Miller Townson’s
Windows in Time

Miller Townson’s Windows in Time Chronicle is a steamy Coming of Age, Adventure, and Historical Fiction novel series about a Baby Boomer who meets a) President Nixon before experiencing combat in Vietnam, b) strong-willed, attractive wife #1 and later wife #2, c) a psychotic boss who wants to seduce both wives , d) an assassin subordinate who is willing to kill anyone for him, d) various international and national enemies who want to kill him, and f) a blue oracle owl who gives him cryptic advice.  As Miller reads ancestor letters in the footlockers his father left him, he develops an appreciation of his ancestors who faced difficult, life-threatening situations similar to his own. All of his male ancestors, as well as Miller, had problems understanding that women are from another planet (figuratively speaking, of course).

Around The Next Bend	Aim At The Heart
Going Home for the First Time	Two Ends of the Circle Meet

Novel writers hoping to gain a wide readership get lots of counsel. The best advice I got was:  1) “Write something you would like to read”  and 2) “Write about what you know.”  I have tried to follow those precepts.

1) Also, in an attempt to make every word count, I have edited and re edited my Chronicles.  There are passages I hate to read because I know something terrible is going to happen, other passages that bring tears to my eyes, and a few passages that require me to fan myself while I read them.  But, of course, I am prejudiced.

2) Even people who have only known me for a short while say that Miller is a lot like me. I did use some of my life experiences to flesh out the Miller Townson character, but Miller is stronger, faster, meaner, and a better shot than I. Both of us could be oblivious about the obvious, and since the novels are written in third person limited, you, the reader, may catch on to certain facts quicker than Miller does. My main character also has more varied sexual experiences than I had (except in my imagination). Outside of Miller, there is only one character in my Chronicles who is based on someone I actually knew.  A clue, it’s a man and not Travis Swenson.

2a) Twelve years ago, right after retiring, I began traveling around the South and researching my ancestors.  Found some fascinating information about them, but it became clear that if you (a reader or someone I met at a cocktail party) didn’t share the last name of any of my ancestors, I had about two minutes to tell you what they experienced before your eyes glazed over and you excused yourself to refresh your drink or get some more fritos and dip.  Realization:  more people would be interested if I fictionalized what happened to my ancestors.

Initially, I intended to write one book, but I kept uncovering interesting “stuff” and, after talking extensively with my characters, one book became two, morphed into three, and concluded with four.

I’m visual (aren’t most men visual?), but women use multiple senses with vision somewhere down the list below tactile. I have this theory that if a writer decides to write a sex scene, the erotic tension should cause a warm glow in the lower belly of both sexes. (Otherwise, what’s the point?  Just say they did it and go on.)  Love to hear from you about whether I succeeded.

As far as the over arching goal of my novel series goes, it’s to entertain you. I want you to pour a glass of wine, sit in front of  your fireplace, and read one of my novels until you can’t stay awake any longer – let’s say an hour.

One word theme – inclusion.  To elaborate – in my opinion, inclusion strengthens America as a nation; exclusion tears us apart.

SO,

I was very happy to see what Paul R. Van Pelt had to tell me on Facebook after finishing all four of my novels.  “Reading the saga, I felt as if Miller, along with his associates and later on the front porch [of his Atlanta home], were living-breathing individuals.  Good job.”

In 1970, I was assigned to the 511th MI Company (later Battalion) as Admin Officer. Paul was in that unit.  Although he was competent, personable, and bright, there were limits to how well we could get to know one another because he was an enlisted man and I was an officer. We’re 40 plus years beyond those distinctions these days. I got back in contact with Paul after learning that there is a website for the 511th MI Battalion. I sent him the first book in my novel series and then each of the other three books when he requested them.

Trust Paul’s critique above because he has had no reason to butter me up for over 40 years.

I have had several people read all four books and thank me for the pleasure of  reading my novels. A recent person to say that is my tax accountant. He also has no reason to butter me up because I am probably .01% of his very successful business. Anyway, Jxxx read the first novel over a nine month period. When he finally received all three of the following novels, he read them in about 5 days and is grumping at me that I haven’t written Book V.

Also, please read this critique from another man who served in the 511th MI Battalion.  Athan Vellianitis is slightly older than I am.  We have never met.

DR. TURMAN HAS MANAGED TO CONSTRUCT CHRONICLES OF THE SECOND HALF OF 
THE 20TH AND THE FIRST FEW YEARS OF THE 21ST AS SEEN AND LIVED BY HIS 
CONTEMPORARIES IN HIS FOUR BOOKS (VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO A 
FIFTH).  THE STORY IS TOLD THROUGH ONE MAN AND HIS FAMILY GOING BACK 
GENERATIONS TO THE TIME THE U.S. OPENED FOR BUSINESS.  THE SUBJECTS 
RANGE FROM AMERICAN HISTORY, TO ISSUES OF RACE, TO SEX, TO SPORTS, TO 
US WARS AND FOREIGN OCCUPATIONS, TO SPOUSAL AND FAMILY RELATIONS, TO 
COMMERCE, TO LEGAL ISSUES, TO THE CULTURE OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH.  THE 
FICTIONAL PRESENTATION (ALTHOUGH I BELIEVE THE AUTHOR HAS LIBERALLY 
DRAWN ON MANY HIS OWN LIFE EVENTS) KEEPS THE READER’S INTEREST 
FOCUSED.  THE READER CAN RELATE TO MUCH OF THE NARRATIVE AND EVEN 
LEARN HOW CERTAIN AMERICAN TERMS ORIGINATED E.G. “JIM CROW”
LAWS.  I CAN ONLY FAULT HIM ON HIS CHOICE OF VODKA.  (THERE ARE LESS 
EXPENSIVE AND OF A FINER TASTE ON THE MARKET THAN GREY GOOSE)… HIGHLY 
RECOMMEND ALL OF DR. TURMAN’S BOOKS TO THE READER WHO HAS A TASTE FOR 
CONTEMPORARY INFORMATIVE FICTION IN AMERICAN LITERATURE AS PRESENTED 
BY A TRULY TALENTED AND DISCRIMINATING AUTHOR.

A. M. VELLIANITIS

LT. COLONEL, USAF RETIRED

GLYFADA, GREECE

Comments such as those above give me hope that I can eventually reach a wide audience with my novels.  Meanwhile, I have expanded/changed my life views based on comments from new and renewed contacts.  Fervently wish to continue challenging and being challenged by my readers for years to come.