The Writer’s Craft – The Glory of an Editor

(Silverdale, Washington; August 31, 2020) – Writing a book is a solitary endeavour. Publishing a book requires a team effort. I spoke about this in my Aug. 17 column, “Teamwork” (https://sparks1524.com/2020/08/17/the-writers-craft-teamwork/). Publishing this blog on my own is one thing, but no one can successfully publish a book without help once the draft is complete. … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – The Glory of an Editor

On the Waterfront – Raising Gibraltar

(Silverdale, Washington; August 24, 2020) – I am proud to present the first “On the Waterfront” column for this blog. This is a space in which I can organize and share stories of adventures on the sea. Some of these might be Navy stories, some might be civilian experiences, but all are tied to the … Continue reading On the Waterfront – Raising Gibraltar

Travel Log: October 2018 – The Desert and the Creepiest Sound EVER

(Silverdale, Washington; Aug. 20, 2020) – The year is 2001. I was a 29-year-old Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class in the U.S. Navy assigned to work on reconnaissance cameras and the associated aircraft systems used by the F-14D Tomcats of VF-213, a squadron based out of NAS Oceana in Virginia. We flew to NAS Fallon, Nevada, … Continue reading Travel Log: October 2018 – The Desert and the Creepiest Sound EVER

The Accidental Detective returns to his old ship, hot on the trail of a killer…

Murder aboard USS Ponce brings Chief Petty Officer Isaac Shepherd back to his old ship. Read the adventure in "Proud Lion," the new novel by Nathanael Miller coming to a virtual bookstore Sept. 20!!

The Writer’s Craft – Teamwork

(Silverdale, Washington; August 17, 2020) – The successful creation of a writing project is driven by one person. However, the successful publication of a writing project is driven by the collaboration of a number of people. No one who wishes to present a professional product to the world can do it alone. I present these … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – Teamwork

The Writer’s Craft – The Journey of a Million Words

(Silverdale, Washington; August 6, 2020) – My oldest nephew wrote me in January to ask how I write so easily. He’s 15, and is trying to write the first in a series of adventures stories. He wanted to know how I come up with my stories, such as Proud Lion, the first of the “Accidental … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – The Journey of a Million Words

The Writer’s Craft – A Real Character

(Silverdale, Washington; Oct. 6, 2019) – There is a moment in the Disney version of Pinocchio in which the titular character characters declares, “I’m a real boy!” The moment marks his transformation from being an enchanted wooden puppet to a flesh-and-blood human being. The whole story of Pinocchio is, effectively, of an inanimate object being … Continue reading The Writer’s Craft – A Real Character

Travel Log: The Loneliest Place on Earth

(Port Ludlow, Washington; Sept. 4, 2018) - I know what it's like to feel alone—the kind of alone that crushes the spirit, forces the mind into a numbing panic, and sucks the oxygen from the soul. I am one of those people who sometimes suffers a horrible feeling of being alone even when I'm in … Continue reading Travel Log: The Loneliest Place on Earth

Travel Log: Meeting Adam

(Port Ludlow, Washington. Sept. 4, 2018) – A confluence of events and problems ranging from a very ambitious travel schedule between Montana and Washington State, and the loss of Internet connectivity temporarily in Washington, has put me behind in my columns. But I’m back! Meeting colorful and incredible characters is one of my favorite experiences … Continue reading Travel Log: Meeting Adam

Travel Log: A Plainly Great Education

(Miles Creek, Montana; Aug. 18, 2018) – Montana is on fire. Glacier National Park is burning, so Montana joins California, Idaho, and Canada in the wildfire club of 2018. These fires are sending a nasty haze all the way east to Minnesota (where I was yesterday). Today I did get some clear skies early on, … Continue reading Travel Log: A Plainly Great Education