Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I'm Back
OK - so, I'm going to give this blogging another go! I've recently created a website and feel that I should keep this up if I want to advertise myself better. For the website, go to www.rickaugustphd.com. I feel that there will be a lot more interest with the additional information. The book is going well, and a few weeks ago I submitted the first half of the book to my editor. Shar, my wife, read the manuscript and said only one bit of the 50,000 words was tedious. It was easily fixed before going off to the editor. More updates to come. The other success was that I found an image of the Chief Justice that sat on the bench during Murdoch's trial and learned that his first name was Auley!! I feel that the mustache suits the name!?!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Critics & the Royal North-West Mounted Police
So, my research assistant, who is also one of my students, has been 'keeping me honest' by hounding me for a new post. She even went so far as to accuse me of lying, by saying that I would put up this post a couple of days ago. OK, so it might be true that I've been a bit tardy, but that does not mean that I have not been at work on the book. At this point it looks good for having a draft of the first chapter done by the end of the week - even with leaving for Ontario on Friday. So, in between teaching and applying for jobs I've been writing about Murdoch's year in the Royal North-West Mounted Police immediately before the war. His experience during the year tells of rampant drunkenness amongst personnel, NCOs and officers. Also, he reveals how constables and corporals fobbed off their patrols to--in many cases--spend time with girlfriends. Murdoch's experience and stories about his time as a RNWMP constable debunks the shining image of the immmaculate red-tunic and polished boots.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
First Drafts - Ernest Hemingway
Tomorrow's work will be more about editing than it will be about writing. I've already done some of the work on Murdoch's time with the RNWMP and this will be amalgamated with that which I've been working on for the past two days. That way the first chapter of Murdoch's story will cover from his birth to the end of WWI. The second chapter will cover 1919 to 1928, which takes in his time with the RCMP to 1924, his one year with the Department of Indian Affiars and his three years with the Manitoba Provincial Police (MPP).
One nice thing about the book is that I can now envisage the whole and when that happens the completion is possible. Still, like landing an airplane, the ending is not without its hazards; and like air traffic control, a good editor proves invaluable in determining the smoothness of the landing.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Samuel Johnson & Secondary Sources
Today I worked further on the first chapter that outlines Murdoch's life in New Cumnock, Scotland. A trip to the dentist yesterday and subsequent freezing made me drowsy. Consequently, I didn't stay awake after getting up at 4am to write. After a 1/2 hour me and the dogs laid down on the couch for a wee nap.
Monday, February 2, 2009
New Cumnock: Scotland's House of Heroes
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This morning's writing session began either the first chapter or the introduction. This aspect of the book looks at Murdoch's early life in Scotland, his emigration to Canada and the time that he spent in the United States. Interestingly, New Cumnock, the town or Murdoch's birth, has connections to William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Robbie Burns. It gives the the beginning of the book a rather auspicious opening.