My guess is that few readers of this blog will know what SCBWI PAL is. Let me introduce you. The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators recognizes certain members as Published and Listed–thus, SCBWI PAL. SCBWI states on its website that: “PAL stands for Published and Listed. These are books published by traditional publishing houses that do not charge money to authors or illustrators. Only PAL books are eligible for the Crystal Kite Awards and may be sold at SCBWI events.”
SCBWI’s Crystal Kite Award is a: “Peer-given award to recognize great books from 15 regional divisions around the world.” With Five Star Publishing being the publisher of Eagle Talons and Bear Claws, the first two books in my trilogy, The Iron Horse Chronicles, I have qualified for PAL status. Bear Claws, having been published in 2015, has been submitted for consideration for the Crystal Kite Award.
This link will take you to my Public Profile page (a portion of which is shown below) on the SCBWI website: https://www.scbwi.org/members-public/robert-murphy.
While you are on my SCBWI Public Profile page note that you can read a short bio about me and my writing. You can also click on links under my photograph in the left-hand sidebar to send me an email, visit my website/blog, or view my posting on Twitter. In the right-hand sidebar you will find my published books. By clicking on the title next to the cover illustration, you will be taken to a page for that particular book. There, you can read a synopsis, see pertinent reviews, and follow a tab to view my other book (which will become books once the third book in my trilogy is published). A “Buy the Book” box contains direct links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble where you can order the book.
Notice at the top of all pages you will find a menu bar that takes you to information on the SCBWI website. Click on the “Member Search” tab on the far right of the menu bar and you can look for books by other members of SCBWI. I am proud to have achieved PAL status with SCBWI and thank them for providing this outstanding Public Profile page.
Recently, Donna Mabry, whom I introduced in a previous blog posting, showed this picture of her nine-year-old nephew, Kaedyn, to the members of Sun City Anthem Authors and told the story about his obvious love of Eagle Talons. Donna said Eagle Talons was the first book fourth-grader Kaedyn read that had not been a school assignment.
Neil and Nora Bross had purchased Eagle Talons during my book signing at Barnes & Noble last year, and they returned this year to pick up a copy of Bear Claws. A most rewarding experience for a writer.
The book signing event officially ran from 1 PM until 4 PM, but I got started a little early and stayed a bit late. The entire experience was enjoyable. I was able to talk with many customers about how and why I wrote The Iron Horse Chronicles. Readers were duly impressed that Eagle Talons had won the Bronze Will Rogers Medallion Award for 2015 for younger readers.
I look forward to returning to my local Barnes & Noble store next year to sign copies of all three books in The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy.
This is the second year that Barnes & Noble has hosted my book signing. I welcome this opportunity to talk with you about The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy. While you are in Barnes & Noble, browse B&N’s large selection of books, music, and games. Take time to enjoy a cup of coffee or lunch in their Café. But, most importantly, come and say hello even if you already own copies of both of my books!
Colonel John D. Stevenson, commander of the Thirtieth U. S. Infantry Regiment, brought his soldiers to Cheyenne to build and man the fort that was created to protect Union Pacific workers who were constructing the first transcontinental railroad. The fort took its name from Civil War Brigadier General David Allen Russell who was killed in September 1864 at the Battle of Opequon (sometimes called the Third Battle of Winchester), in the Shenandoah Valley.
The fort is now called Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. Many famous soldiers and airmen have served here, including Carl Spaatz, Black Jack Pershing, Billy Mitchell, Walter Reed, and Mark Clark. A museum and several historical buildings can be visited on the air base. For more information visit: 
Two fellow members of Anthem Authors have books reviewed in the February 2016 issue of Roundup Magazine, the official publication of Western Writers of America.
Donna Mabry’s novel Kimimela is reviewed by Sandy Whiting on page 28 of Roundup Magazine in the Fiction category of the “Book Reviews” section. This book is available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions and from Barnes & Noble in paperback. In addition to her historical romances with a western orientation, of which Kimimela is one, Donna writes mysteries and thrillers. She is also the author of the acclaimed memoir Maude.
R. Michael Wilson’s Train Robbery in North America is reviewed by Monty McCord on page 30 of the magazine in the Nonfiction category of the “Book Reviews” section. His latest book is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback. Bob, as he is known to fellow Anthem Authors’ members, has written over twenty books, authored five articles in Wild West Magazine, and has been featured on the History Channel’s “Wild West Tech” television series.
On page 37 of the magazine you will find the announcement that my novel Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, will be released in a large print edition by Wheeler Publishing in February, 2016. This large print edition is available for preorder now in paperback from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Rod Miller reviewed Bear Claws in the December 2015 issue of Roundup Magazine.
I had the privilege of serving on two occasions as the manager of contract support services provided to the scientific research efforts conducted on and around the southern-most continent. The government agency charged with overseeing the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) is the National Science Foundation’s Division of Polar Programs. You can learn about their responsibilities, including how to apply for employment, at this website: 
My first term as manager occurred in the last half of the 1970s when Holmes & Narver (H&N) held the contract with what was then called the United States Antarctic Research Program (USARP). This hero shot shows me during my first trip to Antarctica standing on Observation Hill above McMurdo Station with Mount Erebus (an active volcano) in the background. My second term as manager took place in the early part of the 1990s when Antarctic Support Associates (ASA), a joint venture of H&N and EG&G, provided contractual services to USAP.
I am proud to display my framed Antarctic Service Medal of the United States of America and its accompanying certificate of award “For Service in Antarctica.”
As many of you know, every few weeks I post on the Mad About MG History blog. On February 4, 2016, I wrote a post for that blog entitled “The Revenant and the Mountain Men.” This posting incorporates portions of “Revenant and The Iron Horse Chronicles” that I posted on this website on January 25, 2016, but it is greatly expanded and includes recommendations for reading about Hugh Glass and the other mountain men.
Preditors & Editors has announced the results of their 17th Annual Readers Poll, in which Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, was awarded fifth place for Young Adult books published in 2015. Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book One, had been awarded seventeenth place for Young Adult books published in 2014. It is a great thrill to be able to include the “Top 10 Finisher” logo on this website.
Writer’s Digest, an invaluable tool for authors, lists Preditors & Editors as one of its 101 Best Websites for Writers, because it provides help to authors in “bypassing publishing scams and fraudulent organizations.” My publisher, Five Star Publishing, always receives a clean bill of health from Preditors & Editors.
The R rated movie is based upon a 2002 novel by Michael Punke. Punke takes literary license with his telling and creates a more dramatic conclusion than probably occurred. I will not reveal how history books present the ending of the Glass saga. I recommend you see the movie and enjoy what I believe to be a realistic portrayal of the life of Hugh Glass and his fellow mountain men. Then, if you are interested, you can explore the bizarre ending that most likely happened.
In Eagle Talons, The Iron Horse Chronicles—Book One, I introduce Charles “Bullfrog Charlie” Munro, a mountain man who befriends young Will Braddock. Bullfrog helps Braddock learn about the wilderness and aids him in overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Bullfrog is 65 years old when he appears in Eagle Talons, where he reveals Jim Bridger gave him his name. Bullfrog may have been with Bridger on the expedition when Glass was attacked by the bear, but we will never know.
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