WELCOME TO THE NORTH FLORIDA WRITER BOOK PAGE: PRESENTING THE WORKS OF JAMES DICK (Updated February 6, 2019- still underway)
WRITING IS A JOURNEY AND COMPLETING A MANUSCRIPT IS JUST THE BEGINNING: ALL FOR THE LOVE OF THE WRITTEN WORD
Hi Everyone, My name is James Dick and I am North Florida Writer (northfloridawriter.com) and this page gives information about my writing endeavor and my ACTIVE books. My two most recent books are two that are especially relevant to three of nature's gifts that I love so much: the the sea, the beach and horses. Summers at Old Nags Head: Boyhood "Glory Days" of the 1950s and '60s. recently released, details my days of youth in which all of my summers until graduating from high school on those beautiful beaches known as North Carolina's Outer Banks. Immediately prior, I released Confessions of a "Horse Husband," which is my account of falling in love with an avid equestrian and doing what it took to win her over, including the bumps and bruises of learning how to handle those big animals. Other books of note include Thou Shall Not Take Our Land, a fictional political novel set in Florida in the future which shows what could happen if citizens lose sight of holding elected officials accountable for their actions. And finally, based upon my faith, I published a book entitled A Blogger Shares His Faith, a book of short devotionals which were previously in my blog on this website. All of my books are available on Amazon, the two most recent on both Kindle and Prime, the prior ones on Kindle. Links to the Amazon purchase sites are found on this page as well.
When I retired from business a few years back, I knew that I wanted an avocation to keep me busy and motivated in life. I thought about it for a while before realizing that I always wanted to write a book and for the first time in my life I had the time to devote to it. Little did I know at the time that I would get the writing bug and really throw my heart and soul into it. But I asked God for His help and guidance and over time it came together.
My first book was a fun family book about animals, Honey We Shoulda' Bought the Ark (it's still available on Kindle), but it really didn't get me where I wanted to go material wise. I love animals, though, and it was a great place to start. I've been working at it ever since, writing more books and staying in practice with my blog. Writing is like anything else you want to master; it takes practice.
Here are the links to both my current and most recent previous books. All of my books can be seen and ordered on my Amazon author page. Just copy and paste the link in your browser and it will take you to that page.
https://www.amazon.com/author/jamesdick
JUST OUT: THE LONG ROAD FORWARD (first of three volumes in The Coastal Carolina Series)
You've already read about my Coastal Carolina series of book, now here are the other books I've published. The first on the list is my legacy book of childhood on the most beautiful place in my world in those years gone by, "Summers at Old Nags Head.
SUMMERS AT OLD NAGS HEAD
Imagine a young boy sitting on the low dunes overlooking a beautiful beach on the Atlantic shore. He watches the deep blue sea and its waves continue the constant march of reshaping the beach as it has done since time began. Suddenly, a geyser of water erupts on the sea. It suggests a shark has made contact with his mortal enemy, the porpoise, and is likely dead from the pummeling taken. Meanwhile, dogs run free and jeeps drive by while families gather seashells or watch in amazement as a sandfiddler comes out of his hole on the beach looking for his next meal. The boy is excited as he thinks about the coming bonfire and the burnt marshmallows that he will enjoy in the evening.
A nice scene isn’t it, but is it imagination? No, it’s the way things were at Old Nags Head in the 1950s on North Carolina’s Outer Banks. How do I know? I know because I was that boy and this is my story. Open the pages and experience the joy for yourself. They truly were “Glory Days” at Old Nags Head.
CONFESSIONS OF A "HORSE HUSBAND"
Confessions of a “Horse Husband” is a true story written by a man who became who he is because of his love for a beautiful woman who lives, eats, sleeps and dreams horses. She is “The Horse Lady” and she’s one of a large number of active women who are devoted to all things equine.
After nearly seventeen years of being a “Horse Husband”, the author decided it was time to document this lifestyle with its positive changes and impact. There are thousands of men sharing the same lifestyle, for there are many beautiful, smart and sometimes stubborn women who have the “horse bug.” It is not a disease, but it is an addiction which starts with their first experience with the beautiful animal known as the horse and captures them. And when a man falls in love with a “Horse Lady”, he quickly becomes acquainted with the motto that guides her: “Love me, love my horses.” It’s just the way they are. If he wants her to love him, he must accept her as she is and want to be a part of her lifestyle. To do otherwise will result in failure.
Confessions of a "Horse Husband" is about making mistakes, paying for those mistakes with bruises and painful toes among other body parts, and learning from those mistakes. It is also about having fun and laughter, enjoying the fresh air and open space and experiencing love in a special setting. It covers some of the most memorable moments of his life. The story is never dull, it's full of surprises and involves widely different situations, many wonderful and some not so much.
Experience the life of the “Horse Husband” as he lives the lifestyle of being the partner of a lady equestrian and he delights in what she does with horses. And don’t worry, she allows him the occasional grumble or two which comes with married life.
The book includes beauty, pride, joy, humor, sadness and, most of all, love. Love is what it takes to win the heart of “The Horse Lady.” It’s a special love that requires a special type of man. And that’s because it also requires loving what she does with those beautiful animals who have captivated her and loving them as well.
Open the pages and find out why this "Horse Husband", despite a few questioning moments, wouldn't change his lifestyle for anything. Come read his confessions.
A BLOGGER SHARES HIS FAITH
Over the last four-plus years, I have produced a blog on this web site with one of the most important subjects being my Christian faith and what it means to me. During that period, I also wrote a large number of devotionals and meditations for several Protestant publications. With over twenty-years of Sunday School teaching experience, I finally realized that a book on my Christian faith would be appropriate and I had amassed so many different commentaries over the years that I thought I would share some of them in book form. I must admit, my wife was the driver in this, telling me that it was a natural and that many people enjoyed my work. And therein I arrived at the title, A Blogger Shares His Faith and I’ve compiled fifty (plus two additional Easter commentaries) into Kindle book format which is now available.
So here are an assortment of them, all addressing God and His importance to mankind. I hope you find them as helpful to you as they have been for me, for I know that whenever I focus on God and all His glory, the day shines brighter. Happy reading and may the love of God always be in your heart.
AUTHOR BIO: JAMES DICK
Author James Dick is a former military officer and retired businessman who only began writing as he neared retirement. His most recent book, "The Long Road Back," released in February 2019, tracks the travel of former Confederate Army corporal and prisoner of war, Josh Edridge, as he is released from the Point Lookout, Maryland POW camp in threadbare clothes and no boots. It is a historical fiction using a history baseline as the start point for weaving a fictional story in real places. The inspiration for the book came from the author's maternal great-grandfather, a Confederate POW himself, although the lead character's story is not so based. Poor Josh is told to find his way back home to Currituck, North Carolina on his own, to make a new life. He will do just that. This book and its predecessor, "Summers at Old Nags Head," complement each other since they largely cover the same location only at different times.
“Summers at Old Nags Head” tells his personal story of just how wonderful those shimmering sands on the Atlantic shore were in his boyhood days in the 1950s and '60s. It was written to provide a living record of how life was as a boy spending summers at the beach in the days when jeeps and dogs ran free on the beach and neighbors looked out for one another. Those days can never be replicated, but they can be remembered for the joy that they were.
His previous book, “Confessions of a Horse Husband,” another personal story of life with a wife who is a “Horse Lady,” details the trials and tribulations of a “Horse Husband” learning the tricks of the trade needed to support his wife’s passion for those beautiful animals.
All of the books are available on Amazon.com, both in E-book and paperback (Kindle and Prime) and can be located on that site by name and book title. History, the beach, the sea and horses, a perfect combination to use in showing James’ love for horses, the beach and sea, wonderful components of all of God’s Creation and how different times reflect differently. The author plans to continue writing about his love for nostalgia in nature and life as long as He allows.
James and his wife, Charyl, reside in rural North Florida with their horses, dogs and barn cats. He has two grown children. He also writes an almost daily blog on this website, focusing on his faith, nature and all its glorious things, beautiful places and nostalgia.
READING OFFERS SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PUT YOURSELF IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND DIFFERENT SITUATIONS. I HOPE YOU WILL FIND ONE OR ALL OF MY BOOKS TO SHARE A VARIED LOOK AT LIFE AND WHAT MAKES US TICK.