The Longest War is on the verge of being stocked by AAFES. That’s the military’s shopping store and it’s bigger than Wal-Mart. 21 5-star reviews and it’s ranking is excellent, including 2 sub-categories. Kindle sales are incredible and they just keep going, day by day. I set the publication date for March 1st so it’s not even for sale yet. This is how I am publishing all our books after this, in a stepped release strategy. So the game is nearly won, folks, and World Audience goes from a small press to something a lot more.

I’m flying to Las Vegas to cover the playoffs in April for Audience Magazine and feature this rugby club in our 22nd issue in conjunction of publication of my book, Second Row. This story is hill-Larry-ass. It’s perfect that my club is winning! I’ll include my coverage of the 7s tournament too. My editor and I are greatly expanding Audience mag and we’re landing advertisers too.

Rock Center falls to new lows. Newspapers are all but dead. Cable news is even experiencing low ratings. And all this in an election year.

I bought the current issue of Dramatists Magazine because I like reading about how much I am not a part of that crowd. The other one that’s always good for a laugh is American Theatre Magazine. In this issue of Dramatists there is a large section called “Ten Questions” where the editor asks playwrights various questions about their processes of writing and collaborating in theater. The writers all have little TV gigs and dabble in theater, the typical, fashionable fare. Sara Wordsworth, for example, is asked: No. 5 If you could be anyone (past, present or fictional) who would you choose to be and why? She answers, “Me…a giant midtown apartment with parking and a view…” It goes on and on like that. Thankfully, I have never won an award nor have I ever applied for one. If I ever were to get an award, I’d throw it in the dumpster. I’m hesitant—say, suspicious—to apply for grant money, though my non-profit 501c3 theater company is very ripe to do just that and I probably should get my fare share of free government money. I didn’t go to Yale, just Brooklyn College, baby, where I failed out of English (I swear I could not understand a word they said in class), majoring in geology (rocks for jocks). I despise Hollywood and TV, it’s all crap. I wouldn’t last ten minutes in a room with a bunch of TV writers so I make a point of avoiding them in the first place. I don’t ever want to be interviewed by anyone for any newspaper or magazine or be part of any stupid panel discussion. I will never, ever teach in a university. Maybe I should answer the “Ten Questions” of this magazine; but if I did so truthfully, it would be worth a good laugh. I think it’s time I get back to producing my next play; well I’m actually nearly ready. These days, I have a guaranteed following, my own mature, respected theater company, and New York City. What else do I need?

Afghanistan is ablaze over the accidental, partial burning of a couple Korans, which had already been altered unofficially. The Holy Books apparently contained messages that prisoners had used to smuggle out to extremists, outside of the jail where the prisoners were being held. Furthermore, the Korans may have had radical writings directly on the pages. Nevertheless, the Korans should not have been burned and President Obama had to apologize directly for the act of desecration. 2 US Army soldiers were shot by Afghans as a result of this event. I recognize and respect that Islam demands Korans be treated with utter care. However, as an American, I can’t say that I understand it. This event is another clear message that American needs to shut down the Afghan Conflict and bring the troops home.

Back in the USA, 2 men were charged for threatening the South Park creators and one was sentenced to 25 years in jail. Here we have the pendulum traversing in the other direction about as far as it can swing. 25 years for “issuing a threat online”? While I’ve never issued a threat on this blog, because I am at my core a peaceful, nice guy, I’ve probably written things—perhaps for solely humorous effect—that could be twisted enough to make that claim. I did write some years ago that if I ever met Sean Penn in person, well, I won’t repeat it now, since I am scared I’ll go to jail for 25 years, though in that case what I wrote still does remain in effect.

What is clear is that war is not going to bridge cultural divides. We must end the Afghan Conflict and bring the troops home ASAP.

The ship is rolling out of port, baby! Wake up and smell the coffee! Big reviews coming soon. Army Times and more nationally. Then we’re talking AAFES, which is bigger than Wal-Mart. We’re snazzing up the text and cover and the text a bit too (another advantage to POD).

Sales are rising. We are now in print and I shipped a lot of orders! This is really fun. If this beast keeps growing, I will be able to leverage a lot of stuff. I’ve been working toward this point with my press all along. It’s the first time I’ve gotten to where I can seriously throw my weight around and turn lead into gold. It’s going to happen fast too. I mean this is real sales baby and national attention. Not the MSM BS but serious front-runner status. Then everything changes. And it’s all working so perfectly. Leave it to the US Army to save my life twice now—thrice if you count my own war. Hooah.

Here is new, official Web site! John Holmes’ Facebook page. I am trying to get this book into print as fast as possible; this is crazy, man!

Whoa, check out this book I just published! Finally, I have a superstar! Check out the reviews, it’s just wonderful to be publishing this book that is so well-received by the military community. I have a lot of pre-sales to fill too of the printed book, hundreds. Right now, it is just available on Kindle. Flying off the shelves, baby!

Well it’s nice to be loved, I’m the man, what can I say—Tex by my rugby mates. Now I’m getting famous too. At this rate and including new and old projects, I’ll never get another speeding ticket in America or buy my own beer again.

I was in Las Vegas this weekend, covering the rugby 7s for my press and Audience Magazine. It was a blast. I stayed with my buddies, who are the Sin City Irish Rugby Football Club. There are now 2 main teams plus the Henderson Firefighters, as well as the “Old Boys” which are the founders and my squad. I had not seen them for years. It was all extremely inspirational for my book that I am writing about this team and American rugby in general, and the history of rugby—not to mention this group’s exceptional story. (Imagine, if you will, how all kinds of rugby players have great stories; they are all like gnats next to these stories. In fact, I have no choice but to change their names—all of their names.) The problem is every time I uncover one stone there are 10 more I find for this book and I have not figured out how piece it all together. I had wanted to go to this tournament to wrap up everything but the exact opposite happened. I’ve done a lot of writing and encountered a lot of people and subjects worth writing about but this time it’s like moving a mountain. What’s more, I am the first—particularly in America.

As for why I was officially there as a member of the press pool, dear reader, I must admit that I am a not qualified to be a journalist. First, I found the press pool.

But the press were milling about in groups and it was oppressively boring. So as the people began to gather, I wandered around and somehow managed to get into the VIP section.

Where the people were from all over the world and far more interesting to talk with.

And there was free food and drink all day long—all weekend long. Famous rugby players were there too and I met them. I was able to see the games right in box row seats!

These seats were something like 1k per day. Here are the NZ All Blacks.

Here are the USA Eagles getting ready to enter the field.

The adventure then continued with my teammates. So all of this has got me thinking now. There was much discussion about whether America would ever be anything on the World Stage of rugby; the consensus seemed to be NO. NBC covered the game and it was on national TV, and there were all kinds of sponsors; but Las Vegas is just one of 7 or 11 (depending on how you count) Sevens tournaments. It does not mean that America cares about rugby. That’s unfortunate but perhaps just the way it has to be. But that does not do much for me and my book about American rugby—other than connecting with the puny niche of rugby players in America. But I already have that in scores. So perhaps the only answer is to expand my operation further and make this book—and my magazine—a much broader look into rugby; even though it’s a big broad already. I think that may have to be the best answer.