What’s Next?

Thinking of my next storyline in the Bearpen Saga.

This one is going to have greater basis on current events which may allow me to take a hiatus just to see what happens.

Current Book now being advertised on BooksGoSocial.com

Now…..Available

Some Historical Reflection

Bearpen Mountain hid her secrets well.

It was the territorial home of the Delaware Indians with some pioneers believing it was a sacred place for the Native Americans that could place emphasis on the foreboding yet beautiful land that it rose above.

It accepted those who came but punished those who sought to transform it and deny the spiritual respect it was due.

The Denver/Vega Valley along with Bearpen Mountain eventually became part of the Hardenbergh Patent.

 http://www.dcnyhistory.org/hardenburghpatentbobboyd.html 

“Purchased from the Indians for the sum of 60 pounds “the immense tract of land now known as the Hardenburgh Patent,” which includes all of what is now known as Sullivan Co. and parts of Delaware and Ulster Counties. On 20 Apr 1708, the patent was officially granted to Hardenburgh and six associates. By a secret understanding, and additional eighth-share was granted to the Surveyor-General of the Province, Augustus Graham, who could not legally have an interest in a land grant. Over the next 40 years, the make-up of the proprietors changed substantially due to deaths and sales. In 1749, the patent was divided into “Great Lots” apportioned by lot among the proprietors. These were further subdivided into tracts and divisions of various sizes.”  

The land here has changed little over the centuries other than roads being paved and other improvements of technology, it remains a secluded place where individualists live their lives often unhampered by the heaviness from the world outside.  

Newcomers who inhabit many of the same places once owned by farmers, loggers & reclusive thinkers typically become reformed and embracive of the lifestyle and hardness of this place making many of them members of an unspoken army. 

The hardiness and the hardness forged in places such as this make a formidable opponent to those seeking to inflict harm. Although the events within the pages of my novels are fictional, the sentiment and descriptions of the land & the spirit of the inhabitants are accurate. The enemies of our freedom, of our Republic, of our way of life should never discount it. Those from outside and those from within.

May GOD BLESS these places.

DANGER AT BEARPEN MOUNTAIN will be released mid April 2015 via Amazon.

Here’s the new cover for DANGER AT BEARPEN MOUNTAIN

I’m anticipating the release of Book 2 within the month to be available via Amazon as an electronic book.

Vega Valley School House

Vega Valley School House.

Vega Valley School House

The school still stands although it now is immersed in overgrowth and hidden within the shadows of 2nd growth trees. It later became the home of a reclusive gentleman who has since passed on and subsequently passes back into the deep arms of nature.

Imagine through the years how the small district school house served its purpose as dairy farmers sent their children to be educated here. It sits among the desolate rural mountain valley standing the test of time as worthy and durable as the people. It has weathered countless blizzards, deep wind driven snow, drought, torrential  winds along with summer heat.

Consider the events that occurred within the one room school house such as Christmas plays, Lessons, Childhood Quarrels, Learning to Read, Graduation. The walls hold the secrets of time long ago while the hand blown glass windows bare light to the soul of the room.

Yet it stands alone in the alcove of trees & brambles.

As I drive past it I’m reminded of resilience, steadfastness, age, usefulness, uselessness, loneliness and yet still an obvious presence more than the mere mortality or remembrance of people long ago who resided here.

Pre-Spring Thaw

Pre-Spring Thaw.

Pre-Spring Thaw

The heavy hand of winter begins to soften during March although it reappears in the evenings and overstays its visit until midday most times. With the strengthening of the sun, the spawn of old man winter, snow, begins to thaw creating streams from the mountaintops resulting in small rivers downstream.

The problem of course is the unexpected warmer than norm temperatures which turn the slow melt into a fast thaw resulting in an enormity of water that cannot be absorbed by the still frozen earth. The icy waters then begin an assault on most anything within its path taking softening ground on a damaging ride; some trees are uprooted and large boulders sitting for eons create a change of the waters route. A temporary water lane which will completely fade when summer appears leaving behind an almost invisible scar on the hillsides.

A fast thaw brings mud.

Slick, slippery, oozing, slimy mud making a trek a torturous ordeal. One of the characters in Ordeal on Bearpen Mountain, Roc Menello found it out the hard way when he decided upon a late day hike into unfamiliar terrain. It wasn’t the only danger he came upon.

How would you handle the situation if it were you lost that late day?

In the 2nd book of Bearpen Saga,”Danger on Bearpen Mountain” to be released soon, the heavy waters from melting snow become a target for terrorists seeking large scale destruction.

The Rural Crime Adventures merges drama, comedy with local lore and interesting tidbits of history into a fast paced story.

Final Stages of “Danger At Bearpen Mountain”

Coming Soon!

The second book in the Bearpen Saga is a high paced story with an emphasis on a terrorist plot against the NYC water supply targeting the Pepacton Reservoir.

Another goal of the attack is to destroy the feeling of security in rural America by killing innocent residents living  within the less travelled back roads.

The dramatic tale takes the reader from the Catskills to Germany, Syria and back with a dynamic cast of characters, intense  current events, local daily life all  accented by our local cast of heroes who become involved in protecting their rural village & hamlet from foreign invaders.

Former dairy farmer turned drug dealer, Clay Stanton reappears after escaping to parts unknown living his life on the lam and the incredible team of Lester & Marcy Cambridge become involved in the strategy against the terrorist plot.

The Saga can be read in any order although some characters are introduced in Ordeal on Bearpen and are involved in Danger on Bearpen as well. Both books will provide tidbits of history and local lore to add dimension to the story.

Some History on Roxbury, NY where the story takes place

Most of the story occurs at rural & remote Bearpen Mountain partly located within the Roxbury Township although two characters Lester & Marcy Cambridge are residents of the town itself. They have a Victorian home on the west side of Main Street with Kirkside Park as their backyard.

Here’s a glimpse of the park and its story:

http://roxburyny.com/parks-recreation-historical-preservation-tourism/