Chapter 1 (partial)

I had just barely finished breakfast Monday when I had a phone call from Mr. Monroe. They had some footage from my reveal as Lew Wetzel that he thought it important that I review. Not having anything scheduled, I told him I would be there within the hour.

In the small theater, they played daily rushes for me. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They had made me up to look scary dark. It was more than that. It was downright diabolical. The brief look I gave the camera made me look like evil personified.

"Rick, for the movie, it works great. For your image, I don't know. Can you live with this?"

"I'm not certain. My team and I had talked about me having a goody-two-shoes image. This would certainly take care of that."

"Who is your team?"

"My parents, Susan Wallace, Sharon Bronson, and Anna Romanov, are the core. My brothers and sister also have input."

"That's a good group. Why don't we have them all over to review this footage? It could have an impact on your career. Assuming you make more movies. It will open up a wide range of options for you."

"I doubt that I could get everyone together in the next couple of days. Could we schedule a showing this Friday?"

"We can wait that long. Why don't I host a lunch, and then we view it after that?"

"Thank you, Mr. Monroe, that sounds good. I will make the arrangements."

"In your travel plans, remember the telethon at the end of the month."

"I will be back from England before that, so no problem."

"Okay, see you Friday for lunch."

I returned home and got on the phone calling everyone I had mentioned. Sharon Bronson was the only one who had a prior commitment, and she was going to try to change that. I couldn't talk to my family until dinner time, but I was certain they would be available. Well, I hoped they would.

After that, I spent time reading one of the five English history books I had bought. I doubted that my American history courses would do much for me on the English exams. I wouldn't be able to go in-depth, but at least have some idea of what had happened, if not the nuances.

I did get a phone call in the middle of the afternoon. A patent search on my beer can pull tab had come up clean, so I had to have prototypes built and tested. I called the engineering firm that Dad had recommended. They had built the tooling needed to cut the various depths of metal and would be making test lids on Wednesday, and I was welcome to come in and see them.

Knowing the test lids would be available, I called Mexicali Delight Brewery and talked to their General Manager. He was intrigued by my idea and agreed to use my lids at the end of the day's run Wednesday. I then called Warren Smith the Engineer, back and let him know about the filing and invited him along. He was all for it. It turns out that he liked the idea, and Mexicali Delight was his beer of choice, so it was a win-win for him.

Cast in Time Book 6 Available in June 2024!

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More details coming soon.

Earl E. (Ed) Nelson

I have always wanted to be an author. I had my first rejection slip in about 1965. Wish I had saved it. For many years the only writing I did was technical as pesky things like three children, nine grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren came along.

My technical writing was in the field of quality in several different journals. I worked in the field of quality for over fifty years, starting as a line inspector and ending up as a Vice-President of Quality and elected a Fellow of the American Society for Quality.

Then a wonderful thing happened. I lost my job and was out of work for almost eight months. To keep from going crazy I wrote. I posted my stories on an online site, and lo and behold people read them and said nice things. Fast forward about eight years and I am retired and writing for the fun of it.

A lot of what is in my stories is based on my life experiences, gasp! Give or take a lie or two that is. The one fortunate thing in my career is that I got to travel worldwide and have been to most of the locations I write about.

In my younger days, I tried hot air ballooning, sky diving, white water rafting, spelunking, and target shooting. I have collected stamps, drove in road rallies, lowly rated by the US Chess federation. I built a Kentucky long rifle and a dueling pistol. I am a licensed HAM radio operator. My hobby is having hobbies.

My true passion is reading. Trapped in a hotel room I would read the telephone book. The TV would not be turned on. I have averaged 200 books a year for the last sixty years. I knew those long flights were good for something.

BTW I was born in the middle of an air raid in England during World War II, the house next door was destroyed and our windows were blown out. That is probably the most interesting thing I have been involved with. Mum never forgave me. Happily married for 56 years I hope my wife doesn’t catch on to what a goof I am.