Hi everyone. I hope you’re all having a good 2026!

I’ve been busy with a number of things this year (both personally and professionally), so it’s been a while since I’ve written for the Daly Grind newsletter. I figured it was time to check in.

Those of you who’ve read my novels know that I have an affinity for the tough-guy action genre of decades’ past. I thought I’d share a recent story on that front — one that you’ll hopefully find entertaining.

I can’t remember what got us started on this, but a few months ago, my young-adult son and I started watching a bunch of macho-action movies from the 1980s — flicks I mostly remember from long ago, but ones he’d never seen. I’m not talking about particularly well done films like the “Die Hard” and the original “First Blood”, but rather very cheesy ones starring some of the biggest butt-kicking names of the era.

To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, we began with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Commando,” made our way across town to Sylvester Stallone’s “Cobra,” moseyed on over to “Tango & Cash” boulevard, and even dropped by Patrick Swayze (“Road House”) and Clint Eastwood’s (“The Dead Pool”) pads. There were other stops along the way, but between the trademark one-liners, heavy stunt-work, excessive pyrotechnics, poor character-choices, obligatory nudity, and over-the-top villains, the mentioned ones have been some of my son’s favorites so far (or at least the ones he’s laughed the hardest at).

I have to admit, even I’ve been taken back by how much sillier these films are now than how they seemed at the time (and also how many of them end with a fight-scene in a basement boiler-room, industrial warehouse, or nighttime shipyard).

One such scene that hilariously stands out is at the end of Commando, where Arnold Schwarzenegger compels a top bad guy into releasing his abducted daughter, and dropping his firearm… by instilling a sense of what seems like sexual pleasure in the dude:

By the way, that easily duped baddie was played by actor Vernon Wells, who some of you may remember having a much different look in The Road Warrior.

I actually met Mr. Wells several years ago at a one-and-done Comic Con event in Estes Park, Colorado. (He was extremely nice, and not at all turned on by anything I said.)

Anyway, in light of the recent passing of American film-icon, Chuck Norris, I figured it was time to bring him into the father/son film-screening fold. Norris, of course, starred in a long list of movies (mostly in the 80s), but I had only ever seen a handful.

The first one that came to mind was “The Delta Force,” but I remembered that movie being both a slow-burn and earnestly dramatic at times. And my son and I are more interested, at least on this viewing front, in raw action and unfettered machismo. I soon remembered 1982’s “Silent Rage,” a genre-bending flick I only saw once a very long time ago. I didn’t recall much about it, other than that the film’s physically large villain couldn’t speak, and for some reason had superhuman strength (which forced Mr. Norris to turn up his butt-kicking meter to at least a nine). The premise intrigued my son, so Silent Rage, it was.

And you know what? It blew the freakin’ roof off the house, delivering everything we possibly could have hoped for (and more).

We liked it so much (for all the wrong reasons) that I figured I’d share the story (and my impressions of it) with you all. I typically don’t like to spoil films, but if you haven’t seen it in the last 44 years, I’m guessing you weren’t planning to. Here it goes…

In a small Texas town, we’re introduced to a mentally ill fellow named John (insert your joke here). He’s being driven over the edge at home by his loud wife and children. He desperately calls his doctor, repeatedly telling him, “I’m losing it.” Whatever his doctor tells him doesn’t help, and John heads out to the shack in his backyard to retrieve an axe. It’s not to chop wood, mind you, but rather his wife (and some unidentified bald guy who I assume was his father-in-law).

The filmmakers didn’t pass on the opportunity to borrow some imagery from “The Shining”:

Truth be told, Silent Rage actually lifts a number of scenes from iconic horror films (more on this later).

Just before her demise, John’s wife screams out a window that she’s being attacked, begging a mailman outside to call the police.

Before long, Sheriff Dan (Chuck Norris) casually arrives on the scene wearing a big cowboy hat, tight jeans, and narrow eyes. Despite the chaotic nature of the report, neither he, nor the surprisingly large number of deputies he brought with him, seem to be in much of a hurry. In fact, the well-armed deputies decide to remain outside and interview neighbors, while Dan calmly strolls into the house alone.

Dan, at a snail’s pace, meanders expressionlessly through different rooms before almost being taken out by a stationary ironing board. After what feels like an eternity (long, continuous, uneventful camera-shots are common in the film), he comes across the bodies.

From out of nowhere, John attacks him. The two grapple in the master bedroom for a while, before John bails out of a window, and Dan chases after him on foot. The commotion alerts Dan’s deputies outside that there may, in fact, be more pressing matters than interviewing neighbors.

Here, we’re introduced to Dan’s bumbling comedic sidekick, Deputy Charlie (played by Stephen Furst, aka "Flounder" from Animal House), who almost shoots the sheriff instead of the fleeing suspect. (It’s okay because he offers an apologetic, wide-eyed shrug afterwards).

It’s clear almost from the onset that “Charlie” was modeled after Don Knotts from the Andy Griffith Show. However, Charlie makes Barney Fife look like Jason Bourne.

Dan continues his foot-pursuit into the nearby woods. Charlie and his other deputies don’t bother following (presumably having gone back to interviewing the neighbors). We get another fight, and Dan is able to display more of his martial arts mastery than back among comforters and nightstands in the bedroom. Things get a little hairy, but the sheriff comes out on top, knocking John silly with a piece of lumber. He handcuffs the culprit as we hear approaching police-sirens. Dan strong-arms John into a street filled with deputies and patrol cars (the geography is hard to understand). John is shoved into the back of one of cars.

There, the sheriff is met by Dr. Tom Halman from “the institute,” played by Ron Silver (who’s way too good of an actor to be in this film). Dr. Tom is only about 15 seconds into explaining that John is his mental patient, when John snaps his handcuffs apart and kicks the patrol car’s door off its hinges to escape. He manhandles three or four deputies before other deputies run in and fill him full of lead. John falls to the ground a bloody mess, but he’s miraculously still alive.

At this point, you may be wondering just how John got his superhuman strength and endurance. But that part of the story hasn’t even happened yet! As of now, John’s just a regular corn-fed dude (suggesting that handcuff and patrol-car manufacturers in the 80s may have sucked).

Anyway, John is rushed to “the institute” (a darkened room inside a hospital that looks suspiciously like a cafeteria kitchen) for an emergency operation by a team of surgeons (including Dr. Tom, who apparently holds multiple doctorates). They’re able to save John’s life, but not his brain. It’s toast.

Elsewhere in the hospital, a shirtless Sheriff Dan is faring much better. He receives a clean bill of health.

In the hallway, Dan runs into an old flame. Her name is Alison. The two haven’t seen each other in six years (despite living in the same small town that entire time, and him being the sheriff). Dan must not have met Alison’s family when they first dated, since it turns out that Dr. Tom is Alison’s brother.

The reunion between Dan and Alison begins with a stiff slap from Alison, but — thanks to Dan’s smug awkwardness — leads to the two hooking up later that night.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tom’s fellow surgeon and boss (who’s aiming for a Nobel Prize) decides to inject an experimental drug into John’s body (despite Dr. Tom’s protests) that enhances cellular strength and regeneration. Dan is told that John died on the operating table.

Since it takes a little time for John’s body to heal and strengthen beyond reason in a secret room at “the institute,” some action-filler is needed to keep the film interesting. This comes in the form of Sheriff Dan getting into a couple altercations with a random motorcycle gang, which he has to defeat single-handedly because his partner, Deputy Charlie, is hypnotized into paralysis by a biker-lady’s cleavage.

(No, I’m not joking).

The good news for Dan is that the motorcycle gang is polite enough to come at him one member at a time, rather than trying to overwhelm him.

The even better news is that Dan finishes his butt-kicking so early in the day that he has time to hook up again with Alison before nightfall — this time for a Naked Gun-style romantic montage, complete with music, that doesn’t get any less awkward (or shirtless) once the music stops and the two talk about their feelings for each other.

Seriously, watch this:

But when the sun goes down, the evil wakes up. John rises from the dead with freakish strength and accelerated healing power. He can’t speak, but apparently has enough brain activity left to pick up the White Pages and look up the residential address of the man he’s intent on killing (I guess due to his opposition of the experimental drug): Dr. Tom.

In fairness to John, Tom seems to be kind of asking for it. At home alone that night, he pulls an enormous beef summer sausage out of his fridge, cuts off a couple slices for a snack, and leaves the inexplicably machete-sized cutting knife out on the kitchen table (for John to snag on is inside the house).

Dr. Tom does, however, put up a pretty good fight. He even shoots John a few times, but seemingly forgets about that whole “accelerated healing power” thing. He turns his back on John’s fallen body, and pays the price. So does John’s wife, who returns home shortly after with a pizza. Alison almost gets offed as well, as it turns out she actually lives with her brother and his wife. She comes home to pack for her weekend getaway with Sheriff Dan, and finds her dead brother and sister-in-law twisted into home decor (ala Michael Meyers in “Halloween”). She runs outside into the arms of Dan, who arrived just in time. John runs off into the night, unseen by either.

Alison is pretty shaken up, so Dan takes her to “the institute” (aka John’s hangout) to get her checked out by medical professionals. (In fairness, Dan doesn’t know it was John who just killed her family, since John’s supposed to be dead). Dan assigns Deputy Charlie to protect Alison there, presumably counting on the hospital nurses’ cleavage being covered in scrubs. Dan drives off somewhere to search for the killer.

John, back at “the institute,” silently kills a whole bunch of the staff (including the Nobel Prize hopeful who gave him the injection). He also takes out Charlie (who hasn’t made any situation in the movie better) with a bionic bear-hug. Alison runs away.

On the road, Sheriff Dan checks in with dispatch and is told “alarms are going off all over the place at the institute.” (This would come as a big surprise to the remaining staffers at the institute, who haven’t heard a thing, and continue to be killed off by John as they perform their night-shift duties — ala Halloween 2). Dan flips a U-turn, and speeds back to “the institute.” There he discovers one body after another, including Charlie, who’s just barely hanging onto life.

In Sheriff Dan’s most dramatic scene in the film, he drops to the floor, removes his hat, and holds Charlie in a cheek-to-cheek embrace. While his deputy dies in his arms (a process that goes on for a while), Dan tells him “everything will be all right” (which, of course, it won’t).

Meanwhile, Alison (who Dan appears to have forgotten about entirely) is still trying to find her way out of the hospital. We’re even treated to a minute and a half scene of her deliberating whether or not she should go upstairs or downstairs.

We check back on Sheriff Dan who’s still on the floor with Charlie! Dan finally decides he should maybe try and save Alison. He slowly climbs to his feet (after laying Charlie’s head down gently on the floor), and power-walks through the hospital. Alison’s screams speed him up, and Dan shows up just in time to shoot John (a bunch of times) as he’s attacking Alison. The bullets send John crashing through a window, and he falls about five floors to the parking lot below.

Of course, it’s a false finish. He’s not dead. This leads to another chase, and a final outdoor confrontation between Sheriff Dan and John (in which Dan showcases some high-kicks he’d been saving for the finale). Dan ultimately finishes John off by tossing him into an old water-well. Despite the fall not being as far as the one from the hospital window earlier, Dan assures Alison that “it’s over.” The two leave (presumably for another hookup).

The film ends with a slow camera-pan down to the bottom of well, where John suddenly bursts from the water (just like Jason Voorhees at the end of the original Friday the 13th).

Like I said, the movie was awesome — a new father/son favorite. “Silent Rage” may not have been Mr. Norris’s proudest film-work, but we certainly appreciated it.

The Hullabaloo

I continue to have a lot fun co-hosting the Reagan Caucus Podcast. I dare say that since the beginning of the Iran War, we’ve been having better long-form discussions with insightful guests that what you’ll find on any of the major news networks.

I kid you not:

If you’re not following the podcast yet, you can do so on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. I’d certainly appreciate it.

Random Thought

Arroyos del Sol Natural Area near my house has reopened with kind of a Looney Tunes vibe.

Obligatory Dog Shot

Skylight enthusiasts.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you and your family have a wonderful day.

In the spirit of the holiday, I’m going to re-share a childhood memory that I’m very thankful for. I wrote the below piece in 2013 for my local newspaper, the Greeley Tribune. It generated a very warm response, and I’ve re-published it a few times over the years. So, I figured… why not once more?

I hope you all enjoy it.

The old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child” has become a bit of a controversial phrase in recent years. Somewhere along the line, it became infused with political philosophy and the role of government in our society, but I believe its true meaning has little to do with such things.

I think the phrase advocates for a general sense of community and the benefits it lends to a free society. Under that interpretation, I don’t think many people would argue against the idea that while parents are ultimately responsible for raising their kids, there are indeed significant advantages that come with living in a society that is invested in the betterment of all of our children.

Again, I’m not talking about the part that politicians and legislation play. I’m talking about the part that us ordinary citizens play of our own free will, in our everyday lives.

A few weeks ago, I was involved in a book study at my church. My pastor was leading the weekly discussion and he one day asked the group of participants if any of us had ever received a “blessing” from someone outside of a church setting.

The question was certainly subjective because a blessing can come in many forms, but I was caught slightly off-guard by the memory that immediately popped to the forefront of my mind. It was from over 30 years ago, and though I had never spoken nor written about it until that very moment, it’s one that has lingered in my consciousness ever since.

I believe I was in the forth or fifth grade at the time. It was a cold winter day. Snow was on the ground. I was walking home from school by myself, and when I reached the top of the block where I lived, a garbage truck pulled up to a house I was about to stroll past.

Hanging off the back of the truck was a man who was probably in his late twenties. Like many “trash men” I remember from back then, his clothes were filthy and he was bundled up with gloves and a stocking cap to keep himself warm. He was an African American which was sort of a rarity to see in the predominantly white Green Mountain area of Lakewood, Colorado back in the early 1980s. He had large, yellow headphones clamped to his ears with music playing so loudly from a Walkman hidden somewhere in his coat that I could nearly make out which song it was. He was really into the music too, thrusting his head back and forth wildly to the beat, and shouting out a few, sporadic lyrics.

He didn’t see me at first, and I was so taken back by how lost in the music he was that I couldn’t help but form a smile and even laugh a little. I stopped walking for a moment, knowing he was about to leap from the truck, down to the sidewalk in front of me to empty a pair of trashcans.

When he did, he noticed me chuckling at his performance. He smiled back, and turned even more animated for my benefit, busting a couple of quick dance moves to try and broaden my smile (which he did). He quickly emptied the trashcans, returned them to the sidewalk, and then jumped back on to the truck.

Before the truck’s driver stepped on the gas to move down to the next house on their route, the man on the back abruptly ended his music routine, removed his earphones, and said to me, “Stay in school. Stay in school so you don’t have to do what I do when you grow up.”

He kept his eyes trained on mine for a moment, making certain that I’d heard him. I nodded to let him know I had.

He smiled and said, “Good.” The truck then took off down the street and I never saw him again.

For me, the moment really was nothing less than a blessing. This was a complete stranger who didn’t know a thing about me. We likely had very little in common. Yet, he took the opportunity during our chance, brief encounter to use the knowledge he had learned, from what he clearly perceived as a mistake in his own life, to urge me in a better direction. This black man, during an era that was far more racially-tense than today’s, viewed this white kid as someone who had their entire life left to live, and he selflessly took the time to inspire me to succeed in that life.

It had a profound impact on me, and though I don’t attribute the education I worked hard to acquire solely to this man, he certainly played a part in it.

My parents, from a very early age, instilled in me the importance of a good education. But as is probably the case with many kids, the things my parents told me didn’t always seem valuable at the time. We have a tendency in our youth to sometimes diminish our parents’ expressed wisdom as being redundant and rhetorical. After all, did any of us truly ever understand (until we were older) the significance of being told that we should eat all of the food on our plates because children in third-world countries were starving to death? I know I didn’t get it.

It sometimes takes that same message coming from someone else – an outsider who speaks from personal experience and has nothing to gain – before it really sinks in.

I don’t think many of us realize how easy it can be for an individual to make a difference in a child’s life. I don’t think many of us realize that a random act of kindness can embed itself in a child’s mind and heart for the rest of their existence, and help shape the person they ultimately become.

If we all did realize this, and understood that we can give everyday, meaningful blessings to children, just imagine all of the amazing adults our villages would produce.

Share

Once again… Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

The Hullabaloo

Another thing I’ve been thankful for this year: the many amazing podcast-guests I’ve had the privilege of interviewing.

Just last week, I talked to a former United States Assistant Secretary of State! Dr. Kim Holmes held the office from 2002 to 2005, and he had a lot of interesting things to say about the current situation in Ukraine in more.

I also spoke to reporter, journalist, and writer Haley Byrd Wilt, who reported on the U.S. Congress for almost a decade. She was a lot of fun to talk to, and had some interesting (and amusing) stories to tell.

Many more guests are on the schedule between now and the end of the year, so stay tuned.

Did You Know That Signed, Personalized Copies of the Sean Coleman Thrillers Make Great Christmas Gifts?

You can order them directly from my website! Click here to go straight to the online store!

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Sweater weather.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi everyone!

It’s been a few months since I’ve checked in with Daly Grind newsletter, so I figured it was time. The fall season has been a busy one for me, as far as writing and media projects go (as you’ll see in the Hullabaloo section below). Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and so is the official start of the Christmas shopping season (I have some thoughts on that below as well 😉). But wha’s stood out to me most this fall has been the dynamic colors here in Colorado.

My wife’s and my wedding anniversary is September 28. We stopped exchanging gifts years ago, and now commemorate the occasion with a long hike in Rocky Mountain National Park (and lunch afterwards in Estes Park). We’re lucky to live just a little over an hour from the park, and also that our anniversary lands during peak leaf season.

Last year, we took the Fern Lake Trail; the highlight of the trip was a fairly close encounter with family of moose. This year, for the first time, we hiked up Bierstadt Trail up... and boy was that a good choice. The views, as you can see, were breathtaking. Magical, really.

It was a day to hold onto for sure — probably the best fall hike we’ve ever taken.

Of course, most of the leaves have since fallen (it’s mid-November, after all), but Colorado did have a trick up its sleeve for us just a couple of weeks ago at Barr Lake State Park. My wife’s early-onset bird-watching hobby brought us there, and I wasn’t expecting much in the way of scenery beyond her feathered friends. But… I was happy to be wrong.

I don’t know if it’s algae grass or aquatic weeds, but whatever plant life lines the bottom of Barr Lake turns a dazzling shade of sienna once the water recedes and the fall season hits. Its contrast with the fallen trees that decorate the area, and the crisp mountain backdrop, was remarkable.

Oh, and I’m happy to report one more colorful fall surprise. In May of last year, I about pulled out my remaining hair trying to catch a glimpse of the northern lights that seemingly half the country (including nearby friends) was experiencing and posting amazing pictures of on social media. Last Tuesday, the aurora finally paid me a visit (and in my own backyard).

Now, for a brief intermission…

Quite Possibly the World’s Greatest Christmas Gift

Okay, “world’s greatest” might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s certainly true that lots of people like books, and enjoy receiving them as gifts. And a great way to let a reader in your life know that you put some extra thought into the book you give them is to have it signed and personalized by the author.

And guess what? Through the store on my website, you can order signed copies of my award-winning Sean Coleman Thrillers that I’ll personalize to whomever you like (just let me know the details in the “Order notes” section at checkout time).

Now, back to the newsletter…

The Hullabaloo

As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been busy with lots of projects lately. In addition to my regular writing and podcasts through Bernie’s Goldberg’s website (where an annual subscription is currently just $37.50), and my regular contributions to the Book Marketing for Authors newsletter (which is also running an annual-subscription sale), I’m now offering author services in the BQB online store!

What the heck is that? you’re probably asking. My book publisher, BQB Publishing, recently opened an online store where other authors (outside of our publishing imprint) can purchase individual services to help them better market their books. Some of those services are ones that I provide, from my years of experience as a published author and social-media marketer. They include promotional videos, promotional graphics, and even a video-recorded 30-minute promotional interview conducted by me!

And now that I think about it, I suppose there’s no reason for me to limit the interviews to authors. If there’s any other product or service you’re selling that you think would benefit from a video-interview, just let me know. Unless it’s something too crazy, I’m open to it. There’s a reason, after all, that Bernie Goldberg calls me “The Renascence Man of the Rocky Mountains.” 😄

The Reagan Caucus Podcast

With everything else going on, it’s a wonder I still have time to co-host The Reagan Caucus Podcast each and every week. But I make it work, and I frankly love doing it. Thomas D. Howes and I have been conducting lots of great interviews on important topics… including with some pretty big guests:

I’m proud of what we’ve done with the podcast, and if you’d like to contribute to the Reagan Caucus effort, we’d certainly appreciate your support.

Obligatory Dog Shot

Treats are the trick for making this happen.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi everyone. I hope all is well.

It’s been a busy summer here, but things are finally starting to settle down (at least enough to check in with you all).

Just this month alone, my daughter (our youngest kid) went off to college (she didn’t go far, but we already miss her). My wife, after many years working in corporate finance, started a new career as a college educator (which she’s been very excited about). The sale of my parents’ house (which had taken up a ton of my time) finally went through. And… we unfortunately had a cancer scare with our dog, Squiggy… just a month after one with our dog, Stella (neither enjoyed having to wear the “cone of shame” following their surgery, but both should be fine).

It’s been a very eventful summer on the writing and podcasting end.

Just this week, I wrote my first opinion piece for Mediaite, the popular Dan Abrams-owned news and media website. My column on Fox News host Greg Gutfeld made the top of the site, and interestingly (and perhaps amusingly) received multiple attaboys from old colleagues of Gutfeld’s.

Based on the feedback it received, I’m guessing this won’t be my last piece for Mediaite. 😉

Last month, I interviewed one of my favorite writers, David French (of the New York Times), for the Daly Express. David and I have been acquainted for some time, and he’s a great guy who always offers great insight. We talked for nearly an hour about all kinds of political and cultural topics, before wrapping things up with a deep-dive into the pop-culture world (including superhero movies):

Yeah, I probably should have sounded a Nerd Alert before presenting that clip. Anyway, you can watch the full episode here.

On the Reagan Caucus podcast, my co-host Thomas D. Howes and I have been talking to all kinds of interesting guests (in new episodes every Monday). We had an especially fun conversation earlier this month with film and television screenwriter and producer, Howard Klausner. Howie wrote “Space Cowboys” and last year’s “Reagan” film. He’s an all around great guy, with a very positive attitude on life and storytelling.

Among other things, we talked about Ronald Reagan’s legacy, and what it was like working with Hollywood legend, Clint Eastwood:

By the way, if you’re not subscribed to the Reagan Caucus podcast, I’d love if you did so, whether it’s on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Thanks!

I’m also now working with my book publisher on an offshoot venture called Book Marketing for Authors.

As I’m sure I’ve written about in this newsletter before, I’ve long worked with my publisher’s other authors to help them better market themselves. Those efforts have included private, instructional newsletters with social-media marketing tips and tutorials for helping them build their brands and draw more attention to their books.

Truth be told, most authors (especially new authors) aren’t at all comfortable with self-promotion or social-media, which is perfectly understandable. The problem, however, is that both of those elements are extremely important these days to the success of a book. You can write the best book ever, but if no one knows about it (or knows about you), it’s not going to sell.

My publisher’s authors have found the newsletters so helpful that my publisher came up with the idea of opening them up to the world, so that any author (or aspiring author) can use them to help their books gain steam. So, we’ve expanded…

Subscribers to Book Marketing for Authors will not only receive regular social-media-marketing pieces from me, but other non-social-media book-marketing content from other experienced book marketers.

For those interested, you can subscribe for free here:

Book Marketing for Authors

Strategies and helpful marketing tips for authors.

By John A. Daly

There will be some occasional free posts, but most of the content will require upgrading and a modest subscription fee (month-to-month or annual).

It hasn’t been all work this summer, though…

My wife and I made it out to Studio City, California last month, and enjoyed a very fun long-weekend (with a little bit of business mixed in).

We may have even checked out a few film locations while we were there.

I also got to see one of my favorite bands, Social Distortion, at one of my favorite concert venues, the Mishawaka Amphitheatre.

And just a couple weeks ago, we had a super-fun time in the Colorado mountains with some great friends.

All and all, it’s been a good summer.

Check out John's books!

And since it’s been a while since I’ve revisited some of the Daly Grind’s old regular features, let’s do that today…

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Stella wasn’t sure about this dude at Greeley Monster Day.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi everyone.

I’ve been swamped with all kinds of projects lately, so I apologize for neglecting the Daly Grind newsletter for a few months. And today (I’m sorry to say), I’m just popping my head through the door to let you all know about some upcoming events I’ll be part of later this month… and also to spread some news about one of the aforementioned projects.

Upcoming Events

What Lies Beneath: The Underground Silo Behind the Story

This Saturday (July 12, noon-1pm), I’ll be at the Greeley History Museum in Downtown Greeley, Colorado for an afternoon of storytelling.

I wrote back in February about the museum’s new exhibit, “13-Minute Warning: Weld County in the Atomic Age.” The exhibit includes detailed photos of a local Cold War era missile site that were taken while I was researching my award-winning book, “Safeguard.” The real-life facility (and surrounding area) was the setting for that novel.

I’ll be giving an hour long presentation on my personal connection to the site, and will talk about some real stories that inspired plot-lines in the novel. I’ll also be signing copies of “Safeguard.”

The event is free, but you do have to reserve a spot ahead of time, which you can do here. Also, here’s a little write-up of the event in the local newspaper.

Principles First: Denver Signature Dinner Series

Though it hasn’t been officially announced yet, I’ll be a panelist speaker at the Principles First Signature Dinner Series (July 31, 6pm-8:30pm) in Denver, Colorado.

This is a political event, and the details are still being ironed out, but you can check back here for developments, and I’ll certainly update you all once I know more.

The topic of discussion will be: Freedom of Speech, Authoritarianism, and Our Institutions.

Projects

The Reagan Caucus Podcast

Since May, in addition to the Daly Express and Bernie Goldberg’s No BS Zone podcasts, I’ve been co-hosting the Reagan Caucus Podcast with Thomas D. Howes.

It’s a weekly, educational podcast about Reaganite policy and statesmanship, civic education, and American constitutionalism. It’s hosted by Reagan Caucus Action. Thomas and I have had on some amazing guests on for smart, insightful discussions.

If that sounds interesting to you, please follow us on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Our most recent episode was a special Fourth of July interview with the Washington Examiner’s Kimberly Ross (which was a lot of fun).

I’ve also been doing some video work, and will soon be writing regular columns for, the Reagan Caucus PAC, and affiliated organization.

Obligatory Dog Shot

“Whatchu talkin' bout, Willis?”

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi everyone.

This is going to be a down and dirty edition of the Daly Express newsletter, because all I want to do today is tell you that my publisher gave me 25 promotional codes — each good for a free download of the “Restitution” audio-book on Audible.

Restitution is my newest, award-winning Sean Coleman Thriller. It’s a great listen (if I do say so myself), narrated by the lovely and talented Shawn Compton (who’s also narrated some of my other books).

The details for how to get your free download are below, but first a synopsis of Restitution:

Life's gotten better for hard-edged security guard, Sean Coleman. With personal affairs in order and relationships rekindled, he travels to Las Vegas to help celebrate his buddy's last days as a bachelor. Soon after he arrives, however, a twist of fate spawns a reunion with an old flame.

Curiosity and a desire to make amends unexpectedly lead Sean down a dark path into the Vegas underground, where another face from the past emerges — a federal fugitive whose family, years earlier, altered the course of Sean's life.

A harrowing escape drops Sean in the barren wasteland of a Nevada desert, miles away from the glitz and glamor of Sin City. There, he must fight to stay alive against a well-armed group of men whose bloodlust and greed won't stop them from getting what they're after.

And a little praise…

“Restitution brings Sean Coleman fans the series’ traditional strong sense of setting and mood, and clipped, realistic dialogue, and adds a refreshing, subtle sense of heart and hope amidst all the Vegas grit and Western landscapes of the Nevada desert.”

— Jim Geraghty, senior political correspondent of National Review and author of the Dangerous Clique thriller series

“You’ll wish you could read faster just to keep up with and stay in the action.”

— Lance Storm, former WWE Superstar

“Restitution offers hard-hitting action spearheaded by a badass protagonist who talks the talk and walks the walk in a brutal story of surviving an unforgiving territory… Written in the vein of old-school stories of revenge, familial bonds, and relentless action, Restitution is a definite must-read.”

— Kashif Hussain, Best Thriller Books

“Daly’s great attention to detail sets this book apart from any other thriller on the market. We see this from page one of the story as the author tells us everything we need to know to set the scene… If I could use one word to explain Daly’s writing style, it would be gritty. He had me on the edge of my seat throughout the book wondering what happens next… The story is raw and dirty, with well-fitting rough edges that place readers in a well-worn world that is deeply compelling. Restitution by John A. Daly is a must-read for any thriller lover out there…”

— Literary Titan

Now, onto the good stuff…

Instructions for Downloading RESTITUTION for Free

1. Go to the Audible page for “Restitution”

It’s as easy as clicking right here.

2. Add “Restitution” to your cart, proceed to checkout, and enter and apply a promotional code

Each of the codes below is only good for a single use, and they come on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once an Audible member enters a code for his or her download, it will no longer work for other Audible members. That means, if you enter one of the codes below, and receive an error message that it’s invalid, just try a different code on the list until you find one that works.

• 2LTDBZLR3389G

• 37S296PA4QXPH

• 3JKPEPAQAL5W6

• 3Z5Y5NFBGKB79

• 57N69W4XUWLCS

• 59YHTJF4CLNW3

• 7RWD6RKX9ZPKQ

• 85E66LZK2TNGB

• 9HNDBPJJELU3M

• A3HWZMDMU49T7

• BJW89JFPD2UF4

• CWSCB38X6LYMR

• EB59NLL6UNJQU

• H6FWZJDDQ6GMA

• HWRUZ79UP22PR

• KUCH9ZHXL2WEW

• LZTCLWDJUS63X

• PKHZPBNXRHPDQ

• PS4A3BRCYHL32

• RHX3227YESKWS

• SL7ENZ8HBWB5C

• STJXTYGF5JJLN

• UK5E4XR6A5Q8E

• XQMZPUM6J2YNF

• Y98UXPKW3YCYD

3. Verify that the discount was applied, and complete your checkout

That’s it! All that’s left is for you to…

4. Enjoy the book!

And if you like what you hear, don’t forget that all of my novels are on audio-book, and can also be downloaded from Audible.

That’s all for now. Happy listening!

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Hi everyone.

It’s been a little while since I’ve checked in with the Daly Grind, but those of you who catch my writing elsewhere, or follow me on social media, likely already know what’s been going on in my life.

My father passed away last month. It came after a rough couple years of declining health, and just a few months short of his 90th birthday. He was a great man and father, and is sorely missed. For anyone interested and learning a little more about him, his obituary is online.

As I’ve touched on in the newsletter, I spent countless hours at my father’s side over the last two years, between frequent hospital, doctor, and clinic visits (sometimes two or three a week), and attending to other care matters. With him now at peace, and I’m certain in a much better place, it’s actually been a bit of an adjustment returning to a simpler, less “on call” daily routine.

It’s given me (and my family) a few weeks to take a step back, take stock of some things, and move forward with some long talked-about changes and aspirations (which I’m hoping will include new writing opportunities). I’m sure I’ll elaborate on this in the not-so-distant future, but for today I just wanted to play a little catch-up with the newsletter (which I plan to get back on a regular schedule).

As for other things…

The Hullabaloo

A couple weeks ago, I returned to the Principles First Summit in Washington DC.

I met some of the organizers at last year's event, and after one of them saw that I was returning this year, she invited me to record my Daly Express podcast on-site. I thought it was a great idea, so I packed my laptop and a fancy new microphone my family gave me for Christmas, and finished the weekend with three new episodes of interviews, speech and panel clips, and some personal thoughts.

The first episode was recorded at the reception the night before. It was held at the Hamilton Live (a very cool concert venue), where it was fun catching up with some old friends and making some new ones.

While I was interviewing an attendee, I happened to notice a familiar-looking fellow, off by himself nursing a drink. I soon realized that it was Daniel Hodges (a scheduled panel guest for the following day). His name may not ring a bell with most of you, but some iconic imagery of him on January 6, 2021, as he painfully fought off a violent mob that was trying to enter the U.S. Capitol, probably will:

I had a great conversation with Officer Hodges, who was one of many law-enforcement heroes that day. I even did a quick interview with him for the podcast. He had some interesting things to say about his life and the country.

The second Daly Express episode from the event covered the first day of the summit, and includes interviews I did with National Review’s Noah Rothman and The Dispatch’s Stephen Hayes; I’m a big fan of both men. The third episode was a review of the final day of the event, which included a bomb threat and another security dust-up that made national news.

Despite the interruptions, I had a blast and hope to return next year.

A Spring Preview

The weather in Northern Colorado was fantastic last weekend, and my wife and I (oh, and Stella too) took advantage of it along the Poudre Canyon.

Of course, no trip up the Poudre is complete unless you stop for a meal at The Mishawaka. Their famous patio bubbles (a pandemic concoction that’s now used for the weather) were still out.

Check out John's books!

I’m defintely looking forward to some warmer weather.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

She’s built… a little different.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi everyone.

It’s been over a month since I checked in, but not because there hasn’t been much to share or weigh in on. On the contrary, I’ve been busy with a number of projects lately, including a fun little development that came out of left field.

My fourth novel, "Safeguard," and some of the photos taken while I was researching it a few years back, will be part of an upcoming exhibit at the Greeley History Museum in commemoration of the real-life Cold War era missile silo in West Greeley where the story takes place.

I’m pumped up about this, being that the rich history and intrigue of the silo is what inspired the novel (along with some stories relayed to me by the facility’s former caretaker).

The 140+ high-res photos were taken by a photographer friend of mine for reference purposes, as I wanted to describe the setting as realistically as possible in my writing. I figured that visual aids would be far more helpful for that than my memory from a couple of visits, and I think this excerpt from the book may just prove me right:

Sean stepped to the side of the doorway, exposing a circular pedestrian tunnel about eight feet in diameter. Along its ceiling were some bright caged bulbs, which Sean had neglected to turn off the night before. They lit up about thirty-five feet of ribbed metal walls and a paved walkway. At the end of the tunnel was a concrete wall where a poster with a blue emblem and a burgundy background hung.

The scouts chattered with wide eyes. Big Mike wore a grin as he peered inside. Even Budweiser Mike stood with both eyebrows raised. Sean was used to the reaction from new visitors. The tunnel held an ambiance of intrigue and importance that made one feel as if they were entering a portal into a covert world that few had laid eyes on. That was certainly how Sean had felt the first time he’d entered the compound in the midst of his job interview.

In a way, the gateway reminded him of an old television show he used to watch back in the ’80s called The Equalizer. It starred actor Edward Woodward as a former US covert operations officer. The title character lived in a shoddy apartment building in a bad area of New York City, but once the door to his apartment was opened, the living quarters were revealed to be lavishly decorated with expensive art and contemporary furniture. No one would ever confuse the missile silo for a swank pad, but the reception was similar.

Sean led them all inside, his voice echoing off the walls as he explained how the facility’s crew would enter and leave through that very tunnel. When they reached its end, the group stood in front of the poster. The emblem at its center matched one of the murals painted beside the blast door outside: a steel fist clenching three lightning bolts and an olive branch, in front of a pair of clouds. Below the shield, fancy lettering spelled out “Strategic Air Command.”

In case you haven’t figured it out, I was describing the tunnel pictured at the top of this newsletter.

A number of the photos turned out really well, including one that ended up on the cover of my book:

I should probably note that the fellow with the pistol was not in the original shot. That was added through some magic by my publisher’s cover designer.

Once the writing was done for Safeguard, I didn’t do anything with the rest of the photos beyond a little marketing. I certainly never thought they’d have some historical significance. But as it turns out, they do.

Check out John's books!

Weld County has owned the facility (and the 13 acres it’s on) since the 1970s, and for years they would only grant a small number of scheduled tours of the silo. The county shut the silo down entirely during the Covid-19 pandemic… and it never reopened it.

I’m sure county employees continue to use it for storage, including as a records archive (a function I describe in the book), but members of the public (including the museum staff working on this year’s exhibit) haven’t been allowed inside for five years. The facility has likely further deteriorated during that time, and been filled up with more material. I’m not even sure if the electricity is still turned on over there.

In other words, my photos may well have been the last (and probably some of the only) high-quality ones taken inside the silo. Thus, I was more than happy to share them with the museum.

In addition to the exhibit, which will open sometime in the spring, I’ll be doing some author events at the museum. Additionally, it sounds like copies of Safeguard will be sold in the museum’s gift shop, which is pretty cool.

I’m excited to be part of it all, and will keep you all in the loop.

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The Hullabaloo

In January, I had a lot of fun talking about storytelling and the writing process with a high school writing group at the Midnight Oil Bookstore in Downtown Greeley. Their teacher, Mr. G, is a longtime Sean Coleman fan (and a heck of a nice guy) who I found out the other day subscribes to this newsletter (and especially likes the “Obligatory Dog Shot” feature).

Thanks for the invitation, Mr. G! It was good seeing you and the students.

Also last month, I did some fun interviews on the Daly Express podcast, including with Ian Kalman, founder of my favorite greeting card company, Bald Guy Greetings…

… my friend, Kimberly Ross of the Washington Examiner…

… author and former Hollywood actor, Mark Steven Porro…

… and novelist, Harry Pinkus.

You can watch the full video episodes on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

I’ll have what they’re having.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Hi everyone.

I hope you had a Merry Christmas, and that you’re enjoying the holiday season. I had hoped to get a couple more Daly Grind newsletters out between Thanksgiving and now, but life threw me a few more curves in the final days of 2024.

The good news is that I got to spend some quality time with my wife and kids over the last week and a half, which is one of the few things (especially at Christmas time) I don’t mind missing writing for. We got up to Estes Park for dinner at The Stanley and a walk through the Christmas lights downtown. We played games, binge-watched season two of Squid Game (more on that in a second), and of course exchanged and opened presents. Though both of my kids are now adults, it’s still fun to watch the child-like excitement in their eyes when they unwrap gifts.

Anyway, let’s talk about dystopian survival thrillers…

As I mentioned above, Squid Game season two dropped on Netflix last week, and I’m guessing a crap-load of people have already finished watching the latest addictive installment. It’s still crazy to me how much attention the first season garnished back in 2021. Everybody was talking about it, including lots of people who hadn’t even seen it. Part of the reason was that there was a fair amount confusion over what the series actually was.

Check out John's books!

It had somehow gotten into a lot of people’s heads that the South Korean series was an actual game show rather than a fictional television series about a game show.

I’m pretty sure, unlike The Blair Witch Project 25 years ago, there wasn’t a deliberate effort by the producers (or Netflix) to pass Squid Game off as something it wasn’t. Anyone could have figured out that it was a made-up story (a Hollywood-style production with a premise similar to 1987’s The Running Man) just by Googling the title.

Still, at least one of my friends bought into the faux narrative. She was absolutely incensed on Facebook that game-show contestants, somewhere in Asia, were competing in children’s games at gunpoint and literally being executed if they lost. She declared it a sign of our societal decay, and remained fired up about the show even after I cleared things up for her, denouncing the creative minds behind it for even coming up with such an unsettling idea.

It made me wonder what she must have thought about my novels.

Or course, those of us who’ve seen Squid Game understand that it’s not some mindless slasher flick. Creator, writer, and director Hwang Dong-hyuk has produced a psychologically complex story the tackles themes of desperation, fear, greed, conscience, hardship, and free will. More broadly the show is about humanity, just unconventionally presented as an effective action-thriller.

The first season was extremely well done, from the story, to the acting, to the unpredictability, to the imagery. It even touched me on an emotional level (my daughter still gives me a hard time for shedding a rare tear over a particular character’s death).

To the surprise of just about everyone, the show went on to become Netflix’s most watched series ever, beating out even Stranger Things.

It would have been nearly impossible for the second season of Squid Game to exceed the first, but in all honesty, it came pretty close (which is a real achievement). I even noticed some likely unintentional political parallels this time around that added an extra layer to the story.

The season finale, as many have commented on, was a bit abrupt. Thankfully fans won’t have to wait another three years to get their next Squid Game fix, since the third and final season has already been filmed and will drop sometime in 2025.

I for one can’t wait.

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Have you seen Squid Game (one or both seasons)? Let me know your favorite character in an email or in the comment section below.

The Hullabaloo

I took a bit of a hiatus from the Daly Express podcast during the holidays (it’ll be back in early January), but a couple weeks ago I talked to writer, lawyer, and investigator, Clifford Smith about the rationalization of violence in the name of grievance, the “Deep State”, the Iranian government’s influence within the United States, and more.

Here’s a preview:

You can watch the full video episodes on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Our littlest dog's name is Squiggy, and I thought my wife would get a kick out of this. She concluded that I had too much time on my hands, and gave me a list of things to do around the house.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

Featured Vinyl

As a child, I loved watching reruns of the 1960s satirical secret-agent sitcom, Get Smart. The show’s star, comedian Don Adams (additionally known as the voice of Inspector Gadget), always made me laugh. So, when I saw this spoken-word album at a Fort Collins record store a few weeks ago, I figured I’d pick it up. What I didn’t know when I bought it is that it actually predates Get Smart, and Adams’ iconic Maxwell Smart character, by a few years.

Adams performs comedic bits where he’s “interviewed” as various characters (including a bank robber, movie star, and a plan-crash survivor) as a “reporter.” It’s classic Adams, and funny stuff.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and now Bluesky! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

In recent years around Thanksgiving, I’ve republished a piece I wrote a while back about a cherished childhood memory. This time, however, I figured I’d talk about some people I’ve been especially thankful for over the past year — a year that has been quite trying at times from a personal and professional standpoint. Honestly, the last couple of years have been pretty challenging.

Lots of people have been asking about the status of the next Sean Coleman Thriller. I swear it’s coming, and I actually made some strong progress on it over the summer. But working on a novel (which is always a major undertaking) requires long periods of uninterrupted writing, and life just hasn’t afforded me much of that in recent years, between caring for elderly family members and keeping up with my other commitments and responsibilities. Truth be told, it’s been difficult to keep a foothold in just about any personally fulfilling venture.

But there are people who’ve made things easier, and for them I’m very thankful.

I’m thankful for my wife, and the enormous amount of support and encouragement she’s provided over the years. She’s going through hard challenges with her own side of the family (and has been for a while now), but our mutual backing is helping to get us through.

I’m thankful for our loving kids, now both adults, whose thoughtfulness and eagerness to help in these taxing, logistically complicated times is very much appreciated. I couldn’t be prouder of them both.

I’m thankful for our close friends whose fellowship, perspective, and levity means more to me than they probably know. Laughter really is the best medicine, and you can’t put a price on shared experiences.

I’m thankful for the staff at my father’s assisted-living residence who’ve gone above and beyond to help him through the most difficult chapter of his life. They’ve performed duties he no longer can, served as comforting first-responders to his health episodes, provided him safety and security he’d otherwise lack, and raised his spirits with their charm and attentiveness.

I got a kick out of an exchange one of the young pill-givers had with my father when I was visiting him the other morning. “How’s my man doing today?” she cheerfully asked as she entered his room. “If I’m your man, you’re in a desperate situation,” he effortlessly replied, drawing a cackle.

Little things like that matter.

I’m thankful for the medical professionals (several of whom I see with my father at least once a week) who do God’s work. I’m also thankful for those who’ve contributed to the medical advancements that have helped keep him alive.

I’m thankful for the everyday citizens of Greeley, my hometown of the last 30 or so years, who’ve challenged the stigma created by countless episodes of Dateline NBC by extending kindness and generosity to both of my parents since they moved here five years ago. You’ve given my mother one less thing to complain about.

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I’m thankful for my multiple employers who’ve furnished a level of work-flexibility and personal concern that many wouldn’t.

I’m thankful for those who’ve selflessly given me professional advice, and helped me pursue new opportunities for my work.

I’m thankful for my fiction readers, who’ve purchased my books and have let me take them on a literary journey.

I’m thankful for my non-fiction readers and listeners who lend me their eyes, ears, and an open mind. (For those who instead use my commentary as nothing more than a platform from which to assign me false motivations and viewpoints, I’m thankful we live in a country that affords individuals the freedom and luxury of conducting themselves like mindless jackasses.)

I’m thankful for the fascinating people who’ve publicly spoken to me on a number of topics in the advancement of ideas, perspectives, and knowledge.

I’m thankful for these three for all the love, humor, and companionship they give without reservation:

And I’m thankful to God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family. Through all of life’s difficulties, it’s important never to lose track of that.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

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Have something you’re especially thankful for this year? Let me know in an email or in the comment section below.

The Hullabaloo

On last week’s Daly Express podcast, I talked to Walter Olson from the Cato Institute (a libertarian think-tank) about a number of legal, political, and electoral matters.

Here’s a preview (on the topic of ranked choice voting):

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Be Prepared for the Holidays

I'm often asked, "John, what's the perfect gift for a beloved friend or family member?"

And I say, "I think we both know the answer. It's a signed, personalized copy of one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers."

Fortunately, they're available through my website.

Random Thought

A comfort night.

Obligatory Dog Shot

Thankful for each other.

Featured Vinyl

I’ve written a few times before about my love affair with the predominantly 90’s rock band, Sponge. They recently released a new cover-album called “1994” where they take on some of that year’s most memorable modern rock hits, including from Alice In Chains, Oasis, Urge Overkill, Mazzy Star, and more. It’s a fun listen, and I really dig the cover-art.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

The other day I received an email from a reader who had just started on my Sean Coleman Thriller series. 20 chapters into From a Dead Sleep, he felt compelled to reach out to me about the scene he had just read, and how intense he found it.

I always enjoy hearing from readers, and that particular scene, which takes place at Sean’s home, sticks out to a lot of them.

I think part of the reason is that it involves two of the series’ most beloved characters: Toby Parker, the good-natured, 13-year-old autistic boy who idolizes Sean (and is pet-setting for him while he’s away), and Zed, Sean’s charming, cowboy-hat-wearing uncle (whose instincts tell him something’s very wrong with the situation he’s stumbled across).

It’s probably the grittiest, most shocking scene in the book, and I remember, as I was about to write it many years ago, how important I felt the build-up needed to be. By the time Zed pulls up to Sean’s home, the reader knows exactly the predicament Toby is in. In fact, at one of the first book-club meetings I went to long ago (shortly after the release of the novel), a reader with an autistic son told me that she was a crying mess at that point, because she kept envisioning her son in that situation, through Toby’s eyes.

It was type of emotional investment and immersion us fiction writers dream of pulling out of readers… though I did feel a little bad for making the nice lady cry.

If there’s ever a screen adaptation of the Sean Coleman saga (which isn’t out of the realm of possibility), I’d love to see how a director approaches the scene.

Having recently had reason to revisit the chapter in literary form, I figured I’d exercise a little author's prerogative, and share it with you all — the build-up, not the culmination; I don’t want to give too much away.

Enjoy.

Zed tipped his hat and let the smooth roar of the truck engine and the smell of wet dirt flutter their way in through the open windows as he wound his way on up the road. He dug into his front shirt pocket and pulled a fresh toothpick from an open, plastic prescription bottle nested there. He quickly slid it between two teeth along his upper jaw. The founding owner of Hansen Security had been addicted to toothpicks since giving up a decades-long smoking habit a few years earlier. It felt naked not to have something dangling from his mouth, and he liked the natural taste of wood.

Sean’s car wasn’t parked out front at his house, which surprised Zed as he pulled up to the front steps. His nephew wasn’t known to be an early riser or even a mid-morning riser. He was equally surprised to see Toby Parker’s bike out front. He killed the engine. It rumbled for a few extra seconds before winding down. Stepping out and shutting the door, he raised his arms above his head, clasped his fingers together, and arched his back. A muffled, satisfying pop could be heard from just above his hips. His joints often got tight from the weather.

He happened to glance farther up the road where the path deadended into the forest. There was a dark gray, late ’90s Buick sedan parked just behind a cluster of trees. He nearly didn’t notice it, but the reflective chrome on the front bumper stuck out a few inches. He didn’t recognize the car. It wasn’t the kind one would typically see in Winston. It was then that he noticed the out-of-state license plate. The car was too far away to tell from where, but the colors didn’t match any of the Colorado state–sanctioned ones—of that he was sure.

He raised his hat just long enough to wipe some stray beads of rain off his forehead with the arm of his long-sleeved, collared shirt. He proceeded on up the porch steps.

No one answered after the first set of knocks, so Zed tried again. He was sure he could hear movement from inside. “Sean? Toby?”

He walked down off the steps and over to the living room window to try peeking in through the curtains. Before he got there, however, he heard the creak of the front door and the cry of dry hinges. His head snapped back and he saw the door slowly opening. It stopped about a foot open and Toby’s large head popped through.

“Toby!” Zed shouted in greeting with a large grin on his face. “How the hell are you?”

“Good,” the boy replied almost before Zed had even finished his question. “Sean isn’t here.”

The boy didn’t look well. His face was red and wet with perspiration. When Zed walked up the front steps and back onto the small porch, he thought it odd that Toby didn’t open the door any wider, as if he was concealing something. He also noticed that the boy was out of breath.

“What’s that ornery nephew of mine up to this morning?”

Toby quietly explained that Sean had left town for a few days and that he’d been asked to look after Rocco. This was news to Zed.

“He didn’t tell you where he went?” Zed asked with narrowed eyes.

“No, sir.”

Zed crossed his arms in front of him and nodded. He couldn’t imagine where his nephew would have headed. Sean didn’t take trips and had few if any friends outside of Winston to visit. “Well, I’ve got a job for him in a couple of days,” he said. “He knows about it. I suspect that he’ll be back before then. He’s going to need this.”

He dug into the front pocket of his jeans and pulled out a silver badge—a brand new one that read “Hansen Security.” He held it up for Toby, who surprisingly seemed to take no interest in it. The boy didn’t even glance down. His eyes stayed on Zed’s like a hawk, nearly staring right through them.

“Are you feeling all right, bud?” asked Zed, lifting a brow.

Toby nodded and forced an awkward smile.

“Well, can you leave this for Sean?” Zed asked, holding out the badge for the boy to take.

Toby nodded again, his eyes still glued in place. He opened his hand and took the badge, but didn’t look at it.

Zed knew something was wrong. Toby had never acted like this. He was typically a fountain of cordiality who could spew out a conversation on practically any topic for minutes on end, all while wearing a smile on his face. With the boy’s head craned through the doorway and his suspicious behavior, it crossed Zed’s mind that the boy might have just broken something in Sean’s apartment and was too embarrassed or scared to let him find out about it. A plausible scenario for a boy his age, but it seemed unlikely. He’d always known Toby to be a straight shooter, even when the truth he told was inappropriate in the given setting. If he’d broken something, he’d speak up about it.

The boy cracked another dry smile and said nothing. He had something shiny and new in his hand—his hero’s badge of honor—and he wasn’t even looking at it. Zed had been in security for years. He had a trained eye and a deep instinct for things that were out of place and didn’t add up. A talent he hoped he had passed on to his nephew. Something was very wrong—he knew it.

The old floorboards inside Sean’s living room often creaked. They probably should have been replaced years ago. Any movement or shift of weight typically generated an audible groan. When those sounds echoed out at a moment Zed was sure Toby hadn’t moved a muscle, it grabbed his attention.

“What have you got planned for the day?” he asked calmly as his eyes traced the narrow gaps between the door’s hinges, suspecting that Toby wasn’t alone inside.

He saw nothing along the inner side of the door. Too dark. With Sean’s car gone and the display of genuine fear in Toby’s eyes, Zed was certain his nephew wasn’t the puppet-master. He subtly glanced back at the Buick. It was too well concealed by the trees to tell if anyone was sitting inside it, but his instincts told him there wasn’t.

Had Toby walked in on a burglary? he wondered. Someone who Sean owed money to, now coming to collect? Where’s Rocco? Why didn’t he bark when I knocked on the door?

He turned back to Toby when the boy didn’t answer his question. There was now pure, unmistakable panic in the boy’s face, as if his brain had already been overloaded and Zed’s last query finally froze it. The lack of response would surely not go unnoticed by whoever was on the other side of that door. Zed couldn’t recall a time when Toby had ever looked him straight in the eye, but he’d been doing just that from the moment he’d opened the door. Those eyes were pleading for help. No doubt about it now. There was someone standing on the other side of that door—someone dangerous. Zed sometimes carried a pistol in a holster along his hip, but not this day. He had the .45 caliber in his glove box, but at that moment it felt a mile away.

He almost mouthed the boy a message, but felt whoever was inside might see him through the darkened crack along the edge of the door. He kept his head level but his eyes dropped to the keyhole at the center of the doorknob. Scratch marks as if someone had jimmied it. Zed maintained a composed facial expression, even forming a grin as he nodded his head. One more glance back at the Buick before it was time to escalate things. His mouth formed a pucker before he shot the toothpick out of his mouth as if he was discharging a blowgun.

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For those of you who’ve read the book, even if it was a long time ago, I’m thinking you still remember what happens next. For those who haven’t, what the heck have you been waiting for? 😉

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The Hullabaloo

On this week’s Daly Express podcast, I talked to Lisa Clonch Tschauner, author of “Reclamation,” a gripping novel based on the very real international crime of human sex trafficking.

Here’s a preview:

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Be Prepared for the Holidays

I'm often asked, "John, what's the perfect gift for a beloved friend or family member?"

And I say, "I think we both know the answer. It's a signed, personalized copy of one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers."

Fortunately, they're available through my website.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Our best shopping dog.

Featured Vinyl

This was a heck of a find from a few weeks ago. “How Could Hell Be Any Worse?” is Bad Religion’s debut album from way back in 1982. It’s got a raw and gritty garage sound, and was of course the beginning of a long, successful road for the iconic punk band.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

As a political writer (among other hats I wear), it’s safe to say that I have a passion for politics. I’m not one of those people who uncomfortably instigates political discussions in my everyday life (I’ll participate in one if someone asks for my take), but I do feel a certain zest when I write about such topics, or talk about them on my podcast. What I do not have a passion for is political campaigns.

I don’t think I’ve ever put a campaign sign in my front yard (other than for a very local race), nor have I stuck a political bumper-sticker on the back of my car (other than a couple of the satirical variety back in the day). Heck, I can’t remember the last time I was even tempted to. Very few politicians excite me, and those who do have largely been chased out of politics (by their own parties).

But I do pay attention to the campaign passion I see in others. And I figured, on the eve of Election Day 2024, that I’d share a few anecdotal observations from my hometown. I won’t be making any political arguments here (you know where to go for that). I’m just going to muse about some things I find curious and/or interesting.

Here we go.

The other day, when my daughter and I were dropping off one of her friends at her house, I couldn’t help but notice the loud, dueling displays on the opposite side of the street. One house and yard were totally decked out with big, blue and red campaign signs, flags, and banners in proud support of Donald Trump for president. The home and yard directly beside it were just as politically expressive, also filled to the brim with huge, blue and red signs, flags, and banners (seemingly made by the same company, since even the fonts were quite similar). Only… they were in support of Kamala Harris for president.

It was an amusing spectacle — like one of those Bizarro World contrasts from DC Comics. My hope is that the scene is part of a friendly competition between neighbors that they chuckle over in casual conversation. But with our nation as deeply and angrily divided as it’s been over the last several years, I think it’s far more likely that the two families aren’t on speaking terms, and that the over-the-top exhibits have been driven, at least in part, by spite for the other’s views.

I could be wrong, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

A handful of my own neighbors are also sporting political signs, and I couldn’t help but notice last week, as I was returning home from a walk, that the sign in one yard was brightly lit up by spotlights (on both sides). Now that’s pride! But something about it bothered me, in part, perhaps, because I’m an Eagle Scout. The neighbor also had an American flag in his front yard that was hoisted on a pole about ten feet from the sign… And the flag was hanging in pure darkness.

That practice is commonly recognized (at least it used to be) as a big no-no. Unless the flag is illuminated, it’s supposed to be taken down at sunset. It’s never to be left out overnight in the dark.

I was open to the idea that it had been an honest oversight on my neighbor’s part. After all, anyone with a permanent flagpole in their front yard, where they fly the American flag, surely knows the rules… Right? But Old Glory has stood there in the dark every night since, while that political-campaign sign remains lit up like a Hollywood movie-star on Oscar night.

I know, I know… I probably shouldn’t read so much into it. Still, I find the imagery disheartening because I think it represents, if even just symbolically, how a lot of people view their place and identity as Americans in today’s political era.

All of that said, what sticks out to me the most this season, at least as far as political glitz goes, is how relatively little of it I’ve seen compared to previous presidential elections. Sure, there are still some fanatics out there, the kind of people who decorate their personal vehicles and farm equipment with their political brand, but even their numbers seem to be dwindling. It just feels like, at least from my perspective, voters have become so increasingly disillusioned with the country’s political prospects that they can no longer muster the energy to publicly cheer on a team. They may vote the same way they always have, or pinch their nose and choose the option they think stinks less, but I think folks, by and large, are just exhausted. Exhausted by the drama. Exhausted the vitriol. Exhausted by the dishonesty. Exhausted by the gamesmanship.

I know I am.

The good news is that election season will be over in a little more than 24 hours. The bad news is that the drama, vitriol, dishonesty, and gamesmanship won’t be.

Hang in there, America.

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The Hullabaloo

Last week on the Daly Express podcast, I talked to Quin Hillyer, conservative columnist for the Washington Examiner, about the 2024 presidential election, the “fascist” charge, Ukraine, and more.

Here’s a preview:

You can watch the full video version on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the audio podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Be Prepared for the Holidays

I'm often asked, "John, what's the perfect gift for a beloved friend or family member?"

And I say, "I think we both know the answer. It's a signed, personalized copy of one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers."

Fortunately, they're available through my website.

Obligatory Dog Shot

Dog pile.

Featured Vinyl

Early last week, I was pretty excited to see the Gin Blossoms in concert in my hometown. I had four front-row, crotch-level tickets, but a couple days before the weekend show, it was mysteriously cancelled. It was a bummer for sure (though not as big of one as Lenny Kravitz a few weeks earlier). The Gin Blossoms are a great live band who I’ve enjoyed in concert a number of times over the last 30 years or so.

At least a bit of a consolation prize arrived in the mail a few days earlier: The Gin Blossoms: Live in Concert on vinyl. I didn’t even know this album existed until I was buying a different record online, and needed to spend just a little bit more to get free shipping. A little browsing, and voilà!

Live in Concert, recorded in 2008, features the band’s biggest hits, mostly from their very successful second and third studio albums.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Last weekend, my wife and I flew out to Las Vegas to see Lenny Kravitz perform live at the Park MGM. I’ve long been a Kravitz fan, but had never seen him in concert. Part of the reason is that he doesn’t do a lot of touring, at least not in the United States. So when I saw a few months ago that he’d be headlining two weeks of shows in Sin City (before taking off for South America), I jumped at the opportunity, rationalizing it as a coincidentally-timed birthday gift to myself.

The icing on the cake (no pun intended) was that some friends of ours (another couple) were already going to be in Vegas for a convention during that time, and we talked them into buying tickets as well. It would be a fun, fun night.

But… it didn’t happen.

On the morning of the concert, barely twelve hours after we’d touched down in Vegas, we received a frantic phone call from our son back in Colorado. He told us there was something very wrong with our dog, Piper.

It wasn’t much of a surprise that she would be acting off in our absence. Weeks earlier, following the removal of a couple blood-blisters from her stomach, she was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma. It’s an invasive cancer that rarely produces symptoms (she didn’t have any) before spreading to organs. That day was a very sad one for the Dalys. As I’ve written before, Piper is absolutely amazing, the best dog we’ve ever had (and frankly ever will have).

Multiple veterinarians recommended chemotherapy to extend Piper’s life (and her quality of life). Though dogs tend to handle chemo much better than humans (for a few different reasons), a common side effect, we were told, would be a couple of days of nausea following each infusion. We saw just that after her first treatment last month, but effectively managed it with medication. The schedule called for her getting her second infusion just a few days before we left, so we had prepared our kids for the possibility of having to clean up a little puke, and give her blander food, while we were gone.

But what my son reported was something more. Blood. A good amount of it, along with other graphic details I’ll spare you all from. And because hemangiosarcoma often ultimately leads to internal bleeding, typically followed by a quick death, my wife and I became a little frantic ourselves.

Is today the day? I thought to myself more than once as we placed calls to her veterinarians.

Thankfully a dog-sitting duo we use (who know our dogs quite well) were willing and able to pick up Piper (literally) and take her to the emergency room at the veterinary hospital where she’s been receiving her cancer treatments.

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As we waited in our hotel for the prognosis, my wife and I found ourselves thinking the same thing: we needed to get back home.

What surprised even me, as I’d been looking forward to the concert for months (years really), was that it wasn’t at all a difficult decision. Piper’s a beloved member of our family, a “unicorn dog” as we like to call her. The idea of us not being there with her (and with our kids for that matter) in such a situation felt out of the question. Within a couple hours we were on a plane headed back to Denver.

The good news is that Piper’s back home with us now and healing well. She didn’t have internal bleeding, but rather hematochezia, the vets believe, from her chemotherapy… the continued treatment of which we’ll have to reevaluate this week. The sweet girl is still by our side, though we don’t know how much longer that will be for.

I think life sometimes puts us through these little exercises, not necessarily to test our moral compass, but rather get us thinking about what really matters to us — about our priorities. For some people, an elderly dog being treated by veterinary professionals for a health episode wouldn’t warrant cancelling an already short vacation half-way through (as long as the logistics were worked out). And I think that would be a morally fine position — one, like I said, I’m surprised I (not so much my wife) didn’t more carefully consider.

But I suppose we ultimately took Mr. Kravitz’s advice, and “let love rule.”

Am I bummed that I missed seeing Lenny? Definitely. He’s been on my concert bucket-list for a long time, and who knows if I’ll ever get another opportunity to check that one off. But despite the money spent on airline tickets, a hotel stay, and concert tickets, it’s not a decision I regret.

What was nice is that our friends who did make it to the concert that night thoughtfully lied to us afterwards that it “sucked.” 😄

Those are good friends!

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Ever miss a dream event? Tell me about it in an email or in the comment section below.

The Hullabaloo

Last week on the Daly Express podcast, I talked to economist Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute about the national debt, deficits, spending, inflation, Ukraine funding, and the economic proposals of the two presidential nominees. I think it’s one of the most insightful interviews I’ve ever conducted, and I’d love for you to check it out.

Here’s a preview:

You can watch the full video version on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the audio podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

Featured Vinyl

I caught the reunited Black Crowes on their “Shake Your Money Maker” 30th anniversary tour back in 2021. It was at Red Rocks Amphitheater, and it was a wonderful distraction at the time from the pandemic. The band sounded amazing, and I didn’t realize until just last week, when I was flipping through bins at a used record store in Fort Collins (while I was waiting for Piper’s chemo treatment), that they had recorded the entire tour. The best selections made it onto this two-LP album released last year. So… I couldn’t resist picking it up.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Here’s some of his stuff:

I mean, talk about traveling in style! Truth be told, a very young John Daly used to sketch vehicles that looked pretty similar to those at his classroom desk, when he was supposed to be paying attention to his elementary school teachers.

Check out John's books!

Over the years, I’ve seen real life architecture built in the retro science-fiction motif, and have found it very impressive. But until very recently, American society hasn’t seen a whole lot in the arena of automobiles (at least beyond some very limited novelty releases) make its way into mainstream culture. I guess one could argue that the DMC DeLorean, popularized by the Back to the Future franchise, fits the bill. But even at the height of that particular vehicle’s popularity, it was very rarely spotted in the wild.

That’s changed thanks to Elon Musk… though I’m not sure “thanks” is the right word.

Pictured above, of course, is the Tesla Cybertruck. The model was released to the general public late last year, and today it’s not unusual for me to see one cruising through my town or elsewhere in Northern Colorado.

As I explained, someone like me should (in theory) appreciate the effort more than the average Joe. But frankly, I think the car looks god-awful. I’m not the only one who believes that, of course. Lots of people have been voicing this opinion over the last year. I suspect at least some of that sentiment comes from people’s feelings on Elon Musk himself, who’s become a very controversial figure.

I, myself, have conflicting views on the man. I recognize and appreciate his creative genius that has led to important inventions and innovations, while also believing that his routine personal amplification of dangerous lies and conspiracy theories has done non-trivial damage to our culture. But I’m quite confident that my personal thoughts on Musk have nothing to do with my assessment that the Cybertruck really is an ugly automobile.

I feel pretty much the same about the recently unveiled Tesla Cybercab, though I do think it looks better than the Cybertruck.

Maybe it’s not Musk’s fault. Maybe it’s just that this style of vehicles looks amazing in conceptual artwork, but doesn’t (and can’t) translate well to reality. Maybe there’s a reason car manufacturers other than Tesla have never really bothered.

But hey, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If there’s a market for these types of vehicles, why not produce them?

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Have thoughts on this topic? Let me know them in an email or in the comment section below.

The Hullabaloo

I recorded two episodes of the Daly Express podcast this week. One was with victims advocate (and TikTok celebrity), Kimberly Corban. We talked about sexual abuse and awareness. Here is a preview clip:

The other episode was with American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Senior Fellow, Brent Orrell. We talked primarily about workforce issues. Here’s a preview of that one:

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the full audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Be Prepared for the Holidays

I'm often asked, "John, what's the perfect gift for a beloved friend or family member?"

And I say, "I think we both know the answer. It's a signed, personalized copy of one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers."

Fortunately, they're available through my website.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Got her sploot on.

Featured Vinyl

I consider Kenny Loggins the undisputed king of 1980s’ soundtracks, and I think his first movie song may just be his best: “I’m Alright” from Caddyshack. There are other Loggins tunes on this album, and Journey even makes an appearance with “Any Way You Want It.”

But aside from the music, I just love the poster art for the era’s screwball comedies. They so often captured the films’ characters and stars in a way that still photos couldn’t.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

It was kind of overshadowed by the flood of major news stories this past week, but former U.S. president Jimmy Carter just turned a remarkable 100 years-old. I’m not going to do a deep dive into his biography, political career, or historical significance in today’s newsletter; there are lots of people far more qualified for that, and plenty of such pieces that were published this week to commemorate the milestone. Instead, I figured I’d offer some personal, anecdotal perspective on the man.

Simply put, Carter was the first president I remember. He wasn’t the first president of my lifetime (nor the second), but the first one for which I was old enough to understand what the presidency was, and who held the position. Thus it stands to reason that the first presidential election I recall was that of 1980, in which Carter lost his reelection bid to Ronald Reagan.

I was barely eight years old back then, but I still remember the hype of that race on television, radio, and newspaper and magazine covers.

In fact, I recall being completely enamored with this specific issue of Newsweek that I saw, I believe, in a grocery-store checkout lane:

“They’re running for president! Get it?” I excitedly told my father, who was with me.

My dad chucked, and said something to the effect of, “Carter should be back with the other guy.”

That “other guy” was independent candidate John B. Anderson (not Phil Donahue), and my dad’s remark wasn’t a political one; it was purely analytical. By that point in the race, Ronald Reagan was very much the front-runner, so my dad figured a more accurate representation would have been for Reagan to be leading the pack.

Anyway, America was ready for change at the time, which I could tell just from hanging out with elementary-school classmates on the playground. I recall friends singing a parody tune about Jimmy Carter “screwing up the U.S.A.” to the popular Oscar Meyer jingle — sentiments obviously echoed by their parents.

As we all know, there is no better indicator of things having gone south for someone than parody songs.

Check out John's books!

Still, I was surprised to wake up the morning after the election to learn that Reagan had won. A sitting president losing his job felt like a big deal, and in fairness, it’s still relatively rare. Two people who were not at all amused by the outcome were my grandparents on my mom’s side — lifelong partisan Democrats who believed til their dying day that Americans had made an enormous mistake that year.

History would suggest otherwise, but the point of this week’s newsletter isn’t to roast a guy (an American patriot no less) who just turned a century old. No, by virtually every account, Carter has been a profoundly decent man throughout his entire, extraordinary life. Whatever one thinks about his politics, Carter deeply cares about his country, and he deeply cares about people. He is a bona fide humanitarian who has dedicated much of his life and spirit to helping those in need.

In my mother’s home hangs a framed 8x10 picture of herself with the former president, of which she has long been very proud. She met Carter at a church (I can’t remember where) he used to deliver sermons at in his post-presidency.

Carter has long been known for making time for his fellow Americans, including in this endearing news clip from a few years ago when the former president personally greeted each and every fellow passenger on an airline flight from Atlanta to DC:

There’s another video circulating out there of Carter, on his birthday just a few days ago, being wheeled outdoors by his family. I’m not going to link to it here, because I frankly think it was a mistake for the family to put the former president on public display in his current physical and mental state (which is very grim) … especially being that it was done (at least in part) to make a political statement about the upcoming election.

But Jimmy Carter’s legacy, as a compassionate, well-intentioned human being, is one to be proud of. This American icon likely won’t be with us much longer. I wish him peace… now and beyond.

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Ever met a U.S. president? Tell me who in an email or in the comment section below.

Fall in Colorado

Last week on our wedding anniversary, my wife and I spent a wonderful day in Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park. In addition to the beautiful Fall colors (more photos here), we were lucky enough, while on a hike, to see a family of moose.

The Hullabaloo

This week on the Daly Express podcast, I talked to historical fiction author, Jay G. Grubb, about his debut novel “Land of Sins and Promise.” We also got into history, music, and more. It was a good discussion.

Here’s a preview:

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Rough night.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

Featured Vinyl

I was shocked when I recently found this one in a used bin at the local record store, being that I had no idea it had ever been released on vinyl.

Mad Season was a grunge-era super-group made up of members of Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and the Screaming Trees. They released just one album, “Above,” in 1995. Its single “River of Deceit” was big hit, but I much preferred “I’m Above” and “I Don’t Know Anything,” which also received some radio play.

This 2-LP set was released in 2015 (20 years later) as an expanded version featuring three previously unreleased songs.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Friends of mine have joked over the years that when it comes to music, I’m stuck in the past. They’re largely right. Most of the stuff I listen to is at least a few decades old, but it’s not because I yearn nostalgically for an earlier chapter in my life (I don’t). I just like the music styles and offerings of certain eras more than others (including some before I was born).

Very rarely does music take me back to specific moments in my life, but it does happen. “Hold On to the Night” by Richard Marx evokes the memory of a particular high school dance. “Someone” by the Rembrandts will forever be intertwined with a doomed relationship (though I still think it’s a great song). Extreme’s “More Than Words” brings me back to my coming-of-age teen years working at a local restaurant (where a number of lifelong friendships began).

And then there’s singer Chris Isaak. It’s not a specific song of his that embodies a life-moment, but rather two full albums: Forever Blue and Baja Sessions.

The years I look back on as the lowest of my life fell between the time I graduated college (in the mid 1990s) and when I met my wife-to-be, Sarah (in 2000). It was about a five-year period, which in the grand scheme of things isn’t all that long. But at times it felt like an eternity.

I lived alone in a single-bedroom apartment behind a barbecue restaurant, and though I had some good friends, and mostly enjoyed my job and the people I worked with, I often felt lost. I worried a lot about the direction of my life. I didn’t meet a lot of new people, and most of those I did seemed to already have their acts together (at least better than I did). Truth be told… I was pretty lonely.

Sure, I liked my independence. I really did. I didn’t have a lot of responsibilities outside of work, which afforded me the time and space to pursue a number of interests… including bike-riding, travel, photography, a couple of online side-businesses, and eventually writing (the creative soul is wickedly inspired by torment and solitude). The experience also filled me with introspection, which I’m convinced is good for one’s character and soul.

Yet, loneliness is misery, and misery loves company. That’s why I formed a bit of a kinship with Chris Isaak’s music during that time.

To be clear, I was an Isaak fan well before “Forever Blue” released in 1995. Like most of his fans, I came onboard with “Wicked Game.” But that was just the beginning of my journey with the singer.

I once read Isaak’s music described as “a scrapbook of heartbroken valentines,” and listening to Forever Blue made feel as though I was browsing through that scrapbook, deriving personal meaning from each page. The songs were inspired by the end of a three-year relationship between the singer and his girlfriend. “It's got some dark things, some sad things, some angry parts,” Isaak has said of the album. “There's resignation in there and acceptance and some hope.”

As I listened to it many nights (as I struggled to fall asleep), I felt all of those emotions as if they were my own (because they were). The same was true of Isaak’s next album the following year, “Baja Sessions,” which included acoustic versions of earlier songs, and covers of iconic heartache-heavy tunes. Both were CD-player mainstays for me.

When I listen to those songs today — as my wife and I did last week from a front-row seat (woo-hoo!) when Chris Isaak performed in my town — I no longer feel the sadness I felt back then. But I do remember it, and I find myself experiencing some gratitude for the commiseration and consolation those songs provided at that time in my life.

The lyrics of so many of them are forever etched in my mind.

I know somebody and they cry for you
They lie awake at night and dream of you
I bet you never even know they do

Nobody ever warns you, or tells you what to do
She walks away, you're left to stay
Alone forever blue

Look at all you lucky people, look of all the things you do
Look at all you happy people, I wish I could be like you

Thank you, Chris, for the gift (and timeliness) of your music. It helped me through some things.

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Have a favorite Chris Isaak song? Tell me which one in an email or in the comment section.

The Hullabaloo

Last week on the Daly Express podcast, I had on two great guests (in separate episodes): Tom Nichols of The Atlantic, and Cathy Young of The Bulwark. We talked about a number of political and cultural topics.

Here are a couple previews:

You can watch the full video versions on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

The Chosen One.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

Featured Vinyl

Yes, this section is back for a limited time (since I’ve had some good record-store luck lately)!

Way back in 1977, REO Speedwagon convinced their record label that their strength as a band was in their live performances. As someone who’s seen them live multiple times, I can vouch for that. I honestly think they’re one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen.

Anyway, their label listened, and “Live: You Get What You Play For” became REO’s first live album — a two LP set. It went platinum and includes, in my opinion, the best recorded version of “Ridin' the Storm Out” (which was written right here in Colorado many moons ago).

It’s a great listen.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

Imagine you’re watching a fictional television series about a distinguished senior police detective. He’s a tall, stone-faced figure who puts in lots of extra hours on the job, and is highly regarded and respected by his peers, subordinates, and the community he serves. Many consider him a hero. Newspaper headlines and media reports even refer to him as such.

Next, imagine that same detective royally screwing up nearly every case he works on. He has exceptionally bad instincts, and in the few instances in which he doesn’t crap the bed, it’s his adult daughter (a journalist) who unwittingly derails the police department’s efforts. Imagine that most of those mishaps could easily be avoided if the detective and his daughter simply talked to one another for more than a few minutes in passing, and compared notes — something that doesn’t happen, in large part, because the detective inexplicably doesn’t answer his cellphone when he sees that it’s his daughter calling (regardless if he happens to be busy at the time). Incidentally, the detective also doesn’t answer when it’s his son trying to reach him, though he does occasionally make lunch or dinner plans with his boy… only to reliably stand him up (and either not realize or a care about if for several hours).

Now, it’s not that the detective and his crack-unit team of investigators don’t solve crimes. They do… kind of. Sure, it may take several years in some cases, and it’s typically because a suspect will blurt out an unsolicited confession, or evidence will fall right into someone’s lap, or an individual from outside the police department will put two-and-two together and then hand their work over to the police (for which the investigator will take modest-sounding credit at a press conference or award ceremony, where he’s once again celebrated as a hero).

Lastly, consider that the detective loses every physical altercation he finds himself in, including against perpetrators who are much older, smaller, and slower than he is. Seriously, it’s like the guy’s never gone through any basic hand-to-hand or self-defense training in his life.

You might think by now that I’m actually describing a satirical comedy (or possibly an Inspector Gadget reboot), but I assure you I’m not. I’m describing Wisting, a critically acclaimed Norwegian crime drama. The investigator in question is William Wisting, and the character and series are based on a series of bestselling novels. My wife and I started watching the show a few weeks ago.

If you check out the trailer, you might get an idea of what compelled the two of us to give it a shot:

Looks pretty good, doesn’t it? Compelling story. Cool setting. Decently acted. Sharp cinematography. There’s even Carrie-Anne Moss to lend it some acting gravitas and American appeal. The show is clearly intended to be taken seriously, and the critics have certainly recognized it as such.

But with the absurdities I described above, I’ve been more fascinated by it than anything. It’s as if the show’s writers decided from the beginning that they were going to conduct a cutting-edge storytelling experiment: infusing a sober crime drama with intense characters (which I’m sure the novels do), with objectively atrocious police-work… in part to see if the audience picks up on the latter.

I mean, it’s pretty clear to me that Wisting (the television character) and his bumbling are really a detriment to his community, but I’ve seen no evidence (at least online) that other viewers do.

I proposed the “inside joke” theory to my wife. She doesn’t buy it. But I really do wonder if I’m onto something, because while some of Wisting and company’s screw-ups require a little disassembling and afterthought to truly recognize their consequences, a lot of the botchery is just right there in your face. And if my theory right, I’ve really got to hand it to the writers for going in such a bold direction.

Allow me to provide some examples from the first season alone, and tell me what you think (warning, lots of spoilers ahead):

• Wisting is unaware that his neighbor has been dead, in his home, for several months. After eventually walking next door and discovering the badly decomposed body, Wisting determines there to be no signs of foul-play. Natural causes. Case closed. Only, Wisting’s daughter (who has no police experience) later discovers a good amount of evidence (just by poking around in the home a little, and asking a few questions) that the neighbor was actually murdered. She tries to tell her father as much, but Wisting keeps blowing her off, essentially patting her on the head and sending her on her way.

• Wisting doesn’t know a serial rapist/killer is living in his town until a fingerprint brings two FBI agents over from America, who quickly point out to Wisting and his team that dozens of young blonde women (fitting the killer’s well-established M.O.) have gone missing in the area over several years. News to them! The revelation sheds new light on the mysterious disappearance of the long-missing (and young and blonde) niece of a former police-colleague of Wisting’s (who’s since gone off his rocker because Wisting’s investigation into the matter turned up nothing).

• Wisting does manage to keep secret the fact that the FBI is in town, and assisting with the investigation (news that would alert the killer that law-enforcement is finally closing in on him). Good job, Wisting! Unfortunately, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Wisting’s daughter ends up sleeping with one of the FBI agents, and leaks a photo of the agent’s ID to her boss… who promptly reports the FBI’s presence in the local newspaper.

• The serial killer is quite up in age (from being able to get away with years of raping and killing on Wisting’s watch), and moves pretty slow. But somehow he has enough zeal to kidnap Wisting’s young, blonde daughter (I guess to go out strong). Thankfully, Wisting shows up at exactly the right moment… not to save the day, but to get his ass kicked (badly) by the geriatric killer, from which he has to be saved himself by one of the FBI agents.

• After being publicly hailed once again for his bravery and closing the case (despite the FBI doing all the real work), we learn that an earlier Wisting case was marred by planted evidence, and that the wrong individual may be serving hard time in prison because of it. Wisting had nothing to do with evidence tampering (phew), but does concede that he’s never had much confidence that the individual he put away for years actually committed the crime he was convicted of. Holy hell!

How is William Wisting even still a police officer, let alone a detective? But like I said, that was just season one. Season two plays off the same theme. Warning: more spoilers. First, Wisting needlessly removes a violent prisoner’s shackles, which leads to the prisoner successfully escaping custody (Wisting doesn’t bother running after him), and the death of a colleague. Next, he falls for a tracking device being placed on a Roomba vacuum cleaner. Then, per usual, he gets physically manhandled and beat up by everyone he gets in a confrontation with.

I keep expecting there to be a chase scene where Wisting runs through a yard of rakes, stepping on each one, and popping himself in the face hard with handle after handle…and then, when finally makes it to the end of the yard with a bloody nose, receiving an award for being injured in the line of duty. We haven’t gotten to season three yet, so — who knows — maybe it will actually happen.

Anyway, all of this has to be on purpose, right? I mean, the writers have to know that any objective review of Wisting’s job performance would disqualify him from public duty. Heck, some of it may even be deserving of criminal prosecution. Yet, he’s portrayed throughout the series as an intelligent man of good conscience and strong integrity. And because of that crazy disconnect, I can’t stop watching the darned show! I truly find whatever the writers are doing so utterly fascinating that I’m sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next no-sold Wisting blunder.

Bring on season three!

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Have a favorite overseas crime drama? (There are actually a ton I like). Tell me what it is in an email or in the comment section below.

Daly on the Mind

Bernie Goldberg appeared on Bill O’Reilly’s show last week, and yours truly received an unexpected (and rather amusing) shout-out:

A little context: Years ago, Bernie was a longtime regular on The O’Reilly Factor, and these days he occasionally appears as a guest on O’Reilly’s web-show. Because of that connection and history, Bernie’s website (which I’ve long written for and host some video-series on) receives quite a bit of traffic (and a good number of subscriptions) from O’Reilly’s website. Thus, O’Reilly’s name comes up a lot on Bernie’s site, usually in the form of questions (in the comment section and weekly Q&As). And when I express my honest views of O’Reilly and his work, they’re not always complimentary (which he has apparently noticed).

At least he was a good sport about it.

The Hullabaloo

Last week on the Daly Express podcast, I talked to bestselling novelist Terrence McCauley about his books, his love of history, conspiracies, and more.

Here’s a preview:

You can watch the full video version on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Social Media Meets Real Life

About a decade back, one of my early Twitter follows/followers was professional wrestler, EC3. He’s a reader, and we’ve kept in touch a little over the years. He was even slated to blurb one of my Sean Coleman Thrillers a while back, but a chaotic work schedule at the time kept him from getting it to me before the publishing cut-off date (thus Lance Storm became my first pro-wrestler blurber).

Anyway, when I saw (much to my surprise) that he would be coming through my town last weekend on a wrestling tour through Colorado, I picked up a ticket. The event was a lot of fun, and it was great catching up afterwards. He’s a very cool guy, and a tremendous athlete and entertainer.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

It’s a stretch.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

I wasn’t surprised when it struck a chord with other writers. It is, after all, a nearly perfect metaphor. Or is it a simile? (Images are a little harder than phrases to categorize properly).

Regardless, in this depiction, former professional wrestler (turned successful actor) Dave Bautista represents the strength and confidence of a writer in command. His championship belt only adds to his assurance. But all it took was one devious, unforeseen shot to the grapefruits from the “dirtiest player in the game,” Ric Flair (playing the role of “life outside of writing”), to bring it all crashing down.

And just so it’s clear who’s now in charge, life holds its arm between the writer’s grapefruits for a few extra seconds, clenching its teeth in self-satisfaction, and relishing in the writer’s pain.

I’ve found myself in this position a lot over the past couple of years, and the face I make on the inside when it happens isn’t all that different than Bautista’s.

Writers just want to write (which is one of the reasons I do these newsletters), and there are few things more coveted, in that passion, than getting into a writing zone. It’s where you’re focused, building momentum, and creating smart, quality work.

Unfortunately, I’m in a phase in my life that whenever I enter that zone, a whirlwind of interruptions, complications and downright crises (all of which have to be dealt with) drags me away from my keyboard (and other parts of my life).

The second half of last month was particularly brutal, as a huge professional opportunity (which I’ll hopefully be able to talk about a some point) was quickly bombarded with larger life obstacles.

But I’ll wrap up my venting (or maybe whining) for now. Priorities are priorities, and things are what they are. The good news is that the situation has calmed down a bit over the last couple of days. My head is back above water, but because I’m still playing catch-up, and mostly just wanted to check in with you all, the rest of this overdue edition of the Daly Grind will focus on some some notable tidbits from a couple weeks ago, and some items coming up soon (which I’ll share below in today’s “Hullabaloo”).

But first, on a very positive note, I have a little update…

Farrah got adopted!

It took almost a month and a half, but our super-cute foster-dog finally found her forever-home on Monday. She has a great new family, including a hundred-pound, four-legged brother who loves to slobber all over her.

Good luck, Farrah!

The Hullabaloo

I was the featured guest last month on the Spies, Lies, and Private Eyes podcast, hosted by fellow novelist, Terrence McCauley. I had a blast talking to Terrence (who’s a great guy). We covered thriller writing, old detective TV shows, my transition from a software developer, and a lot more. Please give it a listen.

On my weekly Daly Express podcast, I interviewed fellow novelist (another great guy), Daniel V. Meier Jr.

The laughs came easy as Dan and I talked about his novels, the critical acclaim he’s received, his personal adventures, and more. Below is a preview clip (that you may just get a kick out of).

You can watch the full episode on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to it on Spotify or Apple.

Later this week on the Daly Express, I’ll be talking to comedian, impressionist, and friend, John Di Domenico (the best Donald Trump impersonator in the world).

John has some interesting stories to tell, including the death threats he has received for his impersonations. (I’m not joking).

You’ll find the video version on BernardGoldberg.com, and the audio version on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

Obligatory Dog Shot

Post-surgery pajamas are a way better option than a lampshade on the head.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

The memories I took with me were pretty vague. I didn’t remember much of the town itself. I just recalled there being a lake (with a cool-looking covered marina) and the most amazing miniature golf course I’d ever seen. Lilliput Mini Golf was truly unparalleled, with some of its holes set up like a Rube Goldberg machine with pulleys, conveyor belts, and lots of other moving, creaky, metal parts. Here’s an old video I found of it, to give you a taste.

I’ve spent a lot time in the Colorado mountains and their rural communities over the years (that should come across in my Sean Coleman Thrillers), but for whatever reason, I didn’t get back to Grand Lake for close to 40 years. It wasn’t until about six months into the pandemic, in early Fall of 2020, that my wife and I got a wild hair to take Trail Ridge Road (the highest paved road in North America) through Rocky Mountain Park and stay over in Grand Lake for a couple of nights.

We discovered that the place is an absolute dream.

As a kid, I didn’t appreciate (at least not enough) the natural beauty of Colorado. Growing up here, I guess I just took it for granted. But as I grow older, I feel immense gratitude for the sights, recreation, wildlife, and tranquility the state has to offer. My family and I have been taking much better advantage of it over the last couple of decades, and last weekend the four of us made our third trip in four years to Grand Lake. It has truly become one of my favorite places, so I figured I’d share a little about it with Daly Grind readers this week.

The town was established in 1881, and has a population of somewhere around 500. Though a number of visitors pass through each year, it’s relative geographical isolation (including its northern entrance being shut down from October through May because of the snow) keeps it from being overrun by tourists.

The business district (known as Grand Lake Village) is essentially a single road lined with charming restaurants and shops. The Lilliput is no longer around, though some remnants of it remain, and there’s a new mini-golf place. The village is a fun and relaxing atmosphere, but the real gift is the lake itself. It’s Colorado’s largest and deepest natural lake, and it’s surrounding by lush, gorgeous mountains.

The best way to experience it, I’ve found, is to rent a boat at the marina on a bright, sunny day, and cruise the calm water, heading east:

We found last weekend that packing a lunch is a great idea. I especially like hanging around in the southeastern part of the lake, where boat-house-coupled residences (only accessible by water and foot) decorate the shore.

For a more traditional sit-down meal, there are a number of good options in town, but a restaurant we really like is a little place called Wolfies, which sits about a mile northwest of the village. The food is absolutely delicious. There’s limited seating inside, but they have a patio area across the parking lot, and the place is also great for carry-out.

If you’d rather eat somewhere with a broad, elevated view of the entire Grand Lake area, I would recommend the Huntington House Tavern at Grand Lake Lodge. It’s a little more upscale, but it’s worth it

For a quick and easy hike (including some great photo opportunities), there’s Adams Falls.

For wildlife viewing (and all kinds of hiking trails), you really can’t beat the southwest corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, which borders Grand Lake (the entrance is just a short drive away). It’s the best and most accessible part of the entire park for spotting moose.

In fact, we’ve seen at least one moose every time we’ve visited, in addition to elk, deer, and lots of smaller forest animals.

The Grand Lake area really is an embarrassment of riches, full of brilliant sights and high-country character. I can’t recommend it highly enough for those looking for a true getaway.

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Have a favorite Colorado getaway? How about just a favorite mountain getaway? Tell me about it in an email or the comment section below.

Random Thought

If you know, you know.

Obligatory Dog Shot

Those of you who follow me on social media are already familiar with this super-cute rescue-pup. Her name is Farrah, and my daughter has been fostering her for over a month now, as part of her senior project. Puppies are usually adopted out pretty fast, but for some inexplicable reason, Farrah has yet to receive an application.

If you live in or near Northern Colorado, and are interested in learning more about Farrah (who’s a great dog), you can check out her profile on Big Bones Canine Rescue’s website. Feel free to ask me any questions as well.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!

The other day, I saw a Facebook friend paying homage to Smokey Bear. It was the 80th birthday of the U.S. Forest Service’s iconic mascot, and I was down for it.

I’ve always liked animal mascots, and as a child, Smokey was one of my favorites. He had a calm, authoritative demeanor about him as he reminded us problematic humans that only we “can prevent forest fires.” I was also pretty high on Woodsy Owl and the KIMN Chicken.

Even as an adult, I rarely pass on an animal-mascot photo op. (Case in point, meet Arty the Aardvark. He’s a proud ambassador for the local community college, and an all around good dude.)

But today’s newsletter isn’t about furries. There was more to my friend’s story. He explained how Smokey Bear was special to him growing up, because his father was a U.S. Forest Service ranger who accompanied the mascot on school visits. He also described the cherished memory of his father coming home smelling like wood smoke, on the days that he had to fight forest fires (because not everyone listens to Smokey).

It was a sweet story — one I can relate to. Not in regard to fighting fires, but rather the smell.

My father worked for decades as pipefitter at a rather famous beer brewery at the foot of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. He’d leave the house every weekday morning before anyone else was up, and when he’d arrive back home a little before five in the evening, he’d walk through the door from the garage smelling like…

Well, I wasn’t really sure what it was at the time, just that it was a strong, distinct odor that I associated with hard, blue-collar work that long supported a family of four. He started the job when I was just one (maybe even younger), and retired from it years after I went off to college. I think now that the smell was probably a combination of yeast fermentation, rotting grain, and sweat.

My father was well aware of it, and reliably shed his work clothes the minute he got home. Between his trade and his post-dinner wogging (he was an early adopter, who seemingly covered half the city most nights), our laundry machine put in a lot of extra work.

I’ve long associated scents with memories — perhaps more than most people do. It’s usually in terms of a specific person, some still alive and some who’ve passed on. With my dad, it’s the brewery smell. With my grandfather, Kolman (who my character Sean Coleman was partly named after), it’s a tobacco pipe. With one of my aunts, it’s the baby powder she used (and probably still uses) on her skin. With both grandmothers, it’s their respective specialty cookies. And with an old college roommate, it’s a damp, humid smell unrelated to cleanliness (an explanation for which I’ll always be too uncomfortable to ask). There are more examples, but I don’t want to offend an individual or two who might read this newsletter. 😉

Those of you who’ve read my Sean Coleman Thrillers have probably noticed that I’m a very detailed writer. As part of that detail, I enjoy incorporating smell into my stories.

Sometimes its the aforementioned scent of family, and childhood nostalgia:

That day, Sean’s father had taught him to shoot. He taught him how to load, align the sights, take a deep breath, and squeeze that trigger. Sitting in the car alone now, with that gun in his hand in an unfamiliar place, Sean drifted back to that day long ago. He felt his father’s large arms around him, helping him to steady his aim; his father’s chin draped over his shoulder; the smell of chewing tobacco from his father’s shirt pocket. Take a breath, steady yourself, and squeeze.

Sometimes it’s to set a scene:

After selling his blood plasma at the bank for several weeks, he still hadn’t quite gotten used to the stench in the air—a mix of iodine and bleach. The smell emitted from all corners of every room.

They glided forward, past a few more pillars, until they slid under the shade of the deck of the bridge that hovered above. There, the familiar smell of brine and decaying sea life reminded the lawman of the creamed corn he’d had with his dinner the night before. Above the sporadic fuss of automobiles crossing overhead were the shouts of two young voices.

Sometimes it’s for simple comedic relief:

“Do you smell that?” asked Jefferson.

Lumbergh raised an eyebrow. “Smell what?”

Jefferson tilted his head back and let his nostrils flare.

“You don’t smell that? It’s kind of like perfume.”

The chief shook his head and answered, “That’s my cologne, Jefferson. I had plans with my wife tonight, remember?”

“Oh yeah. Okay,” Jefferson said discreetly. “It smells good.”

“Thanks.”

Sometimes it comes when one’s life is flashing before their eyes:

His mind darted straight to [spoiler] and he knew that there would be no greater test of her steadfastness among crisis than his death. He saw her long, wavy hair dangling above him and smelled her scent through his own sweat. When the wide, crooked, and sadistic smile of the man with the silver hair rose above the hood of his Jeep, he felt as though he had been hit by another bullet, not of lead but of punishing angst.

I’m currently working on the sixth Sean Coleman Thriller, and I can report at this time that it’s chocked full of scents, aromas, odors, and stenches… for your smelling pleasure.

I’ll keep you all updated. Smell you later!

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Do you have a memorable childhood smell? Tell me about it in an email, or in the comment section below.

The Hullabaloo

So, I must say that I’ve been having a lot of fun with my new podcast, The Daly Express. I’ve been interviewing a number of smart, interesting people, and if you haven’t checked it out yet, what the heck have you been waiting for?

In recent weeks, I’ve talked to Kimberly Ross of the Washington Examiner, A.B. Stoddard of The Bulwark, Matt Lewis of The Hill, and author and economist Patrick Chovanec.

You can watch the video version on BernardGoldberg.com, or listen to the audio podcasts on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Random Thought

I have a funny family.

Obligatory Dog Shot

We have a pit bull down. I repeat, a pit bull is down.

Catch Up on the Sean Coleman Thrillers

All of my Sean Coleman Thriller novels can be purchased through Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Books-A-Million, and wherever else books are sold.

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading today’s Daly Grind.

Want to drop me a line? You can email me at johndalybooks@hotmail.com, and also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and now Threads! If you haven’t subscribed to this newsletter yet, please click on the “Subscribe now” button below. Doing so will get these posts emailed directly to you.

Also, if you’re not caught up on my Sean Coleman Thrillers, you can pick the entire series up at a great price on Amazon. And if you’re interested in signed, personalized copies of my books, you can order them directly from my website.

Take care. And I’ll talk to you soon!