Family Love, Happiness to Heartach

Well my blogger friends, my new book went live today. The ISBN 9781440169700, cost is $21.95, can be ordered through my publisher, www.iuniverse.com, or through my email address at coachrays1044@live.com. I am very excited about this book, because I think it will touch many hearts. It is the true story of tragedy and the effect it has on loved ones. The emptiness, heartache, and the longing for a child who has experienced life threatening challenges and/or departed this world and joined Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. Although in a better place, you still feel the loss of your precious loved one.

Book Writing

Do you know what it takes to write a good book? Three things; research, preparation, and a good story teller. Get all the facts and truths about what you want to write about. Even if you are writing a fiction, you must conjugate similar simulations. Gather your materials and prepare your mind and body without regards to your surroundings. Focus strictly on your story presentation. Tell the story in your own words, put it on paper, pay close attention to your materials so the reader can comprehend what you are trying to express. Lead the reader into each aspect of the story, don't stop at a dead end leaving him wondering where you are going. Carry them into the next phase, and keep their interest of wanting to read on with anticipation of the climax, and never leave the reader hanging. A book has a beginning, a story, and an ending, tell it that way.

Ray E. "Rabbit" Jackson

Family Love, Happiness to Heartache

Just to catch everyone up on the progress of my new book, "Family Love, Happiness to Heartache." My PSA has informed me that the manuscript proofs should be ready in about two weeks. The book cover image should be ready about the same time. I will post the image as soon as it is complete. Once I receive the proofs, I have one week to make corrections before sending it back to my publisher. From that time, it takes about two weeks to complete the book and it hits the market. I am anxious and excited, because this is a masterpiece story.

Family Love, Happiness to Heartache

The long awaited works of my new book is finally in production. This is a must read novel, especially if you are raising or planning on raising a family. Things you do or don't do, and the reasons behind all of your decisions. Children are so special and fragile at birth, but they grow into maturity, and they are still as special and fragile as they were as infants. Do not let one day pass in your life without thanking God for his precious gift, and express your love and affection everyday to that precious gift of life; your children, God can call them home at anytime. you can follow the production of my transcript at www.iuniverse.com.

Tribute to my 40 years since Vietnam

Ray Jackson-Treacherous is the darkness which only light can direct the way. This personifies my life 40 years ago. Yes, I am celebrating the second half of my anniversary today. Thirty-nine years ago today, I returned from darkness, Vietnam. Forty years ago Saturday, the 4th, I left the US for Vietnam where so many of our classmates served. This 4th, I salute our classmates who served, and honor Ronnie Roberts & Billy Caldwell. God Bless my best friend in the whole world, Jimmy Foy Swindell.

Book Review in The Voice of The Retired Enlisted Association

Military Police Protection in Southeast Asia
by Ray Jackson
ISBN 978-0-595-52301-6- $22.95
www.iuniverse.com
As a young boy growing up in Texas, I learned early that wars were characteristic of death. The news, described the American losses of each day's battles. Once in a while, you would hear how the Americans fought bravely and turned back the enemy or they took over a stronghold. Even when I was in basic training, our marching cadences dealt with being shipped back in a box. I then found myself trying to define hero. I couldn't answer that, because I was led to believe you had to do something very heroic.
Whether you lived or died, you were a hero ... I found out in later years, a hero is anyone who puts on the American uniform in defense of our country. Why are hometowns of America not recognizing the deceased heroes, outside the battlefield, of past and present wars? In my book, I take you step by step through everyday life in a combat zone. What it's like being involved in actual battle, and the casualties resulting from each conflict: the men, the women, the real heroes.

About the author: He is a disabled Vietnam veteran, who served 6 years in the Army, honorably discharged as a Sergeant E-5, October 31, 1973. He has been married 29 years, and has 3 living children and a grandchild. He lost a son at age 19. He has an Associate Degree in Business from Navarro College.

Comment from a very dear friend

Hey, Ray....finished your book today. Thank you for documenting your experiences in Viet Nam! That conflict defined our generation in so many ways, and I appreciate having the opportunity to read what it was like for those like you and Jimmy Swindell who served in the military during that time. Even though I knew in advance you made it through (thank God!), it still kept my interest, and I didn't skip a word. A funny thing...earlier today I caught a movie on TV from that war, and one of the scenes was in a club very much like what you described; the waitresses were serving beer labeled "33", and I knew what it was!

It is amazing to me that some communities, and sadly, Ennis is apparently one of them, don't recognize and commemorate the fallen who didn't actually die on the battlefield. If a soldier died as a result of wounds / injuries sustained in the war, they should be recognized as such! I'm flabbergasted that the Ennis City Manager took that stance! Has that been reversed since your book was written?? Is Billy Caldwell's name on that memorial? What happened to him?

Thank you again for your service! I'm looking forward to your next book, on families. You've endured a lot in your lifetime, and I'm sure what you have to say on the subject will be meaningful and touching in multiple ways!

God bless you!