Mike Walton's Stories and Books
These postings and stories are taken from one of the following books:
One of my personal goals has been to publish a book or to contribute heavily toward a book which would do more than
sit on my coffee table or rest on a shelf in my home. While I have not completely realized that dream yet -- "Patches and Pins", my first effort in writing is still with two major editing houses after a year and will be out in October (I know...I keep saying that...but I'm more hopeful now than before!) -- I am extremely excited to let you know about this effort.
Many of you are aware that I write for American Scouting Digest, a wonderful companion magazine to those three others (Boys' Life, Scouting, and ProSpeak) published by the Boy Scouts of America. I came on board with the startup of this magazine, in the same way that I came on board for previous magazines which unfortuantely failed financially. ASD is grounded on the premise that the American Scouting programs are something to be honored and cherished -- at the same time examined and dissected as well. It is a pro-Scouting, pro-leadership, pro-outdoors magazine with color photography you would be proud to place on your coffeetable or work desk. ASD will now be available in a PDF format, suitable for reading on the newest e-readers as well as capable for printing at your local print shop -- saving you (and us!) money. Subscribe today!
"Patches and Pins" was completed before I left the Scouting program for the first time in 1987. It is a series of
stories and background on why I feel Scouting is so important to a youth's life; more importantly, why I viewed Scouting
as one of the most important things I have ever done during my life.
"Eagle Feathers" is the title of my second book, which takes "Patches and Pins" forward to 1997. Like "Pins",
it is full of stories told "on" or "off" the Scouting trail and features my attendance at the National Scout Jamboree in 1993 and attendance at the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) the next year. It also features stories of how the Army supports the Jamboree through illustration of my service on the staff at the 1997 National Scout Jamboree. Unlike "Pins", many of the stories are not all uplifting, but rather reflect the realities of a changing society and the attempt to offer everyone in that society the grand opportunity to become a Scout or Scouter.
My second former wife Jessica and I attempted for several years to have a daughter of our own; we found out later that while our efforts were highly enjoyable, that there would be no child created "aunatural" due to toxic exposure I experienced while on active duty during Operation Desert Storm (the first war with Iraq). We decided instead to adopt a biracial girl. As a Christmas present Jess bought me a journal book and encouraged me to write things about myself while we were waiting for the adoption process to go through. Her thought was that "If you're away somewhere and can't talk anymore, she can still gain some insight into her dad's life and why he's at times so goofy and other times so serious." While the book has a religious tone, it also is a funny read and explains why I talk back to the television set; why "French Toast!" made the two of us erupt in laughter; why I should never perform Prince's "Diamonds and Peals" at kareoke; and why we took the issue of providing for others as seriously as we did. I dedicated the book to both Kaylee and my natural daughter Lauren, both of whom are biracial, curious, and beautiful.
Since 1989, I have participated in an online forum called "Scouts-L" (the "international online Roundtable meeting which NEVER
ends!") and have answered more than 3000 postings in that and five other forums. "Hope This Helps!" is an attempt to capture some of that
content, condense and contain it in book form. The 50 questions run from the seriousness of child bullying and abuse to the funny "if you were the
Chief Scout Executive for a week, what would you do?" I still go onto Scouts-L when I have a strong enough Internet connection to receive and
post content -- you should be there as well!!.
Since 1989, I have participated in an online forum called "Scouts-L" (the "international online Roundtable meeting which NEVER
ends!") and have answered more than 3000 postings in that and five other forums. "Settawho?" (referring to "settummanque" or "blackeagle" -- me)
is the second volume. "Settawho?" is an attempt to capture some of that great content, condense and contain it in book form. The second group of
50 (actually 51 when one reads the introduction) questions run from the seriousness of suicide to the funny "what's your favorite camp song -- past
or present -- and can you still remember (type) the words to the song?" I am still a member of Scouts-L when I have a strong enough Internet
connection to receive and post content -- you should be there as well!!.
There is also a series of stories I wrote for the 90th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America which was carried by a few small regional newspapers.
Here they are:
Sunday,
Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday,
and Saturday,
"Wreathless" is an ADULT novel explaining what happens
when young people are entrusted to serve as Paraprofessionals in one state. It is based on my
own Paraprofessional experiences over three years within Kentucky and Tennessee.
"Siblings" is an ADULT novel telling about two people related
by love. It is based in part on my personal experiences with my sibling, Cynthia.
I have reluctantly PULLED samples of both "Wreathless" and "Siblings" from this site. Many people felt that
the content was too racy for a "Scouting site". As The Tree grows, I may graft them onto a new site away from
the regular Scouting and military branches here. I am very proud of what I wrote, and reviews over the years
indicate that I am on the right trail with the content (they found the cuss words, sexual content and descriptions
"not something I would expect from or associate with Mike Walton".)
Samples from both are still archived on the Internet ("once it's posted, you can't get rid of it!") somewhere.
I am glad that you wanted to know more about my articles, short stories and books and what
I write about. I am very proud of them, even though I have not made any real
money yet from any of them. I hope to. I hope to give back to Scouting and
the military what they have given me and my family over the years and in the
process, to continue to support my family and hopefully my sis's family too.
Your comments, like to anything here, are always welcomed as well as
your criticism of the ideas and the books here. You may
post me directly to
express your opinions and thoughts.
Of course, if you have a lead on a publisher, please let me know. I
don't do sci-fi, horror, or historical novels. I write, as Mrs.
Cosby, Kay Flauding and Cora Wood taught me, on what I know.
Settummanque!
(This logo
NOW AVAILABLE
"Brewed Awakenings"
American Scouting Digest content
COMING SOMETIME SOON
"Patches and Pins"
"Eagle Feathers" (Previously named "The Commandments, the Laws and those Rules"
"Kaylee's Book"
"Hope This Helps!"
"Settawho?"
Other articles and content
Old Habits...(Adult Content)AC is found on Gather.com
indicates content which has adult
content, themes, and/or words and should be read by individuals 17 years of age and
older. Some of the stories have a "clean version" which either deletes or modifies
the adult content or words; "Wreathless" and "Siblings" do not.)
