First read – “Inconspicuous – Walter Rothwell’s Undercover Journey During The Cold War”

“Wally reads his story”.  When you are the ‘star’ of the story……. you get to receive the first copy!

Inconspicuous: Walter Rothwell’s Undercover Journey During the Cold War

It was indeed a poignant moment when I presented Wally the first copy of his biography. He just touched the cover and turned it over and over, then opened the pages to see what was inside. His eyes paused on pages with photos before giving me one of his restrained Wally-esque smiles.

The next day, I came back to his home to learn that he was very tired. He didn’t get much sleep the night before I was told by his caretaker, Mary Brown. As it turned out, Wally stayed up to the wee hours reading his book completely through, cover to cover. I noticed his eyes were kind of heavy despite that lingering pinched-lip Wally-esque smile. Mary told me that he was now half-way through his second reading. Although Wally had indeed read numerous drafts over the last 12-15 months, this was something … well, … tangible. Not wanting to miss this moment, I decided to take a couple photos to share..

Inconspicuous – Walter Rothwell’s Undercover Journey During the Cold War”  is now widely available everywhere books are sold. Ask for it by name. As an added feature, both Wes and Wally proudly served in the ‘uniform’ for the United States. Wes as a Marine with a tour of duty to Vietnam. Wally as a career office in the US Army. Both Wally and Wes are proud to share that 25% of the book royalties will be presented to the Arizona Fisher House

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“INCONSPICUOUS – Walter Rothwell’s Undercover Journey Through the Cold War”


In addition to family time Thanksgiving week, I am delighted to announce the following…. A new book, based on a new journey. After learning the ‘ropes’ of self publishing while bringing “Just Dust” to market, I set out completely on my own with my second work. I recently established my own publishing entity… Chosen Journey Media. This new platform allows me complete control of the project from start to finish.

Published 11/24 under the Chosen Journey imprint, I am pleased to present… “Inconspicuous – Walter Rothwell’s Undercover Journey During the Cold War. It’s a biographical account about a gentlemen I met three years ago here in Tucson … a person who was a spy in the late 1940s to early 1950s and who had many interesting Cold War connections that few folks would ever recognize … or remember … let alone read about …as well as stories that were consequential!

“Inconspicuous” is available on www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com and through any retailer to order.

This multi-lingual American teenager grew up in Germany and Switzerland and was in the right place at the right time with the right skills to make a difference in some conspicuously inconspicuous ways. It’s not James Bond, but it’s a must-tell story that will make you smile and frown and pinch your lips as you nod your head.

New Anthology “Baby Shoes” Now Available

Baby Shoes: 100 Stories by 100 Authors
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100 Stories. 100 Authors. Under 1,000 words. No Holds Barred. This book started with a call for authors worldwide and ended with a collection of short-but-stirring pieces of fiction from all genres and every corner of the human literary imagination. Spend a minute each in one hundred minds, with tales running from noir detective, to holiday heartwarmer, to serial killer thrill, to flights of fantasy and erotica. “Baby Shoes” gets its name from what’s arguably the most famed piece of flash fiction ever penned, and follows that tradition to celebrate great writing in one of its most efficient forms.

Featured authors: Joe R. Lansdale, Linda Needham and Walter Jon Williams Senior authors: April Aasheim, April J. Moore, Dan Repperger, Dani J. Caile, Danika Dinsmore, Eddy Webb, Jack B. Rochester, Jason Brick, William Hertling Contributing authors: A.A. Blakey, Adam Thomas Gottfried, Amanda Whitbeck, Amy Beth Outland, Arlan Andrews Sr., Bam Leslie, Barry Koplen, Bert Edens, C.A. Verstraete, C.M. Crockford, Caitlin Park, Carrie Uffindell, Charles Loomis, Christian Fink Jensen, Christina Dudley, Cody May, Crystal Yoner, Cynthia Lang, Dan Marshall, David M. Covenant, David Mundt, Debby Dodds, Derek Knutsen, E.A. Roper, E.L. Johnson, Erika Gimbel, Erika Rybczyk, Ethan Noone, Gerri Leen, Greg Henry, Gregg Edwards Townsley, Ian Christy, Jane Nagler, Jeb Brack, Jenny Cokeley, Jess Kapp, Jim Pahz, John Deal, John James, Julie M. Rodriguez, Karen B. Call, Katherine Valdez, Kathryn Cowan Shepherd, Kyle Owens, Larry Oldham, Laura Scott, Lawrence W. Paz, Lisa Nordin, M. Earl Smith, M.D. Pitman, M.S. Lambert, Macy Mixdorf, Maggie Grinnell, Maria Clark, Mark R. O’Neill, Mark Rusin, Marquita West, Maya Silver, Mindy Windholz, Miranda Carter, Monroe Truss, N.L. Bowley, Nancy Townsley, Nathan Hystad, Nick Briggs, Own Palmioti, Pat Marum, Patrick Garratt, Peter Boadry, Phil Cummings, Rhonnie Fordham, Robert Eversmann, Ron Chaterjee, Rose LeMort, S.M. Chandler, Sandra Valmana, Scott Crowder, Seth Bradley, Sharon Rezac Andersen, Shelley Widhalm, Thomas Palestrini, Tiaan Lubbe, Trinity N. Herr, Tyler Denning, Vinnie Penn, Wes Choc, Zephyra Burt

Second Edition of “Just Dust” due out shortly

The second edition of Just Dust is due out soon (probably around Thanksgiving). There have been some photographs added, some typos fixed, and two minor historical errors corrected …plus a revised front and back cover. I’ve also added an explanation for something that had been inadvertently omitted.

BUT SOME NEW NEWS!

With this second edition, from each book sale we are arranging for a donation to the Fisher House. As some folks probably have already heard, the Fisher House (lookup their website at http://www.fisherhouse.org) is a place where relatives of hospitalized veterans can stay—an especially useful place when veterans have operations or extended hospital stays. The Fisher House in Tucson is already under construction. Look for more details about Fisher House in the near future.

Chosen Journey Media

This is the name of a new publishing company. With the second edition of Just Dust coming out in a few weeks, plus the first edition of a second book (to be titled Inconspicuous) also in a few weeks, this becomes a good medium to publish and distribute these books.

Let’s watch where this particular chosen journey takes us from here.

Tucson Festival of Books

BE SURE TO VISIT BOOTH #242

This coming Saturday afternoon, March 14th, do plan on spending the afternoon at the Festival of Books on the University of Arizona campus. And, while you’re there, come visit me at Booth #242. I’ll have a few of copies of “Just Dust” there, and will be engaging anyone who stops by and might like talking about the marines or about Vietnam in the 1960s.

Not only is the Festival of Books one of the largest attended book events in the United States, it one of the best ways to spend a day just browsing around a few ton of books, meeting authors, and having a good time with friends. There are probably so many stories to tell about this event, someone ought to write a book about it. Maybe they have!

So, consider checking it all out on their TFOB website for more information.

There will literally be tens of thousands there. I’m told they all like books too!

Anyway, I’m planning to help man the #242 booth on Saturday afternoon from 1 to 5:30; so, if you’re in the area, please stop by and say hello!

Nanini Library – NW Tucson

Library staff called to let me know that my upcoming light-hearted getting-to-Vietnam presentation will be held in the Large Meeting Room. It appears there has been quite a bit of interest; and, this room will have more seating.

Don’t forget, it’s Saturday, February 21st, 1:30 pm at the Nanini Public Library on North Shannon.

Nanini Library – Hacking Military Secrets during the Vietnam Era [speaking event]

SATURDAY, February 21, 2015 – At the Nanini Library – 1:30 to 3:00 pm

7300 N Shannon Road, Tucson, AZ (Library phone 520-594-5365)

A special speaking event has been planned on the subject of “Hacking Military Secrets During the Vietnam Era.” This light-hearted presentation about Wes Choc when he was crossing the Pacific in 1966 explains how he used a paper sextant to prove three ships’ courses of travel. With a “map-head predilection” it led him down an unusual path—one that predicted the until-then undisclosed destination of this trio of westbound ships in 1966 (USS Vancouver, USS Thomaston and USS Iwo Jima) that was depicted in greater detail within his book Just Dust, published last year. Wes is able to demonstrate how he did it along with a couple of other Vietnam era stories that will be both intriguing as well as entertaining to anyone who’s been there …or knows someone who was.

There will be plenty of time for questions an answers.

Vet Interview for Veterans’ Day

I was fortunate to be selected for participation in a “for Veterans’ Day” program (it was prepared in October and subsequently edited for radio). My host was a professional interviewer, Mary Ann Lisney, who regularly prepares feature programs for Canadian radio.

This one was aired on a British Columbia (Canada) radio station, November 11th. The show was celebrating both American and Canadian military (including Red Cross) who served or supported operations in Vietnam 45-50 years ago. Penetrating questions were tendered to each guest speaker, like myself, and every single story evolved into numerous poignant memories and recollections …less about bursting bombs and firing M-16s, more about introspections and lingering remembrances. I was able to lift two particularly moving events that I wrote about in my book, “Just Dust” published this last summer (for specific book information, go to Amazon.com).

Before and after each interview, a number of popular 1960s era songs were played …numerous lyric-appropriate songs from Simon & Garfunkel’s  “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters” to Nat King Cole’s “Stardust” and about a half dozen sing-along favorites in between.

All in all, it was an apt tribute to veterans in general, of course; but, it was indeed and honor and privilege to participate in such an event.

A “Just Dust” Presentation at Fairwinds

Following what turned out to be a no-empty-seat “Men’s Breakfast” October 7th at Fairwinds in Oro Valley, Arizona, was Wes Choc’s presentation on how he “hacked a military secret” while aboard ship heading from San Diego to Vietnam. This was a hands-on reproduction of folding papers again and again to create a paper sextant while explaining things like what the summer solstice and Tropic of Cancer mean to geographers. This tablet-paper sextant was then placed in various positions on a map of the Pacific to illustrate how he came to the conclusion that these ships were NOT heading directly to Vietnam. Using only three sheets of paper and a ruler, he showed how he became challenged by his own company captain to then determine the actual course–and finally the ultimate destination which he was able to do. The story will have poignancy for anyone in the Marine Corps.

The “paper sextant” story is one of the chapters of Wes Choc’s book “Just Dust.” Wes pointed out to his audience how this inconsequential act aboard ship turned into other subsequent stories–stories that would surprise most folks, unique stories that have unanticipated outcomes, and consequence.

The 35 minute presentation turned into an hour and a half once all the numerous questions from this military-oriented audience were addressed.