"It's been a long time a brewin' "

  It's been a while- I know. I have been so focused on writing the last book of the Eraser series I have been neglecting to keep up the "keeping up". I'll tell you this, I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this last book. To carry the Palmer family as far as they have gone has been a wonderful challenge. It has also been time and emotionally exhausting. I say this because of my trek out to see a friend after church today. I should be content even though it is so.

  My friend is 93 year old, Verlan Ferrar. I'm her elder from church- even though she is 33 years my senior. Within the past six months her life has changed dramatically. She has been an example to me today once again. She has listened to approximately 150+- of my sermons; complimenting me on some; not saying a word about others. That I have never cared about. What I have cared about was the fact that she has been an example of God's grace working amongst us- specifically me. Today she solidified that in my mind, showing me that life is what you make it- no matter what the circumstance.

  Todays' bulletin cover has on it "Rejoice", a theme from the Christmas season. What I saw today was her lack of remorse or sadness for the radical changes the fall she had last summer has brought upon her life. She seemed content to know most of her things had been disposed of in different manners- mostly sold or given away. She seemed content that her foot had taken all of this while to mend from the break and that maybe next time she saw the doctor she could get rid of the ankle brace. She seemed content to know she would never return to the facility she had been living at before the fall and she would be in a nursing home the rest of her life. She seems- content.

   Therefore, once again, I have learned. I have re-learned that I should slow down and not worry about how long it takes me to finish the series and get it published. It may or may not ever be that. So in the mean while I am content. Content in knowing God is with me, just like He is with my friend, Verlan.

  Thank you, my friend.

Eraser Updates

  Let me start out by saying that I don't like or want to do what I'm about to do in my blog today. That is- give an "update". For those of you that have written a book and even for those of you who have not, a book is constantly being revised until such time as it finally goes to print. It is as much a work of art as a painting or sculpture, but easier to "Erase" so to speak.

  All this being said, I 'd like you all to know that I have indeed split my original manuscript in two, with the works now being, "Curse of the Eraser" and "The Keeper". More people have now read them and the majority have given me the personal satisfaction in saying a job well done. And to be honest, there have been one or two that didn't have their toes curled or crank turned by it, but that's to be expected. You can't please everyone or so they say.

  I have now completed the next book in the series called, "The Keeper's Son" and have had my first reaction to it. The good news is that she found it every bit as good as the first two, and for that I am grateful. So, if you have any interest in reading any of them, let me know if you can handle reading them on a computer or a reader that supports PDF files. And if you do, I'll send them to you on one condition- if I get them published, you have to promise to purchase the series. Autographed, of course! ;)

  Up next time- "The Keepers" the final book of the Eraser series!

It's hard to be prophetic.

  In the Old Testament, the standards for prophets were rigid. Basically, get it wrong- the prophet dies. Today, those standards have been modified a tinsy bit, much to the delight of modern day self -proclaimed prophets. No death for all those who predict things, such as, the end of the world, or the return of Christ. They and their followers merely fade away until such time as they try to do it again.

  In "The Curse of the Eraser", the thin thread of the progression of the New World Order is there, woven into the fabric of the story of a family determined to keep it from happening. The story is not prophetic in the least, but let me say this, it hints at what is to come in the coming series. Yes, that's right, I predict there will be a series of books in the saga including somewhat prophetic insights into the New World Order. I can say that with confidence because I am now not on the second book, but on the third. That's right, due to the recommendations of a friend who holds a degree in English and has taught at the college level, I am seriously considering making my first manuscript two works instead of one, only because of the current market's demands. I will split it up if a publisher finds that more palatable, but if I determine to self publish, I will do it as one. Either way, the story will be told and I will be ready.

  So if you're looking forward to seeing why the New World Order has been subjugated until this time and how it will turn out, I urge you to help me find a publisher or the $$ to self publish. Until then know this; It's all about the Eraser.

 


 

The Christian Life

 When I began the novel, "Curse of the Eraser", I intended it to be a reflection of Christian living. It is that for sure, but to market it as such has become problematic. I know why and that is because it is too, "Real". Let me explain.

  For those who are not Christians, they struggle with the everyday issues, too. For instance, alcohol and drug addictions, promiscuous sex, abortion, homosexuality, etc. These people compare their actions to those around them and an arbitrary scale that changes with the times and seasons. But for those of us who are Christian, we have a different scale we use and that is the Word of God.

  I wrote the book using realistic circumstances of the lives of everyday Christian people. People who struggle with all of the above and much more. People like David and Bathsheba, Cain and Able, Joseph and his brothers. People from the Word of God. The characters in "Curse of the Eraser" feel the trauma of sin just like these people of old and maybe even more so, now that the Christ has revealed the Kingdom to us. That all being said, I have been told that it would be difficult to market my work because it is too "worldly" for the Christian publishers and too "Christian" for the secular publishers. That's a difficult place to be in.

  This is what I've got to say about that: Tough! The Christian publishers need to pull their heads out of the sand and understand that people sin. The secular publishers need to know that we Christians live just like everybody else, except for this, we know the Savior. And because we know and love Him, we live our lives for Him and to His glory. And if we do sin we have and Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous One.

  So, if you ever do get to read "Curse of the Eraser" on your Nook or Kindle, paperback or hardbound, know this; you'll be reading the lives of real people in a daily struggle, just like everyone else. Sola Deo.
 

What Do Erasers really "do"?

  You'd think that the answer to this question would be a simple one. I'm sure you're thinking, "They take away the marks, Dummy." Well you are right, they do. But do you know how? Basically, the molecules in the rubber attract the graphite from the paper because they are stickier than those of the paper. Personally, I think it is because the molecules are friendlier. :)

  In the case of the eraser that the Palmers have used for over two hundred years, well that eraser is not friendlier at all. In fact, it is far from that. This erasier is so mean, it repels. People of course, not graphite. This square of rubber, for all practical purposes, should be considered much more. Yes, much more. As a nuke in an arsenal it deters. Teddy Roosevelt would have considered it a "big stick" if he'd have owned it. It seems the Palmers took to heart the President's famous saying, "Walk softly and carry a big stick", in regards to this eraser. They knew its power and so did those that feared it.

  All because erasers take away "marks".

Madison County- New York

  Before I went to make a visit to my wife's great uncle Walter in New York State in 1994, I had never heard of Brookfield, much less the county in which it is placed, Madison County. When we drove over to the Olde Palmer Home there, I became enlightened and educated in ways I could have never imagined. First of all, it was country. Rolling hills, wooded glades and fields of green, made up a vast area of what was once considered the "West" after the Revolutionary War. It was much more beautiful than I ever imagined New York could ever be. However, when we arrived at our destination it was much more than that, being an oasis apart from the world and a sanctuary from it.

  Madison County is an old county. The Palmer family came out "West" to settle there in 1792, but the white man had been wandering through the lands of the Oneida for a long time previously. The family of Lawton Palmer Esq. was the first white family to have a son born there in the county that year. Life on the frontier was hard, with many of the first settlers giving up and moving back East or dying in the process of establishing themselves. Regardless of this fact, Madison County grew, as far as a farming community can that is. It seemed that somehow all the surrounding areas acquired manufacturing plants and big business, like Schenectady, Utica, and Albany. But not Brookfield nor Madison County.

   If it were not for Google Books, a free online library of many wonderful works which are now free to use without copy write infringement, I may have had to look forever for the obscure facts I was able to find about the earliest settlers to the county. Luna Hammond Whitney wrote a wonderful history of the county in 1872, which helped tremendously. The descriptions of the people, commerce, government, agriculture and the Indians was revealing. It showed a lifestyle that has not entirely vanished from the scene, but had only been modified by the times and technology.

  What was extremely evident however, was the Chrsitian influence on the populace and it's government. The Chrsitian beginnnings of the county were a reflection of not only the people who moved there, but of the nation at large. Established first were the churches and the schools, the latter being created by the churches. The first instructors were the clergy themselves. Consequently, Madison County seemed at the time to be an established New World as envisioned by the Founding Fathers. A place where a man could live with his family in peace. This was the world that drew Lawton Palmer to Brookfield.

Today, Madison County is much the same, a sleepy farm community where if you were to turn off all the yard lights at night, would seem like you had stepped back in time. Not much has changed, commerce included. Only the names of the stores.

Curse an Eraser?

  I wondered why a Freemason would curse an object like an eraser. Obviously, it was something this apprentice was extremely familiar with. Something he would like to control. But, because of his stature in the class system of England, something he could not control -unless- he were a Freemason...

  We don't know his name, this apprentice. We do know he was enraged that his boss owned them all. That he was just an underling and unable to make the decisions concerning their manufacture. But, he thought, ' I do all the work! Why should he reap the benefits?' Sounds like many an apprentice. In haste, he goes to the dark side of Freemasonry for vengeance and makes a fatal mistake; a mistake that would cause his own death. Within two years of placing the curse and establishing his own business two doors down from Nairne, he mysteriously dies. A victim of his membership in the order created by Weishaupt. He was told to never place curses...

  His actions were felt by many- more than he ever envisioned. He had no idea that the erasers would never be used, except perhaps one or possibly two... He had no idea that they would ever cause so much death.

Next: Madison County NY

What is this "Eraser" anyway?

  How many of you know that the rubber eraser was invented by a man from London named, Edmund Nairne? To tell you the truth, before I began this novel, I didn't know either. I know one thing, however, that we really take erasers for granted. There's one on every pencil. and it seems, at least in my case, that the eraser is the first thing to wear out. I make a lot of mistakes you know. Hopefully, my writing, "Curse of the Eraser" was not a big mistake, too.

  The eraser that the story is named after is one of the first erasers produced by the aforementioned Edmund. In the story line, he sent this particular eraser to the Palmer family of Madison County, New York. In real life, this particular clan of the Palmer family really did settle in that place and a tiny town called, Brookfield. The reason I know all of this is because my wife's family can be traced back to these people. I have been to their farm, nestled in the country in an apple orchard planted two centuries ago. It is a cool place. The five acres there are still in the Palmer family name, but seeing as the Palmer I knew passed away a couple of years ago, I don't completely know the current status of ownership.

  Buried there on the property are ancestors that grew up in England, the colonies and right there on the farm. The names of the people will seem strangely familiar when the book is read, because some of them are in there. Which leads me to mention this: it will be difficult to determine what is fact and what is fiction in "Curse of the Eraser". That is the fun of it!

  The Eraser is just like any other; an opaque square, much like modern day art erasers. And it works just like an other, well, at least to a degree. The difference is that this eraser, really erases! It is cursed in this way: if you erase someones name with malice- that person dies. If you try to destroy it because you know what it can do-you die. And, if you don't pass it on to the next generation- the entire family shall die! How the Freemason that cursed the eraser like this came up with it, we shall never know. However, the why of it, we do know.

Next: Why curse an eraser anyway?

The New World Order?

  You might be thinking, "Why the question mark on the title of this blog?". The reason is this: For over 235 years the American landscape has been just that, a NWO. At least for us. Now that we have been here that long it would seem that it is well established and the dreams of the Founding Fathers have been realized. From the mainstream perspective this might be true, but from the perspective of the Palmer family , nothing could be farther from the truth. The Palmers know the truth and this makes them free. As long as they posses the Eraser, it will continue to be that way and for the American people as well.

  Then what is the NWO? Yes, the Founding Fathers meant to establish a land of the free and  home of the brave, free from tyranny and with limitless opportunity. But all was and is not what it seems. The NWO is something far from what we have today in America; a tyranny seeking to control all its citizens, masquerading as good, but being grotesquely evil. Throughout the centuries of our history each time "they" tried to establish what they wanted, but it was foiled by a courageous family, cursed by their possession of a square of rubber and somehow oddly blessed from their destruction as well. The Freemasons did indeed want to control us all, but the NWO they envisioned was not held by all of the Founders of our great land.  But they were powerful and determined. Since 1770 they sought something different and up until this very day the Palmers creatively and purposely put them to task to bring it about. If the Palmers have their way, the NWO shall never come. Or shall it?   

Next: What in the world is this Eraser?

Old suits and Funerals

  As I retrieved my suit out of the closet today to attend the funeral of Janice, I looked at it and smiled, even at this time of great sadness. I held the suit up and looked at its condition as I had not done that before. I figured it is now about seven years since I bought a new one, remembering I bought it before I went to my nephew's wedding and participate by reading from 1 Corinthians the 13th chapter. My nephew's oldest daughter is about six now, I think. Time marches on and suits get older, and threadbare, and just plain wore out.

  Such it is with these "suits" we wear here on earth. At the funeral, the congregation confirmed the fact that, indeed, these mantels of God's creation do wear out. They do return to dust from which they came. They do not last. However, for those in Christ like my friend Janice, we shall receive a new body, a new suit, all because of the merits of Jesus Christ and His love for us. This day, Janice wears her new suit and I look forward to seeing her in it. As for me, I'll just wait with this old suit I wear.

  That's what makes me smile on the day of a funeral of a friend.   

Next: The New World Order.  (Yes, it will be.) :)

The Loss of a Friend- Janice Keck

  Previously, I blogged that I'd be telling you all about the New World Order. However, something happened today that has changed all of that. I lost a friend. One that had inspired me, helped me to apply myself and motivated me- a friend named, Janice Keck, the director of the Williamson County Library.

  I met Janice at a Council for the Written Word Saturday meeting. They, or should I say "we", as I am a member now, contribute in the promotion of the art and craft of being an author in our fair county and try to be a support and help for authors, much like me. Janice sat next to me the first meeting I attended. She asked me about my work and showed me that she cared about not only the things I had written, but that she cared about- me. That is a rare quality nowadays. That quality seeped out of Janice's pores and permeated the entire room when she was present. When she was there in the room, everyone knew it. Her mere presence commanded that from everybody and she deserved it. She cared.

  I spoke with her on the phone this past Thursday. She had invited me to be a nominee for the position of Trustee on the Board. I was both delighted and humbled by her requested. She sent me the application to fill out that day. I still have it on my desk. I don't know whether to fill it out or not. Somehow that doesn't seem to matter, because she told me that I would have been one of her bosses. Now, I would miss that opportunity to be so, but more importantly, get to know her better. For that, I am saddened.

  What strikes me as ironic and a bit of self fulfilling prophecy, is the rest of our conversation. She wanted to know how my book was coming along. I told her it was completed and in front of a publisher and an agent or two. She was glad and asked if I were working on anything. I told her I was and into the sequel about sixteen chapters. In that she encouraged me and told me to keep up the good work, for she believed in me. I changed the subject and I asked if our relationship would be a long one there and I asked if she would ever retire from her position. She replied, "Not unless something happens that would allow me to. I'll be there until I die." How true were her words.

  Rest in peace dear friend...

"Don't antagonize me!"

  It's hard not to follow up the previous blog about Larkin, the protagonist, with anything other than something about the antagonist. I wish it were as simple as saying it is, Joe Blow. But, it's not. I would venture to say that it would be much easier for Larkin and the Palmer family to deal with there being just one person to fight against rather than what they do have to contend with. Are you ready? The antagonist is: Freemasonry and the Illuminati. Plain and simple? Not really. I do know, however, that the antagonist and anyone to do with them is, in the Palmer's estimation, evil.

  I was speaking to a man on the phone from Montana that I have not had the pleasure to meet as yet and he asked me, "Why the Freemasons?" I didn't really know what to say, so, I told him so. As I already had the idea of a cursed Eraser, it had to be cursed by something or someone, so it just worked out this way. Besides, it's a secret society and if no one knows what goes on behind closed doors, then you can just make stuff up! (Even if they maintain they are just a benevolent society of men in funny little aprons.) ;) Consequently, that is what I did, made stuff up. Oh sure, there is some fact about them in it all, but for the most part there is a bunch of fiction intertwined with it. It is up to the reader to figure out what is what.

  Not only that, the whole concept of Freemasonry is hotter than a three dollar pistol right now. As well as the notion of a New World Order that is supposedly coming upon us faster than crap out of a goose. (Please ignore that.) Contending with a group that has it's tentacles into everything is a mind boggling task, and for the Palmers, a task which they easily adapt to- out of necessity. Do or die.

  So there ya go. The antagonist and the protagonist are both revealed.

Next: The New World Order

Proper names. Larkin the "Protagonist".

  I was in church one Sunday as I began my work on Curse of the Eraser. I had not thought of a name for the main character of the novel. In fact, knowing that it had to be something out of the norm and something memorable, I was struggling with a proper name for the protagonist. A woman from Iowa was there visiting as she had moved to our fair city and was looking for a place to worship. She introduced her children to me and herself of course. Her husband was back in Iowa. I asked her his name, "Larkin", she replied.

  As soon as I heard it I knew. That was going to be "the" name. I had never heard it before. It is as uncommon of a name as "Fiebiger" is, I'm sure. In fact, I've looked online for the name, Larkin Palmer, and yes, there are a couple. That's it. Two. Regardless of this, it had a certain ring to it. Kind of like, "Harry Potter". Larkin Palmer. So I ran with it or him.

  I could tell you all about this young man from New York state, but that would ruin the whole thing. Instead, I suggest that you keep your interest up and now that you know the name of the protagonist, you wait until such time as you can meet him in print someday. I'll let you know when that will be!   

Why "Curse of the Eraser"?

  "It was a dark and stormy night". I've always wanted to type that as a real live author. When I was a boy watching Charlie Browns' "stupid beagle" type away on the roof of his doghouse, I couldn't understand what drove him to do so. Now, 50 years later, I do understand and I am in awe of the complexities of an authors' psyche. At least this authors'. 

  Now that thirty people plus one, (our local librarian, Janice Keck, asked me one Saturday at the CWW meeting) have asked me "why curse of the eraser?", I find I must answer to the best of my ability in the written form.

  It was, actually, one night about two in the morning. I had fallen asleep on our three season deck, watching TV. When I do this, my wife just lets me sleep, not bothering to tell me to come to bed, fearing I wouldn't get back to sleep again if she did. But that evening, I did wake and there "it" was. I was grasping for a few days as I had begun writing about the Palmers, not knowing what direction to go, looking for something, anything, to say. Basically, I had no idea what I was going to write about in this novel, but I knew I wanted to write one. I felt like a beagle on the roof of my dog house. But, like I said, there "it" was. A verse. 'A verse?' I thought. Trust me, I am no poet. But, in this single verse, was everything to begin the entire novel. I was dumbfounded.

  Consequently, I got up, went to my computer and typed it out. I don't remember changing a single word. It is the only poetry in the entire work. Thank goodness, but it contains so much that the reader will eventually see as the story unfolds. It was a gift to me. Hopefully, the words will be seen by many.

  Now you know, "Why the curse of the eraser?"



   

Thirty Lucky People

  As of this post, there are about 30 people with either a pdf file of "Curse of the Eraser" or an actual hard copy. Of those 30, about one third have completed reading it and no one has told me it stinks or other descriptive words that I won't use here. In fact, they all have told me they either like it or love it. Three have asked for the sequel, which is now in progress. Two have said, "You may have something there". One friend said, "I have found it refreshing and something you just don't see out there today." I have found these thirty people, comprised of friends, relatives and people that might just help me, to be an encouragement to me and a blessing. To all of them I am grateful because they make me dream of great things for this work.

  However, there have been those individuals who have been completely honest with me and have told me that I need to do another edit on it. I know this to be true, and depending on the audience it will ultimatley go to, it will have to be editied accordingly. I am grateful for these people too, for they keep me in reality.

  But in it all, I am grateful to God for the inspiration, allowing me to witness of Him, and for His faithfulnees, even if it is not His will I succeed in this. To Him, be the glory in it all.

   Thirty lucky people. Because, if I ever do get this thing published, they all get one free copy signed by, The Eraser Blogger. I said one. If they want more they will have to buy one.

Next: Why Curse of the Eraser?
  

Well, here goes!

      From everything I've read about the world of publishing, "they" say I have to do this. "They" are the experts. The ones that know what they are doing. They might know, but I don't. I guess that is why they consider me a beginner, an amateur, a fledgling. Someone that doesn't have the foggiest idea what he is doing. "They" would be right. It's not that I haven't gotten my feet wet though. I do know some of the basics. Like, it's hard to break into this business and its easier to write a novel than to have it published. Of course, I already know what it is like to receive a reject notice. That part was and continues to be easy.

     But allow me to digress. "They" say I have to do this. I mean, create a blog. Whip up interest. Get it going. For crying out loud, the publishers say I have to sell my book. Which is fine with me, I guess. If they give me a chance, I'll gladly sell my book with them. So friends, that is if anyone ever reads this but me, here goes. For I am, The Eraser Blogger!