It feels nice under these covers.

So as I decided to re-release Green Valley in short books, I realized that I also needed to come up with something both ongoing and unique for the cover. I originally had the idea that each cover would be the color of the rainbow (RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, and don't for get there's PURPLE too) last year but was hesitant on releasing it that way. Now though, as I have stated previously, I don't really care what anyone thinks.

After I had the idea, I contacted a friend and designer I know who owns and operates a small photograph and design operation with his wife @ http://www.backshorepad.com. I knew that he would come up with something to compliment my idea. It didn't take more than a few days before he came up with something I wouldn't even have dreamed of. I wanted something simple and easy, yet something that punches you in the face when you pic it up. I think they nailed it. 

I also want to include http://www.backshorepad.com picture of the week. It's pretty dope. 

backshorepad.com all rights reserved

We are what we eat.

Some of the themes of Red, Orange, and Yellow are bit taboo (cannibalism to be more specific)...or so you thought. Here's an article from theindependent.com dated from 1992 and written by Terry McCarthy. It's from this history (which I originally became aware of while reading "Flyboys" by James Bradley; BTW this book did not inspire the awful movie with James Franco, the book was actually good) that I found the legs of the Green Valley saga's most gruesome acts. I'm not talking zombies or vampires, I'm talking about humans eating other humans. 

Here is the fascinating article about some of the acts committed in the Pacific Theater during WWII. 

"The revelation adds more evidence to the toll of atrocities carried out by Japanese soldiers during the Second World War, only weeks before Japanese troops are due to be posted overseas for the first time in five decades as part of the UN peacekeeping operation in Cambodia. Japan's Asian neighbours have expressed strong reservations about the use of the troops. In recent months evidence has also come to light about the forced recruitment of Asian women as prostitutes, or 'comfort women', for the Japanese army.

Mr Tanaka, a 43-year-old scholar from Fukui in western Japan, is working at the Political Science Department in Melbourne University. The documents he found concerning cannibalism include captured Japanese army memos as well as sworn statements by Australian soldiers for war crimes investigations. Mr Tanaka says he has amassed at least 100 documented cases of cannibalism of Australian and Indian soldiers as well as Asian forced labourers in New Guinea. He has also found some evidence of cannibalism in the Philippines.

'In some cases the (Japanese) soldiers were suffering from starvation, but in many other cases they were not starving at all,' said Mr Tanaka. 'Many reports said the Japanese soldiers were fit and strong, and had potatoes, rice and dried fish.' Some Japanese press reports yesterday suggested the cannibalism was carried out simply because of shortage of food.

The researcher also denied it was a result of a breakdown in morale: 'The reports said morale was good. Often it was done in a group under instruction of a commander. I think it was to get a feeling for victory, and to give the soldiers nerves of steel.' He said it helped the soldiers to bond 'because the whole troop broke the taboo (of cannibalism) together'.

One statement by an Australian lieutenant describes how he found the remains of a number of bodies, including one 'consisting only of a head which had been scalped and a spinal column'. 'In all cases, the condition of the remains were such that there can be no doubt that the bodies had been dismembered and portions of the flesh cooked,' concluded the statement. Another statement from an Australian corporal tells how he found the mutilated bodies of colleagues whom he had earlier helped to bury in Japanese- occupied territory.

A Pakistani, who was captured when Japan overran Singapore and taken to New Guinea, testified that in his area Japanese soldiers killed and ate one prisoner a day for 'about 100' days. The corporal said he saw flesh being cut from prisoners who were still alive.

Mr Tanaka found the documents by chance while doing research in Australian government archives on chemical warfare. 'I just came across them by accident - they were labelled 'War crimes documents - closed materials'.'"

Green Valley? I've never heard of it.

So let's get this out. Last year I put out Green Valley. It was a bulky number that I had originally wanted to release in parts but then decided to release in one hulky brick. In doing this I think I failed in delivering the experience I wanted to deliver. The decision was all mine, and looking back I think I had spent so much time working on it that I just wanted to get it out from under me. Boohoo right? The fact of the matter is that the story rocks and needs an advocate and deserves more of my time and more of my effort. I love this story and I want it to continue, however (which is a fancy word for but), I knew that unless I address my initial release and usual quiet nature afterward I would never be able to move forward. So with all of this said, what do we do now? Now I will pull Green Valley from the shelves and present it in the fashion that does it justice. Once it is off the shelf I will re-release it in the three parts I originally intended. RED. ORANGE. YELLOW.  So I know what you're thinking, "Israel you tool bag I already bought Green Valley and now you want me to spend my hard earned George Washingtons on another book?"

The answer to this is "NO." If you already read or bought Green Valley then you've already read or bought the first three parts, because RED, ORANGE, and YELLOW are the same content as Green Valley.  

The math: RED (September release) + ORANGE (October release) + YELLOW (November release) = original version of Green Valley.  

Now on to the next part. GREEN. It will be about 130 pages and will continue the story. All other books from this point forward will be in short chunks. Short delicious chunks. So if you haven't started this story yet, be on the lookout for RED. It's coming your way soon. 

My new blogging home.

What's up, friends?

I'm not much of a blogger. Never have been. With all that said I have to say I've recently and abruptly felt the pull to put some shizzle down. Up until a few months ago I had a fancy website with many pages and all that. It's gone now and what I have instead is this simple blog site. My new humble abode is simple but I like it. I like simple. Now I feel like I'm in worn sneakers out for a jog rather than new kicks on mile 22 of a marathon. Maybe this means that I'm small time but who gives a shit. This place is more me. More comfy/cozy. 

Very Respectfully,

Israel J. Parker 

What in the hell happened to me?

Good morning, friends!

It's me. Your friendly writing guy, Israel J. Parker. Recently, and by recently I mean in the last year, I finished and released a book titled Green Valley. It was a story I had been dreaming of telling for a long time and when I neared its completion I may have panicked a little and released it not how I had originally intended. The result was...a great story, however, not a great delivery. Afterwards I felt shitty about the whole damn thing. The truth is that ever since then my zeal for writing and storytelling has been lackluster at best. My impatience got the best of me and how I originally wanted to release this cool and disturbing story wasn't fully realized.

Also, I know I need to address my website change. The nuts and bolts of it were that my website domain name expired and was bought by an ADULT photo site. LOL, is all that comes to mind when I think about this.

So what now? I'll tell you what now. Now I am awake and I am ready to fly in the direction of true North.

Very Respectfully,

Israel J. Parker