Susan of SJF Communications enjoying the flower fields!
Susan’s friend Ninon at the Flower Fields!
It was such a fun morning (into the afternoon) enjoying a wagon ride and strolling through the vividly colorful Tecolote Ranunculus flowers (and more) at the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California.
Here’s a short SJF Communications video to share the delightfully colorful fields that seemed to go on and on!
. Prices range from $9-$18. YES, we did pay the extra $5 for the fun (and a bit bumpy) wagon ride and YES we also treated ourselves to a strawberry shake!
A special unexpected treat was smiling while observing the adorable caged dove exhibit!
A great children’s area will keep the kids happy with fun activities, gold panning plus workshops for school groups!
There were sweet pea & orchid areas, fresh lemonade, ice cream, the ‘Strawberry Shack’ with yummy drinks and sweets and overall a great way to spend time!
Our family spent a few wonderful hours hiking at Tahquitz Canyon ~ part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation in Palm Springs.
Take a look at our short video below with photos by Susan J Farese, SJF Communications and music by Ah Nee Mah: ‘Native Visions: A Native American Music Journey’.
We saw a variety of beautiful wildflowers, rock formations and boulders, crossed over two streams, and ultimately reached the gorgeous 60 foot waterfall at the end of the trail. The land was spectacular. The views magnificent. It was a bit steep, but well worth the climbing!
What a spectacular day hiking at Lake Hodges in Escondido, CA! Beautiful scenery, wildflowers blooming, birds enjoying the plentiful rain that we’ve had lately, magnificent rainbows (did we mention the larger than life rattlesnake)? Take a look at ‘art in nature’ and ‘nature as art’!
Music: If We Knew All the Laws of Nature’ by Robert Farmer.
Photos/Video by SJF Communications ‘Creative Ideas | Dynamic Results’ sjfcommunications.com
My husband and I enjoyed a walk along the lower trail near Annie’s Canyon the other day. We began at the Northwestern end of Rios Avenue in Solana Beach and heading East towards Highway #5 (Manchester Exit). Note: We didn’t hike into Annie’s Canyon his time…but hopefully next time!.
Here are some photos captured by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications. Take a look at the variety of shorebirds pictured solo or in a flock. An extra treat was spotting the cutest Anna’s Hummingbird building a nest as we exited the trail!
Feel free to click on each photo for a larger view.
It was mesmerizing to see and photograph several hawks up close and personal on January 5th at Hawk Watch Ramona, thanks to the Wildlife Research Institute !
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.). The Hawk Watch lasts about 1.5-2 hours. The location is at the private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065.
More suggestions: Bring binoculars, cameras, wear layered clothing, and sturdy shoes. (It could get muddy and wet there)! There are chairs set up outside but you can also bring your own if you prefer. There is free parking.
There were several varieties of hawks to see up close and personal, including the Red-Tailed Hawk(s), as well as a Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, White Gyrfalcon and an American Kestrel – plus several exhibitor displays inside the building and demonstrations outside, such as a net trapping and learning how the handlers work with the hawks. Each week will feature different species.
According to the WRI flyer at the event- Here is the upcoming Owl schedule:
February 2nd: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 16th: Barn Owl, Western Screech
February 23rd: Barn Owl, Western Screech
Here are some photos from the day!
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Ferruginous Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Ferruginous Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Ferruginous Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
American Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
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We had lunch at the Calico House Restaurant (complete with being allowed to throw opened peanut shells on the floor), visited Maggie’s Mine, the Calico Odessa Railroad, the Mystery Shack, and several shops! We didn’t get a chance to do any panning for minerals, stay overnight in a cabin, visit the cemetery, or take a gander inside the old Calico schoolhouse.
However, it was truly a fun, educational and memorable day.
We had such a spectacular, fun and educational morning (along with a large group of attendees) at the first 2019 ‘Hawk Watch’ Falconry event including a Q & A with Biologists from the Wildlife Research Institute (WRI).
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.). The Hawk Watch lasts about 1.5-2 hours. The location is at the private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065.
More suggestions: Bring binoculars, cameras, wear layered clothing, and sturdy shoes. (It could get muddy and wet there)! There are chairs set up outside but you can also bring your own if you prefer. There is free parking.
There were several varieties of hawks to see up close and personal, including the Red-Tailed Hawk(s), as well as a Peregrine Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk, White Gyrfalcon and an American Kestrel – plus several exhibitor displays inside the building and demonstrations outside, such as a net trapping and learning how the handlers work with the hawks. Each week will feature different species.
According to the WRI flyer at the event- Here is the upcoming Owl schedule:
January 12th: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 2nd: Barn Owl, Great Horned Owl, Western Screech
February 16th: Barn Owl, Western Screech
February 23rd: Barn Owl, Western Screech
Click below for a short video from our day!
Here are a few photos representing the hawks we observed!
Peregrine Falcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
Red-Tailed Hawk – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
These free Hawk Watches (donations accepted as well) will continue on Saturdays throughout January and February at 10 a.m. (suggested arrival time 9:30 a.m.) The location is at the beautiful picturesque private Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd. Ramona, CA 92065. Coffee and donuts were on hand (donations accepted) and afterwards hot dogs and refreshments were available for purchase.
There were also exhibitors (including reptiles on display) plus hawk related and other goods for sale.
A great day to observe and marvel at the hawks!
White Gyrfalcon – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF CommunicationsAmerican Kestrel – Photo by Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
An Anna’s Hummingbird building and guarding her Nest – This was exciting to see! Thanks to the fellow bird watcher who told us about it!A pair of American Wigeons exploring in the lagoon
The beauty of the trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
A lone pine cone in the torrey pine tree
Gadwalls at the lagoon
Sweet female MallardThings happen in threes, even Mallards!More of the lovely trail at the San Elijo Lagoon
Mallard pair staring!
Visitors at the San Elijo Lagoon – including Curlew, Godwit, Willet shorebirds
I spent a late morning into the early afternoon at Lake Miramar (also known as the Miramar Reservoir) in the Scripps Ranch area of San Diego, walking along the 5 mile paved Loop Trail.
The address is: 10710 Scripps Lake Dr., San Diego, CA 92131
There were beautiful views throughout!
Feel free to click on each photo for a larger view!
I took a detour and hiked a bit below the paved trail on the dirt path.
Little bird watching surprises: a Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Western Grebe, Gadwall, Snow Goose, Cassin’s Kingbird and of course, plenty of Mallards and Coots!
No swimming, but there’s fishing and bike rentals!
Besides people walking and jogging, there were many on bikes and one on roller skates!
If you go: bring WATER to drink. Yes, there are plenty of portable toilets along the trail.
New York City based Korean Illustration Artist Moonsun Shin will be collaborating with Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim on an exciting new project: ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ Jeeyoon’s National CD Release Concert’ will be held on December 9th at the Auditorium at The Scripps Research Institute in San Diego (La Jolla).
Jeeyoon’s concert events combine dazzling technical mastery and profound musicianship with her personal commentary on stage. The ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ concert will also feature a unique collaboration with Moonsub Shin’s newly commissioned art. Each of the twelve drawings by Mr. Shin depicts a movement of Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21, No. 1 by Johannes Brahms, nicknamed the ‘philosophical variations’.
Here is our SJF Communications Q & A Interview with Moonsub Shin and Susan J. Farese:
SJF: Please tell us a bit about your upbringing.
MS: I’d lived in Daegu, South Korea until 2007 when I came to the United States. I was a normal kid who loved drawing. When I was a high school student, I decided to go into the art-field. However, my parents didn’t allow me to enter the art major for college right away. They wanted me to study media and society first, so I choose Advertising and Publicity for my college major. After I got my Bachelor’s degree, I studied art to prepare for art school.
SJF: Where did you study visual art/ illustration?
MS: In 2009, I was admitted to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) BFA program for Illustration and Cartooning in NYC. I studied for 2 years, then prepared for the MFA program in the same school. In 2012, I started the SVA MFA Illustration as Visual Essay program and received my Masters degree in 2014.
SJF: What compelled you to collaborate with Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim?
Moonsub Shin’s Drawing of Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim, Carnegie Hall, December 14, 2017
MS: First, I love Classical Music. When I was a student, I drew musicians frequently because their playing motions and feeling are a great theme of my work. So collaborating with Music as an artist has been one of my desire projects.
SJF: How did you decide to pursue illustration (rather than other visual arts, such as painting, sculpture, photography etc.)
MS: Actually, I wanted to be a character concept designer in an Animation Company such as Pixar or Disney. When I sought the ways to be a character concept designer, I found that studying illustration was one of them. So I decided to study illustration. However, while I’d studied illustration, I fell into the enchantment of it. Illustration should contain characters, color, appearances, feeling and storytelling at the same time in an image piece. I really felt these features.
SJF: Tell us about last year when you watched and did several illustrations of Jeeyoon’s Carnegie Hall concert?
MS: Carnegie Hall where she performed was really fit with her performance. I was compelled to draw her performance. The Piano, Carnegie Hall, the microphone stand and Jeeyoon – everything delivered stories to me so I really enjoyed that drawing time.
SJF: What inspires your art?
MS: Everything. Mostly, memories are strongly working when I get the inspiration. If something may contain some sources related my memory, it would inspire me.
SJF: You seem to be doing lots of cup drawings. How did you start with your cup drawing art? Can you explain more about the process?
Follow Moonsub Shin’s Blog with his coffee cup drawings and videos on Tumbler
MS: I used to draw cafe interior sketches in my journal but I now draw them on paper-cups instead. People loved it so I’ve been doing Paper Cup Drawings since then. Every cafe has their own paper cup, which means it contains each cafe’s identity. I think every cafe’s paper cup can be a distinguished canvas to draw the cafe. I try to contain each cafe’s specialty on the cup and it is still going on.
SJF: Do you get paid/compensated with the cup project?
MS: No, It is my personal project. I just visit some cafes with researching (but sometimes visit accidentally). Sometimes, when I give the cup drawing to a cafe, they present coffee or some goods. Recently, some company gave me a brewer machine. What a kind company…
SJF: Do you give them the cup when finished or keep it for a collection?
MS: I draw two cups. One is for my collection and the other is for the cafe.
SJF: Will any of the cups illustrations be mass produced?
MS: No, but some cafes request my illustration and some items with my illustrations – like mugs, sleeves, packages or boxes…
SJF: What is your hope for this project? TV? Other recognition?
MS: Um… Actually, I just want to collect paper-cup drawings. There is no specific purpose. I love coffee and cafes and this project is a really good motivation to reach another world – coffee. Because of this project, now I know many coffee people and it opens my eyes to the other world where it is not about an illustration. So this project is not only a simple personal project anymore. It’s brought many opportunities to promote me as an illustrator and extend my work abilities.
Now I have one dream. Visiting many cafes in the world and make as many cup drawings as I can. This project will be ongoing and I want to visit the West Coast as well as other countries where coffee is popular, such as Italy, Australia, France the UK and Japan. Finally, I want to have the exhibition when I collect over the 300 cups. I wish it. I’ve visited over the 100 cafes in NYC, Portland, Seoul, Jeju, Busan, and other cities.
SJF: Do you have any role models, female or male?
MS: Jean Jacques Sempe’, French illustrator. He is my role model. His lines are dramatic and deliver all kinds of emotions and stories in a single piece of an image. He knows how to use the drawing line to present image scenes. He’s never wasted drawing lines.
SJF: What does the phrase ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ mean to you?
MS: Something, that is not Music but still is in the Music.
SJF: What are 3 values you believe in?
MS: Love, Faith and Faithfulness
SJF: What do you do for fun, hobbies, interests outside of illustrating?
MS: I love Coffee. Visiting cafes and enjoying the coffee is part of my life. Also I love to make coffee at home
SJF: How did you collaborate with Jeeyoon in the project, ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ with the Brahms’ variation Op. 21, No. 1?
MS: First, I just listened to the music over and over again. Sometimes, I really focused on the music and other times, I just turned on the music while I worked.
When some images were released from my brain, I sketched them. When I repeated these process, I got some frames of the whole images.
A few days ago, I met Jeeyoon and she played the Brahms’ variation Op 21, No. 1 in front of me in the studio. While she played the variation, I made images more clearly.
When some parts were not clear to visualize, we discussed and found the theme and image that were good for it.
SJF: Have you ever worked with performing arts and drawing art together in the past? What is your general thought in terms of this kind of collaboration?
MS: For the fashion brand “Nan Seo”, we collaborated when they had a photo shoot for their F/W campaign. The theme was “Dancing with Father” and they hired a dancer. She was dancing on the beach and I drew her and a model.
Illustrating for the performance is not just drawing the scenes. It has to contain an invisible source such as sound, feeling and atmosphere. Also, I should make one scenery image that presents movements and time. So I have to listen to my emotions while I see and hear the performance and then find out the good images from my memories. It is the simply one process with complex steps.
SJF: Thank you so much Moonshin. It was great to get to know you and I look forward to your collaboration with Jeeyoon Kim at her national CD Release Concert, ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ – December 9th at the Auditorium at The Scripps Research Institute.
This was a wonderful sold-out event at a beautiful theatre (one of my personal favorite places to see films) with nearly 30 projects (some of my colleagues also presented) shown on the big screen that evening!
So…sit back, relax and enjoy this clip of some of my photography!
Jeeyoon’s concert events combine dazzling technical mastery and profound musicianship with her personal commentary on stage. The ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ project will also feature a unique collaboration with newly commissioned visual art by NY based illustrator, Moonsub Shin. Each of the twelve drawings by Mr. Shin depicts a movement of Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21, No. 1 by Johannes Brahms, nicknamed the ‘philosophical variations’.
Audiences will experience a new, more engaging way of listening to a classical concert with her commentary on stage. This one-hour concert without an intermission will conclude with an after-concert reception.
Getting to Know Jeeyoon Kim
Q & A Jeeyoon Kim and Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications
SJF: What has been your inspiration for your upcoming new CD/Album, ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’?
JK: I wanted to create a feeling of lightness and hope through my new album. I was imagining a bird flying over the horizon as an inspiration. Through music, we can fly together! SJF: Please tell us about your experience recording in NYC?
JK: I came back to NYC to record the ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ album at Oktaven Studio where I recorded my previous album, ‘10 More Minutes’. I love going there, as Ryan Streber is an excellent recording engineer and their Hamburg Steinway D is fun to play! Recording is a totally different beast in itself compared to live concerts as there is no audience – yet you have to create an invisible world listening to you in that quiet space alone with microphones only. You would think it is somewhat easier to record than performing live, but it is in a way more difficult as there is another possible retake of the same piece mentally. I have to keep that live performance momentum for a longer time like 3 or 4 hours straight. In the beginning of the my recording process, I find myself wanting to have a live audience, but then I have started to enjoy this process as a completely different art form as it is; enjoying the limitless possibility I could experiment making subtle changes each time I play.
SJF: Are you happy with your new album?
JK: Haha. Yes! One said that when musicians record an album, they often get frustrated because they wish for their 20 or 30 years advanced version of them at that moment. I totally understand why they say that, we musicians are crazy in that way. But I learn to let go also. I think recording is just a slice of where I am now as a person and musician. Looking back this album in 30 years from now, I think I will be still okay with what is as I know I put everything I could during that moment. That is all I can do at any given moment.
SJF: Describe your experience ‘before, during and after’ at Carnegie Hall…
JK: It was an amazing experience. What surprised me the most was how much I could immerse myself into the music. I was at Carnegie Hall with one of the most amazing instruments and superb acoustic hall in the world, but I was in somewhere between here and heaven. Nothing mattered, nothing could even stop me going there. Before I went on stage, I was thinking as if it could be the last day of my life. When you think that way, it really liberates you. Little things didn’t matter. All I had to do is to walk on the stage with smile, putting my hands on the piano with overwhelming gratitude of that moment and the people, and being merely a cup for the music that I play.
After the Carnegie Hall concert, I was still myself. Well, I didn’t die afterwards either. Haha. Same sun, same moon, everything was same, except for the fact that I was stronger. I gained a great dose of love from the audience, a wonderful energy from the experience. I felt like I went through a bootcamp mentally and musically, and I’ve gained unreturnable strength by having to go through it.
SJF: What should an audience member expect or experience during your ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ Concert?
JK: Well…First of all, I hope all of you can make it to my ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ concert at some point! It will be somewhat familiar if you have been to my ‘10 More Minutes’ concert in the past. I will still guide you for each piece that I will be playing on stage, and yes, there will be no program at first but given out only when you leave the hall. Also there is no intermission for my concerts. I really like to keep the momentum going without a break, so please make your restroom stops before my concerts! It will run about an hour and 15 minutes or so!
And this concert will feature illustrations by a NY based artist, Moonsub Shin for Brahms’ Variation, Op. 21, No. 1. He created newly commissioned illustrations by listening to this piece. It was such a fun collaboration! When I played a piece, he also imagined some visuals in his head. Afterwards when we communicated with his visual images and what I was feeling, it was on point of what I was imagining but even better! This would be a very interesting experience for me and for the audience. I can’t wait to share my new experiment with you! I love it, and I am sure you will too.
SJF: How do you prepare for your concerts? Routines? Diet? Exercise? How many hours rehearsing?
JK: How I prepare for my concerts are exactly the same as how I have normally lived, in a way, since I was four years old. Haha. Playing piano everyday between 3 to 5 hours or so depending on the day, eating healthy, doing some variations of working out such as a workout with a trainer, swimming, yoga or simply going for a walk. I keep my morning practice routine as the first thing in the morning after a simple breakfast, and often do a mental practice when I first open my eyes in my bed. Sometimes going through the music, other times a self-affirmation in my mind. I don’t try to do anything so differently because of concerts as I feel that concerts are just an extension of my life.
SJF: What do you do for fun between concerts and appearances?
JK: I love traveling. I love the feeling of growth when you go to a new environment. I come back with a new perspective of life.
It may not sound so relaxing per se, but I do love studying other languages. That is really refreshing for me. It has been about a year since I started to study Spanish. I may not be the most fluent speaker yet, but I surely find it fun to exercise my brain while being able to communicate in a different language. Hablamos en español si puede por futuro!
JK: Is it? Absolutely not! We are all alone in our life journey. But we are never isolated as we are surrounded by all of our friends and family, and for me, with God. I believe the same thing on stage. I have music and you together, as I am walking with my own feet. It is full of love.
SJF: How should one listen to the new album?
JK: I wish for you to listen to it with closed-ear headphones if you can, with reading my description for each piece from my booklet. (You can find the digital version of it at www.OverAboveBeyondProject.com)
You might listen to all in one sitting or just one track at a time, but I hope you can listen to Brahms Op. 21, No. 1 from track number 4 through 15 in one sitting as it would make more sense to listen as a whole than breaking it down.
I also suggest that as you listen to any of my tracks, let your mind create a visual image in your head. And at a later time, if you find a suitable image in real time, take a photo with your phone, and share it with me through #OverAboveBeyondProject.
SJF: What are three values that you believe in?
JK: Three values I believe in are:
1. Live as if today is the last day of your life, focusing on now at any given moment
2. Always be thankful
3. Be compassionate
SJF: Many thanks Jeeyoon, and best wishes as you soar ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’!
“As a pianist, one of the most rewarding moments is when I feel that I have lifted someone’s soul with my playing and when I feel that I am deeply connected with listeners in the very moment of sharing music. It has become clear to me that it is why I make music. Through ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’, my wish is to give an audience a sense of hope, lightness, and a new beginning. These are pieces that have given me a sense of joy, weightlessness, and peace. Join me for this special flight and receive what music has given to us. Together let’s fly Over. Above. Beyond.”! –Jeeyoon
TICKET INFORMATION: Single General Admission tickets for the Classical Pianist Jeeyoon Kim’s ‘Over. Above. Beyond.’ Concertare $30 and are available at:
We walked 1.5 miles of the north side of the trail and back again.
It was a beautiful, enjoyable day in nature!
We saw the glistening blue water of the lagoon, a variety of shorebirds and other varieties of birds, beautiful aromatic eucalyptus trees, wildflowers complete with bees, a woodpile of artistic tree rings, several inviting thatched roof benches for resting and viewing the lagoon, a lizard on a rock, and much more. We were inspired with so much beauty surrounding us!
We chatted, laughed and decided to plan on excursions such as this in the future.
After our walk we stopped in the Nature Center, which is open:
Monday through Friday from 9 am – 12:30 pm
and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am – 3 pm
Feel free to enjoy these photos! Click on each one to see a larger version!
We are thrilled to welcome our new SJF Communications client, Tommy Anderson. Tommy is the author of the new military thriller Haboob Wind. Tommy is also on board as a screenwriter and producer of the optioned film “Haboob Wind” with Global Edge Pictures, currently in pre-production. IMDB Link
Tommy Anderson, a native of Madison, Wisconsin, is a retired veteran (active duty and reserves) with 23 years of experience in several military organizations including the U.S. Army, Army National Guard and Air National Guard. After his military retirement he spent 25 years in public service as a police deputy and dispatcher, firefighter and medic. Tommy has a MA in Public Administration, BS in Fire Engineering and AD in Fire Science. Anderson serves on the board of directors forUS4Warriors and its offshoot, Veteran’s Publishing, Inc. He is also a life member of the American Legion, Veteran of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, 32nd Infantry Division Association, International Association of Firefighters Alumni Association, and U.S. Air Force and U.S. Air National Guard Fire Chief’s Association.
It’s 2021, 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America and celebrations to the heroes and survivors are suddenly disrupted by a long-planned terrorist attack within the U.S. An Electronic Pulse Weapon (EPW) missile attack along with a ground terrorist assault is launched at a Southern California military installation — supported by thousands of sleeper cell members, who camouflaged themselves into the fabric of American society as patriots working in trusted positions in the government, law enforcement, FBI and CIA.
The invasion, called Haboob Wind (a violent Arabic dust storm), is orchestrated by a radical jihad army formed after the U.S. pulled out of Iraq in 2011. A vintage strike force, led by veteran military officers, is called on to defeat the terrorist group. In an epic battle of good versus evil, Anderson confidently showcases the resourcefulness and patriotism of our veterans to protect our life, liberty, and freedom against all odds of modern warfare.
Susan J. Farese, SJF Communications with Tommy Anderson, Author, ‘Haboob Wind’
SJF: Tell us about the book ‘Haboob Wind’– how you came up with scenario, how long it took to write it? Why did you write it? Where did you write it? Etc.
TA: I started gathering notes for my book in 2014 based off current events going on in the world. One of the last jobs I had in the military was wartime operations planning for my unit. I looked at current events and history and came up with a ‘what if’ scenario that would revolve around a current terrorist threat and applied a ‘what if’ to the story line. I wanted to write a gripping thriller that would revolve around these threats and the military and law enforcement response to them. I wrote it at home, on trips, recorded notes while driving. It took two years to write the book then approximately another to do cover design, the editing process, and marketing.
SJF: What experiences and/or people (parents, role models etc) in your life influenced you the most and why?
TA: My father with his mid-western values and his approach to his service in World War II, his business, and humbleness. Other role models are heroes I served with in the military and on the fire department.
SJF: What have been the three most memorable experiences (positive or negative) in the military or after?
TA: My first day of Basic Training at Fort Dix New, Jersey in January of 1971, being appointed to the Fire Department, and the birth of my daughters.
SJF: Which job/MOS etc. did you enjoy the most and why and the least and why?
TA: The least was my original 05B20 which was as an infantry radio telephone operator (RT0), that job was interesting, but I was sent to Fort Gordon, GA because of my test scores and ability to handle Morse code and was sent to the Cryptology Communications Course. I was confined to an office and not in the field. After getting off active duty and going into the Army National Guard I entered an Air Cavalry unit and went back on active duty to Fort Rucker Alabama and air crew flight school. I stayed in Aviation for another 10 years when I transferred to the Air Force (Air National Guard). I entered into crash rescue and enjoyed that the most, rose through the ranks to a position of a Deputy Fire Chief in the United States Air Force.
SJF: Accomplishments/Recognitions?
TA: Numerous, most proud of my Presidential Meritorious Service Medal for developing a war time operation plan for Crash Rescue Units – for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Actually, too many to list.
SJF: What are your top 3 values in life?
TA: God, My Family, My close circle of Friends.
SJF: If you had to do it over again…
TA: Yes, on the fire department if I stayed home the day of my accident, I wasn’t scheduled to work. I would have obtained my private pilots license. Otherwise I’m happy with my life and I’m where I should be.
SJF: What are you most proud of?
Tommy Anderson and his wife, Lidia Shaw Anderson
TA: I’m extremely proud of my wife and family, I’m proud of my career on both the fire department and the military. I’m proud of this country even with it’s bumps in the road.
SJF: Any difficult decisions?
TA: Which day? To write the book – yes! In discussing it with my wife if we were to do, it would be a big commitment and financial hit.
SJF: What’s the most difficult thing about writing?
TA: Keeping focused on your story line, characters, plot, and details. I’ve developed my own way of doing that and I think each writer does. Also, not forcing a story but to let it come out naturally.
SJF: What do you envision for the Haboob Wind film?
TA: With the momentum that is moving forward from the production company, main screenwriter, veteran’s community and the fans, we must do it right and accurate. We are striving for that and I love how it has brought other veterans into supporting the movie and helping in how ever they can. I see it being a big and popular film. That is the vision that so many share with me.
SJF: Any fears? Doubts? ever?
TA: Always every day. If you don’t have any fears and doubts in your actions, you can never improve and grow in life. It all depends on how you handle it. Are you a captive to them or in control of them? I prefer to be in control. Since the start of my book until today everyday has been different and challenging.
