Talking with Tom Clancy

My Encounter with the Great Tom Clancy

 

Yes, I did know Mr. Clancy, even if it was only by email. Maybe I was naïve, but I felt a certain kinship with the best-selling author. After graduating from college in 1969 and before he wrote his first novel, Tom Clancy worked as an insurance broker. In 1980, he bought his own agency and began work on The Hunt for the Red October, which was published in 1984.

 

When I began work on my own story, I thought perhaps Mr. Clancy might be willing to point me in the right direction. When I emailed the best-selling author, it never occurred to me that  he might not welcome questions from fledgling writers. I thought, you know, one insurance guy to another.

 

If you know me, you know I am not intimidated by much…Heck, I even asked the great man if he would consider writing an endorsement for my book.

Mr. Clancy did, in fact write me back, and here are some clips of our conversations:

Mr. Clancy,

I am the chief principal of an insurance agency

I own with my parents, and as you once did,

I am working on my first book.

What advice would you give me about getting my book published?

 Maybe you would like to read the rough draft.

Would you by any chance consider writing a foreword for my book?

thanks,

Rob Whedbee

TC

Do it. Don't tell me about it. Do it.

TC

Everybody's got his own system. I never use an outline, for example. I just write the damned thing. Try whatever works for you.

TC

Best advice: It's your story. You have to write it. I can't do that for you. That's the price of admission into this club. So, pay up and write the damned thing.

 

RW

 

OK I WROTE THE DAMN THING, NOW WHAT?

TC

What do you want me to do?

New York is full of publishers. YOU pick one. Simon & Shuster, Putnam, Doubleday. St. Martins. YOU pick one. They all employ editors who are always looking for new talent.

There is no magic formula. You need to work for it, and be lucky. 

Send it to an editor. Publishers are always looking for new talent. Why? Because I will not live forever. Pick one you like and send it in. Then hope for luck.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mr. Clancy, 66, passed away on October 1st. Ten of his books made it to Number One on The New York Times' Best-Seller List.

RIP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

QUOTE

"Nothing is as real as a dream.

The world can change around you, but your dream will not.

Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it.

Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away."

Thomas Clancy

 

 

Introducing ROB-isms

Everyone has there way of coping with or getting through some of the less fair moments in life...and make no mistake, life is NOT fair, but you get through it, and hopefully, without going through life as a victim.

I have my little sayings, some original, some borrowed, but I can usually find one to fit the occasion.

I'd really like to hear some of yours, so throw me one or two in the comment section of this post.

My Rob-ism for today is:

"It's too late to do it sooner."

 

 

 

So, show me what you've got!

 

Film Crew Heading Our Way

UPDATE: Tentative date set for airing of Investigation Discovery segment on the story of the attempted murder of Rob Whedbee.

Saturday, March 1st
Investigation Discovery Channel
WHO THE BLEEP DID I MARRY

Stay tuned for details.




Stay tuned all you Investigation Discovery addicts. The production company film crew will be in Knoxville this month to film an episode for Who the Bleep Did I Marry. The episode will focus on Rob Whedbee's life with a wife who manipulated him, lied to him and about him,  and ultimately tried to kill him to reap the benefits of his $1.5 million dollar life insurance policy, and other assets totaling more than $4 million..

A narcissistic sociopath, Rob's wife made life difficult for him for twelve years, with things rapidly disintegrating after the birth of their daughter Brittany who was born with profound Down Syndrome, and suffered numerous traumatic medical issues during her first four years of life, including a congenital heart defect called ventricular septal defect (VSD), and a rare brain defect called MoyaMoya disease.

Lisa Whedbee never could accept her special needs child and frequently neglected her, leaving Brittany's care to Rob and his parents, Joyce and Lloyd Whedbee. Most believe that Brittany's life was also in danger the night of the attempt on Rob's life.

The filming will take place over a two day period, and will include interviews with Rob Whedbee and others involved in the case. The episode promises to be a good and informative "watch" and is projected to air in February of 2014.

We'll keep you posted..

www.mayoclinic.com/health/ventricular-septal-defect/DS00614
Moyamoya Disease

Secrets to Tell

The Rude Awakening of Rob Whedbee brings to light numerous secrets that have been buried for 19 years. A sociopathic, narcissistic woman, purposely, and without regard, did unforgiveable damage to her husband, her children, and their families...and she just didn't care. It's time to tell the real story...

Michael Frazier was not Lisa’s first affair, or her first choice as the man to murder her husband. Flaunting her bikini-clad body at her best friend’s pool, one steamy Saturday afternoon, a good-looking fellow in law enforcement caught her eye.  It wasn’t long before she was in his bed, where the sex burned white-hot.

Did she really ask him if she could borrow his gun?

According to him, when he found out she was married, he “dumped her.”

Poor Lisa.

Rob Whedbee: Pictures from Case

Characters: Front and Center Stage
Here are just a few of the characters involved with the case.

Rob and life-long friend, Hugh Ladd.

Hugh was not fond of Lisa, feeling that she

tried to come between Rob and his close friends.

Next door neighbor, Bill Shinn, came to

Rob's rescue the night of the attempted murder,

when he heard Rob banging on his gutters with a base ball bat.

 

Dan Stewart, lead investigator on the case, said,

 "Some [detectives] work a career and never get a case like this."

 

Lisa Outlaw Whedbee:

Charged with attempted murder and conspiracy

to commit first degree murder, and

solicitation to commit murder.

Michael David Frazier

Lisa Whedbee's Lover (?).

Charged with Attempted First Degree Murder

and Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder.

Bloody bed sheets in Rob's bedroom.

Rob Whedbee testifying in the Frazier trial about

waking up to see a man with a  large knife raised and

ready to cut Rob's throat.

Frazier, on the stand. "I was going to do

anything I had to to help Lisa."

Defense Attorney, Greg Isaacs, showing

award-winning story written by Frazier

about the trials and sacrifices Lisa Whedbee

 had to make to care for her child with profound disabilities.

The article was, in fact, a fairy tale of sorts. The lion's share of

care for Brit was done by Rob and his parents.

Lisa even admits in the article that when people would tell her how cute

Brittany was, she would think, "No she's not. She's different." Some saint, huh?

Sheriff Tim Hutchison (ret.) said this was

one of the strangest cases he worked during

his 5-term tenure as Knox County Sheriff.

A Glimpse at Some Civil War History in Knoxville

I don't think I have ever mentioned my great interest in the history of the Civil War. Yesterday was a beautiful day...clear sky...cool breeze. While I was out for lunch, I decided to stop by Confederate Hall which houses a vast amount of Civil War memorabilia. If you're a Civil War buff, there's a lot of history here in Knoxville.

 

James Longstreet & Ambrose Burnside

(It's rumored that side burns got their name from Ambrose Burnside.)