Title: In an Instant – Their Whole World Changed
Author: Philip R. Morehouse
ISBN: 9798676686208
Page count: 261
Genre: Fiction; Survival/Adventure
Book Price: $14.95
Kindle Price: $4.99 or Free with Kindle Unlimited membership
Author Bio:
The author was born in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York where he started his life's training on the family-owned farm. Throughout his youth, he was mentored by his grandfather who taught him how to fish, set a trap, and stalk big game. Learning these skills back in those days was crucial to the family's survival.
After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Navy, where he received engineering and survival training then was assigned to an amphibious ship that was deployed and participated in the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and later rescued Americans from Haiti, during the Dominion/Haiti Crisis. He also served an extended hitch during the Vietnam War. After returning home, he married, and joined the Army National Guard, serving in various aerial and ground support photography assignments.
Among the many diverse jobs, he also worked as a professional writer and photographer for over 60 years. With his children grown and on their own, he now pursues what he loves the most - writing true-to-life, survival, adventure-type stories from which he draws on his past experiences and extensive research.
Tell us about your book:
“In an Instant…Their Whole World Changed”, is a story about a family very much like yours and mine, who decide to take that once-in-a-lifetime vacation. It was intended to be two weeks of camping, hiking, and exploring the vast untouched scenery within Alaska’s 13.2 million-acre Wrangell – St Elias Nation Park an attempt to reconnect with each other as a family, but quickly turned out to be a fight for their lives and much more.
How does this book relate to your real-life experiences?
At first glance, one would not expect that it does, but looking beyond the surface, you will find me learning many of the survival techniques found in this book in the training I got while in the service. I also drew on my knowledge of sales and marketing from the jobs I once had to enrich the story.
How long did it take to write the book?
It took 6 months from concept to rough draft, initial edits, and final edit to finally have it published on 09/10/2020.
What inspired you to write the book?
I was inspired by my love of nature and what one would do if caught in this or that survival situation while in the wilds of Alaska.
Let’s talk about the writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?
Having a computer and word processor at my disposal which I use to research resources for this book, and being retired, I find that I have the time to write, and what better subject to draw on than my past life’s experiences, backwoods events, and folklore? Also, I have friends who live in Alaska from which I can rely for helpful information should I inquire.
What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
I would hope that after reading my book they would want to see the wonders of not only Alaska but those within the state where they live. So often so many people live within a few miles of a scenic wonder or wonders and never see them. They feel that it is a waste of time, or that they can do it tomorrow or some other day – but for some of us, today is all we have left – only we don’t know it.
Where can we go to buy your book?
This book is readily available online through Amazon.com as a softcover, a Kindle download, or at Barnes & Noble. If any of your bookstores should be out of stock be sure to give them the following number: ISBN- 9798676686208.
Excerpt from this novel:
“The boat heaved against the current sending froth over the bow. Then the bow reared high into the cold winter night, the engine screaming in its effort to push the boat further upstream. At the last minute, too late to react, they saw a monster boulder, dead ahead, gleaming through the white water that rushed over it. Their hearts stopped at seeing the end of their mortal lives hurling at them at high speed.”
“A sickening sound like metal tearing and being crushed all at the same time, tore through their consciousness as ice water brought home the reality of the fragileness of their existence. One minute they were atop the boat in the open air hurling upstream and, in an instant, they were under it being suffocated by the lung-numbing, ice-cold water.”
“As he bent over to take a drink, he felt something pulling at his pants. Whipping his fist back to strike out at it, he felt something furry hit his knuckles. Remembering his lighter, he reached for it, and flicked it, swinging his arm in an arc. Its light revealed several sets of glowing red eyes around him. Then he recognized them - rats. Hunger had driven them out from their hiding places - they had been stalking him, only being kept at bay by the fire.”
“Looking around the mine, he could see that the inside looked large and comfortable. Moving his torch, the light fell on what looked like a heap of rags in the far corner. Then as the flickering rays from the torch rose, he saw the dust-laden skeleton of a man.”
“The man must have died of old age,” he thought – but it was what was around him that suddenly caught his eye and held it. From somewhere deep inside him, a primal gasp escaped. Moving the torch closer, the light reflected on a brightness that rivaled the sun. The gold contained in gunny bags was piled all around him – by God, he was rich beyond belief.”
Comments