The Army of Worn Soles Launch Blog Tour is on the March

Excerpt nine from Army of Worn Soles

The Army of Worn Soles launch blog tour continues! Read to the end for the clue that will help you win the Grand Prize of a signed paperback copy of Army of Worn Soles plus a $50 Amazon gift card. If you collect all the clues and put them in the right order, they’ll make a sentence. Send the sentence to the author for a chance to win and autographed paperback copy of Army of Worn Soles plus a gift certificate from Amazon.

For a chance to enter the early-bird draw, enter the clue at the bottom of the post in the Comments section.

To see where the blog tour stops next, and to find the next clue, visit the author’s blog, Written Words.

Chapter 4: In the Red Army training camp

Akhtyrka, Ukraine, 1941

Finally, much too late, the cadets stumbled into their barracks and everyone collapsed, exhausted, onto their cots. Within minutes, snores filled the room.

Maurice had just closed his eyes as the opening door hit the wall hard enough to rattle it. The overhead light seared his eyes. He jumped out of bed. The un-curtained window was dark.

“Attention,” a corporal bellowed as he stepped into the dorm and stood beside the door. The senior lieutenant came into the room with a captain Maurice hadn’t seen before. He was tall and thin with cropped black hair. The peak of his officer’s hat gleamed and the red star seemed to glow. His uniform was stiff and perfectly creased, and made him look simultaneously powerful and precise. He looked as an officer should, Maurice thought, embarrassed to be standing in his underwear.

“Inspection,” the corporal yelled.

“The cadets are ready, Captain Slutsky,” the lieutenant said. Maurice struggled to remember his name.

As the lieutenant had earlier, Captain Slutsky strode the length of the room, looking carefully at each man, his folded uniform, his boots, his kit. The captain did not say a word, but looked at the lieutenant, who jotted down notes on a clipboard.

When the captain came to Maurice, he looked disappointed. The lieutenant wrote something down.

Captain Slutsky left without saying a word. The lieutenant stood by the door, scribbling on his clipboard. Two cadets sat on their cots.

“The cadet company has not been dismissed,” the corporal shouted, and the two young men sprang to their feet again. The lieutenant pointed to them. “You and you, get dressed. You will stand guard duty tonight.” The men groaned as they reached for their uniforms. “And tomorrow night.” They did not groan again.

As the remaining cadets stood at stiff attention, the lieutenant told each one what to do to bring his belongings up to officer standards. Maurice knew what the lieutenant would say to him. He had just tossed his uniform over his trunk, without ensuring everything was folded just so. His boots were scuffed at the toes and still muddy.

He hurried to smooth his pants and wipe some of the mud off his boots while the lieutenant spoke with the other cadets. When the he looked at Maurice’s uniform, Maurice knew he had failed to meet his standard.

“Fold it like you’re going to wear it to your wedding tomorrow. You are training to be an officer. Your boots should shine.” He moved on to the next cadet.

It took the cadets more than an hour to clean and fold their uniforms and tidy their cots to the lieutenant’s satisfaction. They looked completely worn out, but the lieutenant seemed comfortable.

Finally, the lights went out and the cadets collapsed onto their cots again. Maurice wondered if the lieutenant planned midnight inspections every night.

About the book:

1941: Their retreat across Ukraine wore their boots out—and they kept going.

Three months after drafting him, the Soviet Red Army throws Maurice Bury, along with millions of other under-trained men, against the juggernaut of Nazi Germany’s Operation Barbarossa, the assault on the USSR.

Army of Worn Soles tells the true story of a Canadian who had to find in himself a way to keep himself alive—and the men who followed him.

It is available in e-book form exclusively on Amazon.

About the author:

Scott Bury is a journalist, editor and novelist based in Ottawa, Canada. He has written for magazines in Canada, the US, the UK and Australia.

He is author of The Bones of the Earth, a fantasy set in the real time and place of eastern Europe of the sixth century; a children’s short story, Sam, the Strawb Part (proceeds of which are donated to an autism charity), and other stories.

Scott Bury lives in Ottawa with his lovely, supportive and long-suffering wife, two mighty sons and two pesky cats.

He can be found online at www.writtenword.ca, on his blog, Written Words, on Amazon, on Twitter @ScottTheWriter, and on Facebook.

Today’s clue: book

Biographies and Contest

Biographies are obviously popular, we see a new celebrity promoting their book nearly every month. It’s human nature to want to get inside another person’s head, to understand what makes them tick.

The first biography I remember reading was Nicholas and Alexandra: An Intimate Account of the Last Romanovs and the Fall of Imperial Russia, a little light summer reading for a high school kid. I was fascinated with Russian society and drank in every detail of this doomed couple. Since then, I’ve read a number of other biographies, but as I write this, I am realizing that almost all of them were on political figures. I guess that makes sense, though, considering my love of history and desire to learn from the past to make better choices in the future.

Recently, though, I read The Soul of it All, the memoir of singer/songwriter Michael Bolton. I’ve been a fan for many years and knew a bit about his struggle to achieve the success he has, but this book gave me a new appreciation for his dedication to his passion. It is admirable Mr. Bolton was so candid about his struggles.

I love writing, and when I’m in the zone on a book I feel freer than anywhere else. Even when I’m not actually writing the zone can continue as the world I am creating takes over my brain. I love that feeling, but I don’t know if I could give up all the security I have achieved through my day job to focus solely on my writing. Mr. Bolton faced eviction and hunger more than once pursuing his passion. How often do we encounter someone with that kind of drive and confidence in their abilities? Too often I hear stories on the news or even in the office of people complaining about life not being fair, that they deserve more than they have. I’ve even been guilty of this myself, but this book was a good reminder that hard work is truly the key to success. I plan to keep the book near my writing area to help me remember good things do come to those who persevere and, of course, to make me smile at the sight of one of my favorite artists.

Just for fun, is there someone you would like to read a biography on that doesn’t have one out yet? Share their name and why in comments and you could be the winner of a pre-order of my upcoming release Jessie

The four Cole boys suffer abuse at the hands of an alcoholic father, while largely being left to their own devices by a heartbroken and overworked mother. Their adventures on their island home have become a welcome escape, and one of the only things in life the boys can truly rely on. Jessie, the youngest and a dreamer, becomes enamored with US plans for manned space flight and its race to the moon, stirring his own dreams of one day becoming an astronaut. In a strange twist of fate, it is the space program and the momentum it gains that abruptly brings their beloved island life to an end. The family is forced to move to the city and start anew. — Releasing July 20.2014

Writing Life~Using Prompts for Inspiration

Do you ever sit down to write or to paint — and draw a blank—no thoughts, no feelings, no imagination about what you can do with the precious minutes you have set aside to practice your arts?

Do you ever sit down to write or to paint — and draw a blank—no thoughts, no feelings, no imagination about what you can do with the precious minutes you have set aside to practice your arts? Or have you ever needed to prepare a meal and tried to think of something that sounded good to eat — and failed?

I’ve been cooking meals for more years than most people have been alive. I do get jaded sometimes. When that happens, I pick up a cookbook or look at the Internet for an idea. When it comes, I do something similar to what I’ve found, but I never use the exact recipe.

This morning I had time for my quiet time, but I didn’t know what to do, so I took out my pack of Healing Scriptures from New Creation Gifts (www.newcreationgifts.org) and selected the first card on the pile. I wanted to paint or draw a small picture for the day, too, so I brought out a mat and drew a frame with it in my journal/sketchbook. I read the scripture reference and looked into my Message Bible to see how it was translated there. I also have cards from The Artist’s Muse that give suggestions for an art project. Since I had no preconceived ideas, I used the top one.

That card suggested drawing a tree like no tree you’d never seen. It said use a word and some numbers. I wrote EASTER up the trunk and wrote numbers in the shape of fronds. Then came a sea and a beach. Starting with the verse on the card, I read several others. It was a kind of wandering, where one scripture reminded me of another one. Then I saw my tree again and the water that washed up behind it reminded me of one of my favorite scriptures. By the time I’d finished I had a satisfying (to me, at least) page in my journal/sketchbook.

Here’s the tree and water, and here’s what I wrote, thinking and hoping that my Heavenly Father was guiding me.

Writing prompt tree. — DiVoran Lites~Artist

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Dearly Beloved, (personalizing the scriptures as if my Abba were speaking to me.)

I am always the same. I never change. I am always drawing you into a sure thing, as I am teaching you to follow me, and to trust me.

You are a tree planted by water. Your roots never die because they have gone into my Spirit and are sustained by my waters. Your leaves will never wither or dry up. You will constantly bear fruit for me at the right time and in the right way even when you may not believe you are capable of bearing fruit. You succeed in everything you do. (I would debate that last, but I feel that the Lord wants me to accept it).

The scriptures came from Hebrews 13 and Psalm 1.

And by the way, I’m re-reading a wonderful book you might like by Richard J. Foster. He’s a Quaker minister and he has written many high quality books that can help us in our spiritual walk. This one is Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home.

A Need to Support My Writing Habit

When I started writing, I thought I’d to make some money, but that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe I have the wrong attitude. Maybe I don’t care enough about money. No, really, I love to live comfortably, have plenty to eat, a decent car to drive, go shopping now and then. I do like finding pretty, unusual clothes at thrift shops. Still as long as my basic needs are overmet, I don’t get too concerned about making a lot of money as such.

But I have to write. I could stay in my journals, and I would if I had no other outlet, but I do like communicating with all of you—very much. I love writing novels, too. I heard an Indie writer speak one time who had distributed 40,000 of his novels. I didn’t say sold. I don’t know the stats on that, but I do know by now that a person has to work pretty hard to get rid of that many novels, no matter how bad or how good he is. Even the big writers work hard at publicity and marketing. In order to sell books, you have to become known. Sometimes being known can cost money as well as time, energy and effort.

I pay an editor to edit and format my books. I believe most Indie writers do. It doesn’t cost me too, too much to keep ahead, but it does mean I need to make up my mind there will be expenses. And sometimes I wonder whether I’m worth it, or whether I’m really called or whether I’m wasting time and money and putting on airs. But I can’t quit now.

I did try to quit several times. I gave it all up to the Lord, (all except the journaling, and oh, yes, well, poems always came, and I wrote emails and before that nice satisfying letters to send in envelopes, and come to think of it, there were those editing jobs, and the newsletters…but I didn’t consider any of that being published).

Three of the most satisfying things I wrote never made any money at all. One was a poem for a young woman who wanted to send it to a boy she liked, one was an employee who wanted to send a letter to his boss about being suspended from his job, but who lacked confidence in his English. After I wrote the letter, he went back to work. I’m not saying it was because of me, but still, it was good to be part of a successful scribe story. The third was a letter to a judge. We have a couple at church who takes care of a brother and sister who are the man’s cousins. Their parents have been incarcerated for most of their lives. When the mom was released from jail many years later, she took our friends to court to get custody of her children. The friend at church asked if I could write a letter saying he was doing a good job, and it didn’t seem wise to make that change. The kids got to stay.

I’m going to keep on writing as long as I can. Someday I may get a big surprise and turn into a millionaire from it, but possibly not. As long as I feel I’m where I’m supposed to be in my writing I will spend what is necessary to spend. I’ve always felt that we are all teachers. I think God wants us to teach the good news in various ways—the more politely and entertainingly, the better.

I’ve talked to writer friends. One’s supports her writing habit as a court translator. Another works full time at a job she doesn’t like and writes on holidays and vacations. Someone else does editing for pay and, in order to keep her habit going, writes books for publications such as Facts on File, even though her first love is poetry and she’s an imaginative and wonderful writer.

How about you? How do you support your habit? If we’re called to write, and I believe we are, our Holy Spirit will bless us and show us favor. He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. After all, maybe it’s not just a pastime or a habit, maybe sometimes it will help people to find the loving Father they’ve been looking for, and that’s when it become something more than our need or a habit, it becomes putting our hands into the hand of God and following where he leads and where he supplies.