Rick McBee's Writings
Explore the magic of new ideas and books to read as well as see what books I have written, my favorite photos, my opinions on may subjects, including Science, Africa, the Caribbean, the Civil War, my Book Reviews, and Much More!
Hero and Traitor: Book Review of “Valient Ambition” by N. Philbrick
Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book certainly changed my ideas and understanding of Benedict Arnold. Obviously he was a very complex man who ended up being placed in exactly the right kinds of positions for his audacity and cleverness for military battles and exactly the wrong positions when it came to his poor interpersonal relationships and greed for a life style for which he probably wasn’t fit. The author’s descriptions of the battles involving General Washington also give me a much different picture over-all of the man who I only knew from the legends of chopping down the cherry tree and crossing the Delaware River. In the final analysis, I do believe that Arnold was definitely a traitor and that the continental congress and the commanding persons over Arnold himself were complicit in sending him in that direction by not simply putting him back out onto the front lines and then giving him recognition for his talents. As we see even in modern times, one man’s cup of tea is another man’s dregs. The book is well written and very thorough is covering the life of a man whose place in history ought to be used as an example for more than just the fact that he betrayed his country.
African Kid Pictures! Plus! A new Book Review of “Ghosts of Ukuthula”
Check out “Richies’s Reviews” An excellent review site! Rich is a man who is prolific in doing several reviews a week of the adventure, action, sci-fi, mystery and historical fict…
Source: African Kid Pictures! Plus! A new Book Review of “Ghosts of Ukuthula”
African Kid Pictures! Plus! A new Book Review of “Ghosts of Ukuthula”
Check out “Richies’s Reviews” An excellent review site!
Rich is a man who is prolific in doing several reviews a week of the adventure, action, sci-fi, mystery and historical fiction genres. I follow him to see what other books I might read myself and also view him as an inspiration to my own writing.
Be sure to check him out! Rich’s Blog
The Feature picture above is a wonderful shot of two young Fulani girls which I took awhen I stopped my motorbike along the road running from Ndop in the Bamenda highlands to Foumban in East Cameroon in 1967. This is near the junction of this road with the track leading to the village of Koupa-Matapit to the north for those of you who know the terrain.
Below are a couple of other very interesting pictures of kids in Africa.
The one on the left is from 1973-4 during the drought when the Shashi River dried up and all the village kids from Maun went out to the remaining pools and had a whale of a good time catching the fish with their small spears.
The picture on the right is from West Cameroon in 1966-7 in a small Bakwiri village near Buea, where the kids were having a grand music fest and practicing their rhythms and also dancing. I actually believe that what we now call “Break Dancing” had it’s origins in West Africa. At our school in Sasse, one of the third stream boys, Kevin Njemo, could dance and twirl just as well as some of the guys you see doing it now on the streets of Harlem and in competitions.
Being a kid in any country can have its fun moments. Hope you enjoy!
Funny Cute
Funny Cute
Source: Funny Cute
Book Review: “Savage Run” by C. J. Box
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Joe Pickett fits the profile of the game warden perfectly. Here’s a man who has deeply seated values, who want to live in the outdoors and loves to go beyond the call of duty to solve the cases that confront a ranger. He doesn’t sweep things under the rug, whether it’s a poached elk or a niggling suspicion about a crime scene that will ultimately lead him into a situation of life and death.
I found the exploding cow scenario a bit far out, but hey try anything once if you’re a hardened killer like Charlie Tibbs. There isn’t a whole lot of description of the man personally, it’s more of what he doesn’t say as his buddy, the Old Man, John Coble, asks questions or makes statements about the murders they are committing and the places they go. Charlie is definitely one man you don’t want to get on the wrong side of!
C.J. has done an excellent job of setting the scene in Wyoming and developing his characters in a way that makes me despise and hate the lawyer, Finotta, love the irascible nature of his crippled wife, detest the Sheriff who can’t hold onto his values as a law enforcement man, and empathize with the various environmental characters, even if I don’t agree with their tactics of spiking trees (Hey, an innocent guy could get really hurt!). Stewie doesn’t really capture me, but his demise is unique. The methodology of the murders is well thought out, including the grisly grizzly bear scenario (yuk). I think Joe’s wife, Marybeth, needs a larger part in a future book. Hey, my sisters can ride and shoot, I’ll bet Marybeth could show a rustler a thing or two.
Keep entertaining us C.J. you’ve got a good thing going!
Need another good book? Stop by Rick McBee’s Author site.
Calling all authors…again
Another way to really get your book out there to the world. Take the chance, answer the questions and see your returns!
In 2016, I had the distinct pleasure of posting interviews with over 80 authors in a 6-month period. I want to do this again in 2017. My 20 Questions series was one of the post popular features on my blog.
If you are an author and you want to be interviewed on my blog, this is an invitation to do so. The format for this year’s interviews will be to ask you ten questions. The questions have a bit more depth than my 20 question format from last year. They are also designed to tell us more about you and your process as an author. Many of my followers are also authors and I would like this interview to be informative as well as promotional.
After answering the 10 questions, I’m giving you an opportunity to promote whatever book or books you would like to.
I’m planning on posting the…
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2017 WRITING CONTEST: Tales2Inspire Celebrates Sixth Year
Here’s a free competition that could give you a lot of writing publicity. Thanks Bette for sending it out!
Get ready to share your story
“So much more than a contest…“
Lois W. Stern announces the opening of Tales2Inspire’s sixth year—with a great little contest for those with an inspiring story to share. But it is so much more than a contest, as winning authors get tons of publicity to help them on their paths to discovery. Free to enter—NO FEES involved.
Stories must be true, with one or more relevant photos submitted to enhance the impact of the story. All details posted at: www.tales2inspire.com/contest, so please refer to this link before you begin.
And since a picture is worth 10,000 words, while you’re there, grab a F*R*E*E e-book sampler of inspiring stories written by previous winners, and now published in one of the six Tales2Inspire® collections.
~ Lois W. Stern
Creator of Tales2Inspire ‘Authors Helping Authors’ Project/Contest
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The Ice Storm Froze your Quail?
Talk about Oregon winters and a storm of freezing rain! You can see what happened to the poor quail on my back porch. Literally embedded! Starting to feel cold? Cuddle up near the fire, get a book through Sally’s Cafe and Book Store: Sally’s Cafe and Book Store
Ice coated the Blue Spruce and the hundreds of pounds of snow high up in the top of the tree cascaded down with a crash! Glad I wasn’t under it! Sounded like a war zone walking to the neighbors, stomping on the icy crust to get footing and dodging the big trees from which more cascades fell.
My chicken Fence sagged and so did the peaks of snow atop each one of the posts! Even the barbed wire froze up! Fortunately the 14 hen were snug in their hut with 1 rooster and 8 ducks. Get your cuppa, warm up and read a good book!
Here’s another shot of one of my fences!
Snow and ice just drooping down. Fortunately I shoveled off the roof of my 1950’s garage which has 2×4 rafter holding up the roof.
And then there were the Quail! Oh! those poor Quail!
Stay inside, Read a good Book and check out Sally’s Cafe and Bookstore at this site she has great reviews on a lot of books you will want to read! Enjoy! Sally’s Cafe and Book Store
Enjoy! Rick McBee
South Africa Book Group on Goodreads
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1557 membersThis is a book club for all South Africans who love reading! We also have members from other coun...
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Rick McBee's Writings 
Slide Show on “Ghosts of Ukuthula”
Posted on April 4, 2017 by Richard H. McBee Jr.
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Here’s a set of 14 slides from one of my book talks that will help you understand the characterization and background of “The Ghosts of Ukuthula.” Enjoy!
1. The Cover showing the fading Old Apartheid Government Elephant and behind it ar two powers: right wing apartheid hard liners and soviet infiltrators who are hoping to take control in the country. In the foreground is the Black African Logo and new flag of unity with black African rule.
2. The section of African that the book covers showing original dates of independence as colonies, not black African rule for Zimbabwe, South Africa and Namibia.
3. The Guy you want to root for!>))
4. The Guy you want to lose but he’s a tough one!>((
5. Some more of the good Guys and Gals!>))
6. Opps, still got as few baddies up our sleeves, like reallll baddies!>((
7. This will help you visualize the whole geography of the plot.
8. As will this little bit of geography
9. Even though the USA poo-pooed the idea of Russian involvement as a third force in the South African Border War, just ask the Russians!
10. This gives you a visual to understand the complexity of the South African border war.
11. Here’s a great reference if you want the inside poop on Russian involvement.
12. Of course the USA in 1960 was on the side of Apartheid in case you get all big headed about how good we are. It came out in the 1990’s.
13. And here’s the suspension of hostilities after almost 50 years of protest and then guerilla warfare which leads up to the novel.
14. Today if you visit South Africa you can travel north to the site where the Nelson Mandela was captured in 1960.
Hope you enjoyed the slides. I think I’m getting the hang of some of this stuff.
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