Adirondack Vampires & Witches

Keep Religion out of Politics

2008-11-30T14:35:00.001-05:00

Catholic priests, bishops and cardinals should follow the teachings of Jesus and stay out of politics. This goes too for the so called Religious Right. When Christians try to jam down their beliefs, rules and laws into politics, they are going against the teachings of Jesus.Jesus never told Rome what to do. He didn't lead protests against the laws or norms of Rome. He confined his attacks to the leaders of Jewish religion, chiding them for claiming to be pillars of morality while being corrupt on the inside. For this and because of the fact he preferred the company of so called sinners over so called saints, as well as preaching it was important to forgive and love rather than condemn and hate, he was executed as a common criminal.Yes, I was born and raised a Roman Catholic, and continue to attend Mass and receive Communion on a regular basis. It is for this reason and because all I was taught in 12 years of Catholic schooling that I become angry with the Church Hierarchy when they interfere with politics, as was recently done when some bishops and cardinals preached that those who voted for Barack Obama were committing a Mortal Sin because Obama is Pro-Choice.I would love to discuss theology with these learned men. I would love to argue with their position. It might be fun to tell them I believe the number one abortionist of all time is none other than God himself who has performed an uncountable number of abortions. I would tell them a rose by any other name is still a rose, and the only difference between an abortion and a miscarriage is the name of the abortionist.But that would be irrelevant. God's ways are not our ways and God's thoughts are not our thoughts. What is relevant is Jesus, the first religious leader who taught the separation of Church and State, and the need to keep them separate so religion is not used to oppress people, as is commonly done by the extreme right of all religions, be they Christian, Muslim or Jew.Listen to Pete being interviewed by Dave Ewen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Circle-Of-Seven/2008/11/15/Readers-Entertainment-Radio-with-guest-Pete-Klein-1 and Fran Siverman at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Francine-Silverman/2008/11/11/The-Radio-Host-Show-For more info, read his books: "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" the hiking guidebook and the vampire novels "The Vampire Valkyrie" and "The Dancing Valkyrie," now available at http://www.lulu.com/ravenwolfpublishPete talks with writers about their books on Saturday evenings, 6:30 pm EST, by going to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Dancing-Valkyrie

Deer Hunting and book signings

2008-10-31T12:26:00.000-04:00

Coming Attractions
On Saturday, Nov. 1, from 6:30 - 7 p.m. on Blog Talk Radio, www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Dancing-Valkyrie Pete Klein will talk with Dan Ladd about his book: Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks.Deer Hunting in the Adirondacks is a 168-page soft cover book self-published by outdoor writer Dan Ladd. Dan has hunted in the Adirondacks for 32 years and enjoys many forms of outdoor recreation in this northern-most section of New York State. His writings appear weekly in The Chronicle newspaper in Glens Falls, monthly in Outdoors Magazine and occasionally in other publications including New York Outdoor News as well as on a number of Web sites. Dan has been the web author of ADKHunter.com since 2000.
BOOK SIGNING AND READINGINLET--Pete Klein, author of the recently published vampire novel, "The Vampire Valkyrie" will be at the Adirondack Reader, Inlet, on Friday, November 28, from 1-3 p.m.He will be signing copies of his latest book, plus copies of "The Dancing Valkyrie," and the hiking guide, "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County."
BOOK SIGNING AND READINGINDIAN LAKE--Pete Klein, author of the recently published vampire novel, "The Vampire Valkyrie" will be at the Indian Lake Library on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11-1 p.m.He will be reading and signing copies of his latest book, plus copies of "The Dancing Valkyrie," and the hiking guide, "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County."
SHIRLEY ROE INTERVIEWShirley Roe will be interviewed on BlogTalkRadio by host Pete Klein on Saturday, Nov. 29, from 6:30 to 7 p.m. EST.The show will be about Roe's latest book, The Whittaker Family Reunion, plus Klein will talk to Roe about her being the Managing Editor and founder of Allbooks Review, founded in 2000 as a review source for POD authors.Everyone is invited to listen in and even call in by going to www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Dancing-Valkyrie

Christians don't follow Jesus

2008-08-29T11:58:00.000-04:00

I've recently read several op/ed pieces where several authors continue to harp on the abortion issue. One area of attack their attacts focuses in on Catholic politicians who don't toe the line as Bishops and the Pope would have them do. These columnists who take the Pro Life position point to Bishops who ask priests not to give Communion to Catholic politicians who are Pro Choice.
To me, these Bishops and the Pope himself are not following in the footsteps of Jesus.
Why do I say this?
Look at the Gospels. No where in any of the Gospels is it recorded that Jesus went after secular rulers and secular law. One could say Jesus was the first advocate for the separation of Church and State. Not even when John the Baptist was imprisoned and then beheaded did Jesus protest. But Jesus did go after the religious leaders of his day, especially singling out those who made a big show of how moral they claimed to be.
It was because he went after the religious leaders of his day that they went after him and used secular law to have him crucified.
This is why I say all so called leaders of all the World Religions who strive to prove how holy they are in the political arena are not following in the footsteps of Jesus.

Abortion by any other name

2008-08-27T14:00:00.000-04:00

Here are my thoughts on abortion - original as far as I know.
While I am and have been a Catholic for over 65 years of my 65 years of life, I don't agree with the Church nor do I agree with its efforts to make abortion illegal.
As far as abortion is concerned, I regard it as something which results from bad choices. No need to list all the bad choices made to result in a woman wondering if she should or should not have an abortion.
But what I would like to point out is how a rose by any other name is still a rose. Same with abortion. Call it an abortion when a woman decides to have an abortion or call it a miscarriage if God is the abortionist if you want - but the result is the same.
In my view, a human does not come into existence until it has both a heart beat and is breathing. In other words, it is not human until it is born and takes its first breath.
Looking at it from a legal standpoint, if we were to decide a human exists at the point of conception as John McCain believes, then we need to do several things.
One: the woman and those performing the abortion should be arrested and tried for murder, then executed or face life in prison, depending on the laws concerning murder.
Two: we would need to eliminate birthday parties and start having conception parties. Kids would like this because they could drive and drink at an earlier age by nine months, and adults would be able to have sex with them at 17 years and three months after their birthday. Conceptual Day would always be a guess.
What's my point? I am sick of people who try to show how moral they claim to be by being against abortion.
Afterthought. Jesus had little use for the "good" people of his day.

Random House is a Coward

2008-08-25T16:38:00.001-04:00

Once again American business has submitted to pressure from Muslims.

Here I am talking about the great publishing house, Random House, who cancelled publication of a new novel from Sherry Jones, The Jewel of Medina, a fictionalized story of one of Muhammad's wives. Why? Because it might "incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment" of Islamists.

The book publishing industry is supposed to stand up for freedom of expression. I guess that doesn't apply to freedom of expression involving anything Muslim.

No other religion is granted the ability to censor the written word as is the Muslim religion. I guess that is because no other religion has violently attacked this country for so called religious reasons.

If the USA is ever again to be regarded as "The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave" this nonsense must stop.

New Vampire Novel

2008-08-05T11:35:00.001-04:00

"The Vampire Valkyrie" takes off where "The Dancing Valkyrie" concluded and resumes the tale of young female vampire who just may become the most dangerous vampire in vampire fiction to date.
The new novel,"The Vampire Valkyrie," by Adirondack author Pete Klein, is the story of a young woman who is an erotic dancer at a topless club she owns in Schenectady, NY.

Indian Lake—August 5, 2008 — A vampire like no other, "The Vampire Valkyrie" continues the tale of Mary Hoffman, aka Erica, the Dancing Valkyrie, who fights to protect her erotic dance club and her girls from mobsters who want to control her and her club - or kill her if she resists.
A Schenectady City Councilwoman wants to pass legislation to close down or strictly limit the operation of adult businesses, an a upstate crime boss wants control of Mary and her club and a New York City crime family seeks to discredit the upstate crime boss through Mary and her club. Many people die, both the innocent and the guilty, as a result of Mary's determination to save herself, her girls and her club, while wondering if she should stop being involved with humans and just kill all who infringe upon her freedom as a vampire.
The new novel is now available at www.lulu.com/ravenwolfpublish and will soon be listed in Books in Print, Ingram's database in the US; and Bertrams & Gardners, Nielsons Bookdata in the UK and at most popular online book sellers from Japan, the US and Canada, and the UK, France and Germany.
Klein says, "When I found Anne Rice and her vampire novels, I felt someone was finally seeing beyond the cli' ches that had developed over the years. But I wanted to probe deeper by developing vampires, not demons, created by God for whatever reason God might want to create vampires. They would have to be of flesh and blood. They would have to be a unique creature not yet captured or studied by humans. Mary was the result, a vampire more deadly than any vampire I have read about in books or seen in the movies - deadly but strangely moral in the ways of a vampire."

Book Publish and Promoting

2008-06-16T11:08:00.001-04:00

Thoughts on Lulu.com

My feeling about Lulu comes down to money. For about $100 you get an ISBN and what they call Global Distribution , which means your book is printed by Lightning and distributed through Ingram to online and regular retailers who chose to purchase a print on demand (POD) book.
Cost per book is based upon pages. To give you two examples: my Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County costs me $7.66 when I order for local sales, while the Dancing Valkyrie cost me $9.18.
I did all the work; writing, editing etc.
For someone who wants extra help, services are available for a cost.
My reason for going the POD route was simple. Time. I do have an old and dear friend, a literary agent at Harold Ober Assoc. Inc., NYC. She did accept The Dancing Valkyrie and sent it out to a traditional publisher who took 7 months before passing on it. I know a first rejection does not mean a manuscript will never find a home. I also know it is not unusual for a manuscript to go through many publishers before finding a home. But considering I was approaching 65, which I now am, I thought "who knows how long I will live" and decided to go with the least expensive POD I could find.
When one considers even a book published by a traditional publisher has no guarantee sales will exceed a few thousand copies and even a $5,000 advance on royalties might never hit the breakeven point for the publisher, I think it is a mistake for those who choose to self-publish, to lay out more money for a book than the traditional publisher is willing to front.
Out of curiosity, I recently checked out Xlibris and saw where they charge from $299 to $12,999 to publish with them. The $299 only gets you an ISBN and a web page listing with them. To get a package similar to what Lulu offers for about $100 would cost you $499.
Do the math! I think some of these POD outfits are selling a dream that will probably never be reached.
All marketing efforts have been done by me.
In addition to the above, Lulu has some stock front and back covers available for free. They also have templates for covers as no charge. If you use the templates, just convert to jpg and send. Pay for services are also available.
I convert my document to PDF using the free CutePDF.
After you download everything to Lulu, within a short period of time, you order a proof copy which should not take more than a week to receive. After receiving, if everything is up to snuff, you place an order for the distribution package you want, decide on the price and set up your own Lulu web page - and you are done.
The way everything is set up, even a caveman could do it.
By the way, want your book reviewed? I can highly recommend AllBooks Review. Both of my books were reviewed there for modest fee, with reviews posted on Amazon, Barnes and Noble etc. I am a reviewer there and, if you want, you can choose me to do the review. Check them out at: http://www.allbookreviews.com/
"Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" the hiking guidebook and the vampire novel "The Dancing Valkyrie" are now available from Pete Klein at http://www.lulu.com/ravenwolfpublish
New! Talk about book and promote it with Pete Klein (no charge and you can later download the podcast for your marketing) on Saturday evenings, 6:30 pm EST, by going to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Dancing-Valkyrie
For more information, email Pete Klein at kleinpete@hotmail.com

Where to buy books by Pete Klein

2008-06-02T14:16:00.001-04:00

Where to buy The Dancing Valkyrie and/or Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County as if May 28 2008
In New York, book stores where copies of Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County or The Dancing Valkyrie may be purchased at the store or online include the following:
Mysteries on Main Street, Johnstown; Adirondack Country Store, Northville; Charlie Johns, Speculator; The Lake Store, Sabael; Pick-It-Patch, Indian Lake; Pines Country Store, Indian Lake; The Adirondack Museum, Blue Mt. Lake; The Ol' Station, Blue Mt. Lake; Blue Mountain Outfitters, Blue Mt. Lake; Hoss's Country Corner, Long Lake; Adirondack Reader, Inlet; Old Forge Hardware, Old Forge; Fact & Fiction, Saranac Lake.
Where to buy (over 31 online stores throughout the world)
Nationally and internationally at: Half.com, Barnes&Noble, BookQuest, Abebooks, Amazon USA, Canada, UK, FR, GR, JP, A1books, The Adirondack Book House, TextbookX, Half.com, Buy.com, Ecampus, Booksamillion, Booksamillion, eBay.com, Alibris Powells, USA and Canada, Biblio, Valorebooks, Bookfellas, Computer Manuals, Sprintbooks, Biggerbooks, Page1book, Indigo, Tesco

Saving the Environment

2008-05-28T16:05:00.000-04:00

Just about everybody says they want to save the environment, stop global warming, save the polar bears, reduce polution, etc.
Really? I wonder.
Saving the environment in all its forms is beginning to remind of the War on Poverty. Remember that war, the one that has been almost as successful as the War on Drugs and sure to be as successful at the War on Terrorism.
I think all of these 'wars' are fought with the best of intentions, especially the War on Poverty and the War to save the Environment. But there is a problem. It's called "human nature."
In the case of efforts to save the environment, in my view, all efforts are doomed to failure if the basic problem is not recognized and dealt with. I am talking about the continued growth in the human population.
Every additional human equals more and more consumption of everything. As the bad guy in the Matrix movies so cruelly noted, humans are the disease. "We have met the enemy and the enemy is us," said Pogo, a cartoon character.
What I most fear is that we will do nothing, be like a cancerous growth, and stop growing only after we kill off our host.

Books not to read

2008-05-27T10:32:00.001-04:00

Books not to read

I will read just about everything and anything, including what is printed on cereal boxes. I do have my preferences. Fiction in just about any category comes first, followed by science, philosophy and theology.
What I tend to avoid is any and all of what I call "By/With" books. If you can't write it yourself, nuts to you and your book. Neither do I care for autobiographies and memoirs. What is the difference between an autobiography and a memoir? I'm not really sure but tend to think something is called a memoir when it less throughly researched than an autobiography. In other words, "I'm not sure what really happened to me or why someone did what I think they did to me, but this is how I feel" No thank you. If you're not sure, I couldn't care less.
But probably the number one group of books I won't read no matter if they are fact or fiction or what is any book that has the name of anyone who is famous and has lots of money. Screw all books by all CEO's, famous actors and others in the entertainment industries, including sport figures, politicians, etc.
You know darn well the books were written to make more money for the eternally greedy. No thank you very much

Faggy reporters

2008-05-25T06:35:00.001-04:00

The media is full of creeps who wish to destroy free speech while they claim to be its protectors. To suggest Clinton did anything wrong in mentioning the assassination of Bobby Kennedy shows nothing but the media's faggy bottom political BS.

Promote your book

2008-02-01T15:39:00.000-05:00

Want to be on (interviewed) on Pete Klein's Adirondack Book House?
It's simple and fun to do.
The program is a half hour on most Saturdays, 6:30 - 7 p.m.
The location is on Blog Talk Radio www.blogtalkradio.com/The-Dancing-Valkyrie
You can go there anytime to listen to past programs and see when the next program is scheduled.
Feel free to call in during any show while in progress at 1-646-716-8094.
If you want to scheduled an interview, send an email to me at kleinpete@hotmail.com
In the email, tell me what your book title is, what it's it about, a copy of a review if you have one and what Saturday date (6:30 - 7 p.m.) would be best for you.
If the date you pick is open, I'll confirm. If it isn't open, I'll suggest a different date.
That's all you need to do to be scheduled on the show. But like I said, you can always call in.
One last point.
If you haven't had your book reviewed but would like to have it done and have the review posted on Amazon, may I suggest you check out All Books Review at www.allbooksreview.com
Thanks, for your interest and I hope to soon be talking with you.
Pete Klein

Free Money?

2008-01-19T11:30:00.000-05:00

I see where the government is thinking of sending all tax payers some money. Maybe as much as $800. Our fearless leaders are afraid there is or might be a recession and they hope this will jump start the economy - get people to spend money to revive the economy.
I think I'm like everyone. I'll take the money (They took from me) but I have no intention to shop till I drop.
My plan, and maybe it should be the plan for many, is to pay down or off some credit cards. Tax time is coming and if you owe the IRS some money, you might just as well use your money to pay them. The price of fuel oil, propane and electric getting you down? How about paying those bills and getting your tanks filled up so you don't freeze to death?
In other word, unless you are rich, be smart with this money if it comes. Don't go out and buy junk from China! Be smarter than our elected officials by lowering your debts.
That's my plan. What's yours?

Wish List

2008-01-13T15:17:00.001-05:00

A Wish List

I'm a bit bored and cynical today. In the mood of the song "Don't Care Anymore" by Phil Collins.
I don't care about Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, the Palestinians, Iran, any place in the Middle East or any Muslim country.
I don't care who gets elected president. I figure, anyone dumb enough to want to be president deserves what they get.
Isn't it amazing people running for president will spend more money than the job pays?
Global warming? In the 50's there were predictions that palm trees would be growing in NYC Central Park within 10 years. The 70's saw predictions the next ice age would arrive in 10 years. Now we are back to palm trees in NYC. Go figure.
But if the issue is pollution and how we humans are trashing the planet, there is only one practical solution: reduce the human population by half and hold it at half of what it now is. More people equals more pollution.
Here in New York, I am sick of Bruno, Silver and Governor Pitaki. They are three alpha males acting like monkeys. Please may there be aliens from a galaxy far, far away who will take these three away.
Speaking of aliens. We should let everyone in or keep everyone out. If we are going to keep everyone out, that should include Cubans and the English.
The way things are going, it might not be long before everyone wants to leave the USA for China to make a living.
Feel free to add your own "I don't care anymore thoughts."
Remember, you can talk to me live on Blog Talk Radio on Saturdays at 6:30 pm. Also, I now have a web-cam so we can talk and see me at the same time.

Inlet Book Signing

2007-11-10T11:44:00.000-05:00

Coming Attractions

BOOKS/WRITING

INLET--Pete Klein, author of the vampire novel, The Dancing Valkyrie, and the hiking guide, Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County, will be at the Adirondack Reader book store on Friday, Nov. 23, from 2 - 4 p.m. to sign copies of both books.
The Dancing Valkyrie is a vampire story set in the Adirondacks and the Schenectady area. Allbooks Review says of it: "This is an absolute must read if you are a vampire fan."
Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County is a trail guide to trails in and on the border with Hamilton County. Many of the hikes described were originally published in the Hamilton County News where Klein is a reporter. It is the first published book to confine itself to hiking trails in Hamilton County, and includes much information on DEC campsites and other attractions.

Step it Up and Earth Day

2007-04-07T15:31:00.000-04:00

Step it Up and Earth Day are coming. What's to be done about Global Warming?
Actually, the solution to all environmental problems is very simple. A two pronged attack will solve everything and it won't cost a dime.
First, stop the growth in human population.
Second, reverse the population level to about half of what it now is.
Of course, business, governments and religions would fight like hell to prevent either solution from happening. All three have a vested interest in there being more and more people.
Business and government are only interested in their own wealth and power here and now, without much interest in the future beyond their lifetime.
Religions, many if not most, can hardly wait for the end of the world. They are more interested in having as many people born as quickly as possible so some magic number of souls can be reached, thus ending this world.
Sorry to be so blunt and negative but efforts to cut back on pollution to slow or stop global warming are destined to failure because more and more people is what creates more and more pollution.
More people equals more houses and cars which cause pollution to build and maintain.
More and more people equals the need for more and more and more food, which equals more and more forestland converted to farm land, which equals the need for more and more fertilizer and more and more water, and more and more fish being caught and on and on and on.
I think you get the idea.

Ban assault rifles

2007-03-03T15:36:00.000-05:00

I saw in the NY Times today where a well known hunter and outdoor writer basically had his career killed, "shot down" one might say, by the NRA because he dared to write in his blog that assault rifles should be banned.
His name is Jim Zumbo.
In the land of the free and the home of the brave, I guess the NRA believes you are free to speak as long as you march in lock step with the NRA and if you are brave enough to disagree with them you had best be prepared to have your career ruined.
I must confess I used to belong to the NRA back in the 70's, belonged until they became a right wing political organization who never saw a gun they didn't love and campaigned for capital (or is it capitol?) punishment. I also admit to owning one rifle.
Having said that, let me say the following.
When the so-called assault rifles started being sold to the public, I thought they were geeky and nerdy.
I, like Zumbo, just never liked the looks of them and have always liked the traditional rifles, shot guns and pistols.
For those of you who don't know what exactly is a legally sold assault rifle, it is a knock-off in appearance of a military rifle. I say it looks like a military rifle but it does not have the full firepower abilities of an AK-47 or whatever other military rifle. It is not fully automatic.
But here is the problem. While all guns are dangerous (even BB guns), a knock-off is not only dangerous but it can be intimidating in appearance. This is why Zumbo thinks they should be banned.
I will add another reason. Those who buy them buy them because they look dangerous. It's a macho thing for little boys. They probably never used a real assault rifle but they like to pretend. And dare I say for these overgrow children, the assault rifle compensates for what they don't have in their underpants.

Sneaking into Bagdad

2007-02-17T16:43:00.000-05:00

n today's news, it was widely reported that Defense Secretary Rice arrived in Bagdad unannounced.
Ever notice how all our fearless leaders arrive in Bagdad unannounced?
Ever wonder why? Ever wonder why the press doesn't say, "So and so snuck into Bagdad because they are chicken-shit."
Maybe they believe their lives are more important than "our brave troops" they are always talking about.
Do you think so?
Are the lives of our leaders so precious while the lives of the troops are expendable?
I would think that is exactly what our leaders believe, based on how they are always sneaking here and sneaking there.
How did we get here? How did we come to the point where the average citizen is supposed to tell all and show all to those who tell nothing and hide everything.
Why should we bend over, touch our toes and spread our cheeks while those in government classify everything "Top Secret" and sneak and spy and do everything that would put us in jail?
Why do we trust a government that doesn't trust us?
I think our troops should leave Bagdad unannounced.

The lure of vampires

2007-02-04T13:51:00.000-05:00

The lure of vampires (or why they remain popular in books and movies) is, I believe, more about staying young in appearance than it is about not dying. After all, in many vampire stories, vampires get killed at ages younger than they would die of natural causes.
Youth and good looks is really what the attraction is. I am certain no one would want to become a vampire if they were to become one when old and looking old. The older, the less the attraction to becoming a vampire.
So, here we reach the deep level of attraction - sex: to be sexual, to be attractive so as to be sexual, long beyond old age.
The bottom line in the attraction is sexual. No other creature in horror stories is as sexual as the vampire.

Right to Life

2007-01-28T16:56:00.000-05:00

Today is Right to Life Sunday in Catholic Churches.
While I am a Catholic, I do not support the effort to make abortion
illegal.
My reasoning is simple. Personally, I don't believe a fetus is a human
being until it is born and breathes on its own.
But putting aside the argument of a fetus being or not being a
humanbeing, I find the idea of making abortion illegal a very scary
idea.
Would anyone who wants to make abortion illegal be satisfied if it
were listed as a misdemeanor with a fine of $5 or $10 levied against
all involved: doctor, nurse and woman having the abortion?
I doubt it.
Then what? Twenty years in jail? The death penalty?
No one talks about that and that is why I do not support making
abortion illegal. Period!
I might also add - just for fun. If human life begins at conception
and a human being exists for the nine months it is in the mother's
womb, should we all get rid of birthdays and start having parties on
the day our mother and father had some sexual fun?
Could we get our drivers licenses and be old enough to drink nine
months sooner than the law now allows?

Global warming

2007-01-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

Some people are afraid of vampires. How's this for real horror?
I recently posted "How to solve the gay marriage issue."
In the same vein, I'll talk about global warming.
While I have doubts about global warming, I have no issue with the many
suggestions offered to stop it - except for one.
It seems most solutions have something to due with reducing pollution.
No problem. I support.
But I am sorry to see the main reason for pollution not being
addressed.
In the early 1950's the population of the US was about 150 million. Now
it stands at 300 million.
That equal a doubling of the population. More people equals more
pollution, more consumption, more solid waste.
This should all be obvious.
It should also be obvious that because both government and business
have a vested interest in there being more and more people to get more
and more money from, neither business nor government have an interest
in reducing the number one cause of global warming - more and more
people.

Solving the gay marriage issue

2007-01-25T09:53:00.000-05:00

The easiest way to solve the gay/lesbian marriage issue is to get
governments out of the marriage business altogether.
In place of a marriage license, issue certificates to everyone and
anyone who wants a legal document for all the reasons straights, gays
and lesbians want a marriage license.
Then the issue of marriage is left up to the individuals and whatever
religion they belong to.
Let's face it. If marriage is a sacred union, how can anything the
government does be sacred?
How many people realize no one marries anyone except for the two people
who are getting married. Everyone else (including priests, justices of
the peace and tug boat captains) are just witnesses to the marriage.

Letting it all hang out

2007-01-22T15:17:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you got to let it all hangout and take a chance.
My new book, the vampire book about an erotic dancer who becomes a vampire "The Dancing Valkyrie" is doing fair on-line and in a few bookstores.
I am about 30,000 words into the sequel.
On my web-page at GeoCities, I have clickable links to my publishing site "The Adirondack Book House."
Just for fun, I also have a clickable link to two photos of me. One as a vampire going to a Halloween party this past October and one of me with nothing on. Obviously not 21 but not too bad - I hope.
If you laugh, I won't hear you.
The location for the book and for the nude photo is at http://www.geocities.com/kleinpete/
To see the photos of me at the Geo site, click just below the dancing girl on the right side of the page.
Comments welcome here or at GEO

Merry Christmas

2006-12-22T20:06:00.000-05:00

Been away for awhile. Very busy with stories for the paper and slowly getting over the headaches that started in early November.
The time to have Christmas was a great idea. One week from the end of the year and close to the date for Pagan practices.
It has been said many Romans cried the birth of Jesus meant the death of Pan.
I understand the reasoning but I think a closer inspection could suggest all the Pagan Gods and Goddess' were saved from permanent death by the birth of Jesus. There are just so many similarities between Christianity and Paganism. Each supports the other, although they often seem at odds. It's almost as though the two are a married couple who often fight and disagree but would be lost without the balance of the other.

Moral vs. Legal

2006-11-04T11:00:00.000-05:00

Several terms are used interchangeably when they are very different and are often in opposition.
What is moral is not always legal and what is legal is not always moral.
Adding to the linguistic problem is how what is moral is not always agreed upon. Different religions, different cultures, even individuals within the different religions and cultures do not always agree.
A few examples of how morality and legality can collide should suffice.
Currently in the USA, it is legal for banks to charge whatever interest on credit cards they think they can get away with and not have everyone cut up their credit cards. These banks are run for the most part by people who will claim to be members of the Christian or Jewish faiths. And yet, the Old Testament condemns usury. Where do you draw the line? Where does the economic need to charge interest pass the line from the cost of doing business and making a profit pass the line to violating the immorality of usury? Is it 5% above prime, 10% above prime or is 20 % above prime okay?
While we have eliminated debtors prisons, we seem to have created a debtors hell for many with interest rates rising (legally) if the debtor has any problem paying a debt. If a person is struggling to pay a debt, is it moral to raise the interest rate further beyond what they were having a problem paying?
One more example. Marijuana.
MJ is illegal. But is it immoral? Or to put it another way. Other than the illegal situation, is there any moral difference between driving while intoxicated by booze and driving while high on MJ? I put it this way because I can see problems with both booze and MJ. Jesus apparently drank. The Bible says he created wine out of water so everyone could continue to have a good time at a wedding. God created MJ, so it would seem the Creator had no more of a problem with MJ than with grapes.
I can't resist one more example. Thou shalt not kill.
The Bible does not say "Thou shalt not kill except if the government gives you permission." Neither does the Bible say it is okay to lie, steal and kill if National Security requires it.
You may not agree with these few examples but I think you must agree that what is moral and what is legal are not the same thing. The government, any government, can jail and kill people who have not done anything immoral but who have broken a law. That is what happened to Jesus.

Prices Drop

2006-10-17T10:20:00.000-04:00

Nothing against Amazon and certainly nothing against the many fine book stores who compete against Amazon and other on-line retailers.
But for those of you who are kind enough to stop by my own on-line retail store at www.lulu.com/ravenwolfpublish I have decided to lower the price on "The Dancing Valkyrie" and "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" so as to offer there prices slightly lower than at Amazon.
"The Dancing Valkyrie" has dropped from $20.89 to $18.99, making it about $1 lower than on Amazon!
"Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" has dropped from $19.49 to $15.46, making it 50 cents lower than on Amazon!
And don't forget, some items are only available at my on-line store. There you can find a new 2007 calendar showing monthly photos of Adirondack scenes, plus a DVD and CD with over 100 photos taken of the Adirondacks that make for a great screen saver, plus a free chapter of the next book in "The Dancing Valkyrie" saga.
I can't promise the free chapter will make it into the finished book, but it will give you an idea of where the story might be heading.
Stop in and take a look-see.

Peak Color

2006-10-14T20:10:00.000-04:00

Having lived in the Adirondacks of Hamilton County for +18 years, I've come to realize, if I didn't already know, the whole idea of "peak color" is a delusional idea.
The only way there could ever be peak color would be if all the trees were the same species.
Where I live, color starts in mid August with red maples. By early September, the sugar maples begin to change color.
The closest we come to what could be called peak color, if you insist on the idea, is during the time between the last week in September and the first week in October. But even then, peak color can be gone in a day or never even come if we get a good rain or wind storm - both of which are not an uncommon event.
Here it is, mid October, and over 90% of the leaves are down. But not to worry because now the beech and the few oak we have are deep orange. There are also some poplar and aspen still in their yellow colors. The beech never give up all their leaves until spring when new buds push the last off.
The tamarack or larch (your choice of name) are just beginning to turn yellow and will be golden by late this month.
So, although one could say there is never such a thing as peak color in the central Adirondacks, what is lost is gained in having color start in mid August and carry on in varying degrees until the first of November.
Oh, yes. And let us not forget the black, white and red spruce, and the white and red pines that give us green throughout the winter.

Bush hopes for global warming

2006-10-05T09:16:00.000-04:00

Now we know why the Bush regiem likes global warming.
I just saw an AFP news item from Canada where it was stated, "The disputes have grown in importance as scientists believe that global warming could open up the Northwest Passage to year-round cargo shipping by 2050, and allow the exploitation of resources like oil and natural gas in the Arctic."
The story was in relationship to Canada and how it plans to deal with the Artic Council.
So now we have the truth of the matter. If the Northwest Passage is open to shipping - and drilling - year-round, many companies can make more money by poluting even more.
To hell with Democracy. Full steam (or should I say "polution") for Capitalism.

Glens Falls book signing

2006-10-02T16:20:00.000-04:00

Pete Klein, author of the new vampire novel, "The Dancing Valkyrie," and the hiking guide, "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County," will be at the Queensbury Hotel, Glens Falls, on Sunday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. signing copies of both books during "The Chronicle Book Fair."

Muslims need to get real.

2006-09-19T09:53:00.000-04:00

Muslims need to get real - and so does everyone who isn't a Muslim.
In the NY Times today, John L. Allen Jr., Vatican correspondent for The National Catholic Reporter, wrote, "While Saudis contributed tens of millions of dollars to build Europe’s largest mosque in Rome, Christians cannot build churches in Saudi Arabia. Priests in Saudi Arabia cannot leave oil-industry compounds or embassy grounds without fear of reprisals from the mutawa, the religious police."
Fair is fair. While Muslims are always demanding someone apologize for every perceived slight and offense, they apologize for nothing.
Isn't it time for all who aren't Muslims to demand Muslims either shut up or grant the balance of the world the right to live according to their beliefs and customs without fear of being killed?

Pope offends Muslims

2006-09-16T11:00:00.000-04:00

Once again, the Muslims are offended. This time it wasn't cartoons that offended them. It was the Pope.
Personally, I don't see where any human has the right to be offended about anything. No one is that holy or that pure. And if they were, they wouldn't be offended because they would realize being offended falls under the sin of pride.
Be that as it may, while I am not offended by the Muslims being offended, I am sick and tired of their constant whining. To be fair, fundamentalist Christians do a lot of whining too - another group constantly complaining about how offended they are about this, that and the other thing.
I think what all this whining is really about is there is a group of people out there who really hate being human. They would like to be pure spirits. To have a body, offends them. Flesh and bone frightens them.
If they were offended by the Pope - accidentally - let me see what I can do intentionally.
In my vampire novel "The Dancing Valkyrie" one of the vampire characters talks about the real Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, who, as she says, prevented the Turks from turning Romania into the Islamic mess they made of Yugoslavia and Albania. For the Romanians, Dracula was and is a hero! It was fear of the Muslim sword that caused many Christians to convert to Islam and create the problem that still exists in that area.
Yes, Christians should be ashamed of the Crusades. But the Muslim world has much to be ashamed of in their past. Pots and kettles shouldn't be calling each other black.

And God Created Vampires

2006-09-03T16:16:00.000-04:00

Just playing with some ideas for my follow-up to my vampire novel: The Dancing Valkyrie.

And God Created Vampires

And God created vampires to serve as a reminder,
Of love undiminished by chaos,
Of love uncorrupted by death.

The liquid red of blood bleeds,
Sucked as the womb sucks sperm,
Combining blood with blood,
Birthing in the imagination of the mind,
The eternal reality of sex.

The eternal reality of God becoming Goddess,
Goddess becoming God,
Making order out of chaos,
Chaos out of order,
Life out of death,
Destroying the virtual reality of the mundane,
In the true reality of the ecstasy of bloody sex.

For in the mind of humans,
Every act of sex is an act of death,
While in the mind of the Divine,
Every death is an act of sex.

Naked as in birth, the body submits to being flesh,
Disrobing the control of mind,
Freeing the spirit to soar,
As the mind dies into pleasure,
And sees the chaos the God and Goddess enjoy,
Not but for a moment,
But for the infinite eternity of an orgasm shared.

Protecting children

2006-07-27T15:58:00.000-04:00

I saw on WebPro News where, "The US Congress passed a bill into law this week aimed at protecting children from on-line predators. The law dictates how hyperlinks and domain names leading to sexual content may be presented. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 prohibits "misleading" domain names and links."
Without knowing all the details of this law, the ideas behind include recent thoughts of mine.
This idea of children is getting out of hand. Young people - presumably anyone under 21? - are children when the government wants them to be children and are adults when the government wants them to be adults.
Whoever said a rose is a rose by any other name never met our fearless leaders in the US government. When lawyers get busy, no word is safe.
Being 64 and counting, I remember when in grade school we would seek out the good stuff in Payton Place and Lady Chatterley's Lover. Not sure of the spelling and ain't going to take the time to look it up.
When I became a teenager, I figured I was an adult, no matter what the law said. Every guy I knew would have jumped at the chance to have an affair with any good looking woman no matter her age. "Eight to Eighty, deaf, crippled, blind and crazy," was okay as we used to say but never did.
What's my point?
My point is we live in a time of fantasy where childhood innocence has become a false god - unless of course you want to try the little twirp in a court of law as an adult where even an execution becomes a possibility.

Naughty words

2006-07-25T11:53:00.000-04:00

I read the other day where PBS is worried about airing the Ken Burns documentary on WW II. Seems as though there will be some raunchy language used by the Greatest Generation and PBS fears they could be fined by the FCC if the program is aired in prime time.
Oh dear! We must protect the public from sex and naughty words. But when the blood of war is on the agenda, as President Bush would say, "Bring it on!"
Are we a stupid people or what?
If parents want to shield their little ones from sex and nasty words, that is not only their right but their duty.
But that right and duty is neither the right nor the duty of those in public office.
I get PO'd over the government deciding what is appropriate. Secrets, secrets, secrets seems to be the mantra of the current regime. Must protect the public. If God wanted to protect the public, we would all be deaf, dumb and blind. Is that the roll of government - to protect the public by making it deaf, dumb and blind?

Adirondack Vampires & Witches: More on non Christian

2006-07-24T16:22:00.000-04:00

Adirondack Vampires & Witches: More on non Christian

More on non Christian

2006-07-16T15:45:00.000-04:00

There are many kind Christians in this country. As an old saying goes, "The government has better citizens than it deserves."
There used to be an older saying that said, "All you have to do is die and pay taxes." To that has been added, "Shop until you drop."
As to the holier than thou crowd, correct me if I am wrong, but I see no difference between radical fundamentalist Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc., etc.
To paraphrase Mr. Bush, "They hate freedom." Bush says "Democracy." I say freedom is what they hate.

Not a Christian Nation

2006-07-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

This is a legit post, but also an effort to do something

As I started to say, This is not a Christian Nation - and I say, "Thank God!"
But seriously, if this were a Christian nation, we would still have plenty of "sinners" but we would not have the "Holier than Thou" crowd. We would not have a society that seems bent only on consumerism. Everything would not be about the "bottom line." Our banks would not be competeing with loan sharks to see how much interest they can charge. Our government would not be so secretive. The government would ask more of itself than its citizens and it would trust its citizens.

Writing in the Adirondacks

2006-07-11T10:42:00.000-04:00

From a personal point of view, I like living in the Adirondacks. From a writer's point of view, especially one who rejects any consideration of what may offend someone somewhere, there are times when I wish I were back living in the New York of the 60's.
Having recently published two very different books has cristalized these two different feelings.
I can easily go out and get my hiking book, "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County," into local book stores and other retail outlets.
But with my vampire novel, "The Dancing Valkyrie," the opposite is true - and this in spite of the fact that much of the action in the novel takes place here in the Adirondacks.
I know that if I were living in New York, the success of "The Dancing Valkyrie" would climb while the success of "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" would decline.
Also, living in New York would provide many more outlets to sell the books.
But I like living where I am so I struggle forward, hoping for a little witchcraft magic to help "The Dancing Valkyrie" to find its market.
The book is not for everyone. It is not for those who wouldn't read a vampire novel if it were given to them. It is not for those who "become offended" by explicit sex (mostly lesbian), a plethora of four-letter words and some graphic violence.
Yet behind behind of all these potentially offensive things and what makes, I believe, these offensive things neccessary, is the primary idea I had when writing the book. What might vampires really be like if they were to exist and if they were created by God.
Perhaps that is the most offensive thing some will find in the book - and it is there I do mean to offend.

Book Signing at Fact & Fiction, Saranac Lake

2006-07-10T16:02:00.000-04:00

Book signing in Saranac Lake
On Thursday, July 20, between 4-7 p.m. at the Fact & Fiction book store in Saranac Lake, Adirondack author Peter Klein will be signing copies of his two new books, "The Dancing Valkyrie," a novel about vampires in the Adirondacks, and "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County," a hiking guide.

New Book stores added

2006-07-03T11:37:00.000-04:00

New stores added in and near the Adirondack Park where you can purchase copies of Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County or The Dancing Valkyrie. Stores are listed from south to north. If store is out of stock, remind them to reorder.
Mysteries on Main Street, Johnstown
Adirondack Country Store, Northville
Charlie Johns, Speculator
The Lake Store, Sabael
Pick-It-Patch, Indian Lake
Pines Country Store, Indian Lake
The Adirondack Museum, Blue Mt. Lake
The Ol' Station, Blue Mt. Lake
Blue Mountain Outfitters, Blue Mt. Lake
Hoss's Country Corner, Long Lake
Old Forge Hardware, Old Forge
Fact & Fiction, Saranac Lake

Let Freedom Ring

2006-07-02T16:13:00.000-04:00

Well, here we are. The Fourth of July is almost here. The Spirit of 76. Give me liberty of give me death.
But do we still feel that way? Did the spirit of freedom die on 911 when "everything changed"?
Maybe I am just getting old. I turn 64 this year. Do I have a faulty memory. But it does seem to me the average American has less freedom today than was had back in the 40's, 50's and 60's when I was much younger than I am today.
What seems really odd to me is how leaders in our government seem to want us to believe this is a very dangerous world and we might need to give up some of our freedoms and privacy in order to be protected. This seems odd because the threat today is far less than what it was during the Cold War.
In my mind, the so called War on Terrorism just cannot compete with WW II and the Cold War.
You can't blame this odd state of affairs just on Bush or the Republican Party. When it comes to taking away our freedoms, the Democrats are busy taking away one half of our freedoms while the Republicans work hard to take away the other half. I guess you could call that a real bi-partisan effort to take away all our freedoms.
Have a happy and free Fourth. Maybe exercise your freedom by breaking a few laws like set off some firecrackers, smoke a cigarette where you are not allowed - or - in the name of shameless self promotion - read my book, The Dancing Valkyrie, which has a lot of sex, violence and four-letter words.

Book signing in Saranac Lake

2006-06-04T10:05:00.000-04:00

On Thursday, June 15, between 2-6 p.m., I will be signing copies of my two books, The Dancing Valkyrie and Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County at the Fact & Fiction book store at 14 Broadway, just below the parking lot.

Reviews: bad is good?

2006-05-28T12:27:00.000-04:00

I wish I were as psychic as my vampires in my novel, The Dancing Valkyrie. If I were, I would not have wasted my money by sending out a free book for someone to review at a New York college, someone studying to be a librarian who took offense to my main character being a librarian who also worked as erotic dancer in a topless club.
Oh, dear me. How offensive could I be?
But I never looked at my character that way. How could I when I have a cousin who used to dance in a topless club and knew a nurse who helped put her way through college by dancing in a topless club.
I guess that's the breaks. Some people like a book for the same reasons someone else dislikes the book.

Book Stores

2006-05-26T13:43:00.000-04:00

There are a few more book stores I need to see. But if you are coming to the Adirondacks this Memorial Day weekend, my vampire book, The Dancing Valkyrie, and the hiking guide, Adirondack Hikes In Hamilton County, are now available at the following locations, moving from south to north.
Mysteries on Main Street, Johnstown; Adirondack Country Store, Northville; Charley Johns, Speculator; The Lake Store, Sabael; Pick-It-Patch, Indian Lake; The Adirondack Museum, Blue Mountain Lake; and Fact & Fiction, Saranac Lake.

Book Signing at Mysteries on Main Street, Johnstown

2006-04-15T16:47:00.000-04:00

Adirondack author Peter Klein will autograph copies and do readings from two new books at Mysteries on Main Street in Johnstown on Saturday, May 3, from 1-3 p.m.

Adirondack author Peter Klein will be autographing copies and doing readings of two new books, "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County," a hiking guide, and "The Dancing Valkyrie," a vampire novel, at Mysteries on Main Street, Johnstown on Saturday, May 3, from 1-3 p.m.

BLUE MT. LAKE—April 15— Peter Klein, a reporter for the Hamilton County News, has recently published a hiking guide to trails in the Adirondacks of Hamilton County, appropriately titled: Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County, and a fictional vampire novel titled: The Dancing Valkyrie.
ADIRONDACK HIKES IN HAMILTON COUNTY
"Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" (ISBN # 1411675142) is the first published hiking guide aimed only at trails and attractions in Hamilton County, NY.
In addition to being a trail guide, the book offers tips on many outdoor activities, state campgrounds, local chambers of commerce and who to call in an emergency.
Klein says, "The hikes listed are hikes I have taken with my "hiking buddies," my granddaughters, who have kept me young and have provided me the needed excuse to get out and enjoy the woods. Most of the hiking stories have previously appeared in "The Hamilton County News" where I work as a reporter. Many readers of the paper have suggested over the years that I should put the hiking stories together in book form. and this guide is the result."
THE DANCING VALKYRIE
With "The Dancing Valkyrie" (ISBN # 1411659651) Klein is breaking new ground in the popular but much over copied horror genre - the vampire novel.
"The Dancing Valkyrie" is the story of a young woman who is an erotic dancer at a topless club in Schenectady, who while on a hike in the wilds of the Adirondacks, is seduced by a female vampire over 500 years old (but doesn't look a day older than 25) and is made into a vampire.
The novel follows her rapid acclimation into being what she was born to be - a vampire with a lust for both blood and sex - and draws to a conclusion when she meets the real Van Helsing, a vampire who lives to kill other vampires!
Klein says, "I became fascinated with vampire stories in grade school when I first saw the original movie "Dracula" on TV. My interest deepened because my grandparents on my father's side came to this country from Romania, the country in which both the real and the fictional Dracula came from."
Reading Dracula the novel in his early 20's made Klein see the story was deeply erotic.
Klein says, "When I found Anne Rice and her vampire novels, I felt someone was finally seeing beyond the cli' ches that had developed over the years. But I still was not fully satisfied. I felt that if there really were vampires, they could not possibly be demons. They would have to be of flesh and blood. They would have to be a unique creature not yet captured or studied by humans."
"The Dancing Valkyrie" was the result - with vampires of flesh and blood.
Initial reports from readers say, "This is a real page-turner.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Pete Klein has been living in the Adirondacks for the past 19 years and has been a reporter for the Hamilton County News for the past four years. He is already working on the sequel to "The Dancing Valkyrie."
MEDIA CONTACT
Email Klein at : e-mail protected from spam bots, or write to him at: Peter Klein, PO Box 215, Blue Mt. Lake, NY, 12812. The phone number is 518-352-7660.
Both books are available at Mysteries on Main Street

Free Vampire Book Chapter

2006-04-04T21:52:00.000-04:00

Finally! Both "The Dancing Valkyrie" and "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" are in the Global Distrubution chain and are starting to sell through online book stores in the US, Canada, England, France and Germany. Also, interest is starting to build in regular brick and mortar stores.
Now for something really new. For those of you who have "The Dancing Valkyrie"and are anxious for more, you won't have to waite for the entire sequel to be written and published.
I have already made available here the first chapter of the sequel, "The Dance of Blood," and you get to read it for FREE! That's right - No Charge!
This is your chance to offer your opinions, tell me what you like - and what you don't like.
Wait! There's more, as the say on TV for things costing only $19.99. If you let me know what you think, you could tempt me into putting up a few more chapters - For Free - and if you send your request to me by email, I'll let you know as soon as a chapter is added for you to read.
Naturally, I won't put the entire book online for free. I would like to make some money. But as much as I want to make money by selling books, I also want to entertain you. I want you to have as much fun reading as I do in writting.
So go to http://www.lulu.com/ravenwolfpublish to read a chapter for free.
I really do love this Mary Hoffman, AKA Eric, and am anxious to see how she handles herself being a vampire.

Jobs Americans don't want?

2006-04-01T19:30:00.000-05:00

I just had to laugh when I heard on NPR this evening how illegal immigrants are only doing jobs Americans don't want - like working in construction for $12 to $13 per hour.
I laughed because I guess we here in the Adirondacks of northern New York should not have to worry too much about having illegal immigrants taking our jobs, considering how many Adirondackers would love to be making $12 an hour.
We do have legal college students coming here from Europe to work in the restaurant and lodging trades during the summer. But the reason for that is not because our young people don't want these jobs. It's because we don't have that many young people. They are being driven out because there are so few jobs that pay even $8 per hour all year.
It just goes to show our fearless leaders and those in the media who are making big bucks have no idea what is going on in this country.

Online book sales

2006-03-19T10:47:00.000-05:00

Why by books online?
When you buy online from a POD writer and publisher, prices are generally lower than can be had through traditional bookstores and online bookstores such as Amazon.
To give you an idea of what I mean, here is a portion of a recent press release I put out through PRWeb Services. In it you will see that not only are the prices lower, you have more choices on how to spend your money - if you so choose.

Pete Klein, author of the recently published novel, "The Dancing Valkyrie," and the even more recently published hiking guide, "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" wants the public to know he has much more available (often at lower prices) than can be obtained through traditional channels.
Klein's online store, "The Adirondack Bookhouse," is the place for novels, hiking guides, calendars, CDs and DVDs photo albums of all things Adirondack by Adirondack author Pete Klein.
At the Adirondack Bookhouse you will find the new vampire horror novel, "The Dancing Valkyrie," for readers looking for a fresh, more modern (and sexy) approach to the vampire genre.
Readers are already saying this is a book difficult to put down once the first few pages are read.
"The Dancing Valkyrie," is the story of a young woman who is an erotic dancer at a topless club in Schenectady, NY, who becomes a vampire when seduced by a female vampire who is over 500 years old (but doesn't look a day over 25) while the erotic dancing damsel is hiking in the wilds of the Adirondacks.
The novel follows her rapid acclimation into being what she was born to be - a vampire with a lust for both blood and sex - and draws to a conclusion when she meets with a vampire who lives to kill other vampires - and whose name just happens to be Van Helsing.
The novel is currently being listed in Books in Print, Ingram's database in the US; and Bertrams & Gardners, Nielsons Bookdata in the UK.
But why wait when "The Dancing Valkyrie" is already available in the trade paperback edition ($19.27) and the hardcover edition ($24.65) online at http://www.lulu.com/ravenwolfpublish
Only at The Adirondack Bookhouse, can you purchase the hardcover edition or save some money by downloading the PDF edition for only $$8.75!
In addition to the vampire novel, also available at The Adirondack Bookhouse is the just published in time for the vacation season - "Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County - the book" at $16.41 in paperback or $8.75 in PDF.
This is a hiking guide to trails in the Adirondacks where much of the action takes place in the vampire story.
Want to see the beauty of the land? A 2006 calendar ($13.80) showing photographs taken on Klein's many hikes is there, plus both a CD ($8) and a DVD ($10) showing over 100 photographs taken on those hikes.

Annex Mexico

2006-03-19T10:24:00.000-05:00

It seems the illegal alien issue will not go away. Congress and the Senate have basically decided to disagree - which means nothing will be done.
Here is a simple solution to our southern border problem. Make it small enough to defend.
Make it small by annexing Mexico. Then the border shrinks to a manageable size, with Guatemale and Belize making up our southern border.
Of course, this should not be done by invading Mexico. The Mexicans should have a vote.
But all things considered, if the average Mexican is allowed to vote freely, they will probably vote to join the US. Wages will go up, roads will improve, and they won't have to sneak across the boarder to become citizens.
Each state in Mexico could become its own state in the good ol' US of A. For Americans, we will also be able to travel freely and have more places to retire in the sun.
It might not be as crazy as it first seems.

Hiking Guide for Hamilton County

2006-02-27T15:08:00.000-05:00

Moving right along, I just published my second book in four (4) months.
"Adirondack Hikes in Hamilton County" is now available for the start of the 2006 hiking season.
The book is now available through my Web page at The Adirondack Bookhouse
This is the first hiking guide aimed just at trails, attractions and things to do in Hamilton County, NY.
The hiking guide, a 2006 calendar of photos taken on the hikes, a CD and a DVD of photos taken on hikes, plus the very racy but hard to put down once you start to read it - "The Dancing Valkyrie" are all available at my Adirondack Bookhouse
Both books are also available through Amazon and other online book retailers. And both will be available through brick and mortar book stores this spring.

Remind me never to offend

2006-02-21T09:59:00.000-05:00

Remind me never to offend anyone. God only knows how offending people is the worst of all possible sins. Murder, rape, torture, robbery - okay. But to offend - that is the worst thing anyone can do.

Or so it would seem with all the hubbub over the "cartoon affair."

And now we have, just to keep the playing field level, Hitler's beloved Austria putting a man in jail because he broke their law which says it is illegal for anyone to deny, "grossly plays down, approves or tries to excuse the National Socialist genocide or other National Socialist crimes against humanity in a print publication, in broadcast or other media."

My, my! Haven't the Austrians proven what good and freedom loving people they are. But do you think there is a chance Hitler is having a laugh. Did not Hitler make it a crime for people to express opinions contrary to what he wanted?

I am not suggesting here that there was no Holocaust. But if someone wishes to make a fool of themselves by denying it happened - let 'em.

Ideas, opinions and beliefs, good, bad or indifferent, must be allowed to fight it out if the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth is ever to be achieved.

I ask, "Didn't those who are always taking offense learn anything before they went to school? Didn't they learn that sticks and stones may break your bones but words should never hurt you?"

I guess not. But for myself, call me anything you want. Make fun of everything I believe. Just don't hurt me physically.

Democracy Yes! Feedom No!

2006-02-03T13:23:00.000-05:00

I read today where the Bush administration is siding with Muslims who are offended by some cartoons.
Why am I not surprised?
The US government, obviously, has little interest in freedom. It sides with all religions who want to deprive people of their freedom. It does not have a problem with oppression as long as the opperessors do not use guns, road side bombs or airplanes to make their point.
Forget about freedom. Just let the oil keep on flowing.

The State of the Union

2006-01-31T09:23:00.000-05:00

The State of the Union sucks!
Enough said.
Can't be bothered with listening to Bush tell the world how wonderful it is to be King George.

Democracy vs. Freedom

2006-01-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

I read an Op Ed piece in the NY Times today from a Spanish man who was complaining about Spain's efforts to control smoking. Basically, he said the effort was un-democratic and paternalistic.
I agree and feel the same way about efforts to stop Americans from smoking.
People, we are being sold a bill of goods when we are told democracy and freedom are the same thing. In theory, we could be under a dictatorship and have more freedoms than we now have under our current democratic government.
You want proof? It is easy to give if you believe in God. I would tell you the Creator of the Universe, God, is far more powerful than any government. And yet, under God, we are given absolute freedom to choose. True, there are the Ten Commandments. But get real! There are only ten of them and we are allowed to break them any time we want. And no where in the Ten Commandments are there any "Thou shalt nots" about smoking or any other of the millions of laws we labor under in this country.
And when it comes to the Ten Commandments and you end up breaking one or more or all of them, all you have to do to make it right with God is to say you are sorry and do your best not to break the commandment again.
I say, "Thnak God God is God and not the United States Government!"

Is it murder?

2006-01-14T09:58:00.000-05:00

With all the endless questions asked of nominees to the Supreme Court, two questions are never, ever asked. Do you believe murder should be a crime?
This simple question, I would think it is a simple question, should get a simple response of yes.
The follow-up question shoud be, "Do you believe abortion is murder?"
This is the question, the only question, is it not in the never ending debate over abortion?
If you believe abortion is murder, you really don't have a choice but to say it should be illegal. Not only should you want abortion to be illegal, you should want those performing abortions and those asking for an abortion to be tried and convicted of murder, and be sentenced to life in prison or face execution, depending upon the laws in the state where the crime took place.
Anything less than this would be a sham.
But if you don't believe abortion is murder, then why would anyone want to restrict it at any point before birth? Then it should be completly legal for any woman chosing and any doctor performing it.
Period!
My opinion?
I don't believe a human being exisits until after the birth and the first breath of life is taken in.

I See Where

2006-01-11T09:43:00.000-05:00

I see where our senators have begun questioning the next Supreme Court judge. I have only one observation. It seems to me these nominees to the Supreme Court would all be guilty of contempt of court if they were in a court room instead of a hearing. With their constant refusal to answer questions, one should wonder where they get off throwing people in prison for not answering their questions.
I see where a guy on the winter Olympics team is being barred from competition because he used a hair restoration drug. The goody-two-shoes who head the Olympic Federation say the hair restoration drug has the potential to mask illegal drugs. What I want to know is what is the brand name of this hair restoration drug so I can use it if I ever decide to use illegal drugs.
Which brings me to New York State thinking of adding an additonal $1 to the price of cigarettes in the state's goody-two-shoe effort to help smokes stop smoking - so they argue.
Is it possible, dare I suggest, the campaign to get people to stop smoking is based upon top secret information that there is a chemical in cigarettes that counteracts against a drug the government has put in food and drinking water, the purpose of which is to drug people into being good little consumers who don't question the motives or actions of the federal government and large corporations?
Who knows where evil lurks in government and big business?

Where is Alexander?

2006-01-08T10:28:00.000-05:00

Where is Alexander the Great when you need him?
Last Sunday, I saw the movie, Alexander, on HBO and couldn't help but think how todays rulers/leaders could certain learn from him.
Two differences I noted between Alexander and, say Bush for example, was how Alexander actually went into battle with his troops and was often wounded, sometimes seriously.
While it is true Alexander sometimes had sex with other men, it is also clearly obvious he was more of a man than those we have now-a-days who are heavily guarded and sneak in and out of countries without prior notice.
Give me a leader who likes sex with other guys but has the guts to be a real man any day.
The second point I noticed was how Alexander did not try converting the conquered to live under the Greek model. Though never having bothered with Rome, Alexander believed, "When in Babylon, do as the Babylonians do."
Could modern leaders learn from Alexander I for one would certainly enjoy having a President more like Alexander than like Bush.

Time to build the guillotines?

2006-01-02T09:48:00.000-05:00

One of my strongest held beliefs is that our minds are attuned to what might be called a universal mind or, the way I prefer to view it, our minds float within a stew of ideas that includes the ideas of others.

This idea floated to the surface today when I read an editorial in the NY Times. I forget the exact title of the editorial, but the title included the name of Marie Antoinette. You remember her of French Revolution fame, the queen who is reported to have responded when she heard the peasants didn't even have bread eat, "Let them eat cake." And we know what happened to her!

Could it happen here?

It seems to be happening, at least the lead up, with how the poor and middle class are falling behind the rich.

To quote just one sentence from the Times article, "If the minimum wage had advanced at the same rate as chief executive compensation since 1990, America's bottom-of-the-barrel working poor would be enjoying salad days, with legal wages at $23.03 an hour instead of $5.15."

Are the rich in this country wise? Will a word to the wise be sufficient?

One would hope so. But probably not because part of the problem is how people always think the rich are people who are making more money than they are. Undoubtedly, there are people in the entertainment media, including those in professional sports, who are making millions but who choose to believe they belong to the middle class.

Who knows? Only time will tell. But the days of a French styled revolution could be in the cards for the top ten percent in this country.

Anyone interested in mass producing guillotines for the pending occasion? You could become rich, especially if you contract to build them cheaply in China.

Happy New Year to Vampires and Witches

2005-12-31T14:48:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year?
Well, we sure hope so.
What are you resolving to do or not do in 2006?
I resolve to promote my novel, "The Dancing Valkyrie," come out with a book on hiking in the Adirondacks of Hamilton County by spring, this year, and publish a sequal to "The Dancing Valkyrie" by October.
I hope to pay off some bills.
I will do my best to be the best me possible, if only I can figure out who me is.
Of course, I will make more of an effort to follow my Boy Scout Oath, be kind, be courteous, do my best to do my duty to God/Goddess and country, so unto others as I would have others do unto me, and harm none.
What can I tell you but to keep on keeping on as we used to say back in the 60's.

Cigarettes cause Global Warming

2005-12-25T14:55:00.000-05:00

I have my doubts about global warming. Maybe yes. Maybe no. I have seen too many incorrect weather statistics for where I live, know that even accurate statistics can be missleading because of the change in the environment of the location (fewer trees and more pavement) where statistics are recorded and the simple fact that even semi-accurate statistics have not been around for all that long - all adding up to give doubt to what the doomsayers are saying.
There is also the problem of the doomsayers being as changeable as the weather.
In the early 50's, I remember a guy on the Today Show saying that if the weather continued to warm the way it was warming then, palm trees would be growing in Central Park within ten years.
In the mid 70's, another doomsayer was saying the current weather trend would soon land us in an ice age.
Now we are back to palm trees in Central Park.
The so called "crazy weather" of the 50's was usually blamed on the testing of atomic bombs. Now the blame is on "green house gases."
It should not be long before cigarettes are added to the list of what is causing global warming. Why not when cigarettes are blamed for just about every evil in the world today.
But really, what do we know? Some even go along with global warming and then suggest global warming will be the cause of the next ice age.
If you think about it, maybe the best way to lower green house gases - whether or not they are causing global warming - is to go with the idea of the current warming being the cause of the next ice age.
The way I figure it, more people would demand the reduction of greenhouse gases under the fear of the next ice age, than there are those who are worried about palm trees growing in Central Park.

Capital Punishment

2005-12-18T10:26:00.000-05:00

With the recent execution of the founder of the Crips gang, capital punishment is once again in the news.
Those for and those against take their positions and dig in the heels.
The arguments are always the same. The issue, like abortion, just won't go away. Possibly because the focus is always the same, focusing on the person being executed?
So a little food for thought here by looking at what isn't looked at. What about those who actually do the executing?
How much are they paid and who are they? How do they feel about their job? Does it give them satisfaction? Are they heroes or sadists? Do they suffer mental problems as a result of their job? Has there ever been a study to determine what being an executioner might have upon their family and friends?
It seems to me that if this is a noble job, their names and their pay should be made known so we can thank them and decide if they are being underpaid for their sevice to the community.
If it is not a noble job, then perhaps we should demand that those who call for a person to be executed are the ones to carry it out. Perhaps the judge? Perhaps the jury? Perhaps the governor?
I don't know the answer but it sure looks like we have an awful amount of buck passing and hand washing going on when it comes to executions.

Merry Christmas

2005-12-10T16:53:00.000-05:00

For some odd reason, Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays has been a big topic in the news recently.
Why all the fuss when both terms have their value during the time between Thanksgiving and New Years.
Let's all study this together, children.
On Thanksgiving day, you say, "Happy Thanksgiving."
On Christmas day, you say, "Merry Christmas."
On New Years day, you say, "Happy New Year."
At all other times between Thanksgiving and New Years, you say, "Happy Holidays."
Or, if you a tired of all this nonsense, grunt, groan and say, "Bah humbug!"

Home of the Brave??

2005-12-06T09:59:00.000-05:00

The ultimate tragedy of 911 is how we seem to have lost "home of the of the brave" and are rapidly losing "land of the free."
Examples abound every day. The latest is fear of the bird flu.
This is not to say caution should be throw to the wind. Caution can often be the better part of valor.
But new reports, elected official and an army of "experts" have joined forces to frighten Americans on just about everything from soup to nuts.
Just the other day, young girls were warned not to kiss their boy friends if they had recently eaten peanut butter.
Must we worry about everything? What ever happened to the good old American spirit of offending those who are in dire need of being offended?
I am reminded of an old joke from my Navy days. It concerns the cheerleaders from the University of Norfolk. This was back in the days when all cheerleaders were good looking girls.
"We don't drink! We don't smoke. Norfolk! Norfolk!!"

Vampire Lady gets religion

2005-12-04T10:31:00.000-05:00

The Vampire Lady Gets Religion

I was recently at a blog where the issue being discussed was Anne Rice switching from vampires to Jesus. There was some debate about her motives. Was she truly "finding Jesus" or was she just jumping on the "Christian Right" bandwagon? Who cares!? I probably won't read her new book because if I want to read about Jesus, I'll read the Gospels or I will read theologians. I guess, in a way, Anne is digging in the same dirt as did Mel Gibson with his "Passion of Christ." And since Mel was looking to attract the Christian Right, Mel ended up fudging the sex and laying the violence on with heavy doses of blood. Fudging the sex? But of course! Or didn't you know that crucifixion was meant not only to kill but also to humiliate. Most who were crucified were crucified in the nude. And oh dear! But how that would have offended the good people of the Christian Right if Mel had showed the actor playing Jesus on a cross without a stitch of clothing on. But it wasn't always so. Michelangelo crafted a crucifix with the naked Jesus because he knew the truth and so did the Church in his time.

Organized religion vs. Paganism

2005-12-03T10:46:00.000-05:00

I really hate to put in (vs.) because it should not be so. If the world's major religions and all those that could be listed under paganism would be honest, I think the truth is all steal and or borrow from each other.
That said, I would like to stand up for paganism for the simple reason it is the bedrock and cornerstone of all belief systems.
The mistake, I believe, organized religions have made is their tendency to distance themselves from the flesh and blood they are. It's as though there is something shameful about being human.
For myself, I try to blend paganism (Witcraft) with Christianity in this way.
Witchcraft connects me with all of creation. Death is not supreme, but is rather the element life uses to contantly evolve and reinvent itself.
Christianity offers more guidance than simply saying do what you will as long as you don't harm anyone. Christianity takes that very worthy and basic law, and goes beyond by asking you to help your neighbor - feed the hungry, cloth the naked, etc.
It is a shame that the two don't get along. Though I must say (and regret to add) the fault seems to be more on the side of the Christians than it is on the side of the Witches.

The End of Religion?

2005-12-02T21:43:00.001-05:00

The rise of the "Religious Right" might actually be a sign of the end of religion as we now know it, rather than a sign of the "End Times."
And when I say "Religious Right," I am including all of the world's major religions.
Why would I say this?
Because strident voices are frightened voices. As Shakespear would say, "Me thinks they protest too much."
But the more serious problem and why I suspect the major religions are set for a big fat fall, is because none of them are doing a damn thing for their people here and now.
Their focus is on some sort of after-life where the good get their reward and the bad get their just punishment.
This may or may not be true. Who knows? We are talking belief, not knowledge.
But even if it is true - or maybe more importantly if it is true - doesn't it make sense to care about the treatment of people right here and now?
What about the Golden Rule, Love, Forgiveness, Feeding the Hungry, Judge not lest You be Judge?
And yet, what do we have?
Let's go out and condemn someone! Let's punish someone! Let's prove we are the good guys and we have every right to torture and execute the bad guys!
It will not work. It never has and never will.
Sorry! But if you believe in a divinity, any divinity, I think you need to start with a little humility and admit you just don't know.
Would Heaven turn out to be Hell for those who thought they were the good guys and ended up having to share eternity with those they condemned here on Earth? I mean, what happens if everyone gets to go to Heaven? Then what?

A Pagan Thanksgiving

2005-11-24T10:50:00.000-05:00

The great thing about Thanksgiving is that you can just enjoy the day with family, friends and food. You don't have to buy anyone a present. The only bad thing about Thanksgiving is how it gets gobbled up by by the command from retailers to buy, buy, buy to make this the best Christmas ever. Wouldn't it be great if we could all agree to skip Christmas presents for all over the age of 16, and thus turn Christmas into the second "Let's just eat and give thanks for family, friends and life" holiday.

The Dancing Valkyrie

2005-11-18T21:38:00.000-05:00

This past week has been busy at both my regular newspaper job and deciding to go ahead and self publish a very racy vampire novel.
If you want to take a quick look at it, go to my book store by clicking on The Adirondack Bookhouse
In other news, had one mild day where it got up to 60 degrees. The cold has returned. A little snow yesterday and 12 degrees this morning.

Intelligent Design??

2005-11-10T21:53:00.000-05:00

Recently, Intelligent Design has been much in the news. Supposedly, it offers an alternate view to Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Proponents say the Universe is much too complex to have simply come into existence. There must be an intelligent force behind it all.

So far, I have not heard of one scientist dispute that statement where it makes an unsupported assumption.

The assumption is that there was nothing - absolutely nothing, except, perhaps, a divine being more commonly known as God - before this universe came into existence.

The idea of nothing before this universe is fatally flawed on two counts.

It is just as flawed whether or not there is a god.

If there is a god and god is the creator, then, by the very nature of a creator god, God has always created universes and will always create universes. A true god cannot change his/her nature. God cannot go through an infinite eternity not creating, then one day decide to become a creating god.

If there is a creator god, then god has always created and will always create. In other words, this universe is but one of an infinite number of universes that came before it and will come after it.

On the other hand, if there is no god, then the same holds true. This universe is but one of an infinite number of universes that came before it and will come after it.

I forget if it was St. Augustine or St. Aquanis who said you can not get more out of less. Who said it does not matter. But it is an obvious truth. Whoever said it was trying to prove the existence of God. Good try. But here again, the presumption is that there was nothing before this universe.

As I think I have pointed out above, to think this universe is a one shot deal is illogical with or without a god.

Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.

2005-10-31T09:13:00.000-05:00

So now our fearless leader has made his choice known. How appropriate this is done on Halloween. Trick or Treat?
What bugs me is the unchallenged lie used by conservatives who say they want judges who "don't legislate from the bench but who apply the law as our Founding Fathers meant it to be."
The lie is that they do want judges who legislate from the bench, but legislate according to their idea of conservitive guidelines.
The other quality of the lie is the mask of Christianity they put on.
This country has never been a Christian country. Doubt me? In God we trust our money says. But God doesn't need money and all other must pay by cash, check or credit card.
Do our prison populations prove we are Christian? Do the high interest rates charged to those who can least afford them proof of a Christian nation? Does trashing God's creation for the almighty dollar prove this is a Christian nation. Perhaps it is our willingness to go to war for just about any reason that is proof of this being a Christian nation.
Funny, but I always thought Christianity was supposed to be about love and forgiveness, feeding the poor, housing the homeless, caring for the sick and providing clothing for those who have but rags against the cold. I didn't think it was about sitting at the front of the church and thanking God for not making us like the scummy sinners Jesus used to hang out with.

Property Rights

2005-10-30T08:48:00.000-05:00

Here in the Adirondacks and elsewhere, you will often hear people complaining about how their property rights are being violated.
While I endorse property rights, I often wonder how many people care to realize how human rights are the foundation of property rights and how all rights must be tempered with responsibility.
If responsibility were taken into the equation, there might be fewer confrontations between environmentalists and property owners, including businesses. Too often, when one starts talking about their rights, they are doing so in the vacuum of their own selfishness. Not always, but often.

Happy Halloween

2005-10-29T09:48:00.000-04:00

The days grow short. The nights grow long. Trick or Treat came a little early this week with some pre-Halloween snow here in the Adirondacks.
All summer long, I wait for the first snow. It's not that I ski or snowmobile, although I do take to the woods on snowshoes when I have the time. It's just that I have always loved snow and feel most alive during the colder months of the year. It is because of the snow and cold that I picked the Adirondacks to live in. That and the mountains, lakes, rivers and forest.
Perhaps it is just the ancient pagan in me, something that draws me to my roots in far away Europe (Bavaria) when the last Ice Age still held the land in its mystical embrace.

Small me or big chair

2005-10-28T22:34:00.000-04:00

Novel now in NY

2005-10-28T21:09:00.000-04:00

My vampire novel, now named "The Dancing Valkyrie," has been at a publisher for almost 2 months now and the wait is becoming frustrating.
Winter is coming on. Had 7 inches of snow a few days ago.
As you can see, winter comes early in the Adirondacks.
Happy Halloween!

2005-04-18T16:08:00.000-04:00

Pete
Posted by Hello

2005-04-18T15:59:00.000-04:00

Adirondack Photos
Posted by Hello

Off to see the wizard

2005-04-18T14:53:00.000-04:00

On Friday, April 15, sometimes known as the dreaded tax day, I sent by vampire manuscript, "The Dancing Valkyrie," off to my New York agent.
If my agent likes and a publisher is found, the world will have the chance to meet vampires who are almost human. They can go about freely both night and day, can eat real food, see their reflexions in a mirror have a greater need for sex than they have for blood.
"The Dancing Valkyrie" is a story about an exotic dancer who becomes a vampire while vactioning on a hike in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York.

Spring into spring

2005-03-21T18:42:00.000-05:00

News and information on the Adirondacks of northern New York will be posted here, as well as information on my soon to be completed novel about vampires in the Adirondacks, in addition to thoughts on Witchcraft and Christianity.