A new book is on the way

I've mentioned in the past that after my heart attack in November last year, the medication I was prescribed (in addition to my existing prescriptions) has had a nasty impact on my ability to write fiction.  That part of my brain doesn't seem nearly as creative as before.  I don't seem to be able to consistently produce work that's up to the standards I set for myself.  I can do it sometimes, but not always, and not on demand.  That's very frustrating.  I've been assured that it's a temporary effect of the drug combination, and that when I come off the new medication in the fourth quarter of this year, things will get back to normal.  I certainly hope so!

However, my non-fiction writing abilities don't seem to have been affected.  I've been able to blog, including in-depth articles, just as before.  That being the case, I've picked up a project I mentioned last year.  I've experienced more than most people in preparing for and responding to emergency situations, both in the Third World and here in the USA.  I've been a sector officer in a major city's civil defense organization;  been involved with humanitarian aid and relief projects in much of sub-Saharan Africa;  experienced more than one war zone, both in uniform and as a civilian;  helped to respond to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and a couple of others since then;  and written extensively about emergency preparations, including here on this blog.

I'm in the process of turning all that experience into a book.  It's not going to be a typical SHTF type of approach.  I'm aiming it at "normal" people like you and I, not those who are fanatical about a survivalist lifestyle and focus on that to such an extent that it's a major priority for them.  Instead, I want to illustrate how emergencies can arise in the course of everyday living, from routine events to unforeseen circumstances, and show how to prepare for them to the extent practically possible.  Most of us simply can't afford to devote thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of our time to that sort of thing.  Nevertheless, there are basic concepts to consider, basic needs to be met, and a balanced, feasible approach we can adopt to cope with such issues when they arise.  That's what I'd like to cover.

I'll also include a number of stories - perhaps interspersed between chapters - of actual emergency situations I've encountered, or people I've met and how they responded to such crises.  In that way, I hope to illustrate the realities of such events, and illustrate lessons in how to cope.  Some will be tragic, some humorous, but I hope all will be informative.

I've already started work on the book.  I'll put up a snippet or two in due course, to whet your appetite for it.  Since I've already covered much of the subject in one or other form, a lot of the work will be to examine, expand and update articles I've already written, which makes it simpler for me.  Other parts will be fresh, all-new material.

Now, of course, I have to think of a suitable title.

• "Emergencies I have known"?
• "Prepping - don't do that!"?
• "Doofuses and Disasters"?

Heh . . .




Peter