A Big Thank You

Thank You via Adobe Illustrator

I wanted to take a few moments to show my appreciation to the many people who have crossed my path this past couple of years.

First and foremost, a Big Thank You to the loyal followers of this blog and other Social Media outlets. Without your support, I probably would have folded up my proverbial tent a long time ago. 

I believe I've said this before but I will say it again, Independent Authors are a special group of people. They know the value of working together for a common goal - entertaining and/or enlightening their readers. It takes teamwork to accomplish this goal.  Many of them make an effort to help their fellow authors out in whatever way they can. Some have given me/us a gentle nudge in the right direction. You know who you are... Thank You so much.  

Others have shared David and I with their followers this past year or so. I've been wanting to post a list of them on here and now seemed like the best time to show my appreciation. Thank you so much: 

Tim Greaton

Angelica Harris along with Siggy Buckley

Van Heerling

Tracy James Jones

Richard Stephenson

Belinda Witzenhausen

Karen Wodke

Violet Yates

If for some reason you've missed these interviews or guest blogs, then please feel free to visit (click on) them, provided you get a rare few moments. ;)  I've also posted these links on the guest page of our website.

That reminds me, I'm very grateful for the lessons I learned at the Art Institute of Dallas. They've helped me have a foundation necessary for some of the marketing things I do. 

I'm especially grateful to my friends that I live with. They provide me with a roof over my head; plenty of chaos; life lessons; and love on a daily basis. They have adopted me into their lives for better or worse. 

As most of my loyal followers know, David was the one that encouraged me to write. We are quickly coming up on two years being published. So even though, I came into this kicking and screaming at times, I'm glad Call Sign: Wrecking Crew (Storm Warning) was published.  We've had some publishing adventures but we've also made a lot of great friends too.  

Thanks David, my adopted family, and all of my friends for all you do.  

Hope everyone has a Grateful one!

Lynn Hallbrooks

co-author to David McKoy

co-owners of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

To Write A Wrong Was No Easy Day

Hardcover version of No Easy Day...

When you first open up the book, No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission That Killed Osama Bin Laden by Mark Owen, and read the Author's Note, you learn the reasons why Mr. Owen wrote the book in the first place. It is interesting to note that a book read in Junior High School influenced Mr. Owen to want to join the Navy SEALs. Does this mean that books have power? 

Books, in and of themselves, do not have any powers. The power is in the words that are written. Do they inspire the imagination of the reader. Do they reach out and grab you, urging you to make a change in your life or way of thinking? If the words do, then the author has been successful. 

Current eBook version of #CSWCSW

In my case, Mr. Owen's words helped me to understand the inner mindset of a modern-day Navy SEAL. As long time followers may know, I'm prior Air Force. To my knowledge, I do not know any Special Forces people. David has been around them and learned from them, so I defer those details to him. As a writer though, it does help to know what a character would or would not do in a situation. Having read No Easy Day..., I feel a little more at ease with the Special Forces mindset. Granted the Wrecking Crew are a bit more old school but I'm sure they could learn a thing or two from the younger crowd. 

If the reader pays attention, Mr. Owen taught many lessons. He taught me that missions require planning and attention to detail complete with contingencies. I also learned that even with all the factors stacked in your favor, a fair amount of luck (or blessings) help out. As SEALs go from mission to training onto the next deployment, they learn from their prior misfortunes.  I guess the same can be said for authors and writers. We plan, we factor stuff in, we get lucky with a word here or there then we go on to the next book taking away some lesson we learned the hard way. Then again, usually authors aren't under enemy fire when having to make decisions.  Navy SEALs are a special breed. Members of DEVGRU are the cream of the crop.  

Mr. Owen explains about DEVGRU, its history and how he made it into this elite group. He also shares the events leading up to and after the title mission to the best of his abilities.  Personally I applaud him for taking the risk to set the record straight. Writing and sharing your inner thoughts and feelings is no easy thing. But then again, I feel sure easy is a foreign word to Mr. Owen and his fellow SEALs when you consider the "only easy day was yesterday".  I'm sure their yesterdays are a hundred times worse than my toughest day ever. 

"Bestsellers" to Mark Owen and Kevin Maurer. I hope you raise lots of funds for your worthy causes. To everyone else, if autobiographies and/or books on military are your thing, I highly recommend this book. 

Lynn Hallbrooks

co-author to David McKoy

co-owners of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC

The Night Watchman has moved

Trade Softcover of #CSWCSW

Today is Wednesday... if you are looking for David, he has moved to his own blog site, David McKoy, The Night Watchman and will remain there for the duration.  

Have a great one!

Lynn Hallbrooks

You Are Not Forgotten

Current Cover Art

Since Friday I've visited some Veteran's Day themed blogs.  Three of them not only honored Veterans as a whole but mentioned their family or friends that served.  Thank you, Jeff Dawson, Dixie Swanson, and Rich Weatherly for sharing your stories.

Today at my God-daughter's school, local veterans were honored. I was

David The Night Watchman Speaks

Howdy! I hope everyone have their breakables out of reach and your sitting down for this report from David. I have a feeling it will be a doozie. 

Original Cover Art 

Aye, this is David McKoy the Night Watchman standing my post at the Watchtower. As I look over the horizon, I see a major storm brewing. It amazes me that the majority of Americans rely on the government to protect and save them. I foresee that over the next four years, the government will be controlling every aspect of your life.

Now Mac would say, “The government can’t handle a wet dream much less take care of us.”

Seriously though, from personal experience I know the Democrat mantra because I've read THEIR handbook. It can be compared to that of Lenin or Marx. In my opinion, you can expect high-end unemployment and hyperinflation in full swing. The government will have to print more money and China is going to own more of our debt. Will we have to sell our National Parks in order to repay them? I highly suspect this will happen. 

You Freedom lovers that know what the Second Amendment is about - you may bow out now if you wish.  The rest of you - the Second Amendment isn't about hunting.  Just ask the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and now Hurricane Sandy. Some are still in the dark, others cold and hungry...so much so that they are eating from trash cans and dumpsters.  When those people see you have lights, food, and shelter they will attempt to take these things from you...if you use a weapon in defense of your home and yourself...the government will put you in jail. How safe and secure do you feel now?  You lost souls, who willing gave up your freedom for safety and security. You deserve neither safety nor security. You reap what you sow!

Yes, I survived Hurricane Ike...I lived without my own electricity or water for ten days.  FEMA wouldn't reimburse me money when I evacuated from my home that Monday morning to Hempstead, Texas. But I digress... even though there was 

a curfew posted there was no widespread looting. Why, because the people in the Republic of Texas understood the meaning of the Second Amendment. The city government, mostly Liberal, knew if Martial Law was imposed they would have a fight on their hands. 

How did we survive, cowboy showers, family, friends, and Bar-B-Q. You see my friends in Texas, we know how to do two things really well... one is how to make Chili and the second is how to do Bar-B-Q.  Truly I hope you don't have to hole up too much longer sitting in the dark, cold and hungry waiting for President Obama and the government to save your collective- as Frieda would put it - arse. Then again, I'm not going to hold my breath. 

Let’s have the team sum things up in their unique ways: 

Deano: “God Bless you from the Republic of Texas.” 

T.K.: “Come and take it, Texas first.” 

Hank Williams Jr.

Mac: “Liberalism is a disease - a bullet is the cure.”  

Crazy Larry: “Better Dead than Red.” 

Deb: “Peace through Superior Firepower.” 

J.T. and Hank Williams Jr.: “... I've got a shotgun, rifle, and a four-wheel drive. Country Boy can survive...” 

This is The Night Watchman signing off.

I have to admit to a certain sense of foreboding since I heard the Presidential Election results. Call Sign: Wrecking (Storm Warning) is a work of fiction, yet so much has rung true these past couple years. Will even more come true?  Will Texas and other States of the Union have to secede in order to maintain their freedom? 

Lynn Hallbrooks
co-author to David McKoy
co-owner of Call Sign Wrecking Crew, LLC