ABOUT THIS BOOK
First, I want to explain why I am posting my trilogy, Journey to the Midnight Sun, for free to read. It is not because it is poorly written. My other two books both have 5 STARS on Amazon. This is my third book, and it is my best work so far. I am posting it here for free to read because it is a gift from God. No one I know raises their children and then hands them a bill for $50 an hour. And since I have no children of my own, God said he would share his children with me if I served him. That is my reasoning. Many people have already done their free work for God by raising their children and grandchildren and in other ways. So this is my way.
Secondly, I would like my readers to know that BOOKS TWO AND THREE WILL BE FREE TO READ HERE (for more information on this, please see the author's note at the end of Book One by clicking here and scrolling to bottom of page).
Thirdly, I initially was willing to allow others to print, distribute, and make a profit from this book (without owing me any monetary compensation) under certain conditions, including that they NOT edit this book, but print it exactly as it is shown in this blog, and that they include the author's name (James Sheldon). As for translating the book into languages other than English, I had asked that any translator do so in a way that is faithful to the original English version (as shown in this blog).
Presently, due to the high volume of scraper thefts, I am no longer extending this offer. However, anyone wishing to print and sell my book in accordance with the rules set forth above may contact me via the contact form on this blog to obtain my written permission.
To write this book, I have drawn on exhaustive research plus 70 years of life experience including 5,000 miles of travel by horse, canoe, and foot, staying out-of-doors for long periods of time. For example, the opening scene is inspired by an actual event. I was with my horse Reba. A blizzard was howling. I was looking across an open expanse. I watched as a snow devil whipped up. A wooded area in the distance looked like a dark wall. We were not traveling. It was an early season cold snap followed by a very long Indian summer the same as in this book. Likewise, John’s first campsite in chapter 1 is based on a place that I know well. Another place I know well from Chapter 1 is the Lewis and Clark trail (see photo below). Another experience that lends itself to chapter 1 was an attempted ambush that happened during my travels while camped in a ravine at night. I saved my gear and possibly myself and no one got hurt (the account of this event is in my book about my travels on the Lewis and Clark trail, (American Errand). The fictional ambush in this book (Journey to the Midnight Sun) brings the hero and heroine together as mentioned above.
John’s horse ‘Ellie’ is literally my black and white Clydesdale horse Reba both in appearance and disposition. Reba is not 8ft tall like Ellie, however. Reba is 7ft tall. The hero and heroine are figments of my imagination but initially my wife, Laura, inspired Laureal’s character both in appearance and disposition (Laura blamed [my obsession with] the book for our divorce and there is truth in that. That was long ago. I put the book away after our divorce only to dig it out all these years later. I have lived and learned and I wish Laura nothing but health and happiness). The Matriarch, Emma, is inspired by my late mother, Silvana (originally from Yugoslavia) who suddenly became a widow when I was one year old and found herself at the helm with three small children. And finally, the Emerson clan is inspired by the small town clan that I grew up in, a big kinship with an illustrious history, locally powerful and famous, now scattered to the wind.
Supporting the hero and heroine are a cast of characters including a Matriarch (and a Patriarch that arrives in book two). There are old folks, middle aged folks, young adults, teenagers, children, and even a baby. It’s a big family! And they all go together on a daring adventure!
Author of, Journey to the Midnight Sun
