The Rape Crisis Center

It is with great pleasure that I'm able to announce, a portion of each sale of my true-crime thriller, REPEAT OFFENDER, will be going to The Rape Crisis Center in Las Vegas.

The Rape Crisis Center will be earmarking the money for counseling services for victims of child sex abuse. I'm thankful that this opportunity to help others has come about. When you read REPEAT OFFENDER, you'll understand the connection and my motivation.

South Carolina and Walter Scott

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Have you read my bestselling true crime story Repeat Offender? If you like true crime and have been looking for a book written like a thriller, I think you’ll enjoy the story. Just click on the REPEAT OFFENDER link and that will take you to the sales page at WildBlue Press, where you will find the order link buttons on the right hand side. It’s available in paperback, eBook, and audio book formats.

Now on to the post...

Attention Writers and Readers!

The publishing industry is a maze with unforeseen pitfalls.

As most know, in the past few years, some major international brick and mortar book stores have gone out of business with the explosion of e-publishing and self-publishing. Smaller, local booksellers are often struggling to survive and the big stores like Costco, Walmart and others don't provide much by way of individual service and selection to readers.

Barnes and Noble remains, but is out on an island by themselves, still providing the same quality service they always have, but even they aren't immune to the influences from the few major publishers that remain. The major publishers have almost absolute control of the market--the pricing, the supply and the choices available. That's not necessarily a complaint, it's just a fact.

Repeat Offender Release Date, Book Cover Voting & Book Giveaway

Daimon Monroe

As many of you know, I've been writing REPEAT OFFENDER, a Las Vegas true-crime story. In short, the story is about an investigation I led into Sin City’s most prolific career criminal, Daimon Monroe. It involved millions in stolen property, revolting sex crimes and murder-for-hire when Monroe tried to hire someone to kill me, a judge and a prosecutor.

I'm pleased to announce WildBlue Press is releasing REPEAT OFFENDER on April 14th, 2015. You can pre-order yours for Kindle from WildBlue Press through Amazon right here at this link. It will be available for pre-order in other formats and print soon. Take advantage of the pre-order pricing while you can!

Right now and for only a few days, WildBlue Press is testing five cover images for the book and I would like your vote. Go to this book cover vote link here to let us know what you think. You might win one of twenty free copies of the book from WildBlue Press!

The Backwards Theory of Giving

I wrote this a while back on Facebook and decided to share it here on my blog as well. I hope you're encouraged as much as I was.

Do you ever feel led to do something for another out of the blue? It doesn't have to be something huge, it might be something small. Do you ever listen to that voice? I did today.

I wasn't going to tell this story, because I don't like how it comes off--I think people who tell others about when they've been generous or kind have received their reward in full the minute they open their mouth about it. But, I've decided to tell you about this for one reason only: to encourage as many of you as I can to listen to that voice when it speaks.

From Handcuffs to Keystrokes; My Journey to Becoming a Writer

Have you ever wanted to be a writer? If you're like I was before 2008, your answer is no. From childhood forward, the only thing I wanted to do with my life was to be a policeman. But I already told you some of that story in a previous post. I never wanted to be a writer; I didn't even read books much unless I had to for school or something. I have always just wanted to be a cop. And for those of you who are cops, you might get a little bored with this post unless you're interested in writing. But stick around, there's an announcement I'd like you to know about.

In 2008, I had been a police officer in Las Vegas for sixteen years, nine of those as a detective. I was working as a detective in a unit called the Repeat Offender Program. We deal with the worst criminals Las Vegas has to offer. I led an investigation into the most prolific criminal I had ever encountered, Daimon Monroe. The investigation led to the recovery of several millions in stolen property, and the seizure of several hundreds of thousands of dollars in bank accounts. Information also came to light showing that Monroe had sexually abused his daughters. Many unpredictable things that happened during the investigation, including the shocking discovery that Monroe was trying to have me, a judge and a prosecutor murdered. No cop I know had ever seen anything like it.

The Silent Killer

This post is dedicated to those who have served on a war front in our military and to first-responders everywhere. Your willingness to confront danger and place yourself in harm's way is remarkable and all too often, thankless. You are the backbone of society and my hat is off to you.

The Silent Killer. That name has been attached to a variety of things over the years: high blood pressure, carbon monoxide, ovarian cancer, hepatitis C, the list goes on. For me, I've added one and it may just be the one that rises to the top. Stick with me for a moment and I think you might agree.

Be Careful What You Ask For

I've written a lot of posts about policing in America recently, I guess that's to be expected from a lifelong cop. I really wanted my next post to be about writing and publishing, but it's going to have to wait. Besides, timing is everything, as they say, right? There's something coming soon that I'm excited to tell you about, but it's not time yet.

With that said, there's still quite a bit of turmoil about law enforcement and the use of deadly force. It's amazing how this has become such a hot button issue. I'm not downplaying the seriousness of the highly publicized events in the past several months, but police officers using deadly force isn't anything new. Accidental deaths involving the police also, aren't anything new. Every one of them is tragic with real people being affected, including the police involved.

Living the Dream?

A boy learned at a young age what he would do with his life. Almost like it chose him. It wasn't wanting, it was inevitable. Nobody could ever stop him from achieving his dream to become a policeman.

His dream wasn't fueled by playground bullies or some desire to wield power upon the weak. No, it was fueled by a keen sense of justice, not in the courtroom where legal scholars have exterminated real justice, but in the simple measure of wanting to be a barrier between people doing wrong to others.

Those who protect the flock from the wolves have existed for centuries. It's a solemn business that brings no accolades. When the job is done well, that's just normal and expected. Go away, pig. But make a mistake or worse, commit some intentional wrong, and the forgiveness others want for themselves is rarer than air in the vacuum of space.

I wonder...

I wonder if the bloodthirsty news media is satisfied yet. Do you think they're done stoking racial tension with incomplete facts and down right false reporting?

I don't know about you, but for me, the argument of race is dead and gone. I'm a white guy and I've met plenty of people from other racial backgrounds that I'd love to have as my neighbors--black, brown, whatever. And I've met plenty of white folk who I wouldn't want anywhere near my home. It's not about skin color, it's about the color of a person's heart. Is it red, white and blue? Or is it as dark as coal?

How Much is Enough?

Sacrifice. What does that mean?

It's a word that gets used quite a lot, but do we really know what it means?

Sacrifice can be a noun or a verb--a thing or an action. It's often correlated with religious premise, but religious figures or practices don't have exclusive rights to it. Common synonyms are forfeit, endure, cede, immolate and suffer.

The one I like most is simple: offer. It's not glamorous and doesn't require an advanced degree to be in one's everyday vocabulary. But offer also doesn't put the sting into it that real sacrifice actually embodies. Generally, sacrifice hurts.

Watch this quick video and when you come back, we'll talk a little more about sacrifice.

Put down the bag!

I learned at a young age what I would do with my life. Almost like it chose me. It wasn't wanting, it was inevitable. Nobody could ever stop me from achieving my dream to become a policeman.

This dream wasn't fueled by playground bullies or some desire to wield power upon the weak. No, it was fueled by a keen sense of justice--not in the courtroom where legal scholars have exterminated real justice, but in the simple measure of wanting to be a barrier between people doing wrong to others.

Perhaps it was brought about by my mother being killed by a drunk driver when I was six years old. Maybe that pain brought about a desire to prevent others from experiencing the same kind of thing. I'm really not sure, I've just always known I would be a cop. Something else I know is things that happen to us when we're young often set the stage for how we perceive the world as adults. That's not groundbreaking information, I know. However, I'm hoping the true story I'm about to tell will resonate and take your understanding to a new level.

Police Muscle Blog Interview

The owner of Police Muscle blog interviewed me the other day about my journey to becoming a writer.

If we've met, you know Police Muscle wasn't interested in me because I'm some yoked bodybuilder. Police Muscle is a blog that focuses on many aspects of policing and lives of people in law enforcement.

Cops Are People Too

After considerable deliberation, I've decided to share something very close to my heart. It's something I've only shared once and had no idea that I would ever share it again until about ten minutes ago. But in light of the turmoil in our country and the events in Ferguson, Missouri, I think it might be a good idea to put a human side to the badge.

We grow up thinking of our teachers as nothing more than some kind of instructor who lives life to educate children. When we learn that our teachers had families and children and lives outside the school building, it gives a new perspective.

So, here I am, a life long cop. Bearing myself to anyone who gives a damn, showing you that I'm a man...with hurts and concerns and fears and sympathy and anger and love.

The Real Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time where we celebrate the goodness in life with our loved ones. But you already know that, so why should you read this? What could I ever tell you that you don't already know about Thanksgiving and being thankful?

It's not about telling you something you don't already know. It's about showing you something that enriches what you already know. It's about sitting around the fire with a hot cup of cocoa and telling stories that warm our hearts and remind us just how much we need each other. That's right, I said the N-word...need.

In the vast sea of people and history, it's the story tellers who bring meaning to life. They pass on traditions and lessons to the next generation. And if I've got any story telling in me, I think you'll find profound meaning in this true story. I wrote this one last year on Thanksgiving morning with the aromas of the feast in the air. By the time I was done writing it, my eyes had no tears left.

Body Cameras and Law Enforcement

There's an awful lot of unrest brewing in America today. People are frustrated with government and in many instances, rightfully so. Half of America is upset that government is overreaching and becoming too involved in our everyday lives. The other half is upset because they believe government hasn't done enough for them.

A lot of the angry feelings towards our elected officials trickles down to the police. Why? Because the police are out there every day, in contact with the public, while the politicians sit behind closed doors, making their decrees. The people have access to the police and don't have access to the ones they're most frustrated with. That close contact brings the ire towards government to bear upon the police, even when the cops are probably just as frustrated with the government as anyone else.

9-11 Tribute

I wrote this back in August 2014 after a trip to New York City. I think it's important for each one of us to consider the things we're thankful for.

One of many things I'm thankful for is that I was able to make it to NYC to see the 9-11 Memorial and Museum. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it to everyone who loves our great country.

You will be moved and even if it's the only thing you see in the Big Apple, I think you will come away satisfied, as I was. I've included some photos, most of which I took while I was there...

Love Squared

You're going to get more than just cop stuff here at this blog. You're going to get information about a variety of things, but most of all, you're going to get the uncut version of me.

You're going to see the human side of a lifelong cop. You're going to see me near the end of my career in policing and hopefully my transformation back into a normal person again, whatever normal is.

Spending years as a cop changes a person. In many ways for the better, but some not so much. We get tired of thinking about the things that people do to each other.

Let me tell you something a lot of folks don't know about me. Maybe it will encourage you to action. Just read on and you'll understand.

Practice the Way You Want to Play

In times of stress, human beings behave in the way that they've practiced or trained. Higher levels of cognitive thinking go out the door and we physiologically revert to using our mid-brain. When you train, you're packing your mid-brain with material that might save your life or someone else's.

This is especially true with police and soldiers when facing deadly threats. Can there be any greater moments of stress?

A Mother's Grief

On a cold Las Vegas winter's night in 1993, I laced up my boots, strapped on my gun belt and pulled on my bullet-proof vest. I was a rookie cop and hadn't seen all of the ugliness in the world yet.

The first call of my shift was a traffic accident with "unknown injuries" in a trailer park. The rescue truck beat me to the call and as I stepped from my squad car, I saw a paramedic crying like a child. It still turns my stomach today.

The Uncommon Thief

There was a burglar whose specialty was breaking into homes of the rich and famous. He had stolen untold treasures from the likes of world famous billionaire and philanthropist, Alfred E. Mann, and many others.

The criminal was caught and discovered to be a multiple-time convicted felon in his 30s. He'd already been to prison four times before. He knew his luck had run out and with his atrocious record, would likely face most of the rest of his life in prison.

We spoke at length one day at the jail while collecting a handwriting sample. I asked about his childhood. He raised a suspicious brow and asked, "Why do you care about that? You've got me; it doesn't really matter now."

The Genesis of My Blog

If you spend any amount of time promoting your writing or just about anything else with a Facebook Page--you know, the kind they used to call a Fan Page--you've surely discovered that Facebook has an enormous control over your voice. You've probably spent a lot of time and energy developing a following only to find if you want to actually speak to a large number of your followers, Facebook requires you to spend money to boost your posts and increase the likes at your page.

Over the past few years, I've spent more time and energy growing and engaging my following than I like to admit. Not because I don't like them--I love them; they're why I write. But downtime between manuscript rewrites and a steady day job making so I don't have to write for a living, provided me the luxury of being able to work on developing an Internet presence. It's something important for authors not named Stephen King, especially first-timers. And it has worked.