AN INVITATION TO UNITY: In these days of turmoil and division, where it seems like Americans have lost their way, I thought it would be a good time to bring forward a tale that Chris Bunch and I first told to remind ourselves - and our fellow citizens - of the tremendous sacrifices and burdens the very first Americans made to bring this country into being. My own personal connections to this story run deep - my ancestors date back to the Mayflower. And family stories include the daring foot race of Betty Zane who famously "ran for the powder" to rescue her people from massacre. Chris' own family include daring frontiersmen and women who settled the country with axes, muskets and plows. "A Daughter Of Liberty" begins as a promise made by a seventeen-year-old girl to a soldier who deserted his post at Valley Forge to rescue his family from disaster. And it ends in 1814, with the embers of a burning Washington raining on her shoulders. Each week I'll relate a new chapter of Shannon saga. And I'm inviting you all - whether liberal, conservative or, don't give a damn - to stop by to read the next installment of a most remarkable woman who helped found a nation that has survived wars, disasters, and betrayal to become a tattered banner of hope for millions across the world.
PROLOGUE
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The thunder came from huge, massed drums. Behind the drums, ten abreast, came the Dutch Guards.
Brian O Seannachain wiped sweat-slick palms dry on his dirty jerkin and braced his pike against the ground.
He hoped that from this day forward Ireland would be free of the foreign king, his German God and his bloody-handed soldiers. That after this day Brian could find his way back, back away from this heat-drenched tidal river named the An Boin, back to his own lands and his own river, the Shannon.
For centuries, his family had farmed the rich land along that river some boasters claimed bore their name. They worked the land through good times when peace hung over Ireland and the men with bloody swords busied themselves in other lands with their killing and the O Seannachains' scythe was a tool for harvesting and the pike was hidden rusting in the thatch. In good times there was food, some for the day and for the winter.
But there were other times, times of famine. And there were times of fear, when the soldiers came across the land. Then the O Seannachains fought. Fought the Romans, the Vikings, the Normans for independence. Then came the English, and the land itself bled. King John. Henry. Elizabeth. Cromwell. Each time the English, quicker with the sword and the lash, won.
Now, on this hell-baking July day, one thousand six hundred and eighty-nine years after the birth of Our Savior, another battle was to be fought. The last one, some said. Between the Dutch William of Orange, William the chosen Protestant king of England, and James II, the Stuart, the Catholic, dethroned in England, renamed king by a Dublin Parliament.
Drumthunder crashing closer now. Screaming, pain-screaming anger-screaming as the English and their gallow-glasses waded into the neck-deep water of the ford toward Brian and the Irish line. Thud of carbines, dull in the heat. Across the river the crash-crash-crash of cannon, and there was a man pulling himself out of the water toward him, using a handful of willows for a hold, baskethilt sword waving, most unwarlike, peruke and hat sogging down over his face, and his hands flung wide, pitching the long sword high into the air as a musket ball caught him.
A horse screamed beside Brian. There were other horses, armed men astride them, being kicked through the river. Brian set his mind and his feet firm—cavalry would not charge, he had learned in the months past in the long dreary retreat from the north, any man or thing that stood firm. But if you turned and ran, you would be ridden down and take a sword, pike or ball in the back.
Brian knew this—others did not. He saw the ripple as men shouted. Ran. Banners were cast down, cast away with weapons for ease of flight. He warned himself to not be thinking of that. Concern himself only with this small yardage that was his battlefield. His life, his death would be found here, as white cannon smoke and dust closed the horizons in. A sword cut across his arm, but it was nothing and numb and Brian fought on, stepping aside once, twice, again as the Irish cavalry charged through the lines against the English, Sars-field's happy banner flashing in the stilly sun, until shouts broke his mind. Shouts that the flank was turned, James had fled, save yourselves my sons, my lads, save yourselves, and the dust lifted.
Brian knew this—others did not. He saw the ripple as men shouted. Ran. Banners were cast down, cast away with weapons for ease of flight. He warned himself to not be thinking of that. Concern himself only with this small yardage that was his battlefield. His life, his death would be found here, as white cannon smoke and dust closed the horizons in. A sword cut across his arm, but it was nothing and numb and Brian fought on, stepping aside once, twice, again as the Irish cavalry charged through the lines against the English, Sars-field's happy banner flashing in the stilly sun, until shouts broke his mind. Shouts that the flank was turned, James had fled, save yourselves my sons, my lads, save yourselves, and the dust lifted.
Brian saw horsemen, English horsemen, crash into the Irish line on the left, wails and the line broke. Broke, and crumbled back, back toward the narrow pass of Duleek toward Dublin and screams from a man Brian had followed north from the River Shannon into battlehell to run, run, we can fight again another day, and then that man went down.
Brian was running, trying to watch over his shoulder, cavalry, good Irish cavalry holding the ground, even charging the Englishmen as the foot soldiers fled and looming just up in front of him a man shouting something in a tongue that was not Gaelic nor English. Brian slashed with his pike, and the man fell back.
Brian heard hooves behind him, turned, saw cavalry sweeping across this battleground that was becoming a shambles and pain seared, burnt, numbed, and he stumbled, 'most fell, turned, seeing that man he'd but touched pull his sword free, free from Brian's left side, draw back for the killing slash and Brian put the pike through his face.
Christ to lie down just to bleed awhile, Christ for some water, Christ how dry the world is and the sound of battle waver on him. No, he thought. No you will not. You will not fall, you will not stretch yourself on this battlefield for them to find and slaughter you like they have so many of your friends before. You are moving, damn you, damn you. One foot. Now then, another. You can do it. Get that damned pike up, see the horseman pull his mount away from the wavering, threatening bloodred tip. Clear now. Clear for the pass. Away from this river and this hell. For home. For the Shannon. But there will not be safety there because this day is the end.
Hide yourself, Brian O Seannachain. Hide yourself well - in the marshes, in the empty moors, in the cities, and then you will hide yourself on foreign shores.
Hide yourself, Brian O Seannachain. Hide yourself well - in the marshes, in the empty moors, in the cities, and then you will hide yourself on foreign shores.
That day in July 1690, began the Flight of the Wild Geese. Irishmen, driven out of their country. Driven to France, to Germany, to Spain… and to America.
One of them was a pikeman. His name became, in the language of the conqueror, Brian Shannon. He came with only his wits, the clothes he wore, and the passion to find a land where no man would be his master. It was a poor legacy for the Shannons. But it was all he had
*****
See for yourself why Allan's new novel, S.O.S. is winning so much praise from readers all over the world.
LUCKY IN CYPRUS:
*****
NEW: THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION OF
What if the Cold War never ended -- but continued for a thousand years? Best-selling authors Allan Cole (an American) and Nick Perumov (a Russian) spin a mesmerizing "what if?" tale set a thousand years in the future, as an American and a Russian super-soldier -- together with a beautiful American detective working for the United Worlds Police -- must combine forces to defeat a secret cabal ... and prevent a galactic disaster! This is the first - and only - collaboration between American and Russian novelists. Narrated by John Hough. Click the title links below for the trade paperback and kindle editions. (Also available at iTunes.)
NEXT: VALLEY FORGE
*****
See for yourself why Allan's new novel, S.O.S. is winning so much praise from readers all over the world.
*****
A DAUGHTER OF LIBERTY
If you can't wait for the weekly series to end and binge on the whole story, CLICK THIS LINK and you get the whole novel in one gulp. Be it paperback, Kindle, or audiobook. By the by: just noticed the publisher has the Kindle version on sale for 99 Cents!
*****
If you can't wait for the weekly series to end and binge on the whole story, CLICK THIS LINK and you get the whole novel in one gulp. Be it paperback, Kindle, or audiobook. By the by: just noticed the publisher has the Kindle version on sale for 99 Cents!
*****
LUCKY IN CYPRUS:
A True Story About A Boy,
A Teacher, An Earthquake,
Some Terrorists And The CIA
LUCKY IN CYPRUS is a coming-of-age story set in the Middle East during the height of the Cold War. An American teenager – son of a CIA operative – is inspired by grand events and a Greek Cypriot teacher. He witnesses earthquakes and riots and terrorist attacks, but in the end it is his teacher’s gentle lessons that keep him whole.
****
Here's what readers say about Lucky In Cyprus:
- "Bravo, Allan! When I finished Lucky In Cyprus I wept." - Julie Mitchell, Hot Springs, Texas
- "Lucky In Cyprus brought back many memories... A wonderful book. So many shadows blown away!" - Freddy & Maureen Smart, Episkopi,Cyprus.
- "... (Reading) Lucky In Cyprus has been a humbling, haunting, sobering and enlightening experience..." - J.A. Locke, Bookloons.com
- *****
TWO NEW AUDIOBOOKS ONLY $4.95!
Tales Sometimes Tall, but always true, of Allan Cole's years in Hollywood with his late partner, Chris Bunch. How a naked lady almost became our first agent. How we survived La-La Land with only the loss of half our brain cells. How Bunch & Cole became the ultimate Fix-It
Boys. How an alleged Mafia Don was very, very good to us. The guy who cornered the market on movie rocks. Andy Warhol's Fire Extinguisher. The Real Stars Of Hollywood. Why they don't make million dollar movies. See The Seven Pi$$ing Dwarfs. Learn: how to kill a "difficult" actor… And much, much more.
Boys. How an alleged Mafia Don was very, very good to us. The guy who cornered the market on movie rocks. Andy Warhol's Fire Extinguisher. The Real Stars Of Hollywood. Why they don't make million dollar movies. See The Seven Pi$$ing Dwarfs. Learn: how to kill a "difficult" actor… And much, much more.
THE TIMURA TRILOGY: When The Gods Slept, Wolves Of The Gods and The Gods Awaken. This best selling fantasy series now available as trade paperbacks, e-books (in all varieties) and as audiobooks. Visit The Timura Trilogy page for links to all the editions.
NEWLY REVISED KINDLE EDITIONS OF THE TIMURA TRILOGY NOW AVAILABLE. (1) When The Gods Slept;(2) Wolves Of The Gods; (3) The Gods Awaken.
*****
A NATION AT WAR WITH ITSELF: In Book Three Of The Shannon Trilogy, young Patrick Shannon is the heir-apparent to the Shannon fortune, but murder and betrayal at a family gathering send him fleeing into the American frontier, with only the last words of a wise old woman to arm him against what would come. And when the outbreak of the Civil War comes he finds himself fighting on the opposite side of those he loves the most. In The Wars Of The Shannons we see the conflict, both on the battlefield and the homefront, through the eyes of Patrick and the members of his extended Irish-American family as they struggle to survive the conflict that ripped the new nation apart, and yet, offered a dim beacon of hope.
*****
NEW: THE AUDIOBOOK VERSION OF
THE HATE PARALLAX
What if the Cold War never ended -- but continued for a thousand years? Best-selling authors Allan Cole (an American) and Nick Perumov (a Russian) spin a mesmerizing "what if?" tale set a thousand years in the future, as an American and a Russian super-soldier -- together with a beautiful American detective working for the United Worlds Police -- must combine forces to defeat a secret cabal ... and prevent a galactic disaster! This is the first - and only - collaboration between American and Russian novelists. Narrated by John Hough. Click the title links below for the trade paperback and kindle editions. (Also available at iTunes.)
*****
THE SPYMASTER'S DAUGHTER:
A novel by Allan and his daughter, Susan
After laboring as a Doctors Without Borders physician in the teaming refugee camps and minefields of South Asia, Dr. Ann Donovan thought she'd seen Hell as close up as you can get. And as a fifth generation CIA brat, she thought she knew all there was to know about corruption and betrayal. But then her father - a legendary spymaster - shows up, with a ten-year-old boy in tow. A brother she never knew existed. Then in a few violent hours, her whole world is shattered, her father killed and she and her kid brother are one the run with hell hounds on their heels. They finally corner her in a clinic in Hawaii and then all the lies and treachery are revealed on one terrible, bloody storm- ravaged night.
BASED ON THE CLASSIC STEN SERIES by Allan Cole & Chris Bunch: Fresh from their mission to pacify the Wolf Worlds, Sten and his Mantis Team encounter a mysterious ship that has been lost among the stars for thousands of years. At first, everyone aboard appears to be long dead. Then a strange Being beckons, pleading for help. More disturbing: the presence of AM2, a strategically vital fuel tightly controlled by their boss - The Eternal Emperor. They are ordered to retrieve the remaining AM2 "at all costs." But once Sten and his heavy worlder sidekick, Alex Kilgour, board the ship they must dare an out of control defense system that attacks without warning as they move through dark warrens filled with unimaginable horrors. When they reach their goal they find that in the midst of all that death are the "seeds" of a lost civilization.
*****
TALES OF THE BLUE MEANIE
NOW AN AUDIOBOOK!
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Venice Boardwalk Circa 1969
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In the depths of the Sixties and The Days Of Rage, a young newsman, accompanied by his pregnant wife and orphaned teenage brother, creates a Paradise of sorts in a sprawling Venice Beach community of apartments, populated by students, artists, budding scientists and engineers lifeguards, poets, bikers with a few junkies thrown in for good measure. The inhabitants come to call the place “Pepperland,” after the Beatles movie, “Yellow Submarine.” Threatening this paradise is "The Blue Meanie," a crazy giant of a man so frightening that he eventually even scares himself.
