CORP/BIZ Excellent book called Potters Run

writerrecluse · May 23, 2023

Jward,
Funny I was just thinking about this. I have a mountain lion scene in mind, but I'm still not sure what to follow the theme of disguised mules, the decoy coyote, and the frozen pigeon with yet. Then shortly after reading your comments I came across those short stories I was telling you about. I wrote them in college about flying counter poaching operations in Africa. I read the story again and I'm thinking about writing it and putting it up as a short story, there were actually two of them.

I was inspired by my desire to fly in Africa and by reading Beryl Markham (be still my heart) and Orwell's amazing Shooting An Elephant. I'll save you from going to doestheelephantdie.com. Yes, he does and it's very sad but it's an amazing piece of literature and reflection on the death of an empire.

I hadn't read that Orwell's story for many years and I just listened to an audio version on youtube while I got settled in to write today (I would recommend reading it first, the audio I listened to was one of those awful robot voices) any way I realized that I had a similar run in with a moose with a similar outcome many years after I read that story and I never thought about all the parallels until just now.

Verbally that moose story is one I've entertained a lot of people with when the subject has come up and we had a lot of time to kill on a boring mission. And I've already had moose included in the series... ah... I know the animal I haven't included yet, because it was winter. It's spring time in Potter's War...

OK, now I know the animal, I just have to learn the whole story to include!

Thanks everybody!

Line Doggie · May 27, 2023

Read both, liked them. Liked the second one better, seemed to have a better flow.
A small critique in book 2 - one normally transitions from rifle to pistol, not the other way around. Primary weapon to secondary, that is.
A bigger critique: napalm is jellied gasoline. Today styrofoam is the additive of choice, in an earlier time, someone might mix in laundry powder. Thing is, it isn't particularly explosive. An EFP is made by putting a metal saucer shape on the tip of a blunt cone of explosive, the cone being in a length to width ratio between 1:3 and 1:4, Detonation from the base turns the metal plate into a hot jet of melted metal with the explosion driving it through the target. It's the principle of antitank rocket warheads, but as the Iranians demonstrated in Iraq, it doesn't need a rocket.
Regardless, I did like the books and I'll read the the third when it comes out.

writerrecluse · May 27, 2023

Line Doggie said:
Read both, liked them. Liked the second one better, seemed to have a better flow.
A small critique in book 2 - one normally transitions from rifle to pistol, not the other way around. Primary weapon to secondary, that is.
A bigger critique: napalm is jellied gasoline. Today styrofoam is the additive of choice, in an earlier time, someone might mix in laundry powder. Thing is, it isn't particularly explosive. An EFP is made by putting a metal saucer shape on the tip of a blunt cone of explosive, the cone being in a length to width ratio between 1:3 and 1:4, Detonation from the base turns the metal plate into a hot jet of melted metal with the explosion driving it through the target. It's the principle of antitank rocket warheads, but as the Iranians demonstrated in Iraq, it doesn't need a rocket.
Regardless, I did like the books and I'll read the the third when it comes out.

Thanks! and thanks for the input. I dread the thought of letting readers down and not improving or making big mistakes. I've just about completed the first chapter of the third book

Line Doggie · May 28, 2023

writerrecluse said:
Thanks! and thanks for the input. I dread the thought of letting readers down and not improving or making big mistakes. I've just about completed the first chapter of the third book

Don't like to sound like I'm sharpshooting the books. I spent quite a few years in uniform and learned a little bit about many topics.
A SFAUC 3 grad like Potter would teach his children, or anyone else, to lead with their primary weapon and transition only if that weapon went down. I know this from getting corrected myself during a course

.
The EFP is just that: an Explosively Formed Penetrator, the jet of metallic plasma being the penetrator and the heat and blast characteristics of the explosive cone being what forms and drives it. Napalm, gunpowder, ANFO would all be too low-order to make it work. I think even dynamite would be iffy.
Maybe some C4 goes from the villains to the resistance? Or given that it's a mining area, maybe someone has a stash of blasting material?
If it were my problem to solve, thermite would be my choice. It's a simple mix of aluminum and iron oxide, powdered and mixed thoroughly. It burns unstoppably around 5000F until it burns out. Takes about 1800F to initiate it, which can be done with magnesium. For that matter, magnesium alone burns more than hot enough to burn through the blivet. An incendiary charge on the fuel blivet, especially with a good layer of napalm on top, would definitely get things done.

Czechsix · May 28, 2023

Line Doggie said:
Don't like to sound like I'm sharpshooting the books. I spent quite a few years in uniform and learned a little bit about many topics.
A SFAUC 3 grad like Potter would teach his children, or anyone else, to lead with their primary weapon and transition only if that weapon went down. I know this from getting corrected myself during a course.
The EFP is just that: an Explosively Formed Penetrator, the jet of metallic plasma being the penetrator and the heat and blast characteristics of the explosive cone being what forms and drives it. Napalm, gunpowder, ANFO would all be too low-order to make it work. I think even dynamite would be iffy.
Maybe some C4 goes from the villains to the resistance? Or given that it's a mining area, maybe someone has a stash of blasting material?
If it were my problem to solve, thermite would be my choice. It's a simple mix of aluminum and iron oxide, powdered and mixed thoroughly. It burns unstoppably around 5000F until it burns out. Takes about 1800F to initiate it, which can be done with magnesium. For that matter, magnesium alone burns more than hot enough to burn through the blivet. An incendiary charge on the fuel blivet, especially with a good layer of napalm on top, would definitely get things done.

I always like to see viewpoints from other readers.

Interesting catch on the transition issue, good point.

For the fougasse/EFP, I read that a bit differently. "....the crack of the initiating charges of the fougasse and EFP..." To me, a "crack" tells me high order stuff has been used. ANFO moderated by what's basically a fluid charge shouldn't sound the same, lower velocity. So I read that as the "crack" was the EFP forming charge, and it managed to override the fougasse initiator sound. The guy that constructed the whole shebang left info out on purpose. Then again....it's been many years since I was exposed to this stuff. I'll have to ask the family SME if my memory is correct.

Wouldn't the fougasse distribute over the spill berms/revetments and nail more blivets? More bang for the buck?

And yes, thermite is entertaining stuff. Great fun in welding class, especially when no one else knows it's there.

writerrecluse · May 28, 2023

First, I'll admit I am no expert in the field of explosives. Second, I wasn't interested in writing a 'how to' on building the fougasse or an EFP. What I was going for was a largely incendiary device to take out the fuel depot capped with an EFP to be sure the first fuel bladder was penetrated. If I bungled that for the reader, it would be because of a combination of those factors.
I just went back and read the transition from pistol to carbine, and I'm honestly not sure what I was thinking there. Initially it may have been I was going to have him opening the hatch with one hand, but in that paragraph it clearly has him opening it with his head so a more traditional carbine to pistol transition would have worked just as well.
Ugh.
Some where I read that you never really finish a book, you just get to a point where you have to let it go...

Line Doggie · May 28, 2023

Czechsix said:
I always like to see viewpoints from other readers.

Interesting catch on the transition issue, good point.

For the fougasse/EFP, I read that a bit differently. "....the crack of the initiating charges of the fougasse and EFP..." To me, a "crack" tells me high order stuff has been used. ANFO moderated by what's basically a fluid charge shouldn't sound the same, lower velocity. So I read that as the "crack" was the EFP forming charge, and it managed to override the fougasse initiator sound. The guy that constructed the whole shebang left info out on purpose. Then again....it's been many years since I was exposed to this stuff. I'll have to ask the family SME if my memory is correct.

Wouldn't the fougasse distribute over the spill berms/revetments and nail more blivets? More bang for the buck?

And yes, thermite is entertaining stuff. Great fun in welding class, especially when no one else knows it's there.

Thanks for reminding me of the term fougasse. I was a 12B in an earlier day, and we always expected to be making our own stuff, so I should have remembered it.
Maybe I'm not reading it carefully enough...And if the shaped charge behind the EFP splattered the incendiary around, so much the better.
Even thermite is almost overdoing it. The fuel cells that I've seen at Forward Air Refueling Points have always been large bags lying on the ground. A few bundles of road flares would probably get it all going.

Line Doggie · May 28, 2023

writerrecluse said:
First, I'll admit I am no expert in the field of explosives. Second, I wasn't interested in writing a 'how to' on building the fougasse or an EFP. What I was going for was a largely incendiary device to take out the fuel depot capped with an EFP to be sure the first fuel bladder was penetrated. If I bungled that for the reader, it would be because of a combination of those factors.
I just went back and read the transition from pistol to carbine, and I'm honestly not sure what I was thinking there. Initially it may have been I was going to have him opening the hatch with one hand, but in that paragraph it clearly has him opening it with his head so a more traditional carbine to pistol transition would have worked just as well.
Ugh.
Some where I read that you never really finish a book, you just get to a point where you have to let it go...

I probably misunderstood something from not reading carefully enough. Maybe it's just me, but I always feel like it's hard to critique something without sounding like a dillweed.
An explosive kickoff for spreading incendiaries would do what you describe quite nicely.
I've never been able to write anything substantial for the reason you describe, I can't stop fiddling with it.

writerrecluse · May 28, 2023

Line Doggie said:
I probably misunderstood something from not reading carefully enough. Maybe it's just me, but I always feel like it's hard to critique something without sounding like a dillweed.
An explosive kickoff for spreading incendiaries would do what you describe quite nicely.
I've never been able to write anything substantial for the reason you describe, I can't stop fiddling with it.

Really, I enjoy thoughtful critiques from anyone, especially from folks with more knowledge on subjects that I don't have a lot of experience with, it's the only way I can improve. I may not be rewriting those scenes, but the next time I write stuff similar, I'll have this all tucked away and will hopefully be able to do a better job writing it for a broad spectrum of reader experience. One thing I really strive for is realism, as much as I can in fictional thriller.
I remember reading a big name thriller author and he had his character dual wielding Glocks doing shoulder rolls in the streets of Mosul. It was at that point that I realized I didn't want to write that kind of novel.

teedee · May 28, 2023

You write it and I will read it.

writerrecluse · May 28, 2023

teedee said:
You write it and I will read it.

Thanks! I'm working on Potter's War in another window, just popping over here for a little break. Potter's War is going in some real interesting directions I hadn't really planned on. The combined story line is maybe going to work better than I imagined, like I had set up some things almost subconsciously or something, I hadn't imagined the Paper Tiger story line working into this as well as its shaping up to.

Sneaker 11 · May 30, 2023

After several beginnings and life getting in the way, I read Potters Run in one evening and the next day. I found it a very interesting plot twists. I will receive the book two tomorrow and am very interested to dive into that one. Thanks for your efforts Charles as I am enjoying your writings. RLTW

11

Khabul · Jun 5, 2023

I ordered this. Finally got some free time to start it. I read over 1/2 the book last night. Stayed up way to late as I did not want to put it down. Plan on finishing it later this evening.

Well done writerrecluse!

Will be ordering the next book in this series.

Thanks

writerrecluse · Jun 5, 2023

Khabul said:
I ordered this. Finally got some free time to start it. I read over 1/2 the book last night. Stayed up way to late as I did not want to put it down. Plan on finishing it later this evening.

Well done writerrecluse!

Will be ordering the next book in this series.

Thanks

Thanks! Hope you like the last half just as well and enjoy the second one.

Khabul · Jun 6, 2023

writerrecluse said:
Thanks! Hope you like the last half just as well and enjoy the second one.

I did. Finished it last night.
Just ordered the next one.

Jeff Allen · Jun 6, 2023

I read the first one in 24 hours....the 2nd one is so good I'm just savoring a chapter a day and thinking on the implications of what I've read. This is first rate work, IMO. Thank you for your effort and thoughtfulness!

J

writerrecluse · Jun 7, 2023

Sneaker 11 said:
After several beginnings and life getting in the way, I read Potters Run in one evening and the next day. I found it a very interesting plot twists. I will receive the book two tomorrow and am very interested to dive into that one. Thanks for your efforts Charles as I am enjoying your writings. RLTW

11

Hey, Thanks! I thought I replied to this but don't see it now. Hope you like the second one too. RLTW & NSDQ!

writerrecluse · Jun 7, 2023

Jeff Allen said:
I read the first one in 24 hours....the 2nd one is so good I'm just savoring a chapter a day and thinking on the implications of what I've read. This is first rate work, IMO. Thank you for your effort and thoughtfulness!

J

Thanks, hope you enjoy the second one as well. The third one is shaping up to be a wild ride.

writerrecluse · Jun 17, 2023

For anyone interested, or who might know someone interested, Potters' Run is a free e-book Saturday.
Thanks everyone.

Sneaker 11 · Jun 24, 2023

Life has really kept me busy of late, but I did actually have opportunity to finish "Potter's Run". I really appreciate the involved multilayered characters and watch their interaction develop. I am just curious how long we are going to have to wait for the next one.

Just asking for a friend. Have a good on to all. RLTW

11

writerrecluse · Jun 24, 2023

Sneaker 11 said:
Life has really kept me busy of late, but I did actually have opportunity to finish "Potter's Run". I really appreciate the involved multilayered characters and watch their interaction develop. I am just curious how long we are going to have to wait for the next one. Just asking for a friend. Have a good on to all. RLTW

11

Thanks! I'm not sure if you meant Potters' Run or Potter's Stand. The first two are available on amazon and I'm finished with the first three chapters of Potter's War, the third book. I hope to have that done sometime in August, depending on a lot of things. Next week I'll be going on a combined job search/scene research road trip, we'll see what comes out of that. It should be interesting.

jward · Jun 24, 2023

writerrecluse said:
Verbally that moose story is one I've entertained a lot of people with when the subject has come up and we had a lot of time to kill on a boring mission. And I've already had moose included in the series... ah... I know the animal I haven't included yet, because it was winter. It's spring time in Potter's War...

You know I've now added the moose story to the oliphant stories that I'll be requesting. Often. : )
Orwell's story joins those o' Beryl on my due-do list- just as soon as I can read for pleasure I'll be checking them out.

Guessing I have figured out the next cameo critter- look forward to hearing the story she tells you too.
G'luck w/ the travel, stay safe, n don't be a stranger!

writerrecluse · Jun 25, 2023

jward said:
You know I've now added the moose story to the oliphant stories that I'll be requesting. Often. : ) Orwell's story joins those o' Beryl on my due-do list- just as soon as I can read for pleasure I'll be checking them out. Guessing I have figured out the next cameo critter- look forward to hearing the story she tells you too. G'luck w/ the travel, stay safe, n don't be a stranger!

Sneaker 11 · Jun 25, 2023

Sorry for the confusion, I did mean "Potter's Stand". Too busy and didn't engage my brain before my fingers.

11

writerrecluse · Jun 25, 2023

Hughes net hates me.

jward · Jun 25, 2023

Aww, but WE like ya : )

Don't go feelin' spechiul though- it hates me too. Sometimes because I've over run my data limits. Also I think TB2K is particularly unhappy when I run ad blockers / ghostery, and tends to glitch up the matrix for me.

writerrecluse said:
Hughes net hates me.

Czechsix · Jun 25, 2023

writerrecluse said:
Hughes net hates me.

Hughes Net hates everyone. I'm pretty sure they're a subsidiary of H&K, or at least use the same customer service folks.

writerrecluse · Jun 25, 2023

I think in my case there was a cloud in the sky yesterday. I'm in town now for a few hours, trying to get ten pages done for the day.

writerrecluse · Aug 3, 2023

Hey everyone, realized it had been a while since I had updated the fine folks here. I'm around 2/3 finished with the rough draft of Potter's War. Its probably a little more complex as it addresses more of what has been going on outside the county and its drawing in characters and plot lines from the Paper Tiger books.
I hope to have the rough draft done in the next two to three weeks. Then I'll have editors and beta readers working on it and I'll see how much work I have from there before it gets up on amazon.
Hope everyone is having a safe, enjoyable summer.

jward · Aug 3, 2023

Good to see u, and to hear that the day grows ever closer!
Alls well as could be here- hope you can say the same. I thought of you when the last crop dusters stampeded my herds a few weeks back, even.

writerrecluse · Aug 3, 2023

jward said:
Good to see u, and to hear that the day grows ever closer!
Alls well as could be here- hope you can say the same. I thought of you when the last crop dusters stampeded my herds a few weeks back, even.

I came up empty handed on that job search, but a little more educated on the subject. I'll be talking to folks in the fall to get something lined up next season. Sorry your critters got stampeded, what type of animals do you have?

jward · Aug 3, 2023

Nigerian dwarf were the skittish ones, the others are never disturbed from their feed for long.

I gave your plight some thought, but we're mostly rangeland here, and no openings with the established companies that I could learn of

writerrecluse said:
I came up empty handed on that job search, but a little more educated on the subject. I'll be talking to folks in the fall to get something lined up next season. Sorry your critters got stampeded, what type of animals do you have?

writerrecluse · Aug 3, 2023

jward said:
Nigerian dwarf were the skittish ones, the others are never disturbed from their feed for long.

I gave your plight some thought, but we're mostly rangeland here, and no openings with the established companies that I could learn of

Thanks for thinking of me, I was delayed getting out to look due to waiting for things like helmet and cap for my truck to sleep in. It seems it takes 6-8 weeks for everything these days. I'm all set now to start early next year. Trying to get some land sold to help get by until then.

We have a pair of cashmere goats but nothing to constitute a herd. Chickens, we have plenty of chickens though...

writerrecluse · Aug 25, 2023

Update everyone,

I hoped to be finishing up the rough draft of Potter's War today, looks like it I'm another week out from being done. I've got Potters' Run up as a free e-book for the weekend and I'll be doing a book signing at the gun show in Post Falls Idaho this weekend at they Greyhound Park if anyone is in the area.

Thanks!

Czechsix · Aug 25, 2023

That's good news! Good idea to do the book signings at the gun shows also, hopefully you sell out. Take some props with you to kick up the interest.

Honey Berry · Aug 25, 2023

Writerrecluse,

I bought your book, Potters Run, for my husband. He loves it. He couldn’t believe it when I told him that there are two more following it. Thank you for your good work!

Edited to add to whom I was writing to.

writerrecluse · Aug 25, 2023

Czechsix said:
That's good news! Good idea to do the book signings at the gun shows also, hopefully you sell out. Take some props with you to kick up the interest.

Thanks, I actually took a police instructor course years ago and they talked about the importance of props. For some reason I had dozens of old wooden remote control airplane propellors laying around. For my first presentation during that class I spilled them all over the table and said: "They taught us it was important to use props, so here they are"
That probably won't work at the gun show. But you're right, I already figured I'd bring some loaded en bloc clips to hold down my sign. I'll have to think of something else.
thanks

writerrecluse · Aug 25, 2023

Honey Berry said:
Writerrecluse,

I bought your book, Potters Run, for my husband. He loves it. He couldn’t believe it when I told him that there are two more following it. Thank you for your good work!

Edited to add to whom I was writing to.

Thanks so much for your support! I'm working hard on the third, trying to make it really good. There's a lot going on in this one.

Czechsix · Aug 25, 2023

writerrecluse said:
Thanks, I actually took a police instructor course years ago and they talked about the importance of props. For some reason I had dozens of old wooden remote control airplane propellors laying around. For my first presentation during that class I spilled them all over the table and said: "They taught us it was important to use props, so here they are"
That probably won't work at the gun show. But you're right, I already figured I'd bring some loaded en bloc clips to hold down my sign. I'll have to think of something else.
thanks

No HK416? You probably shouldn't bring the dummy EFP either, come to think of it.

writerrecluse · Aug 25, 2023

I'm way too poor for a 416, thought about bringing a Garand, but then I'd have to put a not for sale sign on it or something.

CORP/BIZ Excellent book called Potters Run

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