Beauty Below Us

One of my favorite school field trips during my elementary years was to the Luray Caverns in Culpeper, Virginia. What my eyes witnessed that day will stay with me forever. I was so taken by the natural beauty of the underground Wishing Well and the other sites during our guided tour that these memories resurfaced as scenes in HEAVEN, one of the twelve stories in ‘Monica A Short Story Collection’, my most recent work. If you ever get the chance, please go visit this ‘beauty below us’. More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Books for Everyone!

I’ve been loving books ever since I was a little boy. It’s a shame and a disgrace that some politicians and school districts want to ban certain books nowadays. Placing strong restrictions on teachers and controlling how they conduct their classroom hurts the students. The classroom should be a place that nurtures open mindedness, not a place that erases history or attempts to brainwash young minds. I love it when some public libraries and book stores, large chains and small independent ones, proudly display and offer the ‘banned books’ to the general public. This photo was taken at Barnes & Noble, October 26, 2022. – Randolph Randy Camp

Autumn Blessings at Randie's Library

Autumn is here. The leaves have fallen and kindness is still permeating. It’s October 20, 2022 and on this bright Thursday morning, RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY was gifted three bags of books. It makes me smile to see people supporting their neighborhood book exchanges and free libraries. And, by the way, if anyone would like to checkout and read the paperback edition of ‘Monica A Short Story Collection’ (which features the short story ‘Randie’s Free Library’) please check the catalog of the Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library, the Urbandale Public Library, the Des Moines Public Library, etc. for its availability. It truly is a blessing to see Randie’s giving spirit still shining. – Randolph Randy Camp

Writing Challenges: Time and Voices

WRITING CHALLENGES: TIME and VOICES…Needless to say, any writer would tell you that procrastination and actually making time to write is one of the greatest challenges of finishing any project. For me, personally, when I don’t feel like typing, I go old school, and I simply jot down a few handwritten notes. When I’m fully energized and motivated again, I would start typing. While writing ‘Monica A Short Story Collection’, one of the other challenges I encountered was writing in the voice of a fourteen-year-old girl. Allie is one of the main characters in the story ‘Heaven’, and looking at the world from her POV certainly made me totally step back and wipe away all of my maleness. Choosing from whose POV will tell your story is a unique challenge. Ask yourself who is best suited to connect with your audience or your readers when making this decision. More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Monica: Classroom Book Talk

MONICA: Classroom Book Talk….I love it when two people have read, seen, or heard the same exact thing, but they each may have a different perception. I appreciate all of the book clubs and school teachers who are using any of my books for discussion. Regarding ‘MONICA a Short Story Collection’, here are a few topics and tips: (1) In RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY, do you think that the insulin samples are a symbol or a metaphor? If so, a metaphor for what? (2) In LABREA, what do the dandelions represent? (3) In MONICA, is there a symbolic meaning in the freeing of the cattle? (4) What is the underlying message in GI BLUES? (5) Regarding character development, how is Johnny different in the end of GI BLUES? (6) In RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY, what’s the reason why Phillip wants to be a doctor? (7) In THE WATCH, were the scenes in the story real or were they all an illusion? (8) Regarding HEAVEN, is there an underlying message in the story? If so, what is it? Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Monica: Story Teasers

First of all, I want to thank all of my 3,500 plus followers, friends, and readers from sites such as Readers Hook, etc. To say the least, the past few years have been exceptionally rough. Writing is both therapeutic and a sometimes fun escape for me, and I’m truly grateful for your support. With that said, I like to share with you some brief story teasers from ‘Monica a Short Story Collection’. In GI BLUES a homeless man’s greatest desire is to be a Marine, but is he mentally fit? In THE NEW STORE IN TOWN, where the kids are in total control, a mother finds herself in court after she goes into her son’s room and takes a few quarters out of his piggy bank. In LABREA a podcast gets heated when the subject of CRT is discussed. In LOVE AT ANY AGE a dating service for seniors makes a successful match. In 7 O’CLOCK a young man confronts White silence head on and must make a decision that will change his life forever. In THE WATCH a career police officer is forced to deal with the detrimental effect of fentanyl in a very personal way. In THE LINE an executive of a prominent restaurant franchise creatively teaches a racist manager a lesson in fairness. In TELL HIM I’M SORRY an elderly lady in a nursing home tells the staff about her past secrets. In HEAVEN two teenagers discover themselves, in more ways than one. In CHEROKEE WINGS an old Native American takes the kids in their trailer park on the ride of their lives. In RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY a police officer uses his people skills to calm a worrisome neighbor. More details at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

You have to stand up and fight for what you believe in. Monica is determined to bring down and expose the dirty secrets of a hypocritical State Senator who voted against Roe. Monica and the other eleven short stories in this collection are a snapshot of America today. Monica is standing up and fighting for abortion rights and for her personal freedom to choose. Sometimes, we all have to take a stand for something. Here are the titles of the twelve stories in this collection (1) GI Blues (2) 7 O’clock (3) The Watch (4) Tell Him I’m Sorry (5) Monica (6) Heaven (7) The New Store In Town (8) The Line (9) Randie’s Free Library (10) Love At Any Age (11) LaBrea (12) Cherokee Wings. In GI BLUES a homeless man’s greatest desire is to be a Marine, but is he mentally fit? In THE NEW STORE IN TOWN, where the kids are in total control, a mother finds herself in court after she goes into her son’s room and takes a few quarters out of his piggy bank. In LABREA a podcast gets heated when the subject of CRT is discussed. In LOVE AT ANY AGE a dating service for seniors makes a successful match. In 7 O’CLOCK a young man confronts White silence head on and must make a decision that will change his life forever. In THE WATCH a career police officer is forced to deal with the detrimental effect of fentanyl in a very personal way. In THE LINE an executive of a prominent restaurant franchise creatively teaches a racist manager a lesson in fairness. In TELL HIM I’M SORRY an elderly lady in a nursing home tells the staff about her past secrets. In HEAVEN two teenagers discover themselves, in more ways than one. In CHEROKEE WINGS an old Native American takes the kids in their trailer park on the ride of their lives. In RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY a police officer uses his people skills to calm a worrisome neighbor.

Standing Up For Something: Monica

Sometimes, we all have to take a stand for something. Learn more at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Monica, A Short Story Collection

MONICA, A SHORT STORY COLLECTION…You have to stand up and fight for what you believe in. Monica is determined to bring down and expose the dirty secrets of a hypocritical State Senator who voted against Roe. Monica and the other eleven short stories in this collection are a snapshot of America today. Monica is standing up and fighting for abortion rights and for her personal freedom to choose. Sometimes, we all have to take a stand for something. Here are the titles of the twelve stories in this collection (1) GI Blues (2) 7 O’clock (3) The Watch (4) Tell Him I’m Sorry (5) Monica (6) Heaven (7) The New Store In Town (8) The Line (9) Randie’s Free Library (10) Love At Any Age (11) LaBrea (12) Cherokee Wings. Tuesday, August 30, 2022 is the Projected Release Date via Amazon.

You have to stand up and fight for what you believe in. Monica is determined to bring down and expose the dirty secrets of a hypocritical State Senator who voted against Roe. Monica and the other eleven short stories in this collection are a snapshot of America today. Monica is standing up and fighting for abortion rights and for her personal freedom to choose. Sometimes, we all have to take a stand for something. Here are the titles of the twelve stories in this collection (1) GI Blues (2) 7 O’clock (3) The Watch (4) Tell Him I’m Sorry (5) Monica (6) Heaven (7) The New Store In Town (8) The Line (9) Randie’s Free Library (10) Love At Any Age (11) LaBrea (12) Cherokee Wings. In GI BLUES a homeless man’s greatest desire is to be a Marine, but is he mentally fit? In THE NEW STORE IN TOWN, where the kids are in total control, a mother finds herself in court after she goes into her son’s room and takes a few quarters out of his piggy bank. In LABREA a podcast gets heated when the subject of CRT is discussed. In LOVE AT ANY AGE a dating service for seniors makes a successful match. In 7 O’CLOCK a young man confronts White silence head on and must make a decision that will change his life forever. In THE WATCH a career police officer is forced to deal with the detrimental effect of fentanyl in a very personal way. In THE LINE an executive of a prominent restaurant franchise creatively teaches a racist manager a lesson in fairness. In TELL HIM I’M SORRY an elderly lady in a nursing home tells the staff about her past secrets. In HEAVEN two teenagers discover themselves, in more ways than one. In CHEROKEE WINGS an old Native American takes the kids in their trailer park on the ride of their lives. In RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY a police officer uses his people skills to calm a worrisome neighbor. More details at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

Writer Randy Camp LA Marathon

Writer Randolph Randy Camp, His LA Marathon experience in 2003 and 2004

Fetty: The New Kid

Crack and crystal meth are still out there, but ‘fetty’ seems to be taking over. Now that laws are pretty relaxed about marijuana, it’s super easy to get. But, be aware and especially careful if you, your kids, your friend, or a loved one is buying from a street dealer. As street dealers compete against one another, with each claiming that they have the ‘best stuff’, some are sprinkling ‘fetty’ (China White, etc) on marijuana, crystal meth, etc to produce a so-called “nicer buzz”. The thing is though, these street dealers aren’t letting the buyers know that their weed has been laced with fentanyl, the synthetic opioid that is more potent than morphine, and has been a major factor in the 107, 375 overdose deaths during 2021. It only takes two milligrams of fentanyl to become lethal. Way too many of our young people, way too many veterans, way too many people in general are leaving us in such an undignified manner. Being a military veteran myself, I’ve seen too many good people go in such a devastating way. Sometimes, veterans like myself think that we’re too tough to seek therapeutic help and end up ‘self-medicating’ to a terrible outcome. If someone you know, whether a civilian or military vet, is struggling with an addiction, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local County Health Clinic or Crisis Help Line for more information, helpful resources, and ways to initiate the vital first steps toward recovery. -Randolph Randy Camp

Randie's Free Library: Outreach Still Spreading

It’s June 23, 2022 and Randie’s outreach is still spreading. Two full totes of books were left at RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY early this morning by an anonymous donor. I’m so grateful and beyond thankful for everybody’s support.

The Story Underneath

Regardless of where you live, in a big city, in a small town, or out in the country, there’s a story to be discovered everywhere. Even as a kid I was always fascinated by the backstory, the story underneath. A few miles from my hometown there was this busy truck stop that most people called Service Town. When I was sixteen I wrote a poem about a girl named Shelly who survived off the travelers and truckers at Service Town. Through the years, more characters were added, Shelly had a backstory and the poem became a short novel that won the 14th Annual Quarter Finals Prize at the Writers Network Fiction Competition. Over the years I’ve experienced a lot, both negative and positive, and through it all creating stories has been my saving grace. We all have a backstory. There’s more to you than what’s seen on the surface. Maybe the main story is you, and it’ll be interesting to discover the story underneath. – Randolph Randy Camp

Teacher Appreciation from Author Randy Camp

At age 18, during June 1979, a couple weeks before Randy Camp’s High School graduation, he wrote the ‘Put Something Back’ letter-to-the-editor, as a ‘thank you’ to his teachers of Spotsylvania County, Virginia… “LETTER TO THE EDITOR” which was published in the local newspaper FREDERICKSBURG FREE LANCE- STAR on June 5, 1979… PUT SOMETHING BACK, GRADUATES URGED To the Editor: I am a senior at Spotsylvania High School and will be graduating in a couple of weeks. This year many seniors from our area high schools will be going away to colleges and trade schools to become professionals in the business world and other fields. I hope that many of us will return to this area to put our skills and special training to work. We must not forget where we come from or those who helped us to get where we are (or will be). I can’t speak for every senior, but I have taken something very valuable from this area, and I feel that I must put something back to show my appreciation. I am speaking of education. I have learned that a person should give if he or she has received. I hope that the class of ’79 will join me in the future to reimburse our hometown. RANDOLPH CAMP

School The Politicians

Those politicians who supports the banning of certain books and supports the restrictions on the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) are, in my view, making America weaker. If the purpose of public education is to prepare our young people for the future, for the real world, then if we don’t tell them the truth (about history, etc) then we are setting them up for failure. How can American kids compete with others if their minds have been brainwashed and watered down? If we truly want a stronger nation we need to remind and school these certain politicians of the primary purpose of our kids’ education. We shouldn’t be creating backward-minded policies and laws that weaken our kids, which weakens our nation. Too many of our educators are quitting due to these new policies and restrictions, so we should be doing things to keep our dedicated and creative teachers and librarians, which strengthens our kids and their future, ultimately making the nation stronger. I personally use this photo to keep my spirit up, especially when I’m seeing around me people’s actions and certain laws trying to belittle me or attempt to take my people’s true history and pride away. The 50-foot sculpture is entitled ‘Dignity’. It’s located in South Dakota to honor women of the Sioux Nation. – Randolph Randy Camp

Another Trip To The VA

It’s the spring of 2022 and we’ve been coping with the coronavirus for a while now. The VA is offering the second booster shot to veterans. Any particular visit to the VA conjures up a vast array of emotions for me, good and bad. Stepping into any VA hospital you will definitely see amputees, and this humbles me every time. Seeing an amputee makes me appreciate the feet and hands I do have and makes me feel guilty when I catch myself complaining about something trivial. Walking through the hallways, sitting in the waiting rooms, or simply being in the presence of other military veterans can stir up stuff you’re still unable to talk about. I’m 61 years old now and these visits to the VA reminds me that some scars can’t be hidden. Veterans are notorious for keeping things bottled up. We have all heard the saying ‘boys don’t cry’, but I personally know that’s not true because every story I’d ever written is a form of me crying. It’s not easy for veterans to bring up past memories. Keeping things tucked away for long stretches of time isn’t healthy. On the average, twenty veterans commit suicide every day. After I got my booster shot the nurse had me sit for observation for about ten minutes in the waiting room. This is probably the hardest part of my visit to the VA because this is where I see myself in the faces of all the other vets sitting around me. We sit in silence, knowing each others’ scars. I served in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps. Whether you’re a military veteran or a civilian, opening up is tough. Here’s the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255. – Randolph Randy Camp

Kira on The Campaign Trail at Randie's Free Library

It’s great to see people involved and engaging with their community. Canvassing and participating in grassroots campaigning certainly isn’t for everybody. Kira says that she loves it because she gets to meet and chat with so many interesting people. Kira is campaigning for Dr. Megan Srinivas, running for Iowa House District 30. By the way, Kira is an avid reader and her favorite children’s book is ‘Where The Wild Things Are’, which had a big impact on her life.

Books From Heaven: Randie's Free Library

It’s April 21, six days from Randie’s birthday and two boxes of books were dropped off for RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY early this morning.

Keep Hoping, Don't Give Up

Keep Hoping, Don’t Give Up…Just like many of you, watching what’s happening in Ukraine right now is rough. Seeing the inspiring, fighting spirit of the Ukrainian people reminds me of my favorite children’s book ‘The Little Engine That Could.’ I think I can, I think I can. (And how fitting that the book cover reflects the colors of the Ukrainian flag.) – Randolph Randy Camp