Kimberly A. Cook

Military Romance Author

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Happy Veterans Day To My Fellow Wacky Warriors

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by Kimberly A. Cook                                      (Twitter @WarriorTales)

Today is a perfect storm; Veterans Day and Quirky Friday.  While we honor all the men and women who have served today, I like to also honor our collective sense of military humor. The absurd situations one finds themself in during military duty boggles the mind. Creativity is legion in the military to break up the boredom. Good times.

So what happens when troops are motivated, bored and creative? Videos like this. This Navy favorite is in my YouTube Hall of Fame. Thank you to all who have served. Quirky Fridays were made for you!

The Stories Of Special Operations

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by Kimberly A. Cook                                         (Twitter @WarriorTales)

When I started the Writing War Stories class in 1997, it was to help my fellow veterans write their military stories. I have respect for historians, but if you weren’t in the military, you don’t get the real deal of what it’s like to serve. That quadruples for special operations and special forces.

Today former Navy SEAL Chuck Pfarrer’s book, SEAL Target Geronimo, is released. My copies are on hold for pick up. Pfarrer’s new book is being shopped around to be made into a movie.

Another movie out next February uses active duty Navy SEALs as the actors. It’s titled Act of Valor. With the increase in operational tempo for all special forces, this movie feels like a tribute and education for the 99 percent in this country who do not serve in the military from the 1 percent who do. A reverse of that other 1 and 99 percent we keep hearing about in the news.

My Nov. 4 post about retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tom Rancich highlighted his sense of humor. Now he continues to serve his country by helping fellow combat veterans. He is a founding partner of VRHabilis, LLC, with Navy veteran Elliott Adler. The men partnered the company with “the end goal of maximizing the known attributes of combat veterans and to provide adaptive technology and innovative working situations as a function of productivity to increase employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for disabled vets.”  Check them out at www.vrhabilis.com How are those for several great veteran stories? Just in time for the week leading up to Veterans Day.

When Is A SEAL Not A SEAL?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                               (Twitter @WarriorTales)

It helps to have a sense of humor in the military. If you’re in Special Operations, it’s required equipment. In 2006 I attended author Suzanne Brockmann’s reader event in Atlanta, Georgia. One guest speaker was retired Navy Lt. Cmdr. Tom Rancich.  A Navy SEAL, Tom answered our questions and told some great stories.

When Suzanne got ready to promote her next military romance book with Navy SEAL characters, Tom agreed to tape some YouTube videos.  Check out this great story about how Tom met himself. If you want to know how Tom met Suzanne, after learning he was THE Navy SEAL who inspired her book series, check out http://www.warriortales.com/warriortalestv/favvideos.html  Happy Quirky Friday!

Which Dessert Would You Choose?

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by Kimberly A. Cook                                 (Twitter @WarriorTales)

My client finished writing and editing his book. Less than one week later, I heard from a former student who also finished his book. Must be the season. Both wanted publishing advice.

With all the chaos going on in the publishing world, how do writers figure out how to publish their books?  I faced this dilemma in 2006. Self publishing with a print on demand publisher and an ebook was my choice.  I am building my career using that path. But the more I participate in the publishing business, I feel writers are asking the wrong question when they’ve completed a manuscript.

Are you a cookie, cupcake or pie writer?

After finishing a book; all the re-writes, edits, and polishing, finally fini. Bravo!

 Now before deciding whether to get an agent or not, what type of product to produce (ebook, paperback, hard back), which publisher to contract or query, how much time to publication (18-24 months vs. hours), your money and time budgets, marketing on and offline, which social media to use, how to build your brand and platform, and which legal form to use to do business – what is first?

Put your head between your knees and take a deep breath. Maybe get a paper bag to inhale and exhale into? Before all those other questions, “start with the end in mind,”  as author Stephen Covey says and it works.

What is the most important question to ask first?

What do you want for dessert?

What is your goal? What is your own personal writer dessert?

Do you want a cookie? To publish one book.

Do you want a cupcake? To publish two books.

Or do you want the entire pie? A career as an author.

A recent blog post by bestselling author Bob Mayer talked about how to launch an author/writing career. Mayer recommends writing three books, make them the best you can.  Next publish and promote the heck out of those books, while writing more titles to build a career. 

Because when you finish writing a book; the edits, polishing, re-drafts, and print out the final page or view the last screen, you’re in a very exclusive club. Period. Writing and completing a manuscript is a long journey and lots of hard work. Celebrate! Margaret Mitchell took twelve years to write Gone with The Wind.  Worked out pretty well for her, but it might not get published now.

With approximately 1,000 books being published every day in the United States, you need to know what you want for dessert. There are a bunch of folks out there who want to make big dollars off your book dreams, without making you any money in return. You have to be careful and know how this book fits into your life. Know what you want the book to do for you. Be honest with yourself.

If you’re a one book cookie, fine. A two book cupcake, perfect. A whole pie career author, go for it. But figure out which dessert you want first, because that drives all the other important publishing decisions. Life is short; pick dessert first!

A Dashing Movie Hero Comes To The Rescue!

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by Kimberly A. Cook                                                    (Twitter @WarriorTales)

Many wonder where the new leading men in Hollywood are coming from. I have no such concern. When this dashing young hero showed up onscreen in a small role, I knew he was bound for greatness. I’m a sucker for a black cape and sword, from Zorro to Darth Vader (until that whole father thing), but this talented hero now gets the top billing he deserves in his new movie out today. 

I know my fellow women and men veterans would have this man on our team in any situation. He’s good to go! Happy Quirky Friday!

A Chef’s Hawaiian Tale in Ashland

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by Kimberly A. Cook                                  (Twitter @WarriorTales)

The best chicken teriyaki I’ve ever tasted turned into a veteran story. I have pretty good Vet-Dar, (Veteran Radar), but even this one surprised me.

The Red Hibiscus Restaurant in Ashland became a fast favorite after eating there last Fall. I almost licked the plate since I loved the teriyaki sauce so much. The family owned Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant was a fabulous surprise tucked away in Ashland. 

Chef Ron Yamaoka, U.S. Army veteran, at the Red Hibiscus Restaurant
When we visited this year, we discovered they were going out of business Sept. 29; another casualty of the recession. I gave the waitress my business card and asked her to PLEASE let me know if they bottled the sauce or sold it online.

Before I knew what happened, owner Ron Yamaoka gave me his recipe. Turns out he was born and raised in Hawaii, trained in culinary arts in California and worked at the prestigious St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, one of my favorite spots.

“When I went in the Army and got picked by General Seitz to be his chef, I asked him why?” Yamaoka said. “He told me, ‘I know you island boys work hard and you worked at the St. Francis.’”

Ron told us about the stars and dignitaries he met in the Army and showed us pictures on the wall from June Allyson to personal snapshots which included Bob Hope and Princess Caroline. Amazing. Ron wanted to make French food for Princess Caroline and she wanted a hamburger!

Chef Yamaoka's favorite pictures hanging in the Red Hibiscus Restaurant

I tried to convince Ron he could write a great cook book. People would love to read his stories and get his recipes. He wasn’t so sure, but I’m hopeful. Ron is in San Francisco now with his wife, Carrie, and I hope his fingers are flying on a computer keyboard.

Veterans and their stories are everywhere.  Every veteran has an important story to tell. So until Ron gets his cookbook out, I have to try and figure out his teriyaki recipe on my own.  I’m on the hunt to secure me some chili paste! Got military recipes? Write them down!