Going on "Holiday"

This blog is going to borrow a little tradition from the continent of Europe for the next few weeks.

Typically in that part of the world people will take a vacation from their job or workplace for a four to six week period. This allows the body, mind and soul to regenerate, regroup and become energized.

I’m going to borrow that custom for a short period of time and have chosen the end of the summer to “go on holiday.”

Even though it will seem like nothing is being done I’ll be working behind the scenes to write more of Opur’s Blade. That’s the story of a young boy that comes from an impoverished background and chases his dream. It is the fourth book in my series from Prairie Winds Golf Course high atop the Mississippi river bluffs just east of St. Louis.

While the blog experiences a little down time feel free to try my previous three books.

Lifetime Loser is about a swindle and fraud that details the difference between criminal and civil law. Follow the scheme as it twists and turns its way through the American legal system.

Finish Line details the coming-of-age of two teenage boys. After getting into some mischief they land summer jobs on Prairie Winds Golf Course and are exposed to life lessons by several of the grown men.

Tuey’s Course describes the frustrations of a black man as he operates in a business world dominated by whites. Racial profiling and discrimination from city hall dominate Tuey’s life while he flees to the supposed safe haven of Prairie Winds Golf Course.

While I wrap up Opur’s Blade I’ll look for comments and feedback from the previous stories.

Hey if you Have time Tonight.............

I'll be online tonight 11:30 central until 12 with
Peter Anthony Holder
CJAD 800 AM, Montreal
CFRB 1010 AM, Toronto

Hope you can listen in!

Who is the real hero here?

Was it "Author James Ross" or was it one of his books?

Click on the link below---listen and tell me what you think.

http://golftwitt.com/jq9v

Leave your vote in the comment section of this post....

Be honest I will not be hurt.....:)

Why is Golf So Popular with Retirees?

I am sure that most of us have dreams about what we will do after we retire. Perhaps you have a long list of international travel destinations that await your arrival. Maybe you want to develop a hobby like woodworking or boating that was not possible with the time constraints that come with a nine-to-five job. What if you want your post-employment plans to include some athletic component? Realistically, given the age of most retirees, tackle football is probably not the best option. And, the opportunities for competitive softball leagues are limited for the fine senior citizens of our country.

On the other hand, just do a Google search for “golf retirement.” You will find pages of results for golf communities, senior golf tournaments, and golf-related retirement gifts for that special someone. There are several reasons that golf is the ideal pastime for those who are enjoying the golden years of their lives. Many of the most popular and beautiful courses are located in warmer spots of our country that attract retired couples. Only those for whom long hours of work are a thing of the past can devote hours on a Monday morning to honing their swing or relaxing in the clubhouse. And, golf gives us the opportunity to remain active while not taxing our bodies to an extreme. With golf carts, long breaks at the club house, and other amenities, golf can be as much or as little of a workout as you wish!

In my three published novels, all of which have the Prairie Winds Golf Course at a backdrop, some of the characters I feature are enjoying their retirement years with friends, beers, and mornings on the course. Sounds pretty ideal to me! Are you currently retired and enjoying a full-time golf life? Let us know if the reality lives up to the lifestyle that golf fans everywhere imagine!

You Win Some, You Lose Some

Here’s a quick test for you – Who won the Super Bowl earlier this year? Now I have a more difficult question – Who lost? Many of us will remember that the Pittsburgh Steelers hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy in February and will start the season this fall as defending World Champions. Fewer of us, unless we live in “The Grand Canyon State,” will have stored into our memory banks that Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals walked off the field in defeat. The losers, even if they showcased amazing talent up until the last moment of play, are often forgotten.

This example in the world of sports can be translated into any area of life. Just think about the famous quotes “To the victors go the spoils” and “History is written by the winners.” How many civilizations and cultures have very little documentation concerning their forefathers because others were given the task of retelling events? The lens through which we see ourselves and others is, fairly or not, largely based on how the successes and failures that are recorded.

If we personally fail often enough, we can reach the conclusion that we are simply destined to be losers. In my first novel, Lifetime Loser, I introduce my readers to such a character. The book opens with J.W. Schroeder finds himself falling one shot short of becoming a member of the PGA Tour, destroying a lifelong dream that he long believed was destined to become reality. How will J.W. adjust to this change in his professional plans? Will he let his mind remain stuck in the notion of “what could have been”? Or, will he realize that he has a loving family and great job managing a golf course, both of which still give him endless opportunities to be a winner?

I hope you will read Lifetime Loser and discover if you can relate to the feelings of self-doubt that J.W. Schroeder experiences. Then, you can continue with the series based at the Prairie Winds Golf Course through my next two novels, Finish Line and Tuey’s Course. I would love to hear from you concerning my writing and the characters I have developed.

Father's Day and Graduation Gifts for Golf Lovers

Here are some Great Books that make Great Gifts!

Book #1
Buy the Book: Amazon
About the Book: Tuey's Course
Racial tension had been building for years near Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of St. Louis. In 2007, black businessman, Tuey O’Tweety faced the brunt of the discrimination.
Can the game of golf resolve the issue?

Life becomes even more difficult for Tuey when the frustrations of harassment become a daily nuisance. Corrupt politicians, manipulated city hall employees, and hypocritical community leaders add to the unrelenting aggravation.

Through an odd connection Tuey lands with an eclectic group of golfing misfits. Daily visits to the golf course expose him to an unfamiliar slice of life. An unlikely player leads him down a seemingly innocent path. The world of black and the world of white become intertwined in a world of intricate fantasy.

Join head golf pro J Dub Schroeder and his brother Curt, as they open the clubhouse doors of Prairie Winds Golf Course to a man trying to find his way out of an impoverished situation. One by one a Catholic priest, greedy banker, local farmer, retired luxury car dealer, Japanese businessman, evangelistic preacher and college football referee weave their lives into Tuey’s plight. Explore the convoluted path through the fairways of Prairie Winds Golf Course that has become “Tuey’s Course.”

Book# 2
Buy the Book: Amazon
About the Book:Lifetime Loser
For fifteen years on the outskirts of St. Louis, J. W. Schroeder (J Dub) ran a worn out golf course that sat high atop the Illinois bluffs of the Mississippi River. Then he learns that his partner had been skimming profits the entire time. But even worse, J Dub discovers that he was an unknowing participant in the swindle of an estate and that he was a victim of fraud.

J Dub is thrown into a civil justice system that is lengthy as well as costly to protect his family and correct an evil and sinister secret that had been withheld from him for years. The controlling partner, Lewferd E. Zerrmann, aligns himself with a dishonest attorney, a deceitful accountant, and a corrupt politician to derail a government investigation and an IRS audit. He survives title improprieties and outlasts an overzealous U. S. Attorney.

No one seems to be able to penetrate the isolated walls of Lew’s fortress until J Dub steps up and risks it all to fight for what is his. WHO SAID REAL LIFE WAS ANYTHING LIKE “THE GENTLEMAN’S GAME?”Book#3: Finish Line
Buy The Book: Amazon
About the Book:
After getting caught committing a petty act of vandalism, two teenage boys land summer jobs at Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of St. Louis. Follow the adventures…
of Justin Ventimiglia and Keith Puccio as they explore a slice of life that they never knew existed. Observe the special relationship between adolescent boys, a cast of grown golfing misfits, and a young man battling the demons of cancer.

Explore the heart-wrenching relationship between an impressionable child and a pseudo Big Brother. Witness the summertime ride of the two youths in a poignant story about life and death. See them as they develop a love for the game of golf and apply those lessons to the challenges of life.

Experience the reactions of Justin and Keith to the vices of the world such as drinking, smoking, and gambling and watch how their knowledge molds their character. Take the journey with them as they battle a dysfunctional family situation, exposure to a life-threatening disease, and the vices of the world as they live a summer to remember.

A message from a Fan

From a fan in Oregon...

Just finished Finish Line and Tuey's Course. Loved them both, but I think that I liked Tuey's Course the best. Can't wait for book number four! I am so amazed at your character development. You nailed those teen-ages perfectly. I taught 7th graders for 33 years and I felt that you were really in tune to that age group......very believable characters. Keep up the good work and please let me know when book four is ready.....also book five!

From your,

#1 Northwest Fan!

Drinking Becomes Its Own Recreational Sport for Some

There seems to be a long-standing partnership between recreational activities and enjoying a few alcoholic beverages. Someone is usually in charge of bringing a cooler of beer to the weeknight softball game. We’ve all seen those Corona commercials that associate a cold long neck with lounging on the beach. And, every holiday seems to have some alcohol consumption associated with the celebration (including this week’s Cinco de Mayo festivities). A typical day on the golf course is no different for most casual players. It is not unusual to have a round or two in the clubhouse before driving out to the fairway and then sipping on a couple more as you wind your way through the eighteen holes. However, one of the characters in my series of novels that take place at the Prairie Winds Golf Course has taken his drinking a bit too far.

Captain Jer, as he is known by his friends in the club house, is a retired pilot who regularly consumes enough alcohol to make his ability to stand and function, let alone play golf, quite astounding. He is known to drink an entire twelve-pack of beer in the morning even before taking his seat in the golf cart. In his inebriated state, Captain Jer is known to flirt shamelessly with every woman in sight, hurl racial epithets at innocent workers who are simply minding their own business, and mock the friends who somehow still return to play with him time and time again. I believe that while readers will rightfully be disgusted by some of Captain Jer’s behaviors, they may also feel sorry for him in his impaired state.

I introduce a group of Prairie Winds regulars in my first book Lifetime Loser who reappear in the subsequent novels, Finish Line and Tuey’s Course. Captain Jer is just one example of the interesting personalities you will meet. I hope you will read all three of these books and then let me know which character you found the most fascinating, likable … or insulting! I look forward to your feedback.

Government Can Drive People to the Point of Frustration or Even Violence

Several months ago, I published an article in several high-profile directories that highlighted some of the ridiculous laws that are passed in our city halls every year. I decided to write about that topic due to the content of my third novel, Tuey’s Course. In this book, the title character becomes increasingly frustrated with what he sees as an oppressive local government that is out to ruin his professional standing and even his life. While some of his anger at the elected officials in his town may have been justified, the drastic actions Tuey eventually took were beyond all realm of normal recourse. However, when you take a look at some of silly ways in which our government chooses to involve itself in our lives, some level of irritation should be considered quite normal.

Did you know that in Tennessee it is illegal to shoot any game other any whales from your moving car? I’m sure that whales often make themselves available to driving motorists in the Volunteer State.

How about this? It is illegal to raise chickens in bottles in New Jersey. And I thought the tight quarters of those coops seemed a bit unpleasant for the popular fowl.

Finally, in my home state of Missouri, the fine residents of St. Louis are not allowed to sit on the curb and drink beer from a bucket. I am sure that this restriction has put a damper on many a Friday night. At least Mason jars and keg spigots seem to pass the test.

I realize that many of these laws are antiquated and no one has simply bothered to introduce motions to remove them from the books. However, even if they are not really enforced, these laws are still an amusing insight into the topics over which our politicians have argued at some point in a city or state’s history. I imagine that you know of some laws in the place where you live that you find either ridiculous or downright infuriating. I would love to hear from you and perhaps share your examples on this blog.

I hope you will read Tuey’s Course and read about one man’s experience with local government that had life-altering consequences for more people than Tuey could have imagined.

The Effect of Divorce on Children … Especially Teenage Boys

If you take a walk down the “Self-Help” aisle of the local bookstore during your next visit, you will find no shortage of text written on the difficult issues surrounding divorce and the children who are sometimes caught in the middle. There are books advising parents on just the right way to talk to their kids about the unavoidable split. Others share important information regarding the legal maze that can develop from child custody battles. And, there are thick tomes that reach out to adult children of divorced parents who are still grieving even though decades have passed since the split occurred. There are certainly instances in which divorce is unavoidable. Homes in which adultery, abuse, or some unbreakable chain to an addiction is evident are not beneficial for any member of a family. However, there is much documentation to prove that even the most justified of divorces can have negative effects on the kids who were brought into the union.

I strongly believe that an ideal home will have an involved and caring father present every day. We see the consequences of absent fathers in the news every day. In my second book, Finish Line, I share the story of Justin Ventimiglia and his best friend Keith Pucchio. Both of these teenage boys are in desperate need of discipline and positive male role models, as the men in their lives have either disappeared or appear only to vent life’s frustrations at innocent family members. Without a strong father figure guiding these young men, they find themselves getting into trouble with an unforgiving neighbor who threatens both legal and financial consequences. It takes the mentoring of Curt Schroeder, who allows both Justin and Keith to work at the Prairie Winds Golf Course for the summer, to change these teenagers’ attitudes and get them headed in the right direction. The story of Finish Line shows that one person’s positive influence can make all the difference in the world.

Please click here to purchase Finish Line or my other two books, Lifetime Loser and Tuey’s Course.

Hurricane Katrina Still Affecting Music in New Orleans

While Hurricane Katrina and the flooding that occurred in its aftermath occurred more than three and a half years ago, the effects are still being felt by many segments of the population in New Orleans. Some residents whose houses were completely destroyed by wind and water have established new lives in cities such as Houston, Nashville, and Memphis. If you drive down certain streets in the devastated Ward 9 area, you still will see condemned houses and debris. And, a city that long claimed one of the most vibrant communities of musicians and artists in the country is still working to reclaim the mantle of a top destination for the jazz and blues. Mardi Gras endures, to be sure, but some of the displaced musicians have yet to reunite or have been forced to find other occupations to make ends meet.

Musicians throughout the world banded together (no pun intended) to assist their fellow artists in the wake of the natural disaster. Organizations that were established to promote music education shared their time and money to rebuild music in schools and in local clubs. Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis worked together to create Musicians’ Village, a community of new homes that helped musicians stay in New Orleans instead of relocating to another city. Classical musicians opened up their symphony halls for donations to their jazz counterparts.

In my second novel, Finish Line, readers are introduced to a character who was an acclaimed musician in New Orleans, but forced to flee after the hurricane. Tyrone Munroe, who received the nickname Bowtye from the regulars at the Prairie Winds Golf Course, moved to St. Louis and found himself tending to the needs of players in the clubhouse in order to pay the bills. His musical talents are revealed, however, when some of the Prairie Winds regulars find themselves on a casino boat with Bowtye as the featured entertainment.

To learn more about Bowtye and the other memorable characters in Finish Line, please check out my new book. And, be sure to read Lifetime Loser and Tuey’s Course for more stories involving the Prairie Winds Golf Course.
Finish Line for the previous stories involving the Prairie Winds Golf Course.

Do You Have What It Takes to Qualify for the PGA Tour?

In order to earn the title of “professional” in most fields, there is a series of steps that one must complete. If you want to be a lawyer, you must first graduate with strong marks from an accredited law school and then pass the bar exam. If you expect someone to trust you with a scalpel in an operating room, I hope that you plan to take good notes in medical school, pass your board exams, and undergo the exhausting experience known as your residency. What if your dream is to make a living as a professional golf player? There are certainly worse ways out there to earn a buck! One way to earn the right to list “golf” as your primary source of income is to complete in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, also known as the “Q-School.”

The Q-School is divided into several stages that are held throughout the autumn months. The competitors who place in the top 25 at the end of the final stage earn PGA Tour cards for the following year. Thousands of men start this process every year, so those who make the final cut certainly have completed a very difficult task. And, before you request the paperwork for the 2009 edition of Q-School, make sure you have the $5000 entry fee ready for submission. No … it’s not refundable.

My first novel, Lifetime Loser, opens with J.W. Schroeder (known as J Dub) playing the last holes of Q-School that, if he plays like he is capable, will land him one of the coveted spots on the PGA Tour. When one ill-fated shot brings all of his dreams of professional golf crashing down around him, J Dub’s life takes a turn that he certainly never could have expected. Through the pages of Lifetime Loser, readers will follow J Dub through the next twenty-three years of his life and meet an unforgettable cast of characters, many of whom continue to have a presence in my subsequent novels.

I hope you will take some time to meet J Dub and his family in Lifetime Loser and then stick with him and his life on Prairie Winds Golf Course for my other two novels, Finish Line and Tuey’s Course.

Celebrities Heighten the Public’s Interest in Golf

Walk onto any golf course in the world and you will find the perfect environment on which to make wonderful sociological observations. You may find the group of young professionals who drink a few too many beers and talk about their wild weekend nights. There will be the foursome of retired gentlemen who complain about the City Council and the ridiculous property tax hike it just passed. You may even spot a few dads walking the course with their young sons and daughters in hopes that a passion for the game of golf will be passed down to the next generation. But, what group is becoming an increasingly common sight on many of the nation’s premier golf courses? Celebrities! Perhaps you will not find Bill Murray or Jack Nicholson carrying their clubs around the Prairie Winds Golf Course that provides the backdrop in my novels, but their love for golf has certainly raised the sport’s profile among the general population.

Need proof that celebrities have increased interest in golf? The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am attracted more than 4.3 million viewers in 2007, more than all but two other golf tournaments up to that point in the season even though it is a minor tournament. The reason for the high ratings is the interest in the celebrities who participate. Golf Digest now publishes an annual list of Hollywood’s Top 100 Golfers. We are not only interested in the dating habits and latest diets of celebrities … we also want to know their handicap!

Politicians have a long history of adding their own brand of celebrity to the golf course. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Gerald Ford, Dwight Eisenhower and others are known for their use of a few hours on the golf course as a way of releasing stress that comes with the most powerful office in the world. As President Clinton once said, "The great thing about golf is that even the bad days are wonderful." Our new president is known to relax on the basketball court instead of the golf course, so perhaps my beloved sport of choice will not have the spotlight for the next few years.

The fictional Prairie Winds Golf Course serves as the stage on which my characters share the details of their lives. They may not be celebrities, but their stories are still fascinating and have much to offer the readers.

Please visit my website to learn more about all three of my books. I hope you will read Lifetime Loser, Finish Line, and Tuey’s Course and then let me know what you think!

"Tuey’s Course"

About the Book:

Racial tension had been building for years near Prairie Winds Golf Course on the east side of St. Louis. In 2007, black businessman, Tuey O’Tweety faced the brunt of the discrimination.

Can the game of golf resolve the issue?

Life becomes even more difficult for Tuey when the frustrations of harassment become a daily nuisance. Corrupt politicians, manipulated city hall employees, and hypocritical community leaders add to the unrelenting aggravation.

Through an odd connection Tuey lands with an eclectic group of golfing misfits. Daily visits to the golf course expose him to an unfamiliar slice of life. An unlikely player leads him down a seemingly innocent path. The world of black and the world of white become intertwined in a world of intricate fantasy.

Join head golf pro J Dub Schroeder and his brother Curt, as they open the clubhouse doors of Prairie Winds Golf Course to a man trying to find his way out of an impoverished situation. One by one a Catholic priest, greedy banker, local farmer, retired luxury car dealer, Japanese businessman, evangelistic preacher and college football referee weave their lives into Tuey’s plight. Explore the convoluted path through the fairways of Prairie Winds Golf Course that has become “Tuey’s Course.”

BUY THE BOOK