daverichey March 23rd, 2008

TITLE: Fireships & Brimstone

AUTHOR: Richard A. Minich

PUBLISHER: All Exox Publications

CONTACT:

PO Box 493
East Aurora, NY 14052

WEBSITE: All Esox Publications
COST: $37.50 + postage; Hardcover with dust jacket

The author, a deeply addicted muskie fisherman, has taken a mighty leap from his earlier how-to books on catching muskies to a fast-paced novel. The novel, the first in a series of three to be announced on a yearly basis, features a new and unusual action figure in Indian angler Joe Gaspe. The FBI uncovers a scheme to bring death and destruction to our northern frontier between the United States and Canada.

Gaspe seems the most inept and illogical person to piece together a viable network of other anglers and guides along that poorly defined International Boundary. This group of guides and others have one purpose: to keep Gaspe informed about any unusual happenings along this poorly marked and watery border.

Minich’s characters are well defined, and the Homeland Security adds a modern hook to this well-written story. Gaspe’s loose group of informants consists of cousins, old friends, hangers-on and others among the local Indians and other folks on both sides of the border. They report to Gaspe, who in turn reports to the FBI and Homeland Security.

It’s a rollicking ride of counter-terrorist actions. There are bombings, murders, attempted murders, and believe it or not, a scalping as well. I read a novel each week for recreation, and this one is an excellent first attempt. It has a few flaws, but my biggest complaint is the dust jacket illustration.

It shows a bearded Joe Gaspe with long hair, beard,, soul patch and an exploding boat. The scheme of the terrorists is to blow up the Friendship Bridge between the U.S. and Canada, and like most novels, the hero helps save the day and thwart the bad guys.

It’s got just enough muskie fishing in it to make the book a collectible one for those anglers who love to muskie fish and love to collect books about muskie fishing. I buy and sell muskie titles, and read everything muskie-related, and this book fills my two major needs – a good read and another book for my collection. Buy this first book in the Joe Gaspe series, and you’ll be notified when the next two titles come out. – Dave Richey

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Tags: , "book review", "Robert A. Minich", Brimstone, dave richey, Fireships, fishing, muskie, snoops

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daverichey December 7th, 2007

Welcome to my weblog and website. If you enjoy award-winning writing and photography about fishing, hunting and natural resources management, this is the spot. Each story is illustrated by one or more color photos to increase your pleasure.

We are off on a new writing path. I’ve spent four years writing blogs, and 40 years writing outdoor copy. It is straight-forward, honest and informs and entertains. I cover many topics, but never write about non-consumptive outdoor pastimes.

My site has a daily blog, and once or twice a week, I’ll write a book review on topics of interest to Michigan and world-wide anglers and hunters. Within a month there will be a feature story about certain phases of the outdoors, and it too will be illustrated with color photos. On occasion there will be a feature by another outdoor writer on a topic I feel is important to my readers. Look for them soon!

Other items of interest will be added as time goes on. Some may be static items such as a table of insect hatches. Such things are of great interest to many fly fishermen.

I have made a living writing outdoor copy, and it comes from my heart. I cover topics that other outdoor writers seldom write, and recommend that readers check out my Sunday feature story in the Traverse City Record-Eagle. Look for it in the sports section.

My copy always deals with timely topics of interest, and if it interests me, it should interest you when stories are written about bass, brook trout, brown trout, crappie, muskellunge, northern pike, perch, salmon, steelhead, walleye and whitefish fishing. Check out my bow, firearm and muzzleloader hunting stories on bear, caribou, deer, ducks, geese, elk, grouse, quail, rabbits, squirrels and woodcock.

Scoops Books is another feature that allows me to buy and sell fishing and hunting books. There are currently 400 plus fishing-hunting books for sale at fair prices. Visit Scoops Books and review some great book buys.

We rock daily with a timely blog and weekly with book reviews and other outdoor features. Climb aboard and let’s go fishing and hunting together. And don’t forget, you can contact me anytime at: dave@daverichey.com . I promise to respond as quickly as possible.

Be good to each other and enjoy the great outdoors.

Tags: "consumptive sport", "Traverse City Record-Eagle", dave richey, fishing, hunting, Michigan, outdoors, photography, writing

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