“Chasing The Wind” is a novel about the sacrifices of a Georgia family during the war for Southern independence. It is a swift narrative from the life of Henry Shockley. He is the youngest of three brothers, who answered the call of their beloved South. Henry is an ordinary man who is called to do extraordinary things in time of war. He is driven by deep, rooted principles that influence some surprising decisions. This is a story of love, compassion, hate, greed, and sacrifice. Henry learns that life often dictates without reason, and man must react at times because it is simply the right thing to do.

“Chasing The Wind” is a novel about the sacrifices of a Georgia family during the war for Southern independence. It is a swift narrative from the life of Henry Shockley. He is the youngest of three brothers, who answered the call of their beloved South. Henry is an ordinary man who is called to do extraordinary things in time of war. He is driven by deep, rooted principles that influence some surprising decisions. This is a story of love, compassion, hate, greed, and sacrifice. Henry learns that life often dictates without reason, and man must react at times because it is simply the right thing to do.

A Cruel Thing is a novel of the American Civil War which begins during one of the conflicts earliest engagements on the Eastern Panhandle of Virginia. It was in this first minor skirmish that the men and boys of the blue and grey first met face to face, tasted the smoke and heard the roar of battle. Men were changed forever by this experience; some for good, and some with terrible consequences. America was at war with itself, and this tragedy came home to the yards, parlors, and fields of average American people, especially in the South. No one who survived this four year national cataclysm was ever the same. Both sides fought for very different reasons much more complex than just the abolition of slavery. But out of the smoldering ashes of the South´s crushing defeat, did come precious liberty for generations of American black men and women. This work is dedicated to these people North and South, Americans all, who fought, bled, and died for their beliefs and their love of country.

A Cruel Thing is a novel of the American Civil War which begins during one of the conflicts earliest engagements on the Eastern Panhandle of Virginia. It was in this first minor skirmish that the men and boys of the blue and grey first met face to face, tasted the smoke and heard the roar of battle. Men were changed forever by this experience; some for good, and some with terrible consequences. America was at war with itself, and this tragedy came home to the yards, parlors, and fields of average American people, especially in the South. No one who survived this four year national cataclysm was ever the same. Both sides fought for very different reasons much more complex than just the abolition of slavery. But out of the smoldering ashes of the South´s crushing defeat, did come precious liberty for generations of American black men and women. This work is dedicated to these people North and South, Americans all, who fought, bled, and died for their beliefs and their love of country.

A Cruel Thing is a novel of the American Civil War which begins during one of the conflicts earliest engagements on the Eastern Panhandle of Virginia. It was in this first minor skirmish that the men and boys of the blue and grey first met face to face, tasted the smoke and heard the roar of battle. Men were changed forever by this experience; some for good, and some with terrible consequences. America was at war with itself, and this tragedy came home to the yards, parlors, and fields of average American people, especially in the South. No one who survived this four year national cataclysm was ever the same. Both sides fought for very different reasons much more complex than just the abolition of slavery. But out of the smoldering ashes of the South´s crushing defeat, did come precious liberty for generations of American black men and women. This work is dedicated to these people North and South, Americans all, who fought, bled, and died for their beliefs and their love of country.

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Summary

Driven by their need for money, three former Pennsylvania state corrections officers agree to bodyguard Philadelphia realtor and philanthropist Jeremiah Lassiter during a peace mission to West Africa.

Lassiter hoped to use his wealth to end the civil war in Sierra Leone, where he was born.

His special bodyguards hoped to climb out of near poverty and regain the middle-class lifestyles they lost when the state privatized their jobs. Gone were the big paychecks--the $100,000 salaries they earned from scheduled overtime--and gone were the prestige and the self-actualization they enjoyed as members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), a SWAT of sorts whose job was to put down riots and extract violent inmates. But it was their little known special training as security for the governor that led Lassiter to employ them as his protectors.

And so it was that in December 1995, the Lassiter party landed in Freetown, Sierra Leone´s capital city, with confidence in their hearts. They expected to teach the Leoneans how to make money. Instead, they would learn a few lessons themselves in the meanings of sacrifice and loyalty, life and death.

Summary

Driven by their need for money, three former Pennsylvania state corrections officers agree to bodyguard Philadelphia realtor and philanthropist Jeremiah Lassiter during a peace mission to West Africa.

Lassiter hoped to use his wealth to end the civil war in Sierra Leone, where he was born.

His special bodyguards hoped to climb out of near poverty and regain the middle-class lifestyles they lost when the state privatized their jobs. Gone were the big paychecks--the $100,000 salaries they earned from scheduled overtime--and gone were the prestige and the self-actualization they enjoyed as members of the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), a SWAT of sorts whose job was to put down riots and extract violent inmates. But it was their little known special training as security for the governor that led Lassiter to employ them as his protectors.

And so it was that in December 1995, the Lassiter party landed in Freetown, Sierra Leone´s capital city, with confidence in their hearts. They expected to teach the Leoneans how to make money. Instead, they would learn a few lessons themselves in the meanings of sacrifice and loyalty, life and death.

In an imaginary country, Nianga, the military boys have struck, seizing power from civilians. The leaders of some sections of the country are targeted and assassinated.

A countercoup is organized with advice and instigation from Bature. Callous and indiscriminate slaughter of people from a section of the country occurs. The former colonial master had earlier been pressured into transfer of power. He had relinquished power and had granted independence reluctantly to Nianga. His interest persisted in his former colony but only from the economic and selfish angles. The crisis offers a good opportunity for Bature to once again dictate the tune. He throws his weight squarely behind a side in the conflict. He rallies a coalition that includes a world power to the East, in support of Nianga.

The secessionist side, Biamfrah, is mauled from land, sea, and air. Two million lives are lost by mob-engineered slaughter, starvation and disease Bombing and strafing of civilian populations by Bature-arranged coalition collaborates. Colossal human tragedy that could easily be averted is glossed over, courtesy of Bature. With success in his brokerage venture, Bature claims his prize with economic control.

The defeat of Biamfrah leads to annulment of the letter B, by military decree. Paranoia over Biamfrah makes mention of the letter B a treasonable offense. Unfortunately, Bature also starts with the letter B. A dilemma develops. An ineffective and cosmetic declaration of “no victor and no vanquished” is declared.

It is suddenly realized that the words Nota Bene exist in Bature’s lexicon. The letter B is spared, but only as a component of Bature, NB, or Nota Bene. Any other use of the letter B is outlawed, worse still if Biamfrah is connoted.

The vanquished lick their wounds and suffer in silence. Bature and the victors in his sponsored war bask in the sun and glory in the oil windfall. The resources of the stupendously oil-rich republic can afford to sustain the party, which goes on . . .
and on . . .
and on.



Book Review

Inside the fictional country of Nianga, two sides battle for different ideologies "regional self determination" versus "unification of a nation". The results are indiscriminate carnage and starvation of civilians at the hands of the federal troops. However, they are acting with implicit approval from Bature as most of the world turns a blind eye to this dehumanization. As this wonderfully written story unfolds, it becomes apparent that as colonial power about to grant independence for Nianga, Bature has created a way to maintain power through manipulation, division and isolation of Nianga's various ethnic groups. It was in this manner that Bature would favor and aid the group easiest to manipulate.

This is a must read as this illustrates the human suffering of the Baimfrah people and their survival spirit. Furthermore, it exposes a story hidden from much of the world through carefully orchestrated propaganda. This story demands to be read for as Winston Churchill proclaimed, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Well written and compelling!

Dr. Adaobi Kanu

Associate Professor Pediatrics
Pulmonology, Texas Tech University

In an imaginary country, Nianga, the military boys have struck, seizing power from civilians. The leaders of some sections of the country are targeted and assassinated.

A countercoup is organized with advice and instigation from Bature. Callous and indiscriminate slaughter of people from a section of the country occurs. The former colonial master had earlier been pressured into transfer of power. He had relinquished power and had granted independence reluctantly to Nianga. His interest persisted in his former colony but only from the economic and selfish angles. The crisis offers a good opportunity for Bature to once again dictate the tune. He throws his weight squarely behind a side in the conflict. He rallies a coalition that includes a world power to the East, in support of Nianga.

The secessionist side, Biamfrah, is mauled from land, sea, and air. Two million lives are lost by mob-engineered slaughter, starvation and disease Bombing and strafing of civilian populations by Bature-arranged coalition collaborates. Colossal human tragedy that could easily be averted is glossed over, courtesy of Bature. With success in his brokerage venture, Bature claims his prize with economic control.

The defeat of Biamfrah leads to annulment of the letter B, by military decree. Paranoia over Biamfrah makes mention of the letter B a treasonable offense. Unfortunately, Bature also starts with the letter B. A dilemma develops. An ineffective and cosmetic declaration of “no victor and no vanquished” is declared.

It is suddenly realized that the words Nota Bene exist in Bature’s lexicon. The letter B is spared, but only as a component of Bature, NB, or Nota Bene. Any other use of the letter B is outlawed, worse still if Biamfrah is connoted.

The vanquished lick their wounds and suffer in silence. Bature and the victors in his sponsored war bask in the sun and glory in the oil windfall. The resources of the stupendously oil-rich republic can afford to sustain the party, which goes on . . .
and on . . .
and on.



Book Review

Inside the fictional country of Nianga, two sides battle for different ideologies "regional self determination" versus "unification of a nation". The results are indiscriminate carnage and starvation of civilians at the hands of the federal troops. However, they are acting with implicit approval from Bature as most of the world turns a blind eye to this dehumanization. As this wonderfully written story unfolds, it becomes apparent that as colonial power about to grant independence for Nianga, Bature has created a way to maintain power through manipulation, division and isolation of Nianga's various ethnic groups. It was in this manner that Bature would favor and aid the group easiest to manipulate.

This is a must read as this illustrates the human suffering of the Baimfrah people and their survival spirit. Furthermore, it exposes a story hidden from much of the world through carefully orchestrated propaganda. This story demands to be read for as Winston Churchill proclaimed, "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it."

Well written and compelling!

Dr. Adaobi Kanu

Associate Professor Pediatrics
Pulmonology, Texas Tech University