New Jake Hamilton Political / Military Thriller Series to Launch in 2019
If you love characters Mitch Rapp, Pike Logan or Jack Reacher you'll love Jake Hamilton in this new Modern Patriot Series.
I am excited to announce coming in 2019 I will be launching a new Political / Military Thriller Series, which has been in development and percolating for three years. This thriller series features a brand new main character, Jake Hamilton.
Meet Jake Hamilton
At 38, Jake Hamilton is a veteran, retired (SOO) Special Operations Officers in the elite Marine Recon Special Ops Raider Unit. Six foot three dark-haired and a six-time Iron Man qualifier he can still mop the floor with men ten years his junior. He enlisted in the Corps post 9/11 and was selected for Recon when they reorganized in 2006 forming three elite battalions. Jake is former 2nd Battalion and his unit based at Camp Lejeune adopted the Raider name in homage to their proud WWII heritage. Marine Raiders in WWII in the South Pacific were elite, light amphibious units that struck deep into enemy territory causing death, havoc and destruction in the enemy ranks. They were feared independent, patriotic and proud. Which are the same qualities Jake Hamilton possesses.
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| Rogue Soldier (Book One) |
Rogue Soldier introduces us to Jake Hamilton and the series. In this nail-biting first installment a Marine in Jake's former unit who served in Afghanistan has gone rogue.
The man a troubled (SOCS) Special Operations Capability Specialist expert in explosives is deep into shadow government conspiracy theories and researching black ops. The rogue soldier determines he has been fighting for the wrong side and decides to give the country a national wake up call using his expertise in military grade explosives and taking hostages at a national VA hospital.
Jake Hamilton, the man's former commander, is pressed back into service as a high-level negotiator. The situation spins completely out of control and before all is said and done Hamilton will question which side he should be fighting for.
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| Elevated Threat (Book Two) |
The President of the United States receives on average 30 threats on his life every single day via text, social media, phone and email. That amounts to over 10,000 death threats per year.
The vast majority are not credible. But even the small percentage that warrant serious investigation number in the hundreds.
President Sloan is no stranger to daily threats on his life. But when cryptic threats begin reaching him in highly secure areas in unexplained ways suspicions of a deep-state military coup move to the forefront.
Jake Hamilton is inserted to find and eliminate the threat as the messages morph into a race against time —simply listing the date, hour, minute and second of President Sloan's execution.
"Some Battles Don't Stay Buried"
The Marines are one of the proudest branches in the U.S. military. The Marine Raiders which originated in WWII in the South Pacific striking deep in enemy territory causing death, havoc and destruction in the enemy ranks are no exception.
Victory has a cost and sometimes that cost is paid with silence. One WWII Marine Raider veteran who has kept quiet for nearly 75 years decides not to take his secret to the grave.
Jake Hamilton is dispatched and reminded that he is duty bound to protect the honor and integrity of the Corp. What he discovers will shatter his world and make him question his life long patriotism.
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| Jake Hamilton Series, First Three Books |
I am very excited to launch this series which I intend to be multi-volumed and long running. Many know that I have a keen interest in the military and military history in particular. My ancestors served in both the Civil War (Gettysburg, Fredericksburg) and the American Revolution (Dorchester Heights, Lexington and Concord). Thomas Child in the Civil War and Jonas Child in the American Revolution respectively.
In addition I have written and directed several nationally telecast, award winning and Emmy® nominated films about various American wars. With this series I intend to expand on those films by tying that love of military history to edge of your seat political and military thrillers.
First and foremost I consider myself a patriotic American and this series which I am labeling a "Modern Patriot" series addresses how America exists today. In my lifetime I cannot recall another time so divisive. People on both sides are passionate about what they believe which is a very good thing. My caution is we need to look beyond that passion into agendas. Dig deep, do your own research and really determine why someone stands for what they say they stand for or if their true motives run counter to everything you believe. It is a noisy time to be alive that is for sure but what I believe will win the day and change the direction of the world is exactly what we see happening —giving power back to the people. A single person's vote has never been so powerful not just in America but around the world. Exercise that right and we can all change the world.
Revolutionary War Film Project and City Tavern Event November 15th
The story follows 10-year-old Elijah and his adventures as he follows his father, a farmer who joins the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment after the British invade their family farm. It is best described as "The Patriot meets Disney." The adventure begins when Elijah sneaks out of George Washington's encampment to find his father, a soldier who does not return from the Battle of Monmouth.
The project is in the fundraising stage now and I'd like to invite you to visit the crowd funding page and learn more about this wonderful historical film.
CHECK OUT THE FUNDING SITE.
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| John Koopman and Robert Child on set |
The film is being planned to shoot in Virginia at several historic locations outside Richmond and Williamsburg. I have begun the script which is being adapted from the book, George Washington's Army and Me: Elijah's Long Journey Home by Michael Dooling.
City Tavern Event in November 15, 2018
Chef Staib and 1663 Media Arts will host a "Meet the Filmmaker's" Evening at City Tavern in Philadelphia this November 15th from 6 - 9pm.
18th Century Period Clothing, Food and Drink will add ambiance to the evening along with the film's cast, crew and Historical Stories by Chef Staib and General George Washington himself! Limited opportunities are available to Sponsor of this Fine Event. Chef Staib has a role in the film as the Officer's Cook.
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| City Tavern, Philadelphia |
For a limited time, the story that inspired the film can be downloaded through the film website. http://GWArmyAndMe.com
http://CityTavern.com
http://ATasteOfHistory.org
http://MichaelDooling.com
Ghost Carrier Released Today on Audible.com
Link to Ghost Carrier on AUDIBLE.
The Story:
Frank Rusk hasn’t been sleeping well lately. He’s approaching his milestone 70th birthday. Each Night for the last two weeks indescribable scenes of horror have awakened him. He is on a ship in WWII, which is exploding. Men are burning alive all around him. He hears a man scream out, “a Japanese torpedo hit the bomb bay and that they are all going to die!”
During these nightmarish visions Frank realizes he is not a spectator watching these events but a sailor living them. How can that be? How is it possible that everywhere he turns he sees buddies that he knows taking their last breaths.
Frank fears that with his approaching 70th birthday these awful nightmares mean the onset of senility or Alzheimer’s or worse. At his birthday party his son jokingly brings out a cake with 70 candles. A near inferno but Frank is determined to blow all the candles out. Before he does, however, he makes a wish he has kept secret his entire life; an impossible never to be fulfilled wish that defies the laws of the Universe. His wish is to turn back time and grow up with his Dad in his life. His father died two months after Frank was born in 1943. Although Frank never met him he remains his hero. His Dad perished on the aircraft carrier USS Liscomb Bay that year in the most tragic sinking of a carrier in Pacific theater. Six hundred men drowned in less than 20 minutes when a Japanese torpedo hit the bomb bay.
Listen to an excerpt. Purchase on Audible.com or iTunes.
The Enduring Legacy of D-Day in Audiobook D-Day in 90 Minutes
There are few adjectives, which have not been applied to the combined amphibious and airborne assault operation that took place on June the 6th 1944. Two and a half years in the planning, Operation Overlord, the invasion of German occupied France would require every tool in the allied arsenal.
I invite you to take a moment to honor our armed services on this day which turned the tide of history and listen to D-Day in 90 Minutes.
In this concise history my coauthor author, William R. Bradle and I examine the invasion from multiple angles from what planning was required to what tough decisions had to be made. The audiobook contains first person accounts. Below is an excerpt.
Honoring the Sacrifice and Service on this Memorial Day
This reminded me of the WWI film I directed in Canada, Dominion Day. Dominion Day is Canada's independence day which falls on July 1st. The film I directed recounted the last 100 days of WWI where the Canadians spearheaded the allied victory. This led to the armistice on November 11, 1918. The victory came at great cost and the clip below is the opening part of the film. I decided that the best way to show the sacrifice was to show the men. France is dotted with WWI Commonwealth Grave Commission cemeteries which are immaculately cared for. They are located on land which slopes uphill because this is where the men fell. I encourage you to watch the clip below. It may be hard not to shed a tear.
Finally, a prayer excerpt on this day for the fallen from Rev. Dick Kozeika from Beliefnet.com
"God, lift the hearts of those for whom this holiday is not just diversion, but painful memory and continued deprivation. Bless those whose dear ones have died needlessly, wastefully [as it seems] in accident or misadventure. We remember with compassion those who have died serving their countries in the futility of combat. There is none of us but must come to bereavement and separation, when all the answers we are offered fail the question death asks of each of us. We believe that you will provide for us as others have been provided with the fulfillment of "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
By Rev. Dick Kozelka, retired pastor of First Congregational Church of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
Read more Here
Military Thriller Ghost Carrier in Audiobook Production
The Story:
Frank Rusk hasn’t been sleeping well lately. He’s approaching his milestone 70th birthday. Each Night for the last two weeks indescribable scenes of horror have awakened him. He is on a ship in WWII, which is exploding. Men are burning alive all around him. He hears a man scream out, “a Japanese torpedo hit the bomb bay and that they are all going to die!”
During these nightmarish visions Frank realizes he is not a spectator watching these events but a sailor living them. How can that be? How is it possible that everywhere he turns he sees buddies that he knows taking their last breaths.
Frank fears that with his approaching 70th birthday these awful nightmares mean the onset of senility or Alzheimer’s or worse. At his birthday party his son jokingly brings out a cake with 70 candles. A near inferno but Frank is determined to blow all the candles out. Before he does, however, he makes a wish he has kept secret his entire life; an impossible never to be fulfilled wish that defies the laws of the Universe. His wish is to turn back time and grow up with his Dad in his life. His father died two months after Frank was born in 1943. Although Frank never met him he remains his hero. His Dad perished on the aircraft carrier USS Liscomb Bay that year in the most tragic sinking of a carrier in Pacific theater. Six hundred men drowned in less than 20 minutes when a Japanese torpedo hit the bomb bay.
The audiobook will be available on itunes, Amazon, and Audible.com in early June.
Parkland - It is Time to Say No More
1) That right was signed into law at our country's founding when citizens carried muskets and the most powerful weapon on earth was a brass cannon that shot a 2 - 6lb lead ball. The world has vastly changed since the Revolutionary War but the 2nd Amendment has not.
2) Weapons of war should simply not be available to anyone not engaged in war. An AK-47 or AR-15 is a weapon of war.
3) The state of background checks for purchasing a fire arm of any kind is a completely broken system. If current background checks were effective the 19 year old shooter at Parkland with his troubled history would not own a gun. And in fact he owned 10.
I am known by my books and films about war which of course is violent. But if you've seen any of my films or read any of my books you'll know they have never been about guns or violence. They are about humanity's capacity to rise above the horror (war) that surrounds them find grace and persevere. And that as a society is what we have to do now.
This atrocity has landed on our doorstep and in the nation's consciousness for one very powerful reason. It is time for our society to decide what we will and will not permit to stand. Everyone must ask themselves, "does the right to permit someone to carry arms supersede our children's right to live in safety without fear?"
It is clear that things in this country need to change. The tipping point has been passed. Below is a PSA produced in March 2018 by U.S. military veterans which illustrates EXACTLY what I am speaking about.
The time has come to say NO MORE because it is up to us to create the world we want to live in. The majority of the population believes and in fact demands that they and their children have the right to live their lives in safety free from fear. That is a divine right more powerful than the minority who believe the right to bear arms and the gun laws that support them should stay the way they are. No they should not.
Robert Child
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Check Out "The Other Boys of Summer " on Kickstarter
Since I like to highlight great projects I wanted to let folks know about a fantastic forthcoming film by my colleague, Lauren Meyer. Lauren is a director based in New York and she has been working on The Other Boys of Summer for over a decade. That's dedication! Lauren launched a fundraising campaign yesterday in honor or Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights and equality.
You can check out the project HERE ON KICKSTARTER.
The Other Boys of Summer is a documentary exploring racism, segregation and civil rights in America through the lives of the Negro League baseball players. She has interviews with the men (and women) who played alongside of Jackie Robinson and were the trailblazers of the civil rights movement. Most of the players have passed away and she has exclusive, never-before-seen interviews with them sharing their personal stories.
Why is this film important?
Not only did the Negro League players change the game of baseball, but they changed America. The story is relevant today and has the ability to inspire people to pursue their dreams and believe they can impact change. It offers an alternative to all of the anger and protests associated with civil rights today. As this generation of players dwindles, their history is vanishing along with them. This film will preserve their legacy.
"The Other Boys of Summer" is part prosocial campaign, part love letter to a generation of unsung heroes and the game of baseball, and part civil rights advocate. Jackie Robinson is the face of Black baseball. But, there are hundreds of others who he played alongside of in the Negro Leagues, who also had a major role in impacting civil rights in America. These men and women can be seen as a spearhead to the Civil Rights Movement, but few people have ever heard of them.
I hope you'll check out Lauren's project and consider supporting it with a contribution. As of this writing she is more than 80% towards her fundraising goal. Help her put this great project over the top. You can check out the project HERE ON KICKSTARTER.
73 Years to the Day The Wereth Eleven Receive Their Recogniton
I have been involved with bringing the Wereth story to light for going on nine years both with the Wereth Eleven docudrama and the subsequent book, The Lost Eleven. The story has become a part of me and opening this Resolution today personally signed by Senator Joe Manchin (WV) @JoeManchinWV means more than words can express.
To me it means all lives matter and the drive to shed light on this atrocity fulfills my fellow producer, Joseph Small's simple reason for doing the story. He said, "I felt the men's dignity had been taken from them and I could not let that stand."
With passage of this Resolution I believe the men have had their dignity and honor restored. And I plan to continue to remind all about this story in every way I can so that something like this never happens again.
Staff Sergeant Thomas J. Forte
Technician Fourth Grade William Edward Pritchett of Alabama
Technician Fourth Grade James A. Stewart of West Virginia
Corporal Mager Bradley of Mississippi
Private First Class George Davis of Alabama
Private First Class James L. Leatherwood of Pontotoc, Mississippi
Private First Class George W. Moten of Texas
Private First Class Due W. Turner of Arkansas
Private Curtis Adams of South Carolina
Private Robert Green of Mississippi
Private Nathanial Moss of Texas
The Wereth Eleven docudrama can be seen often on American Heroes Channel (AHC) and it streams on Amazon Prime and Hulu.
