Its really a new day for our Books..

  

I can hardly believe it myself, but after three days of a promotion with Amazon for "Down from the Mountain" over 7300 people chose to download a copy of the Bandit book to their Kindles. 73 hundred new people will be reading about the wonderful Bandit, Jenny, Falen and Javier Coronado's lives in Montana. I still find it hard to believe. Yet there are all of our friends on Face Book who have commented about the book and their love for its characters. Thanks to each and every one of you. I will continue this marvelous story with the next book, "Falen Semper Fi". This one is a love story, and an adventure story and the story of a man's love for his dog and the dog's involvement with his master’s well being. From time to time as the story progresses, I will post about it under the link at the top of the page marked "Falen's Story". 

           What makes all of this even more rewarding is the friendship this book has garnered for us with such outstanding Aussie Breeders, Judges, and Writers as Jeanne Joy Hartnagle Taylor, Anne Shope, Stephanie Shope McDaniel, Shelly Hollen-wood, and Judie Manuel. There are many others too numerous mention. 

            All of the coming stories about dogs and the people they own..(lol) have as a central theme the ancient bond between Man, Dog, and God the creator. I have such deep respect for all animals, and my love of dogs is heightened each day I spend with my Falen and Rowdy. Falen, if you do not know, was one of the stars of the original Bandit book. I can't read the Bandit story without remembering my conversation with Anne Shope, when the great sire, Bandit, passed over the bridge. In a way all of the Bandit Books are a testament to his greatness and the love his family and those of us who share his progeny have for him.

Another person who was deeply involved with these stories was Walt Manuel, Judie's beloved husband and our friend. Walt passed away last year after an exceedingly tough battle with cancer. Walt was a true American Cowboy and a rancher in the highest respect. It's my deepest belief that the spirit of the men and women who toil our great earth are the backbone of our nation. The famers and ranchers of America will always be foremost in the stories of the Bandit Project. 

This is true also of the men and women who serve our country in the military. Rick Gonzales, the hero of the new Falen stories is a proud member of the United States Marine Corps. As a wounded trooper, Rick baths in the love of Falen as she tries to meet his every need.

All in all this is going to be a meaningful series and I hope you will join us along the way. Email me if you have any additions or questions. I will be glad to answer each and every one. Blessings on you all and blessings on the Animals that serve us daily...

Reviews!

Take a Trip to the Big Sky of Montana Through the Eyes of "Man's Best Friend and Working Partner", the Working Stock Dog. What a wonderful read. This book touches your heart. It gives you insight into the beautiful Big Sky Country of Montana as well as the life of a sheep rancher and his friend and partner the working stock dog. There is drama, peace, tears and kindness all wrapped up in a touching story of a man, his livelihood, and his dogs.
~ Barb Moe (Montana)

A beautifully written story set in Montana on a sheep ranch about a sheepherder and his beautiful working Australian Shepherds. Once you start reading the book, you will not put it down. One of the best books I have read. MacKrell has done a superb job capturing the love,loyalty and heart of the Australian Shepherd.
~ Judie Manuel (Montana)

A great read. This is the type of book you just can't put down. Put a log on the fire and enjoy a journey into Big Sky Country, friendship, and a dog's special companionship. Highly recommended.
~ Mike Deciutiis (California)

James MacKrell serves up an ace! Jim has displayed his talents on the silver screen and on the tennis courts but has found a new career as novelist extraordinaire. Enjoyed every page of the book and have made a list of family and friends who will receive their copies for Christmas!
~ Stephen Schlacks (Texas)

Inside view of a working dog and man's best friend! This is a wonderful story about man's best friend as a companion and working partner. The setting of Montana in which it takes place brings out the best about this part of the country. I recommend this book to anyone who loves animals and has a place in his/her heart where animals live. I volunteer at St. Francis wolf sanctuary in Texas and have found many special animals to share my life with. My friend Jean Lefevre who runs the sanctuary is a testament to what one person can do to change the lives of so many lost and abused animals. Anyone who reads 'Down from the Mountain' will find a heartwarming experience.
~ Linda K. Ross (Texas)

This is a journey through places and times most of us can never see. The author presents an emotionally charged storyline in memorable ways that will surely win awards. I enjoyed this novel immensely, and I recommend it to all age groups.
~ Bud Connell (Arkansas)

James MacKrell accurately portrays the Australian Shepherd breed as a working partner, a guardian, and a best bud. From page one to the last page, you are captivated by his many characters from dogs to sheep to wolves to mankind, his scenary in the gorgeous Big Skye ranching country of Montana, and his action-packed story that never lets you down. This book would make a terrific movie. It is definitely a story for the entire family to enjoy.
~Ann Shope (New Mexico)

All Dogs Go to Heaven, and that's that!

James Herriot, the late British Veterinarian and beloved author, once replied in response to a dying woman’s inquiry about animals joining their masters in the afterlife…“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”

My family and I have shared in the lives of many canine, feline, and equine companions. I firmly believe that the human-animal connection is a powerful one, given to us as a celebration of the love of our creator, the Spirit of the Day and Night. Many of my friends would quarrel with me about this subject, insisting that only humans have souls and therefore God’s Blessing.

In doing a bit of research for this posting, I stumbled upon a funny visual display of this very argument and wanted to share it because it packs such a punch:
www.siliconvalleywatcher.com

What are YOUR thoughts? My guess is that if you’re visiting our blog, and happen to be a long-standing fan of books about dogs or even animals in general, then you share my sentiments and those of so many others like the immortal Will Rogers… “if there are no dogs in heaven, then I want to go where they went!”

A book with benefits!

In the words of one of America’s bestselling novelist’s, Agnes Sligh Turnbull… “a dog’s life is very short, their only fault, really.”

I was saddened by the passing of Legends Aussies’ Shopes Goodnight Bandit. The dog for whom I’ve based the hero of the book. Bandit’s official registered name is: HOF VCH WTCH CH Shopes Goodnight Bandit CDX RTDsc HAs HXd.

If you know anything about dog titles there is very little that Bandit hadn’t done. As I began putting together the story of Bandit and the Wolf, I took great inspiration from my friends Judie and Walt Manual who own Bandit’s champion son, “Warner” who is also known as CKC CH Legends Be Forewarned CD STDc OTDds DNA-VP. Besides being a full fledged working dog, Warner has followed along in his father’s footsteps on the road to fame. And Warner’s daughter, Amistad’s Falen, is growing up to be ever as great as her ‘old men.’ In fact, because of her very special place in my heart and the hearts of my family, Falen plays a supporting role in Down from the Mountain as well.

With all their greatness and acclaim, just as Ms. Turnbull said “A dog’s life is short,” which is too true and too sad, actually. Just when they get us nearly fully trained, they’re called home again to be fully reunited with the 'Spirit of the Day and Night.'

Many of our beloved family pets’ lives are shortened by cancer. It runs as rampant in dogs as it is does among humans, and that’s why we are planning to donate a portion of the profits from the sale of the books to TWO very worthwhile organizations. One is dedicated to researching and eradicating cancer in animals...the National Canine Cancer Foundation. And the other organization, Australian Shepherd Health & Genetics Institute, dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge of genetics in the Australian Shepherd, and the inherited diseases to which it sometimes suffers.

I wish a single book’s profits could eradicate cancer and other inherited diseases in animals, but I am reminded, that nothing can be done overnight. But every little effort takes us forward. Slow and steady wins the race, isn’t that right?

A note from the author...

Oh, the power of dreams! Without dreams nothing gets done.

As John Lennon once said, "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."

And so I want to share with you a dream I had last year as I was napping with the warm Texas sunshine filtering through my bedroom window and my Australian Shepherd across the foot of my bed. Nice music was playing on my XM player, and I was totally relaxed in that quasi-slumber only experienced by us "Pro Nappers."

A movie of my own making started running through my sub- conscious. A wonderful story beautifully unfolded in my head about an Australian Shepherd who lived in the mountainous sheep country of Montana. Suffice it to say, I’ve spent my entire career in Television and Movies, as an actor, writer, and producer, so having an extremely active imagination is just something for which I’ve been both blessed and cursed.

As the movie in my mind came to a close, obviously no longer drowsy, I jumped up and ran down the stairs to relate the entire story to my wife, Cathy. With loving encouragement, and a sassy wink of her eye, she suggested that I go to the computer and write the story down before it “faded to black."

The Bandit Project is not only a complete account of how my original movie-dream became the novel, “Down from the Mountain: the Story of Bandit and the Wolf,” it is an exercise in integrated publishing by design. In other words, it is the practice of a community of people coming together to bring a story to life in every conceivable form for every relevant function.

Subscribe today to keep up with The Bandit Project. Learn more about Bandit and our community of friends who have played such an important part in the making of his story. And then Join us in the many opportunities we will be providing through this blog to contribute to the manifestation of 'Down from the Mountain: the Story of Bandit and the Wolf.'

If it's going to be....

I have been greatly impressed by a book title I remember from years back. Robert Schuller’s “If It’s Going To Be, It’s Up To Me” speaks even more loudly today than when it was first published. I am not surprised by the crisis and turmoil in the world of Publishing yet I’ve discovered there are still books coming to market and innovative ways to bring them to the reading public.

Today’s literary agents are really in a bind. They are trying to sell material to a tapped out publishing market whose ‘bottom line’ is shrinking faster than skirt lengths. This is either the worst of times, or the best of times to bring a book to market.

The Bandit project has received great encouragement from the Book Publishing world. I am currently in negotiations with not only Publishing experts but related industry officals who see the great potential in this simple story of life and death, trust and fear and the faith to depend on a ‘higher power’ to get through the ‘tough times’

Bandit is lost in the vast mountains of the Absaroka Mountains, alone with no hope of living. The Spirit of the Day and Night sends a most unlikely benefactor to not only save him, but guide the first year of his life through some lessons that will serve our hero for the rest of his life. It ties back into Dr. Schuller’s book, “If It’s Going To Be, It’s Up To Me”. This is true, but faith builds the strength for us to be able to survive.

And it's off!

I don’t know what was a bigger thrill for me: when I first stepped onto the lot of 20th Century Fox Studios, had makeup put on my face and then actually become a paid actor; or watching The Bandit Project take off like a rocket over the Internet from our established little neighborhood in north Houston, Texas.

I spoke today with several of Bandit’s fans and the book’s contributors. Each person has personally shared an electronic copy of the book, and with each report the enthusiasm for Bandit’s story grows.

If you have never met an Australian Shepherd, I encourage you to visit one of the links included in our navigation to the left to see and learn more about these magnificent animals. Bandit, the hero of the story, is greatly patterned after one of the most successful and decorated sires in all of Aussie-dom. (To see the “real” Bandit, be sure to hyperlink to Legends Aussies.)

I have a great list of folks without whom this book would have never been written. I thank them all. From time to time on this blog you will meet each and every one. If you have any questions about what we are doing, why we’re doing it, or about Aussie’s, Montana, Sheep, Wolf-Hybrids, or me, then please do not hesitate to contact me. I will answer as many query’s as I can.