Family Reunion

Here is the post that I promised everyone. The novel has been leading up to this moment from nearly the first page, and so I give to you the long awaited reunion scene. I hope that everyone enjoys this, because I had a blast writing it. Where will the story go from here? Logan and Ruby have been reunited, true, but this is merely on of the main plots of the novel. You have to keep reading to find out about the rest! Thank you, and enjoy! -Logan

“Logan!” Ruby shouted as she leapt from the ground where she had been attending to Wenbing’s wound, in her excitement forgetting her responsibility. Then the realization that Wenbing’s life could very well depend on her staunching the flow of blood from his wound, she sank back down. “He’ll be fine. He’s been there all this time, he can wait a little longer.”

            “Go. Get him. I’ll sit with baimu here and take care of his brother. Wenbing saved both of us from a nasty execution, so I guess it’s mine turn to return the favor.” Agong said, taking Ruby’s position by the fallen Wenbing. Agong looked back after a moment and noticed that Ruby was reluctant to leave them behind.  “kuiquba.” And with that Ruby turned and sprinted out the door. The rain was still pouring, but she didn’t care. She ran past the still open driver’s side door and back around to the bed of the truck. The tailgate was open and the floor was covered with evidence of the firefight. Blood was smeared across the floor and scattered around were broken crates and shreds of green, cabbage strewn about. Ruby climbed up into the truck bed, and began searching for the hidden compartment that Ashong had mentioned. In the center of the bed, where Wenbing had been found, there was a layer of boxes covering the floor. Ruby moved these boxes out of the way, uncovering a section of the flooring that looked slightly different from the rest; while the large part of the wooden floorboards were flush against each other, these few lengths of wood had gaps in between them and looked as in they were barely held in place. Heart thumping, Ruby lifted the first segment of wood. And discovered the hints of a small form huddled down underneath. Excited by her discovery, Ruby quickly tore away the remaining panels. There, in the hollowed out portion of the truck bed, lay Logan. And by his side a young boy whom she did not know.

            “Ruby!” Logan cried as he noticed her. He looked a little dazed at first, probably from spending so much time in his hiding spot, but he quickly recovered, and tried to raise himself from the depression. But Ruby didn’t give him a chance. Leaping on top of him, straddling him at the waist, she bent down and kissed him furiously. And Logan kissed her back. Time seemed to stand still. For the moment they could both forget about the war that raged around them and the struggle that they had endured. Right then, the only two people in all of existence were them. 

Chinese culture 101

Today I want to introduce a fundamental aspect of Chinese culture. In Chinese culture, family is very important. Not only is this seen in the home, but it rolls over into the national identity as well. Chinese people generally refer to an unknown person on the street using titles such as little brother/sister, big brother/sister, aunt/uncle. This can be seen in the novel, especially when we are looking at the relationship between Logan and Didi. Didi's name, 弟弟 in Chinese (although they are the same character, the first di is pronounced with the fourth tone and the second di is pronounced with the neutral tone) means little brother.  Similarly, Didi often refers to Logan as dage (in Chinese 大哥), the da is pronounced in the fourth tone and means "big", the ge is in the first tone and means "older brother." This is derived from the word 哥哥, which means older brother. So Didi is effectively calling Logan "big brother." Dage can also be used to mean "boss." I hope that this clarifies some of the language that is used in the novel. I'll see you next time!
-Logan

As promised

Here are some of the pictures from my vacation in the beautiful Penghu. I hope that everyone enjoys them and is inspired to make the journey themselves. Stay tuned, as later this week I will be posting a new segment of Taiwan in Time. Thank you for reading and I hope that everyone is enjoying the summer! -Logan

So sorry!

Dear readers, I am deeply sorry for the lack of updates recently, as I know that you are always eager for more information and tidbits about the book. Recently my life has undergone some changes; I, my fiance and our little puppy have moved to a new home. We've been there about a week now and still have not been able to get anyone to come and set-up our internet connection! At the moment, we are in Penghu on vacation (expect to see picures, and don't be surprized by my glorious sun-burned skin) and as soon as we are back we are going to get things squared away. Thank you for your patience and as always, keep reading! -Logan

The medicine man

Today, I want to introduce one of the main characters to you. Geba. Part kungfu master, part wise man, Geba wasn't always involved in the resistance. In fact, he once owned a small shop in Taipei where he practiced traditional Chinese medicine with his family. What change came about to push him towards a life as a fugitive? Also noteworthy is the fact that Geba is the one member of the group that Agong truly respects. Why is this important, and how does his knowledge of herbal remedies and kungfu play a role in the story? Keep reading to find out! -Logan

As promised

Here is the tidbit that I promised...What? Oh, you didn't think I was going to post the whole scene, did you? You'll have to make sure to buy my book when it's published. But for now, keep reading! Good night all. 

-Logan 

“It’s cold,” Ruby thought, stretching her arms out towards their small cooking fire. She flexed her fingers again and again to keep the circulation up. “I hope he’s alright out there. Wenbing and Ashong have been gone all day.”

            “Do you think that they found him?” She asked Geba. Turning to her from where he sat eating his dinner of boiled cabbage and carrots with rice, he calmly replied, “I can’t say for certain. But the fact that they haven’t returned gives me hope. They are still out there, and they’ll be searching if they haven’t already found him.”

            “If they don’t get here soon, then they’ll have nothing to eat. We’re almost out of food.” Agong added grumpily from where he sat.

            “While our lack of food is a concern, Agong, like Ruby, I myself am more concerned with the safe return of our friends. After all, all the fine fare in the world would be wasted on the few. Much better to have many friends and many mouths to feed.”

            “Hmm. I suppose you’re right. Wenbing has always been a steadfast ally, and irritating though his twit of a brother may be, I must admit that his absence is felt.” Agong grudgingly admitted. Geba and the old man seemed to have a special relationship. Agong took the council of this mysterious man much more seriously than he did that of others.  Maybe it had to do with his skill with gongfu, or maybe it was due to his simplistic wisdom and the way in which he viewed the world. Whatever it was, the deference was noted. Though Agong’s show of respect was really not much more than a slight decrease in his overall crabbiness. As she contemplated this, the sputtering sounds of a diesel engine could be heard pulling up to the cabin. Ruby leapt up, and pulling the door back hard, she ran outside. The truck was back. She could see Ashong at the steering wheel, but there was no sign of either Wenbing or Logan. 

Aww!

I have just about finished writing Logan and Ruby's big reunion scene. It's been a long time coming, and much of the first half of the book has been leading up to this one moment? Hmm, to post or not to post, that is the question. Ha, okay, sorry for the corny joke! All in favor of a teaser, say Aye! -Logan Murphy

Chinese 101

As you read my book, you will find that a lot of the words are written in a romanization of Chinese called Pinyin. This system was developed to make it easier to learn Chinese, as the characters are  quite difficult by nature. In addition, Chinese is also a tonal language, which means that the tone of a spoken word also effects the meaning. For example, the phrase "May I ask a question?" sounds very similar to "May I have a kiss?" Let's try to avoid that embarrassment! There are four distinct tones, and a fifth tone that is neutral (similar to the tone we use when speaking English). The first tone is very high. The second tone starts low and rises. The third tone goes down and then comes back up. And the fourth tone is down. This can be very complicated to learn! Today, I will start you with a simple, yet extremely useful phrase.

你 好  
nǐ hǎo


Both words are spoken with the third tone. This phrase is used as a greeting, the same as hello in        English, though if we were to translate word for word, nǐ means you, and hǎo means good. So we are really saying "you good." I hope that you found this post interesting and I hope that I have inspired you to learn Chinese (even if just this one phrase). Thank you for reading! -Logan Murphy

Another tasty morsel!

Here is a little section that I particularly like from the first chapter of the story. It describes some of the peculiar events that lead up to Logan and Ruby's trip through time. Tell me what you think about it! Comments please! Don't be shy! -Logan Murphy

You two have fun.  Zai jian.” They said their goodbyes and Ruby and Logan made their way towards the McDonalds.  The weather was cool, but surprisingly nice.  Usually winter was cold and wet in Taiwan, but today felt perfect with just the right amount of a breeze.  As the two made their way to McDonalds, they passed through an alley, hosting traditional Chinese homes on each side, along with a myriad of aromas as the local market was bustling with early morning shoppers.  They passed a stall selling che luen bing (meaning car-tire cookie), a pancake like pastry with various different fillings available.  One of the things Logan loved the most about Taiwan was the immense diversity of the food.  Taiwanese people never stopped eating, and as a result hot food could be purchased from stands on streets everywhere.  When they had emerged through the other side of the alley, it was like walking out from the past, traditional Chinese era and into the modern world, with a McDonalds directly across the street and MRT tracks running high over the road.  And, of course, the ever-present visage of Taipei 101 peeked its head out over the rest of the buildings, managing to appear a short walk away, even though it was still miles off.  The structure seemed to guard over the city, much like the gods of the temple doors that could be found all over this city which managed to seamlessly fuse the old ways with the new.  They crossed the street when the crosswalk light changed green, but they hurried still; a pedestrian was never completely safe in Taiwan, and they had both been struck (though mildly) by cars in the past.  When they reached the restaurant’s entranceway, Logan held the door open for Ruby and then for the Taiwanese couple that was leaving the fast-food store as well; it was a courtesy that was not expected in Taiwanese culture, but Logan had been taught by his father to be polite and kind to others.  As they stood at the counter and looked at the menu, Ruby said, “If we buy two meals, then the second one is half-price.  I want to get a bagel.  What do you want?”

“I think I’ll go with a sausage and egg McMuffin today, with orange juice and a hash brown of course.” Ruby ordered the meal for them and they paid the bill.  Logan didn’t know what he’d do without her; granted, his Chinese wasn’t bad, but he would never be able to read a menu or spot deals as well as a Taiwanese person. 

“I can’t wait to see the exhibition” Said Ruby.  “The government has re-furbished most of the houses in Bao Zang Yan for artists to live in.  Can we have a studio there?” Ruby pleaded.

Logan looked fondly at Ruby, with the slightest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.  Sometimes she was just too cute and always very passionate about her work.  It was one of the things he loved most about her.  “We’ll, let’s go see the place first” Logan replied, knowing full well that if she wanted to live there, he would find a way to make it happen.  “Our order is up” Logan said and he took the bag of food, thanking the cashier in Chinese.  The two walked and ate, and by the time they made it to the bus stop, Logan had already finished his entire meal, along with a few bites of Ruby’s bagel, (guys everywhere know that this is one of the perks of being a boyfriend). 

“So, can I have another hint?” Ruby said.

“Okay.  It’s something that you’ll love.”

           “Is that called a hint ma?”  It was still a few weeks until Christmas, and Logan had been hinting as to what he got Ruby, but he was trying his best to keep the identity of the gift to himself…not as easy as it sounds.  “You’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out.  If you’re a bad girl, then it may just be coal.” Logan said with a suppressed smile.

            “Hey!” Replied Ruby with a certain amount of dignity.  “I’ve been a good girl!”

            “I know.  I’m just kidding baby, you know how hard it is for me to keep this gift a secret.” Beepbeep “I’m getting a call.  It says that the number is private.  Wei, ni hao, this is Logan.” Chshchshchshchsh “Weird, it’s just static.”  Logan said as he hung up the phone.  

Quick update

Hey all. After a long day of teaching kindergardeners and the subsequent acupuncture treatment, my body is sore and tired. Still, I am here writing, giving you the reader more juicy tidbits to sink your teeth into. The book is progressing along nicely, and I am very happy with a lot of the things that I have been able to put into it. As you continue to follow the story, the conflict between the Taiwanese resistance (which Logan and Ruby have fallen into line with) and the Japanese government escalates. Many action packed and suspenseful moments await. up until now, much of the story has entailed the heros running away from the military, but I promise you that it is all leading up to something. It is going to be BIG. Also, there is an unsuspected romance in the future of one (or more) of the characters...can you guess which one? Thank you for following my book. More samples soon! -Logan Murphy

Summer in Taiwan

Summer is here and it's time to hit the beaches! I am eagerly awaiting my own trip to Penghu in July. Anyone else have any interesting destinations? Share 'em! Maybe we'll all learn about someplace new here in Taiwan! Thank you for reading and goodnight! -Logan Murphy

Reader take note

While I was going through my recent entries-particularly the sections of the story that I have included for your delight!-I came to the realization that many words that I use are a romanization of Chinese words. In the full version of the novel I will include a dictionary for all of the words and phrases that you may run into, and notes on Chinese culture in the spoken language. As I post more items, I will diligently translate all such words for you, and if I forget just ask me and I will tell you about it. Good night! -Logan Murphy

Cover Me!

Check out the book cover my fiance designed for me. She did all of the graphic design and the painting is my work. Let me know what you think about it! -Logan Murphy

Look out! Didi on the run.

Today I finished an action packed segment of the novel. As Logan gets closer to reuniting with Ruby, his young companion risks it all to give him the opportunity he needs. Will he succeed? Read on and find out! -Logan Murphy

Dashing down the dark street, seeing his way from the light of the moon alone, Didi could hear his pursuit hot on his tail. He had a head start on them, but these were trained soldiers, every one of them was fit, and he was, after all, just a kid. “Ke wu dage, I hope that you’re making use of my distraction. It’s looking more and more like I made a big mistake sticking my neck out like that. I know that the Japanese soldiers are ruthless, but they wouldn’t kill a kid, would they?” Not feeling confident in his assumption, Didi continued at his breakneck pace. He was still ahead of them, but they were getting closer every second. Trying to throw them off his trail, Didi turned into a side street, changing his route. His speed of movement, combined with the quick change of direction caused him to slip on a pool of stagnant water. He waved his hands to the sides, frantically trying to maintain his balance. And he nearly succeeded. His right shoulder slammed into the unforgiving brick wall, and he tumbled to the ground, knocking up a cloud of paper-trash like a rain of confetti. Luckily, he put his hands out just in time to catch himself before his momentum carried him face-first into the hard, dirt floor. “I hope they didn’t hear that.” He hoped against hope as he climbed to his feet.

            “He went that way! Don’t let him get away!” The call followed him. Spitting out a curse that he had learned from his uncle, he looked around. He didn’t like what he found. The alley was a shallow one, ending where the backside of a building sprang up from it. Closed in. Like a rat in a cage. It didn’t look good. “Of all the alleys, why did I choose this one?” Didi asked himself. But he wasn’t the type to let his circumstances get the better of him. He’d find a way out of this. He always did. But he was scared.

            “There he is! Hey kid, don’t move!”

            “Get him, but be careful not to kill him, you heard the commander.”

            “Right. It’s your lucky day kid.” The soldier said as he closed in on Didi. With nowhere to run, Didi took a step back. Then another step, and another. Until he felt the hard, cool back wall of the house pressed up against his back. This was it they had him. Or did they. Pressed up against the wall as he was, he stretched his hands out, feeling to the sides. His left hand brushed up against something hard, and he felt the un-sanded wooden surface of what he discovered was a stack of empty produce crates. Focusing his attention back on the guards, he gauged his chances of escape. There were only two of them. They must have split up to find him, so the others would be out of reach. Adults were notorious for underestimating kids. And these soldiers were no exception. They failed to take into account how quickly a child’s body recovered, and how quickly it could move. When he was older, Didi would have to find his place in the world, but for now, he was just glad to be a thin, lanky kid, as quick and as slippery as an eel. Resourceful and clever. When one didn’t have physical strength, one learned to rely on speed and wit. They were almost on him now, approaching slowly. Toying with him, playing a game of cat and mouse. They were enjoying this.  “Let’s see how much they enjoy this.” Didi thought.

            “Please, mister. I didn’t mean anything by it, I was just having some fun is all. I promise I won’t do it again.”

            “You should have thought about that before you messed with us, kid. Now you’re in trouble.”

            “Yea. Your mommy’s not here to protect you now.” The second soldier said, now almost within reach. “That’s it. I’m just a kid, no need to keep your guard up.”

            “I’m sorry. If I come with you now, will you promise not to hurt me?” Didi said, putting terror into his voice as he whimpered.

            “Sure kid. I promise.” The first soldier said, reaching for Didi now. As quick as a snake, Didi jumped to the side, throwing the stack of empty wooden crates into the soldiers’ path. The crates performed their task perfectly, knocking down the left most soldier and tripping up his unsuspecting companion, giving Didi the opening he needed. Didi leapt over a crate, and jerked to the side, narrowly escaping the still-standing soldier’s grasp. Through the gap, Didi could see his freedom opening out before him, and so he dashed back out onto the previous street, a string of Japanese curses and a flurry of stamping feet following quickly behind.

Welcome!

Hello everyone, my name is Logan Murphy. I am 27 years old and though originally from Houston, TX I currently live, write and love in Taipei, Taiwan. Now, some of you may be thinking “Taiwan. That’s in China right?” And that is exactly what I thought too before I moved here. Now I know that the answer isn’t quite that simple. More on that later. The reason I am writing this blog, and hopefully why you are here today is to hear the latest news of my upcoming novel Taiwan in Time.  Below is a description of the novel, but before you delve into that, I would like to tell you why I wrote it and what I hope that you the reader will take from it.  My goals in this book are many. Most of all, I want to create an exciting loveable story that the reader can enjoy and appreciate, while at the same time learn about Chinese culture, language and history. I hope that the colorful cast of characters and the unusual circumstances of the story will be a more interesting means of teaching a basic understanding of the subject in a much more engaging format than a text book ever could. I have done extensive research in writing Taiwan in Time and I have been to all of the places that the characters travel to in the story, so in this way I am writing about my own experience living and traveling in Taiwan. Below is an excerpt from the novel. Enjoy! –Logan Murphy

Taiwan in Time is the story of two lovers who find themselves transported into the year 1942 when WWII was at its height and Japan claimed rights to the island of Taiwan, then known as Isle Formosa, from Portuguese meaning ‘beautiful island.’ A set of events unfolds upon their arrival and the couple is separated. Much of the story involves Logan’s attempt to find his lost girlfriend, Ruby, but this is only the beginning. Along the way, the couple befriends a colorful cast of characters and runs afoul of soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army. Where does the story go from there? You will have to read to find out.

“Be very still.” Logan said through clenched teeth.

“You don’t have to tell me twice” replied Didi tersely. The boat was slowly passing by their hiding spot, close enough now that Logan could reach out and touch it. Just then he wasn’t feeling so inclined. Logan heard the thwack of a branch snapping in the distance followed by the scurrying of an animal through the brush. The Japanese must have heard it too, because without warning the engine turned off. Logan’s heart was beating so loudly that he could feel his body moving with each pulse, and Didi wasn’t much better off, judging from the loud drumming sound resounding from his chest. “This is it,” thought Logan. “They’ll kill us for sure, they won’t even hesitate.” Didi and Logan shared a brief glance before they tried to ease their way back into the brush. Just then, there was a loud ‘click’ sound and a blindingly bright beam of light sprang forth. “They have a spot light” Logan thought, biting back a curse. The soldier in the bow of the boat was at a mounted searchlight, slowly moving it along the riverbank, searching for the source of the noise. The spotlight was tracked and almost moved over their hiding spot, which would give them away, when another cracking sound was heard along the opposite shore. The spotlight immediately veered to the spot of where the sound originated. After searching for a moment, apparently satisfied that the sound was nothing more than a wild animal, the guard switched off the light, and unbuttoned the front of his trousers, where upon he began to relieve himself just inches away from where Logan lay. Logan swallowed his disgust and resolved not to move a muscle. The tinkling sound of the urine hitting the water continued for some time, unabated like a waterfall, and then it was done. Harsh voices spoke out in Japanese, accompanied by laughter, and then the engine sputtered to life once again. And just as suddenly as the patrol boat had come, it was gone.

“That was close,” muttered Didi at Logan’s side.

“Too close.” Agreed Logan.