Will's Good Idea for the Week of 3/1/26

A good Sunday morn, you brave reader(s) of Stroock's Books. You brave few. 

February is gone. In the northeast, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, they say. We're ready for spring, but as we write this some sort of light muck is coming down. 

February 2025 had a lot less black History Month obnoxiousness than normal. February 2026 had less still. What's up with that? Trump effect?

What can one say? Saturday was an exhilarating day. It was an exhausting day. Well done. 

This was a decapitation strike. Decapitate it did - with extreme prejudice. Most impressive. 

Iranian rhetoric is bellicose and downright apocalyptic. The more bellicose the Persian's rhetoric, the more impotent is the Persian. Just like the Arab, whom the Iranians have royally pissed off. Excellent strategery there, guys.  

Beware victory disease. Six (now eight) people were killed in an Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh. 

Now follows the slog where the US and Israel bomb Iranian targets and the Iranians launch drones and missiles and the Israelis fly around looking for missile launchers....and what else?

Reader(s) would be wise to follow Open Source Intel  and Israel Radar. And buy 'em a coffee. We did. 

Will's Good Idea for the Week of 3/1//26...

We've spent a lot of time dealing with the World War 1990: Thatcher's War Belfast problem. That is, how do we show Belfast riots promised in World War 1990: Ireland? And where in the story do the Belfast riots go? We're probably over thinking, and having had a decent enough week with the MS, we should probably walk away this week.

Also, we've the actual land invasion and Battle of Ardee chapters to deal with. Both need major revisions. For starters, in 1990 Ireland was basically a Third World country with Third World infrastructure. And the great motorways one sees on Google Earth today weren't there in 1990. Oops. So the Brits would be advancing down pleasant (and narrow) country ways, not motoring on the M1 like Kris Kristofferson [You just lost everyone under 40-Ed]. 

Looking over sales data last night, we were reminded of the enduring strength of The Great Nuclear War of 1975 series. Which means we should probably work on the 5th nuke novel. Exit question...with three novels essentially half done, is it possible to release them all this year?

Oh....Last night our Fellow North American (enjoy your silver medal for men's hockey) remarked that he didn't have anything to read and asked us when we were going to stop acting like a nervous old woman and publish World War 1990: Ireland. It's published. Click on over. Click it!

Saturday Updates (Kaboom Edition)

And so begun has Operation Epic Fury/Rising Lion. 

We woke up this morning, got our coffee, went to the NY Post and, 'Whoa...'

There followed messages on FB from several friends in Europe, one of them thanking us because he bet on today for the war to begin. 'What's our percentage?' we asked. 

We've no insights. Follow Israel Radar and Open Source Intel.

Over there....over there....

The Things.

We spent all week with World War 1990: Thatcher's War working on the RAF chapter. We think we have things where we want them to be. 

World War 1990: Ireland is done, finished, fin, with both paperback and kindle manuscripts uploaded, priced and ready. [So why haven't you hit PUBLISH?-Ed] We don't know. 

Friday Fook n Fek

Good morning, Stroock's Books Kibbutzim and shabbat shalom. 

We awoke to see that the US and Israel have not attacked Iran. Given news reports, it sounds like one morning we'll awake to see the US and Israel have attacked Iran. 

So Pakistan and Afghanistan are fighting. That's a shame. Not that we care.  Incidentally, do not underestimate the Pakistani army, probably the best armed and trained in the Muslim world. 

Here in New Jersey, Devil's fans booed Governor Mikie Sherrill. Sorry, New Jersey. We had the chance to elect the perfectly reasonable Jack Ciattarelli and chose Sherrill. We blew it, New Jersey. 

DOGE report. 

The formatters sent the World War 1990: Ireland Kindle file.

We had a good day with the World War 1990: Thatcher's War RAF chapter. It's really coming together. How many pithy, somewhat farcical scenes do we need? The RAF hits Casement Aerodrome, Curragh Camp, Charles Haughey's yacht....We made our point, no? 

Despite some marketing efforts on our parts, no one bought or KDP's A Line Through the Desert. You can advertise New Coke all you want. People still won't think it tastes good. 

73 Easting is 35

A fine faire morn to you Stroock's Books people. 

That inch of snow we got yesterday melted without us having to do anything. 

Though we're still in February one can almost feel spring's approach, now just three weeks away. The sun rises earlier and sets later. Temps will hit 50 on Saturday. After two blizzards, five smaller storms, and a couple of bad cold snaps, we're looking forward to spring. 

But careful, the Yankee Winter will still have something to say before spring arrives in earnest. In 2018 we got a snowblower worthy storm in late March, and another in early April. Gore Effect snow, we guess. Still, during the next few days most of that snow on the ground will melt. Which is nice.

Well, it's that time of year again. 35 years ago today the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment fought the last great tank battle of the 20th century: the Battle of 73 Easting. We wrote a coming-of-age novel about the 2nd ACR and 73 Easting. Won't some kind soul purchase a copy of A Line Through the Desert? 

Whoa....we just checked the ALTD sales numbers for this year and...whoa again. When a backlist title doesn't sell, a backlist title really doesn't sell. In 2009 and 2010 we spent untold thousands advertising A Line Through the Desert. Even after we hit with To Defend the Earth and Israel Strikes, ALTD never really sold. Nevertheless, we wrote a sequel. Blooms is better, BTW.

DOGE report. 

Once again we moved chapters and scenes around in World War 1990: Thatcher's War. We wrote one RAF raid scene and got the inspiration for another. We decided to write these RAF scenes as semi-humorous and farcical one-offs.  

Trump: Hey Dems! You suck!

Breaking, must credit William Stroock. Stroock's Books can confirm: Dems suck. 

Good morning, Reader(s) of Stroock's Books. 

We got an inch or two of snow early this morning. Temps will hit 45 degrees today. 

Trump spent much of his State of the Union Address berating and humiliating Democrats. We thought Trump went easy on the Supreme Court. And we loved him slamming the Dems on Obamacare. Were we not entertained?

The President didn't say much about Iran. Which makes us think the cake is baked and Iran is cooked. 

A dozen F-22 Raptors are on the ground in Israel, now. 

As we write this, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Israel as well.  He'll stay for two days and address the Knesset. Yes, this is a very big deal. 

With US/Iranian negotiations set for Thursday, now we know the US will take no military action before the weekend.  

DOGE report.

The Kindle version of World War 1990: Ireland will be delivered by 28 February. We approach the arrival with, you know it, great fear and trepidation. 

We spent a lot of yesterday arranging and rearranging chapters in World War 1990: Thatcher's War. We also worked on the scene where we show the air commander of Scotland and Northern Ireland watching the 'big board' as the RAF's aerial campaign begins. 

We need to show Belfast riots, somehow. And we need to show a lot of Irish characters. Perhaps these Irish characters can show us the riots? We also wanted to show a scene where the RUC raids the UDR or UDA or UFF.  Upon these matters, we shall work. 

Writing is hard. 

Tuesday Snow Blowed

A good post-blizzard afternoon to all Stroock's Book's People. 

We got 13 inches of snow, which feels like a bit of a bust, considering the snowacaust the weather girl was promising. We spent large swaths of yesterday afternoon and evening with our snow blower. The machine started up on the first yank and operated smoothly for hours. We cleared our own driveway and those of some neighbors. Temps climbed into the mid 30s, and once we cleared the snow the remaining ice and slush melted right off. 

Related...Canadians are just now drying out after their bitter Olympic men's hockey loss. They will still be down, though, and who can blame them after losing a game in overtime that they should have won 3-1? But we have good news. Canadians still down about the game may qualify for MAID.*

Speaking of nations America should bomb...we thought for sure Trump was going to give the go order last night, and we'd wake up to a New York Post headline, 'Bomb-bomb-bomb Iran!' Alas it was not to be. Open Source Intel reports that the US is still moving assets into place. Trump will talk up Iran at tonight's State of the Union address.

Also...dozens of Dems are boycotting Trump's SOTU? Why? They'll just turn the address into a big GOP rally. These people are fucking nuts.

In other bad moves....today marks the 4th anniversary of Russia's Ukraine War. Congratulations, Vlad. You know Vlad, Trump gave you an offramp last year when he threw Zelensky out of the White House, and you didn't take it. Bad move, Vlad. Bad move. This blog must admit we've reached the '1,2,3,4 what are we fighting for?' stage of the Ukraine War. Four years since we told Maxim we could no longer write for him. We sigh forlornly. 

DOGE Report.

Nothing but confusion. Just how should World War 1990: Thatcher's War open? With Irish stuff (mainly Prod violence)? Or political stuff (mainly a whip around from Washington, to Dublin, to London). And given how we've set things up in World War 1990: Ireland, there must needs be riots in Belfast. 

Speaking of...we've got back the Ireland interior proof from our people, and we are sooooo not ready to deal with it. Okay, paperback version formatted and ready to go. All we have to do is hit the PUBLISH button. Kindle version should be ready in a few days. 

*Canada is so progressive and compassionate that through 2025 76,475 people have ended their life through MAID. And just think of the hundreds of millions of Canadian healthcare dollars saved to boot! The National Health Service must be protected at all costs. 

Canada Bites the Silver

Good morning, Stroock's Books weather enthusiasts. At least a foot of snow is down with a few more inches predicted this morning. The snow seems wet, heavy. 

We are eager to fire up the snowblower and get out there. The snow should stop around 11 AM. 

Forty-six years apart.

In 1980 we were six years old. We vaguely remember the Miracle on Ice, and vaguely recall watching the gold medal game against the Fins, Laplander bastards. 

We watched all of yesterday's Gold Medal Olympic hockey game. 

A few notes...The Americans had no business winning. The Canadians were faster and quicker. The puck was on the American side of the ice for large swaths of the game. Goaltender Conner Hollebuyck was under siege throughout, (41 shots on goal!). He's the MVP. When the 3 on 3 overtime began, the Americans looked sharp and we had a good feeling about things. God Bless the above pictured Jack Hughs who Tucker Carlson no doubt thinks is a Mossad agent.

There is no better broadcaster than Kenny Albert. The man is informed and prepared. He tells the viewer what's happening without over explaining. Albert never says too much and knows to let a play breath. What a call yesterday. 

Of course we mocked and taunted our fellow North American, who claimed Canada had won the gold in 'God's greatest game', curling. 

A friend from a European country that has an NFL team named after its ancestors congratulated us on our hockey victory but noted, 'Hope you are satisfied with second place overall in the Olympics.' Norway won 41 medals overall, and 18 gold. The United States won 33 medals overall and 12 gold. This should prompt President Trump to call for regime change in Oslo, Scandi bastards. USS Gerald R Ford is on the way. 

Moving on....Iran, your guess is as good as ours. The SOTU is Tuesday and the talks are scheduled for Thursday. We're hearing a lot of chatter, scuttlebutt even, out there. Some are impatient. But Trump is nothing if not patient. He's acting like a man who knows he can deliver a mighty blow at the time and place of his choosing. Can't be said enough: Trump Always Chickens Out, they say. Then he bombs Fordow and abducts Maduro. Whoa, the US is evacuating the embassy in Lebanon. 

What Will's Watching: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, season finale. It's okay. It's pretty good. There was a lot of talking without much actually happening. Sorry, we just don't think AKotSK is as good as a lot of the punditry. Nevertheless, we were entertained. Ser Duncan the Tall and Aeg are fine characters, 4/4.

As for the week...we gotta figure out how we're showing the World War 1990: Thatcher's War riots in Belfast. For the love of Hollebuyk, no 8,000 word dirges with multiple POVs. Something succinct and pithy without looking rushed. Which is why we're thinking intrepid UTV reporter Finn Fahy should show the aftermath of the Belfast riots.