: About Me

I am a professional writer, having spent 38 years in newspaper and magazine publishing. I am semi-retired and write weekly columns for two newspapers in Alabama and free lance as a news and sports reporter. I am writing my first novel "The Cry of the Cuckoos." Excerpts of the novel are posted in Novels Mystery/Suspense/Romance. I hold doctorate degrees in religion and philosophy, and I am a licensed pastoral psychology counselor and a member of the National Educational Association.I also drive a school bus for special needs children.

Here is a synopsis of my new book, The Cry of the Cuckoos. It will be available before Christmas.

The cuckoo bird is a master of deception, fooling other species in their race to copy their chirping begging call. Donald Drummond and his wife, Anne, chase after the killer of his father, Henry Drummond, but find themselves up against a radical right wing supremacist organization called the Society of Southron Patriots and, like the cuckoo bird, deception is the Society's mission. The couple unravels a terrorist plot aimed to kill Washington dignitaries at the Super Bowl and delegates at the United Nations. Donald, a retired news reporter, and Anne, a retired school teacher, unfold the mystery leading them on a wild chase from Alabama to Texas. And one of the many murder suspects is Donald's biological mother, Betty Jo Duke, who he only just met after his father's death. Donald and Anne are hired as informants by the FBI to unravel the mysterious case and they get a lot more than they bargained for.

My passion is ...

writing

I know too much about ...

religion

My parents always told me ...

try to stay out of trouble

My childhood ambition ...

writing

My favorite memory ...

Living with my grandparents

Why I write ...

For the passion

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Listening to the Celestine Prophecy them on DVD

My first job ...

Meat Cutter for A&P Tea Co.

My best moment ...

Winning Associated Press award in the late 70's.

My inspiration ...

God-consciousness

Creative Writing > Novel Excerpts Novel excerpts: Mystery

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The Cry of the Cuckoos Chapter One He was in thick woods with grass taller than his four-foot-two body. He wanted to race away as fast as his legs could carry him. The burning wood crackled and lit up the cloudy night sky, illuminating the white sheeted figures that circled a cross and chanted. A plea for help from a black man sliced through the ritual of the men in white. A long rope hung over a tall tree limb. The noose meant death to the nigger. "Noooo...Dad!" He awakened from the dream in a cold sweat from the shrill ringing of the telephone next to his bed. "Donald, come quick," his m...

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