading more of your work.
I finished the book yesterday and would love to get some extra background. How much of the book and the societies are real? Obviously the places are and the more famous personalities. Your characters were very believeable and the plot was riveting. There were alot of twists and turns that kept the reader guessing all the way through. Great first novel, I'll be interested in reading more of your work.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The positive and negative side of control
We all know what it’s like to want to be in control. Everyone knows a control freak. Maybe you are one.
In some ways, exerting control is an important survival skill. For example, we have every right to be in control of our own bodies and our own lives. Taking control in these cases is empowering and necessary.
Controlling behavior in the negative sense comes from a tendency to reach beyond our own boundaries and into the lives of others. Many people do this with the rationalization that they are helping. This can happen with parents who are still trying to force their grown children into behaving in ways that they find acceptable.
Our son left home, got married, divorced and now lives back home with us. As parents we expect him to behave in ways we find acceptable.
But trying to control a grown man almost 24 is about like a plumber trying to fix an electrical problem. It just doesn’t work because he has his own set rules of behavior and the generation gap is too great.
He’s a hard worker and we hope he saves money so he can move out on his own again and be able to get on with the life processes. He hasn’t saved a dime that we know of, unless he has some stash kept that we don’t know about.
Control. Yuk…It’s impossible.
It can also happen when people try to control their partners’ behavior. If you have control issues, you will see that in one or more areas of your life, you feel the need to interfere with what is happening rather than just allowing events to unfold.
I sent my wife out on a spending expedition. Our 18-year-old TV blew up. I knew she would find the exact TV for us. She came home with one of the most expensive TV’s on the market.
Next, we had to have a stand. She went back out again and bought the most ornate and expensive stand. “It matches our den furniture.” And, I agreed. So now we have a great looking 52-inch plasma with high definition and a stand to match the décor of our den.
But, I want in on the decorating, I told myself.
I found this unique “Gone With the Wind,” white cuckoo clock, a collector’s item online. I showed her a picture of it and she stomped off and told me that wasn’t what she had in mind. It didn’t match our furniture. The clock has a picture of Scarlett on the lawn with Tara in the background and a figurine of Rhett carrying Scarlett up the stairs at Tara.
I told her it was a collector’s item, but that was no consolation.
“It’s white and matches your curio of white angels’ caricatures,” I reminded her. “I’ve already picked out the clock,” she scorned. It was too bad because I had already purchased it.
Who’s in control here!
I guess I should have let the events unfold, but I interfered. I guess I should leave decorating to someone more knowledgeable.
But, the cuckoo clock came while she was out of town visiting our daughter, and I assembled it and placed it on the wall between our fabulous TV and ornate stand and her white angel curio in the corner. Can’t wait for her to see it when she returns. Or, maybe I should just return it, huh? I happen to like it.
Almost everyone has at least one situation or relationship in which they try to exert control. This often happens because someone’s behavior makes us uncomfortable. We may feel it makes us look bad, or it embarrasses us.
Controlling behavior generally goes hand in hand with an unwillingness to be direct about what you want, as well as an inability to let go and let people live their own lives. If you are the one that is controlling, it’s probably because you literally feel as if you are out of control and it scares you.
Try to pick one thing you could just let unfold without any control on your part. Examine how it made you feel both before and after, and examine why you wanted to control the situation.
It is hard sometimes to allow others to be who they are, especially if we feel we know what’s best for them and we see them making choices we wouldn’t make.
For instance, we had a student on our special needs school bus bring a can of hair spray with him to school. I noticed it when he pulled it from his jacket pocket. I wondered what he was doing with it; knowing he could be in trouble.
Not only did he bring the can of hair spray on the bus but a cigarette lighter to boot. We all know that the stuff hair spray is made of doesn’t mix with fire, and when he lit the cigarette lighter and I saw it, I immediately stopped the bus. After all, I am in control of what goes on inside the bus.
Needless to say, the boy got into big time trouble when he got to school as administrators began questioning him about his intentions. He was suspended. That type of control comes with the territory when we see bad choices taking place.
However, if we are to be respectful and truly loving, we have to let people go, trusting that they will find their own way in their own time and understanding that it is their life to live.
But, when a dangerous situation exists where other people can be hurt, injured or killed, that’s when you need to exert control.
There is positive control and negative control.
Just reminding yourself that the only life you have to live is your own is the first step to letting go.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Educational Association and Alabama Educational Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter.net. All conversations are confidential.
In some ways, exerting control is an important survival skill. For example, we have every right to be in control of our own bodies and our own lives. Taking control in these cases is empowering and necessary.
Controlling behavior in the negative sense comes from a tendency to reach beyond our own boundaries and into the lives of others. Many people do this with the rationalization that they are helping. This can happen with parents who are still trying to force their grown children into behaving in ways that they find acceptable.
Our son left home, got married, divorced and now lives back home with us. As parents we expect him to behave in ways we find acceptable.
But trying to control a grown man almost 24 is about like a plumber trying to fix an electrical problem. It just doesn’t work because he has his own set rules of behavior and the generation gap is too great.
He’s a hard worker and we hope he saves money so he can move out on his own again and be able to get on with the life processes. He hasn’t saved a dime that we know of, unless he has some stash kept that we don’t know about.
Control. Yuk…It’s impossible.
It can also happen when people try to control their partners’ behavior. If you have control issues, you will see that in one or more areas of your life, you feel the need to interfere with what is happening rather than just allowing events to unfold.
I sent my wife out on a spending expedition. Our 18-year-old TV blew up. I knew she would find the exact TV for us. She came home with one of the most expensive TV’s on the market.
Next, we had to have a stand. She went back out again and bought the most ornate and expensive stand. “It matches our den furniture.” And, I agreed. So now we have a great looking 52-inch plasma with high definition and a stand to match the décor of our den.
But, I want in on the decorating, I told myself.
I found this unique “Gone With the Wind,” white cuckoo clock, a collector’s item online. I showed her a picture of it and she stomped off and told me that wasn’t what she had in mind. It didn’t match our furniture. The clock has a picture of Scarlett on the lawn with Tara in the background and a figurine of Rhett carrying Scarlett up the stairs at Tara.
I told her it was a collector’s item, but that was no consolation.
“It’s white and matches your curio of white angels’ caricatures,” I reminded her. “I’ve already picked out the clock,” she scorned. It was too bad because I had already purchased it.
Who’s in control here!
I guess I should have let the events unfold, but I interfered. I guess I should leave decorating to someone more knowledgeable.
But, the cuckoo clock came while she was out of town visiting our daughter, and I assembled it and placed it on the wall between our fabulous TV and ornate stand and her white angel curio in the corner. Can’t wait for her to see it when she returns. Or, maybe I should just return it, huh? I happen to like it.
Almost everyone has at least one situation or relationship in which they try to exert control. This often happens because someone’s behavior makes us uncomfortable. We may feel it makes us look bad, or it embarrasses us.
Controlling behavior generally goes hand in hand with an unwillingness to be direct about what you want, as well as an inability to let go and let people live their own lives. If you are the one that is controlling, it’s probably because you literally feel as if you are out of control and it scares you.
Try to pick one thing you could just let unfold without any control on your part. Examine how it made you feel both before and after, and examine why you wanted to control the situation.
It is hard sometimes to allow others to be who they are, especially if we feel we know what’s best for them and we see them making choices we wouldn’t make.
For instance, we had a student on our special needs school bus bring a can of hair spray with him to school. I noticed it when he pulled it from his jacket pocket. I wondered what he was doing with it; knowing he could be in trouble.
Not only did he bring the can of hair spray on the bus but a cigarette lighter to boot. We all know that the stuff hair spray is made of doesn’t mix with fire, and when he lit the cigarette lighter and I saw it, I immediately stopped the bus. After all, I am in control of what goes on inside the bus.
Needless to say, the boy got into big time trouble when he got to school as administrators began questioning him about his intentions. He was suspended. That type of control comes with the territory when we see bad choices taking place.
However, if we are to be respectful and truly loving, we have to let people go, trusting that they will find their own way in their own time and understanding that it is their life to live.
But, when a dangerous situation exists where other people can be hurt, injured or killed, that’s when you need to exert control.
There is positive control and negative control.
Just reminding yourself that the only life you have to live is your own is the first step to letting go.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Educational Association and Alabama Educational Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter.net. All conversations are confidential.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
An Interview By Karina Fabian
Interview with Author
1) Why did I write the book? My late mother, whom the book is dedicated to, and I were working on a historical fiction novel involving her and my father. She gave up custody of me when I was 1 1/2 years old. My father raised me. I saw her only in the summers. After she died, I felt compelled to write a mystery novel. The similarities in my novel somewhat characterize part of the book's mystery. It was not meant to be a mystery until after she died.
2) What was my favorite part? The main character in the book finally unites with his mother for the first time. She is a suspect in his father's murder. This is 61 years later when they meet one another. The first eye-to-eye meeting between the two was awesome.
3) What was the hardest part to write? My father was nothing like the one in the book. He was the exact opposite. It was actually hard because it felt like I was writing about my father and lying about him. I could go into that a little deeper in an lengthy interview, but you would have to read the book first.
4) What do you hope people will get from this? The theme of the book is deceit and foregiveness. No matter what someone else has done to you, you have to be able to forgive, turn the other cheek.
5) What is next for me? I am writing a sequel. The main character is wealthy, getting over a brain stroke. He becomes a New Age writer. The main character will follow his son and new daughter-in-law as they journey into a flawed relationship. His daughter-in-law is actually a half-cousin and the couple have a retarded son. It puts pressure on their marriage, but father is there, and Father Knows Best.
1) Why did I write the book? My late mother, whom the book is dedicated to, and I were working on a historical fiction novel involving her and my father. She gave up custody of me when I was 1 1/2 years old. My father raised me. I saw her only in the summers. After she died, I felt compelled to write a mystery novel. The similarities in my novel somewhat characterize part of the book's mystery. It was not meant to be a mystery until after she died.
2) What was my favorite part? The main character in the book finally unites with his mother for the first time. She is a suspect in his father's murder. This is 61 years later when they meet one another. The first eye-to-eye meeting between the two was awesome.
3) What was the hardest part to write? My father was nothing like the one in the book. He was the exact opposite. It was actually hard because it felt like I was writing about my father and lying about him. I could go into that a little deeper in an lengthy interview, but you would have to read the book first.
4) What do you hope people will get from this? The theme of the book is deceit and foregiveness. No matter what someone else has done to you, you have to be able to forgive, turn the other cheek.
5) What is next for me? I am writing a sequel. The main character is wealthy, getting over a brain stroke. He becomes a New Age writer. The main character will follow his son and new daughter-in-law as they journey into a flawed relationship. His daughter-in-law is actually a half-cousin and the couple have a retarded son. It puts pressure on their marriage, but father is there, and Father Knows Best.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
We must be more conscious of the language we use
There are many troubling phrases in our language that we use without considering their full meaning simply because they have been accepted into common knowledge.
Just the other day a young boy who rides our special needs school bus with some “mentally challenged” students aboard used the word “retard” when talking with another student. I quickly admonished him from using the word “retard.” It no longer is a word parents, teachers and kids want to hear these days.
Although Forrest Gump, the character created by Alabama author, Winston Groom, was never called a “retard” on the school bus or when he grew older, people could not bring themselves to call him “mentally challenged.” Most people, including Sergeant Dan thought of Forrest as a “retard.”
Even as our ideals progress, our language maintains some phrases from our past that no longer serve us, for example: Boys don't cry; good child; boys will be boys; problem child; illegitimate child; and many more. While these phrases may be used without harmful intent, they are inherently negative.
Children can be especially sensitive to such phrases, which may stay with them their whole lives, adversely affecting their self-image and wounding their self-esteem. We can create positive change by choosing not to use these words and phrases as we come across them in our vocabulary.
It is challenging to examine our habits in terms of the words we use to express ourselves, but it is also exciting.
Language is an area where we can exercise our free will, creating positive change in the world around us by simply choosing carefully the words we use. It may seem like a small thing, but our words have a rippling effect, like a stone thrown in a pond.
People naturally pick up on the way other people speak, consciously or unconsciously changing the way they speak in response.
We don't need to actively try to influence people; it happens without our even thinking about it. All we have to do is choose to be more conscious ourselves, putting to rest words and phrases that are outmoded, insensitive, or harmful. We can also exercise our creativity by creating new phrases that carry positive and loving energy to replace the old ones.
You may already have some ideas about phrases you'd like to transition out of your language, and now that you're thinking about it you may come across many more. As you consciously decide not to use these phrases, you may feel lighter and more joyful, knowing that you have chosen to drop baggage that was handed down to you from a less conscious time. As you do so, you elevate the language for future generations who would no doubt thank you if they could.
Words carry energy and this gives language its power and its potential to heal or hurt. Most of us can remember a time that someone sent a word our way, and it stuck with us. It may have been the first time we received a truly accurate compliment, or the time a friend or sibling called us a name, but either way it stuck. This experience reminds us that what we say has weight and power and that being conscious means being aware of how we use words.
The more conscious we become, the more we deepen our relationship to the words we use so that we speak from a place of actually feeling what we are saying. We begin to recognize that words are not abstract, disconnected entities used only to convey meaning; they are powerful transmitters of feeling.
For the next few days, you might want to practice noticing how the words you say and hear affect your body and your emotional state. Notice how the different communication styles of the people in your life make you feel. Also, watch closely to see how your own words come out and what affect they have on the people around you.
You may notice that when we speak quickly, without thinking, or rush to get our ideas across, our words don't carry the same power as when we speak slowly and confidently, allowing those receiving our words time and space to take them in.
When we carefully listen to others before we speak, our words have more integrity, and when we take time to center ourselves before speaking, we truly begin to harness the power of speech. Then our words can be intelligent messengers of healing and light, transmitting deep and positive feelings to those who receive them.
The word failure puts forward a very simplistic way of thinking that allows for only two possibilities: failure or success. Few things in the universe are black and white, yet much of our language reads as if they are.
The word failure signifies a paradigm in which all subtlety is lost. When we regard something we have done, or ourselves, as a failure, we lose our ability to see the truth, which is no doubt considerably more complex. In addition, we hurt ourselves. All you have to do is speak or read the word failure and see how it makes you feel.
Next time you feel like a failure or fear failure, know that you are under the influence of an outmoded way of perceiving the world. When the word failure comes up, it's a call for us to apply a more enlightened consciousness to the matter at hand.
When you are consciously aware of the word and its baggage you will not fall victim to its darkness. In your own use of language, you may choose to stop using the word failure altogether. This might encourage you to articulate more clearly the truth of the situation, opening your mind to subtleties and possibilities the word failure would never have allowed.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Educational Association and Alabama Educational Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter.net. All conversations are confidential.
Just the other day a young boy who rides our special needs school bus with some “mentally challenged” students aboard used the word “retard” when talking with another student. I quickly admonished him from using the word “retard.” It no longer is a word parents, teachers and kids want to hear these days.
Although Forrest Gump, the character created by Alabama author, Winston Groom, was never called a “retard” on the school bus or when he grew older, people could not bring themselves to call him “mentally challenged.” Most people, including Sergeant Dan thought of Forrest as a “retard.”
Even as our ideals progress, our language maintains some phrases from our past that no longer serve us, for example: Boys don't cry; good child; boys will be boys; problem child; illegitimate child; and many more. While these phrases may be used without harmful intent, they are inherently negative.
Children can be especially sensitive to such phrases, which may stay with them their whole lives, adversely affecting their self-image and wounding their self-esteem. We can create positive change by choosing not to use these words and phrases as we come across them in our vocabulary.
It is challenging to examine our habits in terms of the words we use to express ourselves, but it is also exciting.
Language is an area where we can exercise our free will, creating positive change in the world around us by simply choosing carefully the words we use. It may seem like a small thing, but our words have a rippling effect, like a stone thrown in a pond.
People naturally pick up on the way other people speak, consciously or unconsciously changing the way they speak in response.
We don't need to actively try to influence people; it happens without our even thinking about it. All we have to do is choose to be more conscious ourselves, putting to rest words and phrases that are outmoded, insensitive, or harmful. We can also exercise our creativity by creating new phrases that carry positive and loving energy to replace the old ones.
You may already have some ideas about phrases you'd like to transition out of your language, and now that you're thinking about it you may come across many more. As you consciously decide not to use these phrases, you may feel lighter and more joyful, knowing that you have chosen to drop baggage that was handed down to you from a less conscious time. As you do so, you elevate the language for future generations who would no doubt thank you if they could.
Words carry energy and this gives language its power and its potential to heal or hurt. Most of us can remember a time that someone sent a word our way, and it stuck with us. It may have been the first time we received a truly accurate compliment, or the time a friend or sibling called us a name, but either way it stuck. This experience reminds us that what we say has weight and power and that being conscious means being aware of how we use words.
The more conscious we become, the more we deepen our relationship to the words we use so that we speak from a place of actually feeling what we are saying. We begin to recognize that words are not abstract, disconnected entities used only to convey meaning; they are powerful transmitters of feeling.
For the next few days, you might want to practice noticing how the words you say and hear affect your body and your emotional state. Notice how the different communication styles of the people in your life make you feel. Also, watch closely to see how your own words come out and what affect they have on the people around you.
You may notice that when we speak quickly, without thinking, or rush to get our ideas across, our words don't carry the same power as when we speak slowly and confidently, allowing those receiving our words time and space to take them in.
When we carefully listen to others before we speak, our words have more integrity, and when we take time to center ourselves before speaking, we truly begin to harness the power of speech. Then our words can be intelligent messengers of healing and light, transmitting deep and positive feelings to those who receive them.
The word failure puts forward a very simplistic way of thinking that allows for only two possibilities: failure or success. Few things in the universe are black and white, yet much of our language reads as if they are.
The word failure signifies a paradigm in which all subtlety is lost. When we regard something we have done, or ourselves, as a failure, we lose our ability to see the truth, which is no doubt considerably more complex. In addition, we hurt ourselves. All you have to do is speak or read the word failure and see how it makes you feel.
Next time you feel like a failure or fear failure, know that you are under the influence of an outmoded way of perceiving the world. When the word failure comes up, it's a call for us to apply a more enlightened consciousness to the matter at hand.
When you are consciously aware of the word and its baggage you will not fall victim to its darkness. In your own use of language, you may choose to stop using the word failure altogether. This might encourage you to articulate more clearly the truth of the situation, opening your mind to subtleties and possibilities the word failure would never have allowed.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Educational Association and Alabama Educational Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter.net. All conversations are confidential.
Friday, May 8, 2009
An Inerview with Chris Redding
1. When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
When I enrolled at Kilgore College in 1963, I was asked what I would like to major in. I didn’t have a clue. I decided at that point I wanted to study journalism. The school had a good journalism department. While attending Kilgore, which is one of the settings in my book, The Cry of the Cuckoos, I free lanced with the Longview Morning Journal. When I saw my first byline, I was hooked and I’ve never looked back. After 40 years as a newspaper writer/editor, magazine writer/editor and book producer it’s been a rewarding career. When I was but 10 years-old, however, I wrote a short story about a dog named “Rinny.” I wish I still had the little notebook that I wrote it in.
2. How did you pick the genre you write in? The mystery genre actually picked me. I started with an historical romance novel titled, “Decoration Day.” The setting was World War Two, and the main characters were a soldier and female civilian who met in west Texas. It was based on my father and mother actually. When my mother died in 2007, the book took on a life of its own. I decided to scrap the historical romance novel for the time being and concentrate on a commercial novel which I thought would appeal to a wider audience. Some of the material gathered from “Decoration Day” seeped into “The Cry of the Cuckoos.”
3. What drew you to the subject of (The Cry of the Cuckoos)? I was toying around with titles, and I ran across a YouTube video that had the sound of the cuckoo bird in someone’s yard. I researched the cuckoo bird and found that it likes to fool other species in its race to imitate their chirping cry. The cuckoo bird is deceptive in the fact that it will fly into another nest and fool the rests that it is one of them. The Society of Southron Patriots, a radical right wing supremacist organization, became my platform in this mystery novel. The society was like the cuckoo bird in its deception. It is more than a whodunit story, but a story about a son separated from his biological mother for more than 61 years. The cuckoos in this book are more than just The Society of Southron Patriots and, beneath it all reveals the flawed personalities in our culture. The themes in the novel are deception and forgiveness. I hope I am not giving too much away (ha)!
4. What was the name of the first novel you wrote? Did you try to publish it?
Surprisingly, I wrote a novel when I was in my early 20’s. The title was, “Years the Cuckoo Claimed.” It had the same leading character – Henry Drummond. I had read “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest,” by Ken Kesey and “Siddhartha,” by Herman Hesse. I was really influenced by Hesse at the time. I was attending Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama majoring in religion and philosophy, and Hesse caught my attention in his writings. I think I did send out several query letters, but each was rejected. So, I gave up on it. I may resurrect it later.
5. Why did you pick the publisher that ultimately published your book? I had a literary agent at the time, and she suggested I look into a new company called AEG Publishing Group. They had several plans and I submitted my manuscript. They also have a group Eloquent Books, which is a Print On Demand publisher. After reading over the contract, I decided this was the best plan for me. I wanted to be in control of my own destiny instead of being controlled by big interest from a traditional publisher. It’s not exactly self-publishing, because you share 50-50 in the royalties and the printing. It’s a tough road, but in my book experience as a book producer and a sales manager with Bantam Books at one time, I felt I made the right decision. I don’t regret the decision at all. I checked with other writers using their service and they were happy with their decisions, too.
6. Describe your book
I think I will let Richard Blake of Reader Views describe my book. I think he analyzed it better than most:
"The Cry of the Cuckoos" is the story of a son separated from his biological mother for over sixty years. They were reunited for the first time after she becomes a suspect in the murder of his father. Donald Drummond, the main character, is a retired news reporter. Award-winning writer John Wayne Cargile incorporates similarities from his own life in this novel of romance, murder, and intrigue. Henry Drummond, Donald's father, was the leader of a rightwing supremacist group called the Society of Southron Patriots, whose goal was deception. It was also rumored that he had Mafia connections. After Henry's death, by arsenic poisoning, a terrorist plot aimed at killing Washington diplomats by poisoning the food at the concessions of the Super Bowl was uncovered. United Nations delegates were a target of this conspiracy. Donald and his wife Anne were recruited by the FBI to work undercover as informants to help untangle the web of deception surrounding his father's death. A fast-moving, complex plot took the couple from Alabama to Texas where they encountered another murder with surprise twists and turns along the way. Cargile carefully puts in place background details which provide interesting technical and medical information. His training in religion, psychology, and philosophy, as well as his strong interest in integral psychology and spirituality, are apparent throughout John's writing. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" becomes a platform for him to help people integrate their mind, body and Spirit into a Holistic lifestyle. Cargile's character development reflects his understanding of flawed personalities. His narrative provides a related analysis of their symptoms, motivations, and resulting actions. The strength of character of the genuine religious or spiritual person is contrasted with the lip service and lifestyle of deception in those motivated by selfishness and greed. These characters become colorful composites, expressions of idealism, reality, and deception. I was quickly drawn into the story of "The Cry of the Cuckoos" and the theme of deceit and forgiveness. Cargile's writing style is crisp, direct, and engaging. While I found this directness appealing, it may be seen as too simplistic for others. Transitions of locale or time-frame and the pacing of conflict and resolution confronted by the protagonists were well-paced, maintaining the suspense element of the story. I felt the story ended quite quickly, somewhat abruptly; however, an "afterward" wrapped up all the loose ends and gave closure to unanswered questions. The final chapters create the possibility of a sequel. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" by John Wayne Cargile will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, intrigue, and romance. Cargile's writing is thoroughly entertaining and highly informative.
Tell me one thing about yourself that very few people know? I think I was a writer in a previous life, and I was sent here to complete what the previous writer did not finish. His name was Thomas Carlyle and he was a Scottish philosopher and writer. I was reading some of his works one night and something flew all over me about his writing. It felt to me these were words I had been flirting with for some time was my own. He was a satirical writer, historian and essayist raised by Calvinist parents during the Victorian era. He was expected to become a preacher, but while at he University of Edinburgh he lost his Christian faith. Calvinist values, however, remained with him the rest of his life.
What do you consider your strengths in terms of your writing?
Dialogue. Being a news reporter and magazine writer for years I loved to write people stories. When interviewing a person for an article I was able to ask the right questions, kind of get into their head, and was able to pull things from them no other person might know. When they began to tell their story, the dialogue flowed and essentially the story was written by me, but told by them using dialogue. You’ll see a lot of dialogue in The Cry of the Cuckoos. The characters are writing the book through dialogue.
What place that you haven’t visited would you like to go? Perth, Scotland. The sequel to my book is tentatively titled, “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.” This is after the famous British nursery rhyme. Research shows that the innocent little nursery rhyme is not quite what people think it was. The Mary in the nursery rhyme was Mary Tudor. Her husband, one of the British Kings, wrote the little verse after she could not give him children. It actually has been interpreted by some people as a little racy. The character in my sequel appeared near the end of The Cry of the Cuckoos. Her name is Mary Kate O’Quinn. The beginning of the sequel has Mary Kate visiting Scotland with her new husband. They are on their honeymoon. You’ll also notice on most of my websites the Scottish plaid. I am actually wearing a kilt no one can see. Our family roots trace back to Perth, Scotland, and there is a little parish called Cargill in near Perth.
What is your favorite words?
Amazing Grace. When you hear this song played with bagpipes you get a sensation that is indescribable. It’s an old gospel hymn, something I grew up with. In Church, when the choir sang Amazing Grace, it gave me goose bumps. We are truly here by the Amazing Grace of God’s creation.
When I enrolled at Kilgore College in 1963, I was asked what I would like to major in. I didn’t have a clue. I decided at that point I wanted to study journalism. The school had a good journalism department. While attending Kilgore, which is one of the settings in my book, The Cry of the Cuckoos, I free lanced with the Longview Morning Journal. When I saw my first byline, I was hooked and I’ve never looked back. After 40 years as a newspaper writer/editor, magazine writer/editor and book producer it’s been a rewarding career. When I was but 10 years-old, however, I wrote a short story about a dog named “Rinny.” I wish I still had the little notebook that I wrote it in.
2. How did you pick the genre you write in? The mystery genre actually picked me. I started with an historical romance novel titled, “Decoration Day.” The setting was World War Two, and the main characters were a soldier and female civilian who met in west Texas. It was based on my father and mother actually. When my mother died in 2007, the book took on a life of its own. I decided to scrap the historical romance novel for the time being and concentrate on a commercial novel which I thought would appeal to a wider audience. Some of the material gathered from “Decoration Day” seeped into “The Cry of the Cuckoos.”
3. What drew you to the subject of (The Cry of the Cuckoos)? I was toying around with titles, and I ran across a YouTube video that had the sound of the cuckoo bird in someone’s yard. I researched the cuckoo bird and found that it likes to fool other species in its race to imitate their chirping cry. The cuckoo bird is deceptive in the fact that it will fly into another nest and fool the rests that it is one of them. The Society of Southron Patriots, a radical right wing supremacist organization, became my platform in this mystery novel. The society was like the cuckoo bird in its deception. It is more than a whodunit story, but a story about a son separated from his biological mother for more than 61 years. The cuckoos in this book are more than just The Society of Southron Patriots and, beneath it all reveals the flawed personalities in our culture. The themes in the novel are deception and forgiveness. I hope I am not giving too much away (ha)!
4. What was the name of the first novel you wrote? Did you try to publish it?
Surprisingly, I wrote a novel when I was in my early 20’s. The title was, “Years the Cuckoo Claimed.” It had the same leading character – Henry Drummond. I had read “One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest,” by Ken Kesey and “Siddhartha,” by Herman Hesse. I was really influenced by Hesse at the time. I was attending Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama majoring in religion and philosophy, and Hesse caught my attention in his writings. I think I did send out several query letters, but each was rejected. So, I gave up on it. I may resurrect it later.
5. Why did you pick the publisher that ultimately published your book? I had a literary agent at the time, and she suggested I look into a new company called AEG Publishing Group. They had several plans and I submitted my manuscript. They also have a group Eloquent Books, which is a Print On Demand publisher. After reading over the contract, I decided this was the best plan for me. I wanted to be in control of my own destiny instead of being controlled by big interest from a traditional publisher. It’s not exactly self-publishing, because you share 50-50 in the royalties and the printing. It’s a tough road, but in my book experience as a book producer and a sales manager with Bantam Books at one time, I felt I made the right decision. I don’t regret the decision at all. I checked with other writers using their service and they were happy with their decisions, too.
6. Describe your book
I think I will let Richard Blake of Reader Views describe my book. I think he analyzed it better than most:
"The Cry of the Cuckoos" is the story of a son separated from his biological mother for over sixty years. They were reunited for the first time after she becomes a suspect in the murder of his father. Donald Drummond, the main character, is a retired news reporter. Award-winning writer John Wayne Cargile incorporates similarities from his own life in this novel of romance, murder, and intrigue. Henry Drummond, Donald's father, was the leader of a rightwing supremacist group called the Society of Southron Patriots, whose goal was deception. It was also rumored that he had Mafia connections. After Henry's death, by arsenic poisoning, a terrorist plot aimed at killing Washington diplomats by poisoning the food at the concessions of the Super Bowl was uncovered. United Nations delegates were a target of this conspiracy. Donald and his wife Anne were recruited by the FBI to work undercover as informants to help untangle the web of deception surrounding his father's death. A fast-moving, complex plot took the couple from Alabama to Texas where they encountered another murder with surprise twists and turns along the way. Cargile carefully puts in place background details which provide interesting technical and medical information. His training in religion, psychology, and philosophy, as well as his strong interest in integral psychology and spirituality, are apparent throughout John's writing. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" becomes a platform for him to help people integrate their mind, body and Spirit into a Holistic lifestyle. Cargile's character development reflects his understanding of flawed personalities. His narrative provides a related analysis of their symptoms, motivations, and resulting actions. The strength of character of the genuine religious or spiritual person is contrasted with the lip service and lifestyle of deception in those motivated by selfishness and greed. These characters become colorful composites, expressions of idealism, reality, and deception. I was quickly drawn into the story of "The Cry of the Cuckoos" and the theme of deceit and forgiveness. Cargile's writing style is crisp, direct, and engaging. While I found this directness appealing, it may be seen as too simplistic for others. Transitions of locale or time-frame and the pacing of conflict and resolution confronted by the protagonists were well-paced, maintaining the suspense element of the story. I felt the story ended quite quickly, somewhat abruptly; however, an "afterward" wrapped up all the loose ends and gave closure to unanswered questions. The final chapters create the possibility of a sequel. "The Cry of the Cuckoos" by John Wayne Cargile will appeal to readers who enjoy mystery, intrigue, and romance. Cargile's writing is thoroughly entertaining and highly informative.
Tell me one thing about yourself that very few people know? I think I was a writer in a previous life, and I was sent here to complete what the previous writer did not finish. His name was Thomas Carlyle and he was a Scottish philosopher and writer. I was reading some of his works one night and something flew all over me about his writing. It felt to me these were words I had been flirting with for some time was my own. He was a satirical writer, historian and essayist raised by Calvinist parents during the Victorian era. He was expected to become a preacher, but while at he University of Edinburgh he lost his Christian faith. Calvinist values, however, remained with him the rest of his life.
What do you consider your strengths in terms of your writing?
Dialogue. Being a news reporter and magazine writer for years I loved to write people stories. When interviewing a person for an article I was able to ask the right questions, kind of get into their head, and was able to pull things from them no other person might know. When they began to tell their story, the dialogue flowed and essentially the story was written by me, but told by them using dialogue. You’ll see a lot of dialogue in The Cry of the Cuckoos. The characters are writing the book through dialogue.
What place that you haven’t visited would you like to go? Perth, Scotland. The sequel to my book is tentatively titled, “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.” This is after the famous British nursery rhyme. Research shows that the innocent little nursery rhyme is not quite what people think it was. The Mary in the nursery rhyme was Mary Tudor. Her husband, one of the British Kings, wrote the little verse after she could not give him children. It actually has been interpreted by some people as a little racy. The character in my sequel appeared near the end of The Cry of the Cuckoos. Her name is Mary Kate O’Quinn. The beginning of the sequel has Mary Kate visiting Scotland with her new husband. They are on their honeymoon. You’ll also notice on most of my websites the Scottish plaid. I am actually wearing a kilt no one can see. Our family roots trace back to Perth, Scotland, and there is a little parish called Cargill in near Perth.
What is your favorite words?
Amazing Grace. When you hear this song played with bagpipes you get a sensation that is indescribable. It’s an old gospel hymn, something I grew up with. In Church, when the choir sang Amazing Grace, it gave me goose bumps. We are truly here by the Amazing Grace of God’s creation.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
A wild, wild week and a feeling for some downtime
Wow! What a wild week for me.
A long-time high school friend with whom I lost contact with became a bit irritated with me for emailing her information about my new novel. She berated me and questioned my authenticity on Facebook.
Once I straightened her out on my background, which she held no clue; she apologized and now we are friends again. It was upsetting to see a friend attack me like she did.
I guess that goes with the territory when you, at last, accomplish something you never dreamed about.
For me, that was writing a novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos, a daunting task, and even more so now the book is published and the marketing and PR work begins. The Northport Gazette will be hosting a book signing Thursday night at Art Night from 6 p.m. – till. I hope you will drop by and see me as well as other accomplished writers, musicians and artist.
It got me to thinking about accomplishing goals.
The elation we feel when we have learned an important lesson, achieved a goal, or had a big breakthrough can sometimes be met with a period of downtime afterward.
During this period of transition, we may feel unsure and not know where to turn next. Many people, during the pause between achievements, begin to wonder what their life is about. These feelings are common and strike everyone from time to time.
Human beings are active creatures - we feel best when we are working on a project or vigorously pursuing a goal. But there is nothing inherently wrong with spending a day, a week, or even a month simply existing and not having a plan. Just be. It won’t be long before you embark upon your next voyage of growth and discovery.
The quiet lull into we which we fall between ideas, projects, and goals can make life seem empty. After accomplishing one objective, you may want to move immediately on to the next. However, when your next step is unclear, you may feel frustrated, disconnected, or even a mild depression.
You may even perceive your lack of forward momentum as an indicator of imminent stagnation. To calm these distressing thoughts, try to accept that if your intent is personal growth. You will continue to grow as an individual whether striving for a specific objective or not.
Spending time immersed in life’s rigors and pleasures can be a cathartic experience that gives you the time you need to think about what you have recently gone through and leisurely contemplate what you wish to do next. You may also find that in simply being and going through the motions of everyday life, you reconnect with your priorities in a very organic, unforced way.
The mindful transitional pause can take many forms. For some, it can be a period of reflection that helps them understand how their life has unfolded. For others, it can be a period of adjustment, where new values based on recent changes are integrated into daily life.
Just because you’re not headed swiftly to a final destination doesn’t mean you should assume that you have lost your drive. The stage between journeys can become a wonderful period of relaxation that prepares you for the path that will soon be revealed to you.
Our perception of the traits and characteristics that make us who we are is often tightly intertwined with how we live our life.
We define ourselves in terms of the roles we adopt, our actions and inactions, our triumphs, and what we think are failures. As a result it is easy to identify so strongly with a decision that has resulted in unexpected negative consequences that we actually become that "wrong" decision. The disappointment and shame we feel when we make what we perceive as a mistake grows until it becomes a dominant part of our identities.
We rationalize our "poor" decisions by labeling ourselves incompetent decision-makers. However, your true identity cannot be defined by your choices. Your essence-what makes you a unique entity-exists independently of your decision-making process.
There are no true right or wrong decisions. All decisions contribute to your development and are an integral part of your evolving existence yet they are still separate from the self. A decision that does not result in its intended outcome is in no way an illustration of character.
Still, it can have dire effects on our ability to trust ourselves and our self-esteem. You can avoid becoming your decisions by affirming that a "bad decision" was just an experience, and next time you can choose differently. Try to avoid lingering in the past and mulling over the circumstances that led to your perceived error in judgment.
Instead, adapt to the new circumstances you must face by considering how you can use your intelligence, inner strength, and intuition to aid you in moving forward more mindfully. Try not to entirely avoid thinking about the choices you have made, but reflect on the consequences of your decision from a rational rather than an emotional standpoint. Strive to understand why you made the choice you did, forgive yourself, and then move forward.
A perceived mistake becomes a valuable learning experience and is, in essence, a gift to learn and grow from. You are not a bad person and you are not your decisions; you are simply human.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Educational Association and Alabama Educational Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter.net. All conversations are confidential.
A long-time high school friend with whom I lost contact with became a bit irritated with me for emailing her information about my new novel. She berated me and questioned my authenticity on Facebook.
Once I straightened her out on my background, which she held no clue; she apologized and now we are friends again. It was upsetting to see a friend attack me like she did.
I guess that goes with the territory when you, at last, accomplish something you never dreamed about.
For me, that was writing a novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos, a daunting task, and even more so now the book is published and the marketing and PR work begins. The Northport Gazette will be hosting a book signing Thursday night at Art Night from 6 p.m. – till. I hope you will drop by and see me as well as other accomplished writers, musicians and artist.
It got me to thinking about accomplishing goals.
The elation we feel when we have learned an important lesson, achieved a goal, or had a big breakthrough can sometimes be met with a period of downtime afterward.
During this period of transition, we may feel unsure and not know where to turn next. Many people, during the pause between achievements, begin to wonder what their life is about. These feelings are common and strike everyone from time to time.
Human beings are active creatures - we feel best when we are working on a project or vigorously pursuing a goal. But there is nothing inherently wrong with spending a day, a week, or even a month simply existing and not having a plan. Just be. It won’t be long before you embark upon your next voyage of growth and discovery.
The quiet lull into we which we fall between ideas, projects, and goals can make life seem empty. After accomplishing one objective, you may want to move immediately on to the next. However, when your next step is unclear, you may feel frustrated, disconnected, or even a mild depression.
You may even perceive your lack of forward momentum as an indicator of imminent stagnation. To calm these distressing thoughts, try to accept that if your intent is personal growth. You will continue to grow as an individual whether striving for a specific objective or not.
Spending time immersed in life’s rigors and pleasures can be a cathartic experience that gives you the time you need to think about what you have recently gone through and leisurely contemplate what you wish to do next. You may also find that in simply being and going through the motions of everyday life, you reconnect with your priorities in a very organic, unforced way.
The mindful transitional pause can take many forms. For some, it can be a period of reflection that helps them understand how their life has unfolded. For others, it can be a period of adjustment, where new values based on recent changes are integrated into daily life.
Just because you’re not headed swiftly to a final destination doesn’t mean you should assume that you have lost your drive. The stage between journeys can become a wonderful period of relaxation that prepares you for the path that will soon be revealed to you.
Our perception of the traits and characteristics that make us who we are is often tightly intertwined with how we live our life.
We define ourselves in terms of the roles we adopt, our actions and inactions, our triumphs, and what we think are failures. As a result it is easy to identify so strongly with a decision that has resulted in unexpected negative consequences that we actually become that "wrong" decision. The disappointment and shame we feel when we make what we perceive as a mistake grows until it becomes a dominant part of our identities.
We rationalize our "poor" decisions by labeling ourselves incompetent decision-makers. However, your true identity cannot be defined by your choices. Your essence-what makes you a unique entity-exists independently of your decision-making process.
There are no true right or wrong decisions. All decisions contribute to your development and are an integral part of your evolving existence yet they are still separate from the self. A decision that does not result in its intended outcome is in no way an illustration of character.
Still, it can have dire effects on our ability to trust ourselves and our self-esteem. You can avoid becoming your decisions by affirming that a "bad decision" was just an experience, and next time you can choose differently. Try to avoid lingering in the past and mulling over the circumstances that led to your perceived error in judgment.
Instead, adapt to the new circumstances you must face by considering how you can use your intelligence, inner strength, and intuition to aid you in moving forward more mindfully. Try not to entirely avoid thinking about the choices you have made, but reflect on the consequences of your decision from a rational rather than an emotional standpoint. Strive to understand why you made the choice you did, forgive yourself, and then move forward.
A perceived mistake becomes a valuable learning experience and is, in essence, a gift to learn and grow from. You are not a bad person and you are not your decisions; you are simply human.
John W. Cargile, Msc.D, D.D. is a licensed pastoral psychology counselor. He is a member of the National Educational Association and Alabama Educational Association. He is the author of a new novel, The Cry of the Cuckoos www.thecryofthecuckoos.com You can contact him at jwcargile@charter.net. All conversations are confidential.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
An Interview With Geri Ahearn
INTERVIEW
Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
John: When I was about ten years old, I wrote a story about Rinny,
based on the Rin Tin Tin German Sheperd dog that was
popular in the 1950's.
Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing?
John: Fiction, and non-fiction!
Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to write?
John: Not really! No one in our family were writers. The city editor of The
Birmingham News offered a Creative Writing Class, while I attended
Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. After I had written a
couple of stories for him, he invited me to work for the newspaper.
Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story?
John: The Cry Of The Cuckoos, my current novel, comes as close as it can
to drawing out similarities between the main character, and myself.
Geri: Who is your favorite author?
John: Sydney Sheldon
Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or
are they from the imagination?
John: Both! I took some family characters, and exploded them into colorful
composites with a lot of flawed characteristics that they didn't actually
have. I had some family members in mind as I built the characters.
When they read excerpts of the book, each of them said, "Is That Me?"
I left them guessing!
Geri: How many books have you written?
John: One, and one eBook, From Mount Olive Road, a collection of my
newspaper columns over the past three years.
Geri: Where can your books be purchased?
John: www.thecryofthecuckoos.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.booksamillion.com
And Available soon on: Authors Edge
Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published?
John: My first newspaper story was published when I was eighteen years
old. I was estatic when I saw my byline on the story. I still get a
buzz when I write a good article for newspapers and magazines,
and see my name as the author. Seeing my book for the first time in
print will be the ultimate for me as this is what I set out to do when
I retired, write novels.
Geri: Do you have any current work in progress?
John: The Cry Of The Cuckoos!
Geri: Do you have goals set for the future?
John: Lots of them! I plan on a sequel to The Cry Of The Cuckoos,
and a script!
Geri: At this point and time in your life, are you exactly where you want
to be?
John: I am exactly where I wanted to be at this juncture in my life. I am
sixty-four years old. When I was young, I dreamed of writing for
newspapers for ten years, magazine writing and editing for ten
years, and publishing for ten years. I owned a printing company,
and produced magazines in the 1980's, now comes the sunset years,
novel writing!
Geri: What can help authors to reach their dream?
John: Never give up! Practice, practice, practice! Don't let critics get in
in your way! Polish your writing, read other works that capture
your imagination. Become your own authentic self as a writer.
Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block?
John: Oh yes! When it comes, I sit in meditation! I ask the universe to be
my guide. I hold two Doctorates in philosophy and religion, and I
am ironically something between a practicing Christian, and Buddhist.
Prayer and meditation offer me insight when I get writer's block.
Geri: What advice can you give to prevent writer's block?
John: De-clutter the brain! I just recently wrote an article about Taming
The Monkey Mind to De-clutter the brain. We have to free our minds
of all the clutter that goes on inside our brains when we are trying to
be creative, at peace with ourselves.
Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books?
John: I can't remember reading that much as a child. Nothing sticks out
in my mind.
Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading?
John: No!
Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author,
who would it be?
John: I like to think I am my own authentic self, so I don't want to be like
any other writer. I just want to be me. I'm not tied up in knots about
being famous. If someone likes what I write, and it becomes a
best-seller, then that's great! But, I do not set my goals on being
famous.
Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction, a sense of achievement
after publishing a book, can you relate?
John: Yes! If it is not truly vanity! Self-satisfaction is seeing a project through
until the end of the day when you can say to yourself, "Well done!"
Geri: How do you balance occupation with writing?
John: I am mostly retired now, but what keeps me in the community is
driving special needs kids to school each day. Each kid is something
special, even though they have various challenges. I get to spend about
three hours a day with them, and I continously learn from them.
In my sequel to The Cry Of The Cuckoos, there will be a special needs
kid in the book.
Geri: How did you feel at your first book-sgning?
John: I am waiting on my first complementary copy, and copyright copy.
Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would change?
John: It would allow me to continue to write, without any outside financial
pressures.
Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript, and end with promotions.
What was your most difficult task?
John: For some authors, writing is the only thing they know, they leave
marketing up to other people. But I like to market and sell as much
as I like to write. I guess that's because I'm a salesman. I worked at
Bantam Books as regional sales manager in the early 1980's.
Geri: Some writer's need to listen to music, or look at flowers, or the ocean
when writing. Do you have a particular scenery?
John: I listen to new age music when I write. It's soft, and some of it includes
sounds of the ocean, or waterfalls. It's soothing, and I can listen for
hours. It provides tranquility of mind, and goes back to the question
about writer's block, and meditation. My office looks out into the wooded
area on my ten acres of land. We live in a log house. I can sit and watch
the critters of the earth for hours as they scamper around the woods,
Deer especially! I have a redbird and bluebird that perch on a limb nearby
everyday. They fly to my windowsill as if they are wondering what the heck
I am doing watching them. I recently wrote an article about The Redbird
In My Window Sill-A Spirit Guide!
Geri: If you were to publish a book in a different genre, what would it be?
John: I'm unsure! I didn't intend on The Cry Of The Cuckoos to become a
mystery. It just evolved into it. It started out as a historical romance
of a man and a woman during World War Two, and the romance between
the two. But things changed as I continue to write it, and I wanted to be
up tempo, and contemporary. So voila! That's what I got!
Geri: Thank you kindly for your time. Your interview was quite interesting!
John: Your welcome!
Geri: When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer?
John: When I was about ten years old, I wrote a story about Rinny,
based on the Rin Tin Tin German Sheperd dog that was
popular in the 1950's.
Geri: What type of books do you enjoy writing?
John: Fiction, and non-fiction!
Geri: Did a special person in your life inspire you to write?
John: Not really! No one in our family were writers. The city editor of The
Birmingham News offered a Creative Writing Class, while I attended
Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. After I had written a
couple of stories for him, he invited me to work for the newspaper.
Geri: Have you written any books based on a true life story?
John: The Cry Of The Cuckoos, my current novel, comes as close as it can
to drawing out similarities between the main character, and myself.
Geri: Who is your favorite author?
John: Sydney Sheldon
Geri: Are your characters created from people you've known in real life, or
are they from the imagination?
John: Both! I took some family characters, and exploded them into colorful
composites with a lot of flawed characteristics that they didn't actually
have. I had some family members in mind as I built the characters.
When they read excerpts of the book, each of them said, "Is That Me?"
I left them guessing!
Geri: How many books have you written?
John: One, and one eBook, From Mount Olive Road, a collection of my
newspaper columns over the past three years.
Geri: Where can your books be purchased?
John: www.thecryofthecuckoos.com
www.amazon.com
www.barnesandnoble.com
www.booksamillion.com
And Available soon on: Authors Edge
Geri: Describe how you felt the first time you were published?
John: My first newspaper story was published when I was eighteen years
old. I was estatic when I saw my byline on the story. I still get a
buzz when I write a good article for newspapers and magazines,
and see my name as the author. Seeing my book for the first time in
print will be the ultimate for me as this is what I set out to do when
I retired, write novels.
Geri: Do you have any current work in progress?
John: The Cry Of The Cuckoos!
Geri: Do you have goals set for the future?
John: Lots of them! I plan on a sequel to The Cry Of The Cuckoos,
and a script!
Geri: At this point and time in your life, are you exactly where you want
to be?
John: I am exactly where I wanted to be at this juncture in my life. I am
sixty-four years old. When I was young, I dreamed of writing for
newspapers for ten years, magazine writing and editing for ten
years, and publishing for ten years. I owned a printing company,
and produced magazines in the 1980's, now comes the sunset years,
novel writing!
Geri: What can help authors to reach their dream?
John: Never give up! Practice, practice, practice! Don't let critics get in
in your way! Polish your writing, read other works that capture
your imagination. Become your own authentic self as a writer.
Geri: Have you ever experienced writer's block?
John: Oh yes! When it comes, I sit in meditation! I ask the universe to be
my guide. I hold two Doctorates in philosophy and religion, and I
am ironically something between a practicing Christian, and Buddhist.
Prayer and meditation offer me insight when I get writer's block.
Geri: What advice can you give to prevent writer's block?
John: De-clutter the brain! I just recently wrote an article about Taming
The Monkey Mind to De-clutter the brain. We have to free our minds
of all the clutter that goes on inside our brains when we are trying to
be creative, at peace with ourselves.
Geri: As a child, did you have favorite books?
John: I can't remember reading that much as a child. Nothing sticks out
in my mind.
Geri: As a child, did you enjoy reading?
John: No!
Geri: If you had the opportunity to one day live the life of a famous author,
who would it be?
John: I like to think I am my own authentic self, so I don't want to be like
any other writer. I just want to be me. I'm not tied up in knots about
being famous. If someone likes what I write, and it becomes a
best-seller, then that's great! But, I do not set my goals on being
famous.
Geri: Many authors feel a sense of self-satisfaction, a sense of achievement
after publishing a book, can you relate?
John: Yes! If it is not truly vanity! Self-satisfaction is seeing a project through
until the end of the day when you can say to yourself, "Well done!"
Geri: How do you balance occupation with writing?
John: I am mostly retired now, but what keeps me in the community is
driving special needs kids to school each day. Each kid is something
special, even though they have various challenges. I get to spend about
three hours a day with them, and I continously learn from them.
In my sequel to The Cry Of The Cuckoos, there will be a special needs
kid in the book.
Geri: How did you feel at your first book-sgning?
John: I am waiting on my first complementary copy, and copyright copy.
Geri: If you won the lottery tomorrow, what would change?
John: It would allow me to continue to write, without any outside financial
pressures.
Geri: As writers, we begin with a manuscript, and end with promotions.
What was your most difficult task?
John: For some authors, writing is the only thing they know, they leave
marketing up to other people. But I like to market and sell as much
as I like to write. I guess that's because I'm a salesman. I worked at
Bantam Books as regional sales manager in the early 1980's.
Geri: Some writer's need to listen to music, or look at flowers, or the ocean
when writing. Do you have a particular scenery?
John: I listen to new age music when I write. It's soft, and some of it includes
sounds of the ocean, or waterfalls. It's soothing, and I can listen for
hours. It provides tranquility of mind, and goes back to the question
about writer's block, and meditation. My office looks out into the wooded
area on my ten acres of land. We live in a log house. I can sit and watch
the critters of the earth for hours as they scamper around the woods,
Deer especially! I have a redbird and bluebird that perch on a limb nearby
everyday. They fly to my windowsill as if they are wondering what the heck
I am doing watching them. I recently wrote an article about The Redbird
In My Window Sill-A Spirit Guide!
Geri: If you were to publish a book in a different genre, what would it be?
John: I'm unsure! I didn't intend on The Cry Of The Cuckoos to become a
mystery. It just evolved into it. It started out as a historical romance
of a man and a woman during World War Two, and the romance between
the two. But things changed as I continue to write it, and I wanted to be
up tempo, and contemporary. So voila! That's what I got!
Geri: Thank you kindly for your time. Your interview was quite interesting!
John: Your welcome!
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