By William “Duke” Smither (Backstreet Djeli Blog Reprint from Memorial Day 2014) “I am the Unknown Soldier And maybe I died in vain, But if I were alive and my country called, I’d do it all over again.” (From “The Unknown Soldier,” by Billy Rose) The first thing one notices when visiting the […]
"BACKROADS TO 'BETHLEHEM': Odysseys of the Maroon Warrior..." is now available (at Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble)
WELCOME TO "TALKING DRUM DIALOGUES" ("Backstreet D'jeli's Blog"). The 2018 Press Release and a "free preview" of "Backroads to 'Bethlehem'...," the novel, is also available via the site's "Navigation" section (refer to MENU icon, page upper left), or scroll below for additional information (blog postings, musings, etc.). Comments are welcome... THANK YOU for visiting!
by William “Duke” Smither “My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I have a dream that enough is enough…” Nine-Year-Old Yolanda Renee King (Eldest granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr. during “March of Our Lives” […]
by William “Duke” Smither ***Note: Preview text below concerns troops preparing for a “Holy War,” as observed by “Phasael,” a Maroon Spy (passage from novel, “BACKROADS TO ‘BETHLEHEM’: Odysseys of the Maroon Warrior, in the Shadows of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade”). Chapter Four (Porto Calvo Rendezvous): January 6, 1694… […]
By William “Duke” Smither “Where I come from we say that rhythm is the soul of life, because the whole universe revolves around rhythm, and when we get out of rhythm, that’s when we get into trouble.” — Babatunde Olatunji (Nigerian Djembefola, 1927-2003, Grammy award-winning, master-drummer, percussionist) Talking Drums African musicians say that […]
works “Men can starve from a lack of self-realization as much as they can from a lack of bread.” Richard Wright (1908-1960; Mississippi-born Writer, Novelist, Poet) The journey in writing “Backroads to ‘Bethlehem’: Odysseys of the Maroon Warrior” has been so much longer than the writing process itself– perhaps, as far back […]
“…The death of a thing is not the end; it’s merely a new beginning. But, it’s the backroads in life that are often the most fruitful and divine!” (From “Backroads to Bethlehem….” 2018 Debut Novel by William “Duke” Smither, Release Date Pending) ABOUT THE BOOK: “BACKROADS TO BETHLEHEM…” (Odysseys of the Maroon Warrior…) is […]
By William “Duke” Smither “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time […]
