First, I want to thank the Authors’ Lounge for giving me the opportunity to write about my new debut novel. I feel very honored to be asked to do this.
March of the Band 4 is a book about four kids (12-13 years of age), from different backgrounds, who must forge a trusting relationship among themselves in order to survive after getting lost on a day hike. Our story really begins when two best friends, Jacob and Tyler, from a small town in Oregon, attend an inaugural comic convention without their parent’s knowledge or permission. One of the exhibitors at the event uses an ancient artifact to promote and peddle his Egyptian comic books and memorabilia. Even though the owner believes it’s a replica and only uses it as a centerpiece for his merchandise, the item gets taken and every attendee is searched. Our two protagonists are kicked out of the convention by staff members for supposedly stealing a comic book. Jacob’s mother, who is undoubtedly livid, sends her son and his best friend to a summer camp as part of his punishment. The best friends, along with two other campers, become lost in the Mount Hood National Wilderness. The four kids must band together to survive the unforgiving environment of Mother Nature. While trying to get back to civilization they also must escape capture from two hired men who believe Jacob and Tyler have possession of the Egyptian artifact which may be authentic. To read this book, you can find it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNQS1SLX
I was inspired to write this debut book after being a voracious reader my entire life. I started reading books at a very young age. I was raised by my grandparents. My grandfather, a very intelligent pharmacist, had an extensive library in our house. I was a loner and books created a sense of solace to fill an uncomfortable void. There is nothing like being transported to another place and time as you ride another person’s wave of imagination. I loved reading John D. Fitzgerald’s The Great Brain series and Roald Dahl’s books. I particularly enjoyed the films The Goonies and Stand by Me. All these stories conjured up such a sublime sense of adventure for me. I actually never wanted the stories to end and I was a bit disappointed to have to put them down. I remember once being told to write something that I would enjoy reading myself. So, I ventured out to write a book that I could create for myself with my own imagination that teased out that sense of adventure while retaining a sense of nostalgia and still bringing something new to the table.
The audience for this book is really intended for young adults, however, I believe adults who read it would enjoy it as well. The book centers around the four kids, but there are several adult characters who bring their own flavor and even heroism into the story. I believe the different characters in this book and the adventure in the story can be appreciated by all readers.
I would hope that readers would be entertained and inspired by the book. Perhaps a reader would want to create their own characters and write an even better story. I hope to perpetuate a sense of imagination that can never be extinguished or destroyed. A lit torch if you will, that can be passed from writer to reader and onto a new writer. There are several themes that are introduced in the book. The children all come from different socio-economic backgrounds that bring their own talents and ideas to the table. They also have to settle their difference and prejudices in order to work together and strengthen their trust. These different themes and characters will hopefully produce a reaction in each reader, a reaction that the reader can relate to.
As this is my first self-published book, I am still learning the process of marketing. I hope that this book can reach as many people as possible. It’s my first book, so I hope to improve my writing and the entire process in my subsequent works. If I sell 10 books or 1,000, I will be happy knowing that I was capable of writing a novel.
I was born and raised in the Boise, Idaho area. I was raised by my paternal grandparents. After graduating high school with very poor grades and little ambition to attend college, I joined the Army. I served in the military for a total of 27 years. I served in Germany and in Kansas before going into the Oregon Army National Guard. I was a full-time member of the National Guard and was deployed to both Kuwait and Iraq. I now live in Central Oregon with my beautiful wife and children. I enjoy reading, writing, backpacking, and fishing. We have a small hobby farm where we raise countless chickens, a few cows, some horses, and one cantankerous duck.
Such a great adventure book! I love the characters and the story is amazing as it unfolds.