Great news! You can now pre-order my new novel, "The Everafter Chronicles: Reign of the Night Creatures!"
By pre-ordering, you are guaranteed to receive an autographed copy of my book AT LEAST one month before the official release date! You will also be helping to fund my book tour.
Please pre-order today, and spread the word! Thanks, guys!!!
Click banner for more details and to pre-order. Link will direct you to my Kickstarter page.
'Tis the season to be jolly! What better way to get into the holiday spirit than to gather around the television (or computer) with friends and family to watch your favorite Christmas movies?
I just received this e-mail from Joshua from Indie Book of the Day:
"I am contacting you on behalf of the IBD Awards. We had recently received
a nomination for your book, The Earth is a Floating Sphere and have
selected it as the Indie Book of the Day Award winner for 17th of
December, 2012."
Wow...this has been an exciting week! I am so honored!
You can purchase The Earth is a Floating Sphere for your Amazon Kindle via this link:
I would like to thank Mina Rivera from Reader's Favorite for reviewing my upcoming book, "The Everafter Chronicles: Reign of the Night Creatures." This is her review:
Casey Sean Harmon's "The Everafter Chronicles: Reign of the Night
Creatures" has the feel of C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia with the
story revolving around three siblings and their dog who were pulled to
another world and immersed in a magical adventure. It is a world where
the fight between good and evil is ever present; a world called
'Everafter' where evil can be defeated by the presence of light. But how can evil be fought when, at night, the moon is nowhere to be found? Can these children save 'Everafter'?
I love Harmon's writing style. It is simple, concise, and organized.
The way he develops his story and his characters is seamless. I know
that if I have kids, this book will be one of those that I'd read over
and over again, simply because Casey Sean Harmon has been able to
effectively teach courage, compassion, generosity, trust, and most
especially love. The way Harmon ended 'Reign of the Night Creatures'
reminds the reader to value not just friends, but also family. Casey
Sean Harmon is also able to teach the reader the value of community and
teamwork; that we are not alone in solving the problems of the world and
that the people we meet are instrumental in our success.
The purpose of this post is to help prepare interested Soldiers/Officers to take that first step toward becoming a Civil Affairs Specialist/Officer. All of the information put out here is public information and their sources can be found at the bottom of this post. I hope that you will find this information both informative and inspiring.
First off, who am I?
My name is SGT Harmon, and I am an active duty Soldier currently serving as a 56M (Chaplain Assistant). About nine months ago I decided that I wanted to try something different with my Army career, and so I started researching the Special Operations side of the house. (You can find information on the different Army SP OPS branches HERE.)
The branch that immediately caught my attention was 38B (Civil Affairs). I submitted my packet, and within weeks I received a letter saying that my packet had been accepted and that I was good to move on to the next phase: CAAS (Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection.)
About seven months ago I attended and passed the rigorous 10-day selection course at Camp McCall (Fort Bragg, NC). Please do not ask me what the selection course was like, I can not give out that information. However, I will say this: Do not show up unprepared! Ask your recruiter to send you a physical fitness schedule and stick to it! The course is designed to push you to the utmost both physically and mentally. After all, you are trying to enter a component of the U.S. Army Special Operations forces!
What is Civil Affairs?
According to the Special Operations Recruiting Battalion website, "Although Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations activities
often complement each other, each battle system operates individually
in support of field commanders. Civil Affairs Soldiers are the field commander's link
to the civil authorities in his area of operations. With specialists
in every area of the government, they can assist a host government
meet its people's needs and maintain a stable and viable civil
administration." You can read the full article HERE.
Each civil affairs team is made up of a captain; a team sergeant; a team NCO, who is usually the team engineer; and the team medic. Though each has their own specialties, the members of the team are able to fill everyone else’s roles, if necessary. Teams within the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) are rapidly deployable; advise the combatant commanders or ambassadors on regional, cultural and local issues; and act as liaisons to nongovernmental agencies, information operations and U.S. government agencies. (Read more HERE).
Rank SPC-SFC. Reference packet for TIG and TIS requirements.
Must have WLC.
ASVAB TECH Score 100 or above.
PULHES 111221 or better.
Security Verification, Interim.
DLAB score of 65 or higher or current DLPT with results within 12 months if you are language qualified.
OFFICERS:
Eligible for a Top Secret security clearance under provisions of AR 380-67.
Possess a baccalaureate degree or
enrolled in the degree completion program obtaining degree no later than
the start date of qualification course.
Possess a Defense Language Aptitude
Battery (DLAB) score of 65 or above or have foreign language ability
as demonstrated by an acceptable Defense Language Proficiency Test
(DLPT) score of 1/1 or higher.
Be a YG 2010 Office.
Male and Female Officers may apply.
ALL APPLICANTS MUST:
Pass and be selected from the Civil Affairs Assessment and Selection course (Camp McCall, NC).
Be Airborne qualified or willing to volunteer for airborne training.
Possess an APFT card within 6 months (at least 70% in each event) & DA From 5500R Body fat content worksheet if needed.
If you pass Selection, your next step will be to go through the Q-course. The qualification course (or Q-course) is a pipeline that consists of:
Airborne school (if not already Airborne qualified) (3 weeks)
Introduction to CA (2 weeks)
Defense Language school (18-25 weeks)
Civil Affairs NCO Academy (11 Weeks)
CULEX (3 weeks)
Graduation (1 week)
For those of you who would like to know more about what Civil Affairs is all about (or if you have already passed Selection and are studying for the Q-course), these sources contain some really good information:
The Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor took
place on December 7, 1941. The base was attacked by 353 Japanese
fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in two waves, launched from six
aircraft carriers.
All eight U.S. Navy battleships were damaged, with
four being sunk. Of these eight damaged, two were raised, and with four
repaired, six battleships returned to service later in the war.
The
Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an
anti-aircraft training ship, and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were
destroyed.
In total, 2,402 Americans were killed and 1,282 wounded.
My son Liam Phillip is 4 weeks and 1 day old today. He's such a little stinker! :) He's starting to smile and make mouth noises. He's also starting to observe his surroundings more. I can't believe that he is already over a month old!
I recently became a father. This is a little poem I wrote (from my heart, I might add) describing what I believe are some of the most important qualities of a good father. I am blessed to have a father who reflects these qualities (I love you, dad!), and my one desire is to always be a good father to my son. Enjoy.
A father is loving, patient, and understanding He provides direction, knows when and when not to be stern, and he knows how to admit when he is wrong A father is fun, encouraging, and sets the example He isn't afraid to cry, he would do anything for his family, and above all else, he is always there
Copyright 2012 by Casey Sean Harmon. All Rights Reserved. If you would like to request permission to quote this poem, please feel free to contact the author in writing.
This is a short story that I wrote back in 2006 in honor of the men and women of the U.S. Armed forces. (This was before I joined the Army in early 2007.) The purpose behind the story is simply to remind people that, even if you do not agree with the war, you should still support the troops. In light of the economy and our present war situation, I have noticed that many Americans have a certain resentment toward the military and the continuation of the war on terrorism. My mission here is not to point fingers or step on any toes; I wish simply to make what I feel to be a valid point. I would like to see America return to its patriotic roots. God bless America! Enjoy my short story.
For All of America
“Japan
should have known better. I tell you what, it was bound to happen!” The retired
U.S. Army General reached over and flipped off the radio, extracting a mouth full
of smoke and tobacco from the cigarette hanging from his mouth, blowing the
smoke into the face of his American friend, the cook at The Crawford Diner,
who in turn closed his eyes and faced the opposite direction.
“But think of all those innocent women
and children, bill,” the cook said, turning back to the General when the smoke
had drifted away. “They didn’t even know it was coming.”
The General covered his face and
heaved a sigh. “Jon, Jon, Jon. How many times do we have to go over this? Think
about Pearl Harbor. The way they flew in, completely by surprise, and bombed
the smithereens out of us? Our women and children didn’t have a chance.”
Jon was growing tired of arguing. He
believed that war was not the solution. If you look hard enough, he thought,
you would find a far better solution: peace.
He looked the General in the eye. He
knew his words would mean nothing. But something inside brought him to speak
again. “An atomic bomb brings nothing but further conflict. Maybe not now, or a
hundred years from now. But someday it will come, and somebody will not be
prepared. At that point, what will be so wrong in shooting someone in the
back?”
General Bill stared for a moment.
Taking the cigarette out of his mouth, he said, “Our boys are over there right
this moment, fighting their hearts away. They knew before they ever went over
there that it would not be easy, would not be fun and games. They knew that
there was a very large chance that most of them would not return. These are men
and women that willingly put their lives on the line. And for what?”
Jon looked down.
“For us, Jon. For me and you. For all
of America. They are willing to die for our freedom. It doesn’t matter if we
agree or disagree with the destruction of Hiroshima. That isn’t the point. The
point is that we as Americans should support our boys, just as they are
supporting us this second. How would you feel if you were over in Japan
fighting for a nation that you later discovered was opposing your every move?”
The cook said nothing, which was how
these conversations usually ended. The diner remained empty, and the old
General continued puffing on his cigarette.
Copyright 2006 by C.S. Harmon. All
Rights Reserved.
This and other stories can be found in The Earth is a Floating Sphere: A Care-Free Collection of Poems and Stories by Casey Sean Harmon. Available on Amazon Kindle.
In the USA, Veterans Day annually falls on November 11. (November 12 is typically the observed date.) This day is the
anniversary of the signing of the armistice, which ended the World War I
hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany in 1918. Veterans
are thanked for their services to the United States on Veterans Day. Veterans Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who
served the United States in all wars, particularly living veterans. It
is marked by parades and church services and in many places the American
flag is hung at half mast. A period of silence lasting two minutes may
be held at 11am. (Timeanddate.com)
As a Soldier, I have had the opportunity to serve beside many great and honorable men and women. I know what it feels like to return home after serving overseas for a year. I know what it feels like to lose a battle buddy. There are many aspects about wearing this uniform that many people will never understand. It goes beyond providing for our families. There is a strong sense of pride affiliated with serving what is without a doubt the best nation on earth. This pride can not be conveyed in any book or on any television program; it can only be experienced. I believe I speak for all Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen when I say that I am proud to be a part of the U.S. Military! I am proud to carry on the traditions of those patriots who have served before me! And I am proud, above all else, to know that I fight to secure the freedom of my children and grandchildren. God bless America!
"I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot."-Gary Hart
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest
appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
I am pleased to announced that my novel The Thousand Year Voyage just made it to the Amazon.com Bestseller's List! The book sold 68 copies in just over an hour, making it the #5 bestselling book in Inspirational and #20 in War. (And it is expected to rise even higher!) Thanks, guys, for helping me to continue my legacy as a bestselling author.
Happy Readings, Casey Sean Harmon Two-time Bestselling Author and Soldier in U.S. Army www.caseyseanharmon.com
Starting on 11 Nov 2012 through the 13th, I will be
giving away FREE Kindle copies of my very first, and very controversial
novel The Thousand Year Voyage! Follow the link below on these days to claim your FREE book, and be sure to tell your friends!
One night the earth was swallowed by an eerie green fog. The government
pronounced it a plague. People were forbidden from looking to the sky.
Shortly after, The Sea Dragon emerged from the depths. Chaos reigned
across the globe. Earthquakes shook the ground and electronics failed.
The only hope for revolution would mean a spiritual war between heaven
and hell.
Prepare for one of the most controversial, adventurous
and unique books that you will ever read. This special Kindle edition
includes a behind-the-scenes note by the author, as well as an excerpt
from Harmon's highly-anticipated new novel, "Reign of the Night
Creatures."
Written with a unique style that is reminiscent of
H.G. Wells and C.S. Lewis, people who appreciate classical works will
especially like this book.
"This is a literary tale reminiscent
of H.G. Wells, C.S. Lewis or Isaac Asimov at times. As such, plenty of
attention is given to surroundings, character motivation and thought."
--Brian Reaves, author, Stolen Lives "It is full of irony, wisdom
and humor, wonderfully written. I really enjoyed it, at times laughed
out loud at its subtle humor. Good story and positive morals."
--Jon
Huer, author and Professor of Sociology "...Has all the hallmarks
of successful fiction, it draws and keeps the reader's attention, and
is thought provoking during and after reading."
--Tony Murrell, Wordsru "The
Thousand Year Voyage is a fictional story of an unassuming man who
embarks on an inspiring and thought-provoking journey, revealing that
all things are possible through faith in God..."
--Bart Dahmer, Innovo
Publishing
After five days of labor, Liam Phillip Harmon
was born on 4 Nov at 0554--three days past his estimated due date. He weighed 8.6 lbs and was 20.5 in long. I couldn't have been more proud. He has brown hair and dark blue eyes. Everyone says he looks like his daddy! He also has a good set of pipes. The nurses at the German hospital that he was born in informed us numerous times that, "Your baby has a good will to live, he has a very strong voice!" He was, without a doubt, the loudest baby in the hospital. Baby and mother are doing fine.
It has been just over a month since my
Bestselling short story/poem book came out, and I'm interested to hear
what you guys thought of it. Please take a few moments to visit the link
below and write me a review on Amazon.com. Everyone who writes
me a review will be entered into a raffle to win a FREE copy of my
upcoming novel, "The Everafter Chronicles." Be sure to leave me a message (either in the comment section below or on my Facebook page) letting me know that you wrote me a review. Deadline will be announced soon. REVIEW NOW!!!
If you still have not read my book, you can pick it up for your Kindle from Amazon.com for just $3.49! Discover the book that made it to the Amazon.com Bestseller's list in FOUR different categories!
(Click the picture below to visit my book on Amazon.com)
As most of you know by now, when I am not busy doing Soldier stuff or writing books I can be quite the nerd. I really enjoy fooling around on YouTube and researching the things that are popular nowadays. And, when I get spunky, I make my own videos that I hope will be the "next big thing." (Honestly, I don't really care about the number of views or comments, I just do it for fun!)
Below is a goofy video that I put together a few days ago. If you have been on YouTube for a while you have probably seen the many "Hitler" videos that have been going around. The videos are usually taken from this one scene out of an old movie that portrays Hitler throwing a fit in front of a few guys in his office. The original movie is in German, and unfortunately I do not know the name of the movie. A few years ago somebody got the smart idea to copy this particular scene and add English subtitles to it. The finished product was hilarious, and started a fad that is still going on today. Well, I don't know if my Hitler video will gain the millions of views that some of the others have, but I have to admit that it turned out rather funny. Let me know what you think! (Note: I have nothing against Justin Bieber or any of the other famous stars mentioned in this video. As I mentioned before, this is all in good fun!)
Greetings friends! I hope that all is well on this fine October day. I'm here today to talk about one of the hottest social networking websites on the web today - LinkedIn. The website was created especially for people in professional occupations, and has grown tremendously over the past few years.
One purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a
list of contact details of people with whom they have some level of
relationship, called Connections. Users can invite anyone
(whether a site user or not) to become a connection. This list of connections can then be used in a number of ways:
A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second-degree connections) and also the connections of second-degree connections (termed third-degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone a person wishes to know through a mutual contact.
Users can upload their resume or design their own profile in order to showcase work and community experiences.
It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network.
Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.
Job seekers can review theprofile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them.
Users can post their own photos and view photos of others to aid in identification.
Users can now follow different companies and can get notification about the new joining and offers available.
Users can save (i.e. bookmark) jobs which they would like to apply for.
LinkedIn allows users to research companies with which they may be
interested in working. When typing the name of a given company in the
search box, statistics about the company are provided.
LinkedIn is considered by many to be an essential tool for professional networking. Companies can use the website to get the word out about their business and gain potential employees/clients. Authors can use the website to display their published works and, not only connect to potential readers/followers, but with agents and book publishers. There really is no limit to what you can accomplish with this website.
Four years ago today I said "I do" to my best friend and the love of my life. Lydia Harmon, I would not be the man that I am today without you in my life. You are my rock and my biggest inspiration. I can not imagine my life without you! And I just want you to know how very much I appreciate your love and support, and how I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. I love you!!! *kissss*
Wouldn't it be neat if Liam was born today? Fingers crossed! :)
a Straight and Narrow production by Casey Sean Harmon
This is a full-length movie that I wrote,
produced and directed. If you're a "Twilight Zone" fan, you will like
this low-budget feature that was filmed in the Bavarian alps of Germany.
The plot: John Parker, U.S. Army Soldier, has been wrongly accused of killing his battle buddy. As punishment, he has been sentenced to years of solitude on a prison planet known as Uleos. With no communication with the outside world, Parker must face his greatest fear: being alone. Will he survive? Or will his imagination get the best of him? Written, produced and directed by Casey Sean Harmon
The cast: Casey Sean Harmon Lydia Harmon E.J. Scott Myers Miguel Martinez Tom Shanks Ligia Meza Max The Wein family
I have been talking about my books so much lately, I figure it is time for a little break.
Lately I have been searching YouTube for "One Man Band" videos. You can find some really neat ones that obviously took a lot of effort to make. (Scroll down to the bottom of this blog post to watch some of my favorites.) If you don't know what a "One Man Band" video is, I won't bore you with a description since any questions that you may have will undoubtedly be answered the moment you start watching one of the videos below.
ANYWAY, I'm here to tell you that I made my own "One Man Band" video. I know, it doesn't compare to many of the others that are out there. I made the whole thing in less than six hours using free software that, might I add, kept freezing up every few minutes. (As you can imagine, this made me VERY aggravated!) I do not own professional recording equipment, and the video quality of my camera is nothing to write home about. But, nonetheless, I managed to pull it off. Despite the evil movie editing software, the project was quite fun! Hopefully this will inspire some of you to make your own "One Man Band" video...YOU SHOULD DO IT! And when you do, please share the link to your video in the comment section below. I would love to see what you come up with!
