I've posted the first part, one of ten, of my latest novel, Soaring With Eagles. This is the last story of eight in the California Saga series. I find the title ironic, as the story seems to be going over like a lead balloon or a fart in a diving bell; there was not one kudo in the first 64 reads. Maybe the introduction could have been a bit more explanitory. As much as many want instant gratification, overnight transformations, misdiagnosed birth sex, etc., it ain't going to happen that way.
Our protagonists are starting out in a great adventure of becoming Air Force officers by going through the Air Force Academy - a place that approximates one of the levels of hell. For two of them, their greatest desire is to achieve their goal of becoming fighter pilots. Well, as they are going to find out, there is a lot more to being an officer in the Air force than flying jets. Then there is this other thing. One of them is transgendered, and knows it. The US military still does not accept transgendered: it's a mental defect, and we can't have anyone in the military with mental defects.
It's going to boil down to one thing. What is more important: flying jets, or being true to yourself. Choices have to be made, and eventually they are. Things might just work out in the long run. You never can tell. How would you feel when your best friend mysteriously disappears for six years, only to return as .... Well, you'll have to find out for yourselves.
The story follows our protagonists (and several antagonists) through their adventures in the Air Force, life with their loves and families, and some rather startling career adventures. The story covers approximately 40 years. Like I said, no instant gratification. There is a bit of travel. You'll visit northern Italy and Yemen (how many of you know where that is?). All the places and cities, villages, etc. are real, and you may visit them on Google Earth and see what they look like. Some of the places are fascinating.
There are many characters from previous stories, and Musetta O'Donnell plays a significant role. Give the story a chance. If you quit on it at the beginning you'll miss some interesting adventures and many happy moments.
Comments
kudos and comments
Don't always expect them right away. There server has been on and off the last few days so its touch and go if someone can actually comment.
BC AND FM having trouble likely hurt your counts
Am curious how this California saga goes.
Plus thought there are many dedicated and decent folks at the Air force Academy they also have the shameful record of is it 1 in 3 or 2 in 3 FEMALE cadets in recent years are raped or at a minimum date raped WHILE a cadet at the academy.
Hardly an honorable achievement for *The best and the brightest."
My mom's cousin, I presume deceased as is she, who was a Mustang pilot in WWII and in SAC as a bomber pilot would have been appalled at this gross abuse of fellow officers.
Boys will be boys is NO excuse. Yet I fear this does not bode well for the young person. If cadets willingly abuse fellow cadets simply because they are female, what might they do to a TG person?
So from the teasers one , Jo's youngest son remains male but his friend/classmate is TG?
Knowing his family they will do all they can to help the misfortunate woman to become who she wishes she can be.
Best of luck with this new and supposedly last installment/series in the California Saga.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Thank you for the comment, John
Just about everything you mention is covered in the story. It's interesting to note that the newest Commandant of the Air Force Academy is a woman.
Portia
Portia, unless I am mistaken,
Soaring With Eagles will be a favorite of many.
May Your Light Forever Shine
Thanks, Portia. Also you must consider the *culture* of officers
In particular I assume this is more true of Military school officers and not as true of field prompted officers, IE those who BECOME officers due to need and their conduct in battle.
If I recall right you DID serve so you would have a better perspective on this. I am just an outside observer.
It is very completive to get into one of the Military Academy's and perhaps more so to get a posting as a graduate that leads to rapid advancement and not a desk jockey job.
Add in the traditional and to some extent necessary close camaraderie of the military, the need to follow most orders without question -- most but not ALL -- and you can get the overblown macho atmosphere that leads to abuse and a feeling of US VS THEM. The same trap happens in police forces and other hierarchical setting.
Hell, look at the child abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. The instinct to *preserve* the institution at any and all costs can be overwhelming and a detriment to the organization in the long run.
Heck how many scandals at the military academies involved the logical conflict between "A cadet does not cheat" and "A cadet never turns on one of The Corps". Or whatever the correct oaths/creeds are.
IE If you spot cheating and report it you are silence treated and often black balled in you career because you turned against fellow cadets, a breach of so-called honor. YET NOT to report cheating is to condone cheating and to violate your duty to the Academy and the Military ALSO a breach of honor and probably of the Uniform Military Code of Justice. The laws the military work under internally..
Between a rock and a hard place is nothing compared to THAT dilemma. Heck the closed *I* ever came to the military was a a Boy Scout and they have suffered greatly from that circle the wagons, us vs them mindset. Thus hushing up sexual assaults and then the insanity of their long time anti gay policies. Another mostly good organization damaged by that conflict between obey external vs internal loyalties/law.
Am off this week so hope to catch up on stuff.
You sent it once or does your web posting at BC list them correctly but what is the order to read your magic/Spell R Us alt universe series?
I must shamefully admit I never read it all the way through. Did a lot of hop skips and jumps though.
-- grin --
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa