Raising Roscoe Parker Part III -- Witchcraft

The Warlock from Legend

Readers of Dogwoods Blush know that the murderous Roscoe Parker was recalled from the dead to do the bidding of the evil Vladimir Buchinsky, only to come face-to-face with his arch enemy also resurrected from the dead, the powerful Jeremiah Bronson, aka Night Terror. Their battle for the future of mankind forms the explosive conclusion in the book. In previous posts we've discussed how I came to use the gypsy curse to bring Parker back from the dead and my last post dealt with the Necronomicon, another possibility I considered. Today I'd like to share with you a third and final option I considered along with why I decided against it. Today's post deals with the ancient evil we all know as ... witchcraft.

From my earliest childhood memories of Halloween, witches have always been scary. At a very early age I also recall the wicked witch of the west from Wizard of Oz and her flying monkeys, sure to spur on a nightmare or two in my formative years. Children tales like Hansel and Gretel only made things worse! As time went on, I learned more about the fear of witches like everyone else did in high school, shivering in history class at the true tales of the Salem Witch Trials and turning the pages of Arthur Miller's The Crucible in English literature. As more and more horror films began using the theme of witches and warlocks as the beasties to fear (Warlock, Fear No Evil, The Craft, Suspiria, Black Sunday, etc) I began to consider this approach as a means to unleash the terror of Roscoe Parker on the unsuspecting citizens of Timmonsville, GA.

Readers of Dogwoods Blush already know that Jeremiah was bred to kill and was always destined to become a monster, according to the evil Vladimir:

You are the most lethal and perfect killing machine to ever emerge on this planet! You have exhibited this skill on more than one occasion, yet you always side with the sheep instead of the wolves!

At that point, Vladimir forced Bronson to make a choice ... side with him and the monstrous Parker or be destroyed. Readers of the book know what choice Jerry made and why he made it, but what f I'd followed the witchcraft angle? What would happen then?

If I'd followed this storyline, Vladimir would have indeed been a Warlock, a male witch from the "old country," and his agenda would have clearly been more lethal from the beginning than depicted in the published tale. But the big difference would be in the resurrection of Parker ... and of Jerry. Again, while readers understand why Jerry returned to the land of the living and they can also determine HOW if they decipher the clues, this approach would have left no doubt. Both Jerry and Parker would have been raised from the dead by the evil Vladimir to do his bidding, which was to destroy the town and bring about Hell on Earth. In the published version, I even allowed for that possibility ... remember that Vladimir arrived in town a day AFTER his bed & breakfast reservation, saying he "had business to attend to" that forced his late arrival. That "business" would have been raising Sheriff Bronson from the dead to seek and achieve his revenge on his murderers (now sold out by Vladimir), then to link-up with Parker a week later and destroy the town. He would have killed his killers brutally and returned to Timmonsville with readers thinking he was as monstrous as Parker, only to discover ... well ... not so fast!

We all know (if you read the book) why Jerry stood against Parker and Buchinsky. So I won't spoil it for those who have not read it or readers who have yet to come to that point in the story. But in this version, Jerry is stopped by the heroic Reverend Roman Spindola because he learns that while his beloved Angel died 15 years ago, before she died, she gave birth to a daughter ... Jerry's daughter ... the innocent child who now stands before him in his murderous path to death and destruction. Seeing the child he never knew he had (a major point in the book is Jerry's desire to become a father with Angel as his wife) would turn Jerry from the "dark side" to stand against Parker and Buchinsky and, in a fiery climax, sacrifice all to save the town, his mentor Roman, and the little girl he never knew. Sound sad? Yep. And that's just one reason I rejected this storyline.

While fans of Star Wars and Darth Vader all appreciate the Shakespeare inspired tragedy of the tainted hero who turns from evil and saves the day, I wanted Jerry to be pure from day #1. I felt it would be hard to have readers sympathize with his plight if they'd seen him commit brutal murders in the name of revenge, plus this version made the appearance of Ol' Blue seem forced and out of place. And my teenaged sons assured me that the plot of "the child he never knew he had" is tired and overused now.

So when I finally put pen to paper to tell my tale of love from beyond death, I abandoned the witchcraft angle as well as that of the daughter. But sometimes I still wonder how readers would have reacted to it. So do me a favor ... tell me what you think of that potential plot line that never happened. I'd love to hear from you.

So now that we've covered many specifics of the forces of evil in the story, I've had a few readers ask me to delve more into the more peaceful aspects of the tale ... the love story between Jerry and Angel ... and details of how that came to be. Check back with me next time for a look at an eternal love, destined to end too soon, but sealed forever ... somewhere in time.

Raising Roscoe Parker -- The Necronomicon

One of many images of The Necronomicon

Readers of Dogwoods Blush know that the action in this tale essentially revolves around two titanic battles between the heroic Jeremiah Bronson and the evil Roscoe Parker, both before and after death. I always thought that the idea of anyone returning from the dead for ANY reason was pretty scary. I drank in many old Universal movies starring Bela Lugosi or Lon Chaney that dealt with such plot devices. One in particular ... I don't recall the name of the film ... starred Lon Chaney, Jr. as a killer brought back to life by electricity. As a kid, the idea of an executed killer brought back to kill again was much more frightening than a vampire or werewolf. I grew up in a very rural Colquitt County, Georgia area directly across the dirt road from a church cemetery. I used to imagine ghosts walking around those graves at night and wondered if any of them were angry or hostile. It was this childhood thought process that played a major role in the development of the plot for Dogwoods Blush.

In my last post, I discussed the influence of the "Gypsy Curse" in horror fiction and how that played into Roscoe's return to the land of the living. But there were several ways I debated depicting the rise of the evil Roscoe Parker from the grave beyond Vladimir's lifelong dedication to the black arts. Today I'd like to share with you another version that I toyed with ... the "most evil book ever written ... The Necronomicon!"

Bound in human flesh and inked in blood, filled with demon resurrection passages, this book was never meant for the world of the living!
The Evil Dead (1981)

Thus was such a book described in Sam Raimi's cult horror series, The Evil Dead, starring Bruce Campbell. The book was filled with spells and incantations so vile, they were not allowed to be spoken openly. To do so could bring about the end of the world. But the Necronomicon actually originates with the writings of iconic American horror novelist, H. P. Lovecraft.

If you are even a casual reader of horror or classic American literature, you know all about Lovecraft. His dark tales were woven around the tapestry of a belief in cosmic evil existing in other dimensions ... the "ancient ones, " "Dark Ones," beings of immense power and evil who lurked outside our fabric of human understanding. His acclaimed short stories, especially The Dunwich Horror, kept night lights burning in my childhood home many times. Pressed for insight into the origins of the Necronomicon, Lovecraft later wrote that the book translated the "laws of the dead" and derived from an Arabic word meaning the nocturnal sound of insects, "the howling of demons." YIKES!

While The Necronomicon is strictly a work of fiction, it has become so much a part of common conversation when discussing horror and evil that many persons believe it to be an actual book, a "recipe" for resurrecting or communicating with the dead. It has been a primary plot device in countless movies, TV shows, video games and horror tales. I've even seen hoaxes offering the sale of this book, promoted as a text written by Satan himself. In short, the Necronomicon has become a major player in horror fiction as a book of evil allowing access to the dead in an unholy way.

So how was I planning to use this rich piece of horror history in Dogwoods Blush? In this version, I planned to depict the ill-fated Purvis Hartley as a confused teenager who tinkered with motor bikes and worked part-time for an eccentric old man named Vladimir Buchinsky. The sick and dying Buchinsky had harbored hate for the town of Timmonsville for decades, dating back to an old feud with legendary Sheriff "Big Ben" Spear in the late 40's. Unknown to the townsfolk, Buchinsky had practiced "the black arts" for years but was now too old to bring about his lifetime plan for revenge. So he enticed the outcast Purvis to unwittingly do his bidding by promoting the "power" and "invincibility" of the executed killer and monster, biker Roscoe Parker. Passing an ancient book of "resurrection" to Purvis, the unwitting teen ventured to the grave site of Parker and began reciting a spell "never intended to be spoken by the tongue of man." After stupidly bringing the evil killer back to life, Parker kills Purvis (remember the rule laid down in Dogwoods ... the only way to bring the dead back to life is to exchange an equal life force in return), took his motor bike and made his way to the dying Vladimir, who propelled him on his mission of mass destruction. And the only thing standing in his way? The enigmatic Night Terror ... Jeremiah Bronson ... himself returned from "the other side" on a mission he did not yet comprehend.

Of course, this would lead to a very different battle between Roscoe and Jerry than that depicted in Dogwoods Blush, plus a different resolution to the climatic confrontation that threatened to bring about a "reign of terror over mankind for all time!" It is for this reason that I rejected this version and went with the Gypsy curse. Readers of Dogwoods know what I mean. If you have not read the book yet, what are you waiting for?

Of course, there was a third version I considered for Parker's return. That's what I'll discuss in my next post. Until then, go your local library and see if they have a "flesh covered, blood inked book containing evil spells and incantations never designed to be spoken by man." If they do, don't walk ... RUN away as quickly as you can! And never forget the cryptic words of Lovecraft, quoting from this evil book in his ground-breaking tale about the "Old Ones," The Call of Cthulhu (1928):

That is not dead which can eternal lie;
and with strange aeons, even death may die!

Curse of the Gypsy -- The Dead Walk Among Us!

Lon Chaney, Jr with Gypsy in The Wolf Man, 1941

"You must understand that those who return from the abyss will not be exactly as they were before they departed." As Vladimir spoke his eyes flickered like living things from another dimension.

Thus are readers introduced to the evil powers and potential of the mysterious stranger from Europe, the enigmatic Vladimir Buchinsky, in I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush. For those who have read the book, you know what happens next. For those who have not read, don't worry ... I won't spoil it for you. Gypsies have been a standard villain in horror movies and pop culture for decades. With promises ranging from good health to love potions to messages from the dead, the lure of a glimpse into "the other side" always seems to be too much for many of us to pass up. But darn those pesky consequences! The 2010 remake of The Wolf Man, now playing in theaters, is the most recent horror film to take gypsies center stage. Just as the 1941 original starring Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi warned:

Even a man who is pure in heart
and says his prayers by night,
may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms
and the autumn moon burns bright!

This great line was largely believed to be from an ancient gypsy poem but was revealed later to be from the creative mind of original Wolf Man screen writer Curt Siodmak. As Lon Chaney Jr. attempts to find a cure to his curse through the gypsies, he learns that the devil himself may be in the solution! This creepiness associated with gypsy magic and curses can actually be traced to the Bible. The act of "magic" and learning secrets from the dead can be linked to old pagan beliefs and witchcraft. Exodus 22:18 states, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Deuteronomy 18:10 strictly forbids association with an "enchanter, one who uses divination, an observer of times, a witch." Check out the story in I Samuel 28 when King Saul goes to a sorceress, the scary "Witch of Endor," with the request to raise the spirit of Samuel for guidance. That didn't work out well for anyone involved! In 2009, Sam Raimi released the highly successful Drag Me To Hell, another gypsy curse film loosely based on the 1950's classic Curse of the Demon. Even horror icon Stephen King used gypsy lore with his hit book and movie from the 80's, Thinner. With such a rich history in the horror genre, how could I not use such power in Dogwoods Blush? So when Vladimir offers power to the perennial loser, Purvis Hartly in Dogwoods Blush, he makes a promise that seems too good to be true:

You are now a god among men! You can have any woman you desire, punish any man who opposes you, and rise to heights of power that most men never even dream of!

Of course, then there's the pesky "catch" that Purvis never saw coming. What was the catch? In order to bring about Vladimir's longstanding, decades long feud with the township of Timmonsville, he had to perfect the most powerful spell in the history of the black arts. In retrospect, Vladimir's anger stemmed not only from his lust for revenge against Timmonsville but against God and the natural order of the universe dating from the creation of Adam and Eve. Standing with Purvis in the dead of night at the excavated gravesite of the most notorious killer in Georgia history, Vladimir's gypsy curse evoked a change:

And then ... something moved!

As is usually the case when making a deal with the devil, the price of the favor turns out to be more than one can pay. Don't believe me? Ask Purvis Hartly ... if you can find what's left of him! This was only one of the ways I debated bringing back the evil Roscoe Parker from the depths of Hell. For a look at another possibility I considered, check back later for my next post! Enjoy life ... and stay away from gypsy fortune tellers! And as the mysterious Night Terror said to Reverend Spindola in Dogwoods Blush:

Stay away tomorrow night, Reverend. You have been warned!

Rise of the Roman Empire - Good vs. Evil

"I know why the dogwoods blush!" Those were basically the final words of "Father" Roman Spindola, the "good and right"reverend who shares his compassion and waits for a supernatural sign in my recent fictional novel by the same name. It is these words, and Roman's interpretation of them, that form the overall message of the book as I explored my philosophy on good vs. evil and love vs. hate. With that said, a friend recently asked me, "Who is the hero of Dogwoods Blush?" Until he asked I thought the answer was obvious ... Jerry Bronson is the hero. Who could think otherwise? Jerry is the one who crossed the realms from "the other side" to return to his hometown, track down the evil doers who committed murder from coast to coast, stand alone against the evil of the BROKEN BONES biker gang and face his own sins in the Dove of Peace Assisted Living Home as death finally makes its way to those inside (yes, I'm being vague ... if you need clarification, check out the book on Amazon.com ... I don't want to ruin anything for those who have not read the book yet). But as I began putting pen to paper, I realized that Roman Spindola, a character designed to be little more than a supporting character and mentor to Jerry, suddenly rose to the top. As another friend told me later, "Dogwoods Blush is Roman's story." How did that happen? First of all, none of us who have ever made any significant contribution in life did it all alone. We all have someone who stood behind us, encouraged us, counseled us, believed in us. All throughout my formative years, I had the loving guidance of my mother, father, community leaders, teachers, and friends who looked out for me and did their best to prop me up when I stumbled. Upon entering the Army in 1980 I was blessed to have senior ranking officers and trusted NCOs to guide me and advise me on the path to take, a practice that continued to serve me well as I progressed through the ranks over the years. I have attempted to repay those gentle souls by doing the same for those younger than me who followed similar paths. I recall an episode of Star Trek (the original series from the 60's) where an alien entity kidnapped Kirk and Spock and allied them with Abe Lincoln (Kirk's idol) and Surak (Spock's idol, who conceived of the concept of "logic" practiced by all Vulcans). This team of four was forced to battle a team of four "evil" entities ... Ghengis Kahn and three fictional baddies, including a Klingon. Surak was tricked and murdered as he tried to broker a "logical" peace treaty with the villains who all met their ends at the hands of Kirk and Spock (sadly, Lincoln didn't make it, either). The purpose of the battle, according to the alien, was to determine which was stronger ... good or evil. In the course of the episode, Kirk says to Spock,
"Surak is an amazing man." And Spock replies, "Men of peace usually are, Captain." Or something to that effect. It was this example of Surak and real life men of peace (Ghandi, King, Dalai Lama, Jesus Himself) who laid the foundation for my fictional hero, Roman Spindola. In the end, which truly is stronger ... good or evil? While our violent planet requires men of strong character and muscle to stand against those who would terrorize the weak, we always turn to those who espouse peace to lead us through the dark times. And it is that vision ... the hope of peace ... that inspires the lesser among us to take arms when peace fails. In the 1957 classic, Ben-Hur, the Arabian Sheik reminds our hero that peace-loving Balthazar "is a good man, but until all men are like him, we must keep our swords sharp!" So in the end of Dogwoods Blush, was it the powerful and violent Jerry who saved the day? Or was it gentle Roman, who lived his 80-years as a man of peace, gently providing love and compassion to his neighbors and those in need? Only you can decide. If you have an opinion, let me know. Until then, remember the words of the Dalai Lama: "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." Or as Roman might say, death will never win so long as we continue to love one another. And the dogwoods? Roman had an opinion on why they blush. His secret might change the world!

A Boy and his Dog -- Friends Always!

"I'll never forgive you for killing the dog!" That's what a friend of mine told me after reading Dogwoods Blush and providing her pointed feedback. And while I am certain that my friend will actually forgive me for telling the story of the horrific death of ol' Blue in Dogwoods, I hope the pain of the emotion never fades. Truth be told, the pain and suffering experienced by ol' Blue resonates with readers more acutely than the suffering experienced by the main characters ... Jerry Bronson, Roman Spindola, Dick Spear and many others. Don Perlin, former artist for Marvel Comics on horror titles like Ghost Rider and Werewolf By Night told me he "really liked the dog." Another reader asked me, "Why did you make the dog suffer so much?" It all dates back to Walt Disney's 1957 timeless classic, Old Yeller. I was six years old when Disney re-released Old Yeller to theaters. Still reeling from the trauma of Bambi (the death of the mother still taxes my emotions!) I went with my Mother to see this adventure starring Fess Parker (of Davey Crockett and Daniel Boone fame). All went according to plan until the fateful ending, where young Travis (played by Tommy Kirk) must shoot the beloved family pet beset by hydrophobia/rabies. Years later we still group people into two groups ... those who did cry when Old Yeller died and those who did not. The pain of losing a beloved pet is normally associated with a needed rite of passage from childhood to adulthood. Losing a pet too soon, especially to a traumatic event, makes that passage even more difficult to traverse. I was conditioned to that way of thinking from a very young age. Television in the 60's was very different than what we see today. Almost all shows held a close family theme and many of them centered on a family pet. Comedies like Mr. Ed even put human traits on animals while traditional hits like Rin Tin Tin and the immortal Lassie made dogs the star of the show. In my household, life imitated art. My earliest memories center on a German Shepherd mix aptly named "King." As I roamed the countryside following my imagination to great adventures in the rural farmlands of Colquitt County, Georgia, King was always by my side. He was, like Old Yeller, 'the best doggone done in west." To me, he was the best dog in the north, south, east or west bar none! When I was in the 2nd grade, a farmer neighbor came to complain to my father that King, leading a pack of other dogs, had killed one of his calves. I refused to believe this to be true but my Father, trying to keep peace in the community, consented to have King put down. It was my first experience of losing a loved one to death but it would be far from the last. As I just celebrated my 51st birthday, I think back on all of the wonderful animals who meant so much to me over the years but have now moved on ... there was Sport, the Fox Terrier; Orry, the Black lab mix (the inspiration for ol' Blue); Onyx the cat; Fats Domino, the Chow mix; Dixie the Spitz ... all of them brought happiness and laughter into my life. I can't imagine a world without pets. It was the experience of dealing with the sorrow of losing these beautiful animals that helped me deal with the sorrows yet to come of losing my human friends and family members. That's also the world I imagined for Jerry Bronson in Dogwoods Blush. In the book as it was for me in real life, young Jerry is traumatized by the painful death of beloved Old Yeller as he watches the movie screen in horror. This event would rise to the front of his mind years later as he helplessly watched his enemies kill his beloved canine companion, Blue. So when readers become enraged at this particular part of the story and proclaim, "I'll never forgive you for killing the dog," they actually become united in the thought process with Jerry Bronson. This event becomes the catalyst for Jerry's thirst for revenge and plays a major role in the final, fateful confrontation that results in the fiery climax of Dogwoods Blush. So relax, faithful dog lovers! The pain suffered by ol' Blue in Dogwoods Blush is NOT in vain! It serves to unite us all to stand against the forces of evil that come calling to the small town of Timmonsville, GA. Rest assured that no animals were actually harmed in the writing of this book! But if you find a soft spot in your heart for ol' Blue after reading it, you are not alone. It just means that like me, there is an animal from your past who still holds a special place in your heart. Will dogs be in heaven? Some say not but if you ask me, I ask this in return ... who can look into the innocent and loving eyes of a beloved pet and say they have no soul? On behalf of Jerry Bronson and dog lovers around the world, I say that heaven would not be complete without those beloved furry friends of my childhood. In my heart, I'll always be just a boy with his dog -- best friends always!

The Sound of a Flower Crying!

In Dogwoods Blush, Reverend Roman Spindola carries two secrets that have haunted him all of his extended life. The first secret, which he reveals to Sheriff Dick Spear, turns out to a ghostly encounter and conversation Roman experienced with his deceased mother as a child. The second, which he experienced at age 16 but never revealed to anyone (until he revealed it to readers of the book) was a horrific vision of a bleeding dogwood blossom, screaming and crying in agony as blood dripped from fearsome wounds, pleading with Roman to stop the bleeding. This is how Roman, aged 79, recalled the horrific encounter from 63 years earlier in Dogwoods Blush:

"I heard it before I saw it. It was a low whine. It had a sad wail tone to it so I stopped and got very quiet as I tried to pinpoint where the sound was coming from. As I got closer to the source, I imagined I'd find a bee or some type of insect caught in a spider's web. It had that far away drone to it."

As Roman discovered it was a bleeding dogwood blossom, he went on to say:

"... this flower had a face! It cried out, its voice anguished and in pain! ... And then, it SPOKE!"

While I won't give away the rest of that emotional scene (so as not to spoil anything for interested readers who have not yet read Dogwoods Blush), rest assured that this shocking event forever changed the life of Reverend Spindola, leading him to a fearful analysis of the terrible truth the flower tried to warn him of those many years ago. If that visual creeped you out, welcome to the club! While several readers shared their feelings on the "yikes" value of that scene, more than a few have asked me if it was inspired by an old Vincent Price film called, The Fly. And the answer is ... YES! Released in 1958 by 20th Century Fox, The Fly tells the story of scientist Andre Deambre, murdered by his lovely wife who now seems insane. Compelled to dig into the mystery is Francois Delambre (Price in one of his rare roles as a non-villain), brother to the deceased who cannot understand why or how sweet Helene could become a killer. The story is well known to horror film fans and the movie spawned a sequel starring Price (Return of the Fly)and a series of remakes in the 80's. For those who may not know the story, Andre developed a teleporter device (about a decade before Star Trek hit our TV screens). After successfully transporting non-living items, Andre (in true horror movie fashion) decided to try transporting living tissue, using himself in the experiment. Unknown to him, a fly entered the chamber just prior to the teleportation. The "thing" that emerged on the other side was a grotesque monster ... a human body with the head and claw of a man-sized fly. While this creature seemed like a "normal" monster from 50's films and was a worthy heir to the various iconic beasties from classic Universal Films, it was the smaller "twin" that forever horrified viewers. As Andre stumbled around with his fly head and was eventually killed by his wife to end his misery, the mirror opposite fly body with a small human head (and tiny voice) escaped and was eventually caught in a spider web. Audiences cringed as the spider closed on its tiny prey that screamed in abject terror, "Help me! Please help me! NOOOOOOO!" Yikes! I don't know of a single person who EVER saw that movie who does not CRINGE when recalling that scene. It is this feeling that I tried to conjure again in Dogwoods Blush and the vision of the bleeding, crying, pleading flower. Do flowers actually cry? And if so, what sound do they make? Here's hoping I never find out!

Night Terror vs. The Crow ... Brothers in Arms?

Renowned comic creator James O'Barr published a wonderful story in 1989 that became and continues to be an icon in the entertainment industry. The Crow tells the story of Eric Draven, a musician who, along with his fiance, is murdered and returns from the dead to bring justice to the guilty. "True love never dies" became the tagline for that tale which was made into a major motion picture in 1994 starring Brandon Lee, son of legendary Kung Fu movie star Bruce Lee. Brandon's tragic death on the set (killed by a dummy bullet lodged in a prop gun that was fired into his abdomen) added a sense of true sorrow to this tragic tale that became a critical and commercial success and spawned numerous sequels, a television series and dozens of books. Plans are now underway to relaunch the movie with a new cast and story, no doubt only adding to the overwhelming success of the series. Since the release of the original film, many other movies have explored the possibilities of life after death, i.e. of a murdered spirit returning to the land of the living to seek justice and/or tie up loose ends. The commercial success of Ghost (1990) starring Patrick Swayze is just one example of such tales. And who among us who watched Bruce Willis in The Sixth Sense (1999) will ever forget the emotional rush we felt when his true identity was revealed? The success of ghostly characters can be attributed to many things ... we all eventually lose someone we love. The grief of letting go and accepting that person to be gone forever is more sorrow than anyone can digest without suffering long-lasting sorrow. So in our efforts to cope, we like to believe that departed person still exists, lingering in their familiar places to offer a word of hope or compassion when our life burdens become too heavy for us to bear. And in that glimmer of acceptance, we also wonder if those whose lives were taken wrongfully and never resolved can rest in peace? If they cannot, what can they do about it? While I originally developed the concept for The Night Terror (the avenger from beyond the grave in my book, I Know Why the Dogwoods Blush) as a teenager in "pre-Crow" 1973, I had certainly already been exposed to such characters by that time. A particularly compelling episode of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone (1962) starring Lee Marvin dealt with a bounty hunter in the old west fearful of the dying threats of a gunman. Comic characters like The Spectre, The Phantom and The Spirit either dealt with an actual ghost hero or a man who wanted his enemies to believe he was a ghost to provide a psychological edge. While countless characters have used the "return from the dead" premise, I always think of O'Barr's Eric Draven, aka The Crow, as the type of character I intended for Jeremiah Bronson in Dogwoods Blush. In both cases while the avenger himself is a weapon of unstoppable vengeance, his motive is much less sinister ... true love never dies ... it continues to grow and evolve even when the body no longer exists. When my good friend George Roussos passed away in 2000, I was comforted by a story that surmised the possibility that finding a penny on the street was a sign that a loved one in heaven was thinking of you and wanted to let you know. As a result, every time I find a penny on the ground I pick it up, look skyward and say, "Thanks, George. I miss you, too." Do I really believe that George left me that penny? No, but it does prove one thing ... true love never dies. For people like George, my Mom, grandmother and countless friends and family members who have passed on before me, my love remains unchanged. I believe that's what James O'Barr felt when he penned The Crow and that's absolutely what I felt when I unleashed Jeremiah Bronson on the land of the living in Dogwoods Blush. The two characters may be vastly different in many ways but they have one thing very much in common ... the body may die, but the love in our hearts goes on and on. Hey, wasn't there a Celine Dion song about that?

Who is "The Korean?"

Readers of Dogwoods Blush know there are several villains in this sordid drama of love and hate beyond life. Most of them meet their doom in the explosive climax, their fates sealed by their own wicked ways. But in the AFTERWORD of the book, I explain my inspiration for various characters and leave readers with a tease of the next storyline, The Dove of War. In that tease, you read that the unnamed henchman (known only as "The Korean") involved with the equally mysterious Alexandru Vasilie was killed by Sheriff Dick Spear in 1995. Yet he is scheduled to also play a major role in Dove of War! In the book planned to follow Dove (titled Stands Against the Wind) the Korean appears again to plague Native American Indian Greg Samson, COLONEL Andy Lowman and the members of the elite Anti-Terrorism Total Assault Cell (ATTAC). So just who is this mysterious "Korean." While I can't divulge all the secrets of this character now (it would spoil the surprises planned for upcoming book) I can tell you that the Korean has generated the most interest of any character in Dogwoods Blush. That's pretty amazing since he's only given passing mention and not developed at all. This gives me great pleasure ... I am thrilled that one of my characters seems to have generated a buzz among readers. When writing Dogwoods Blush, several characters emerged quite differently than I originally envisioned. Roman Spindola moved from supporting to main character, Dick Spear became less hated, Bobby Fast appeared out of nowhere, and then, of course, there was "The Korean." While this major villain in my overall planned epic tale was only briefly mentioned in Dogwoods Blush, rest assured that he will appear to a much greater degree in Dove of War and will be of prime importance in book #3, Stands Against the Wind. His actions in that story will have huge repercussions in the final chapter of this overall story, When the Rooster Crows. Please visit my website (www.billcainonline.com) and check out future projects for more details on those upcoming story lines. So while I hope readers will continue to ask about this mysterious villain, I'll have to let those interests boil for awhile. But I will leave you with this thought ... how do you kill someone who can only die by his own hand? That's a question the heroes of those future books will have to deal with when they face the power and nefarious plan of "The Korean." For a look at one of the concept drawings I commissioned to give "The Korean" a visual look, check out the above drawing by my friend, former professional wrestler and superb artist Angel Gabriele. Check out Angel's website - http://www.powerslamcollectibles.com/ and while you are at it, you can purchase or commission art from him at http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=edee001. As for "The Korean" and other characters from Dogwoods Blush, come back to this blog often. Until then, watch out for the dark places lurking within the soul of man!

Veterans of Foreign Wars - "They were heroes all!"

Readers of Dogwoods Blush will recognize the significance of the VFW logo. The VFW Lodge in Leavenworth, Kansas plays a major stage for a critical plot sequence when the mysterious "Night Terror" comes to wreak havoc and extract vengeance on a member, Vietnam veteran Mike Ewing. In the story, Ewing's sordid past is a secret, unknown to the fellow lodge members who have welcomed this wolf in sheep's clothing into their midst. Thus, these fellow combat veterans from various services all rally around Ewing and try to protect him, not knowing that he is a murderer and evil to the core. As Ewing looks at his friends, he has this thought from Chapter 8:

"He knew them all now ... Redmond, Olds, Sinnott, Sullivan, Boyd, Whitney ... they were heroes all!"

The names of those brave veterans are the names of actual men whom I served with or personally befriended during my 26+ years in the Army. Allow me to introduce them to you!

Redmond: COL (Ret) Larry Redmond. Larry was my very first Battalion Commander when I joined the Army in 1980. He commanded the 1/505 Infantry (Airborne), 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg, NC. I served first as his Assistant S-2 (intelligence officer) before he showed great confidence in me and selected me as his S-1 (personnel officer), a very unusual move as I was a brand new 2LT and trained in intelligence, not personnel. A highly decorated combat veteran from Vietnam with the 101st, Larry was the consummate professional and one of the greatest men I have ever known.

Olds: COL (Ret) Bowman Olds, Executive Officer of the 1/505. My mentor when I was selected to be the S-1, MAJ (at the time) Olds made certain I would not fail. He prepared me daily for my mission and was never too busy to lend me a hand. I would never have made it in the Army had it not been for the tremendous care and leadership I received daily from Bo Olds. When Bo was selected to move to 3rd Brigade as the S-1, he arranged for me to soon follow, where I served for nearly a year as the Assistant Brigade S-1 for the 82nd's "Golden Brigade."

Sinnott: Joe Sinnott, a WWII Vet and former member of the US Navy's "Sea bees," is an artist extraordinaire. The legendary inker for Jack Kirby during the iconic issues of Marvel's Fantastic Four in the 60's, Joe is still going strong today at age 83. He inks the Sunday edition of Amazing Spider-Man (still written by Stan Lee) and is probably the nicest man on the face of the planet. Check out Joe's amazing art and history on http://www.joesinnott.com/.

Sullivan: I chose this name to honor the five (5) Sullivan brothers who served in the US Navy during WWII. All five men died on the same day when their ship was sunk by the Japanese near the Solomon Islands. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Boyd: Major General (Ret) Maurice Boyd was my Brigade Commander when I served as the Brigade S-2 for the 42nd Field Artillery Brigade, V US Corps, Giessen, Germany. Colonel (at the time) Boyd led the Brigade into combat for Operations DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, and DESERT COMFORT in Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait (1990-1991). During DESERT STORM, the 42nd Brigade fired 210 missions, more than any other artillery unit in the war. The Brigade's mission was Counter fire ... destroying the enemy's artillery. Not a single allied soldier was killed by Iraqi artillery during DESERT STORM, a tremendous tribute to the leadership of Colonel Boyd.

Whitney: COL(Ret) Robert Whitney was the G-2 (senior intelligence officer), 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, 1984-86. I was a junior captain and served as his Chief, All-Source Intelligence Production. LTC (at the time) Whitney was the finest intelligence officer I ever served with and one of the most respected gentlemen I ever met. His example of leadership still inspires me to this day.

So there you have it ... the roster of men who are mentioned by name in the VFW Lodge, Leavenworth, Kansas, in Dogwoods Blush. While Mike Ewing may be a bad guy, his take on these exceptional men was 100% on target ... "I knew them all ... they were, and still are, heroes all!"

Saving SGT Blake--Still a Very Good Soldier!

Readers of Dogwoods Blush know there are numerous references to wars in the book ... WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq ... all are referenced in varying degrees. That's because of my military background (26+ years in the Army) and my passion for military history. Of particular note is the portion of Dogwoods where the mysterious Night Terror makes his way to a VFW Hall in Leavenworth, Kansas in order to kill his longtime enemy, Mike Ewing. While there, Night Terror encounters a WWII vet and wounded survivor of the Battle of the Bulge named Blake Benson. Blake Benson is based on an actual soldier I met in Luxembourg in December 2004. This is his story.

For those who might like a brief refresher course in WWII history, the Battle of the Bulge occurred in December 1944. While conventional wisdom speculated that the war was already won for the allies, Hitler and his SS Panzer commanders had other ideas. Launching a surprise attack on December 16 in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg, Hitler hoped to fracture the alliance of the USA, France and England, inflict heavy casualties and seize the valuable oil and ammunition stored at the port of Antwerp. With bad weather, surprise and speed on his side, the battle began. The "Battle of the Bulge" gets its name from the penetration of the German advance ... the allied line "bulged" but did not break. American units across the entire front fought bravely to hold their position and the German advance stalled. This was due in no small part to the Screaming Eagles of the 101st (Airborne) who held the critical transportation node of Bastogne, Belgium. Completely surrounded and cut-off, 101st acting Commander BG Anthony McAuliffe was given a "surrender or die" ultimatum by the Germans. McAuliffe responded with one word ... "Nuts." The 101st held until elements of General Patton's 3rd Army broke through and linked up with them. The Battle of the Bulge ended in January 1945 with a complete German defeat, although US forces lost about 81,000 men (the Germans lost 100,000). I published the above graphic novel, Hitler's Last Gamble: Battle of the Bulge, for Osprey Publishing in 2007. Check it out if you get the chance.

In December 2004 I had just returned from Iraq and was assigned to 3rd Army, the same unit commanded by General Patton in WWII. I was asked by the Commander to represent the Command in a series of ceremonies to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium and Luxembourg. I reluctantly agreed ... I wanted to spend the holidays with my family ... and boarded my flight to Germany. There I linked up with my contacts and headed north to Belgium. Over the next several days, I attended many ceremonies and wonderful events, including a full-colors parade through the streets of Bastogne with about 50 veterans from the famous battle. I met Patton's granddaughter, the King of Belgium, Prime Minister of Luxembourg, and participated in many other great events. But meeting "Blake" was a moment I will never forget. On the last night there, I attended a USO show designed to simulate similar shows from WWII. While there I met SGT Blake, a survivor from the battle who still carried guilt from that awful event from 60-years earlier. His company commander, a young captain, died to give Blake the opportunity to retreat to relative safety and in 2004, the remorseful Blake still mourned that decision and carried the guilt that many survivors of traumatic events endure. We talked well into the night, Blake and I, and his sadness and respect for his fallen captain was as fresh as if it had just happened yesterday. While I'd like to think that Blake felt better after our long discussion, I know it would be hard to let go of a guilt carried and nursed for exactly 60-years to the day. But I will never forget how this man touched me in that tent on a frosty night outside Bastogne in December 2004. And so it is to SGT Blake and all the many others like him that I paid homage to in the guise of Blake Benson in Dogwoods Blush. As the Night Terror told him In the book, "You are still a very good soldier! It is an honor to have met you!" So say we all. To the brave men and women who lost a friend or companion in armed conflict, we thank you. Like the fictional Blake Benson, I just wanted to let you know ... it's an honor to have met you.