Susan Reynolds just wrote to tell me that the anthology of stories about fathers with an excerpt from my childhood memoir is available on Amazon now. It’s not going to be available until May 18, but you can always do your Father’s Day shopping early.
I just realized I get to buy someone a Father’s Day gift this year!
Present Tense 
Congrats again, Tim! I’m pulling for all us to make the final cut!
Hey Lawrence! Thanks for the kind words. It sounds like you have a story in this volume, too, so congratulations right back at you. I haven’t had a chance to see anyone else’s work but I am eager to get my hands on a copy of the book. It will be interesting to see what everyone else has done with the material. Do you find yourself writing much about your father?
Hi Tim! My story is about my grandfather, who died in 1992. I write about a lot of people: my wife, my mother, my grandmothers, sisters, dog, etc. I’ve been in 4 Chicken Soup for the Soul books, among others. Currently, I’m at the re-write stage of my first novel. It’s been a test of will just to have gotten to this stage. I’ll have to tell you about that some day. Congratulations to you again, Tim! I can’t wait to read your story!
Wow, Lawrence, you’ve got quite a history of publishing credits! I can’t wait to see your story.
I completely agree that it’s a test of will to finish a first draft of a novel-length work. Good on you. I have yet to achieve that milestone, but I am committed to getting a first draft of my coming of age memoir. I’d love to hear your story one day.
We made the cut, Lawrence. Hooray for us!
Congrats, Tim! I heard the book MIGHT be available for order toward the end of this month! Let’s hope so, huh?
Thank you, Lawrence. Congratulations to you, too. I just found your blog and commented on the completion of your first draft of your first novel. What a great milestone!
DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!
Anna Aquino, who professes to be a Christian, wrote in this book that her father, Kenneth Palmer, Jr was a Vietnam Prisoner of War.
Her father was NEVER a Vietnam POW. What a disgrace to real Vietnam POWs.
Even if you’re telling the truth (which is suspect because you’re not using your real name), why would you disrespect the other authors who’ve written wonderful stories in tribute to their fathers? And why would you involve someone who has nothing to do with your dispute by posting this nonsense?
I have upset this person. . who won’t listen to me. . .My father was captured and held as a POW and is not on the list, because he doesn’t want to be. He was only held for a two days tops. This story is what was told to me. I can now track down the ones who can prove it. I have gone back since this person has made such a big deal about it. It is never my desire to mislead anyone nor have I.
I haven’t read your story yet Anna, but now I am intrigued. I look forward to checking it out, but my copy of the book is at work and I am home sick today.
I wouldn’t worry too much about anything anonymous people on the Internet say. As nonfiction writers, all we can do is tell our story as truthfully and as well as we can. How people take the story is out of our hands.
Please don’t do this here.
I am not selling the book. I don’t think I even bothered to add an Amazon link to this post. I am just proud to have my own story in the book.
Maybe a better place for something like this is the Amazon site or perhaps your own site. You could possibly even offer some evidence to bolster your opinion. But don’t do that here. This isn’t the right place for it.
Three good points, Lawrence. Thanks for posting!
Thank you,
This issue has caused me a lot of tears, and I am getting over it. I appriciate the encouragment. I’ve spent almost 15 years now on trying to get my dad’s story together and 8 of those years the books been done and I’ve tried to get it out. My short story Foxhole Fathering is based on my first book which is about my dad’s tour in Vietnam. It is yet-to-be published. It is my heart to bring healing and ministry to these guys and sadly one of them is trying to shoot me in the foot. As far as questioning my relationship with the Lord, well that’s something I’ll have to stand before God one day and discuss. I will say that no matter how many times this guy has tried to slander me, I still love the guy and appriciate what he did for our country. I still pray for him. I hope he realizes I now have access to the proof of this story. And because my dad isn’t on the list and I never have to deal with this issue again, I am opting to market the full manuscript as fiction just so if it ever comes up again I can say it’s based on a true story. Not being on that list is my father’s choice.
Smiles,