Arch Patton
DOWN IN THE VALLEY
Chapter 17
By James Strauss
They climbed the steps to an area just below the third platform. The climb wasn’t a challenge for either of them, but looking beyond that platform they could see that the final stretch would be more difficult. They climbed down to a small glade, covered with pine trees overhanging the distant valley below. Matisse gathered plenty of dry branches, old needles, and cones from the protected areas under the big pines. They huddled together and had a fire going in seconds.
well, who knew you were over here doing this? I’m one of your regulars at 30 Days. I’m like a born proofreader, dunno about editing. Compared to 30 Days there’s a lot of typos, left out words, all the usual stuff. I just finished reading this all in one sitting. I read very fast but it still took a few hours. Shall I start over from the beginning with red pencil vision engaged? I wish there were paragraph numbers or something to go by.
Again, you Sir are a man of great talent and fortitude, not to metion highly skilled.
Thanks Tom, yes, the red pencil treatment would be most appreciated.
As you have guessed, I do not have a staff to do much at all.
Semper fi, and thanks a million.
Jim
Tom Clancy move over.
Jim, absolutely gripping.
Raw, gritty storytelling at it’s finest.
Thanks a lot Rob, I must get back to the followup because I left the end hanging.
Semper fi,
Jim
I found your characterizations of the native Hawaiians to be fascinating, no doubt drawn from your youth.
How did you end up in the cold midwest?
I have visited 122 countries and all the states. I have lived in thirteen of those states at one time or another.
I got to the midwest, where I make my home, because of proximity to family, the quality of the people living there
and the fact that there are four seasons, all of which I like. Thanks for the asking and the caring in the first place.
Semper fi,
Jim
End of book one… is there a book 2 somewhere that I missed? Sounds like it’s just about to get interesting!
Chapter 17 is the final Chapter of Down In The Valley.
Arch Patton has another completed assignment.
The Bering Sea
and two more assignment not yet completed.
Thanks for your interest.
Wow had me hooked again from the start. Ended up couldn’t sleep and had to come back and finish it. Surprise ending for sure.
Thanks Pete, really appreciate the compliment and your loyal reading…
Semper fi,
Jim
Absolutely Awesome! I read book in totality last night. I love the characters. You have such a gift of description in your writing that the reader’s senses are all totally affected.
Thinking you CIA days served you well in writing about Arch Patton’s fiction adventures. Arch and Virginia have definitely “got a thang going on”!
Definitely an Amazing Book by a Brilliant Author.
Thank you Nancy, it is really neat that you are branching out into some of the other writings. Most people don’t do that.
There’s so much to learn about this publishing business and it’s almost all like Vietnam. Lies, more lies and then
crappy mud at the bottom. Thanks for going there and liking the work.
Semper fi,
Jim
I am a really hard sell reader but what you write is so intriging and takes the reader right into the action. Publishers, what do they know? I am hooked as a reader and sharing your works with everyone I know. Believe me, you know how to pull out of that mud! Keep on keeping on. You have a Special Gift!
Well, Nancy, that’s pretty high praise indeed. Thank you. Just doesn’t really say it though. Publishers, those that have
the control of who gets published big time, generally publish relatives and others they know…and people already famous in other areas.
You can’t break in without being related. But here I am about to be on Amazon if I can just finish this final final final edit so
the work is as pure as possible. thanks for liking my story and…me too.
Semper fi,
Jim
Guess what? It’s 1993 and I am in a basement with a dingo named Harpo, a woman named Atlantis, Cyn and Arch with stuff about to really get crazy! Love it!
You know Henderson, if you keep writing, after not wanting to write on here at the start, then
people are going to wonder because women are not supposed to be interested in this kind of stuff.
Oh, it’s all about real life and all of my short stories and novels and what have you all have the patina of
real life experience. I have a feeling that that is what brings you back again and again to the work.
You are living real life lock step right along with those characters and on those adventures. The mission in Hawaii happened.
Vietnam happened. The Bering Sea, Algiers, Morning Calm and Daisy…all threaded through with reality detail and molding thematic structure
built around that reality. Thank you for being here and thinking such night thoughts about the work…not to mention doing a pretty damned
good job of writing about it too…
Semper fi,
Jim
Not sure what that all means but do know women will read.
Courage of others who open themselves up to others in written words regardless of the way they may be perceived gives others courage to do the same.
My persona and how I am perceived, I think about it. I am fearless, thus Frank nicknamed me his “Nancy Lou”.
Do know God sent me here but don’t know why?
Thanks Nancy, as usual. I much enjoy reading what you say, although I have this bit of chasm between what you write
and what you might really meant too! I enjoy your words and the way you put them down one after another.
Semper fi,
Jim
Simply put, your strength has given me strength to finish writing a book of memories of Frank and my life together for our son and grand children. I have been stuck trying to write about his death.
Thank you for that,
Nancy
Well Nancy, you put words together with emotion and deep feeling. I guess you could not get a better definition for
being a writer. I look forward to whatever you get out here and, of course, will offer you the opportunity to put it
up on my site under your name if this site goes anywhere. Which it strangely seems to be going. But who knows, what with this
wild early days of the Internet…
Thanks for all the comments and the support you give me here.
Semper fi,
Jim
Thank you for your kind words. Lots I would like to tell you about what I’m writing but you don’t have time and
with so many irons in the fire. I don’t even know how you keep up with it all. You are a good man, Jim Strauss with an amazing gift for writing. Don’t you ever forget that.
Nancy
Thank you Nancy. I am trying my heart out to live up to that description. I haven’t always done so well.
I think the story in the Nam sort of lets you know that. I much appreciate your coming on here to say anything at all,
given your own time and work…and then there’s your own future writing to consider. Get at it Nancy!
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
very Good read, well written and entertaining
Enjoyed very much.
Thanks Charley. Working away at it…
Thanks for the comment and the read.
Semper fi,
Jim
Riveting tale; can hardly wait for the sequel. Definitely needs some proof reading and correction.
Thank you Mike. We get a ton of advice from readers and try to keep up
with the proof reading and editing. It’s a lot bigger job taking more time
than any would imagine who’ve not been involved with final copy. Errors stick out
like sore thumbs to readers but editors can read right over them and then get the
document as close as possible to right and then the robot programs in word and in
wordpress screw with it. Thanks for the help.
Semper fi,
Jim