Life on Okinawa during rule by High Commissioner

[eacooper]

I have written a novel entitled, B.C. Street, about GI misadventures on Okinawa during the early 1960s. It was a time when the U.S. military ruled over everything and everybody on Okinawa, preaching democracy but practicing dictatorship. May sound harsh, but it's based on personal accounts and recorded history. The story contains romance, adventure, humor, sadness, and tragedy, and it's written "true to life." It's the first account of life on Okinawa during early postwar days since The Teahouse of the August Moon, but, unlike the farcical Teahouse, B.C. Street treats Asians with dignity and respect. You will find B.C. Street available on amazon.com (contains adult content).

[ja_Patriot]

I find it amazing to find an author in this forum. I'll try to get a hold of your book, sir, and even provide a review in Amazon in due course.

[eacooper]

I'm in the forum because I elect to promote my book at any and every opportunity. It's somewhat akin to the question about a tree falling in the forest with no one around within hearing distance, does it make a sound? Well, if you write a book and have it published, but no one has heard of it, does it sell? Not likely, so here I am happily blogging away. I do hope you find my novel interesting and entertaining.

I wrote the story from my heart, and I wish that I had written it 30 years ago. On the surface it's the tale of a young GI's coming of age and loss of innocence through a series of misadventures and romance gone awry. However, there are undercurrent themes that magnify what it's like to live under the governance of a foreign military power. I've woven personal experiences with historical facts and a dose or two of pure fantasy. Your challenge will be to determine where fact slides into fiction and vice versa.

On a personal level, I must tell you that I'm not a pretentious person. I enjoy communicating with others of all levels of education and walks of life. I'm tolerant of beliefs that differ from mine, and I accept criticism in a constructive manner. I've traveled some of life's worst roads, so I've developed an unshakeable sense of humor in order to survive the journey. I do have a serious side, but I try to keep it under control.

Please read the book and tell me exactly how you feel about it, good, bad, or indifferent. I look forward to hearing from you in the forum or by e-mail at edcooper_edd@netzero.com. Again, thank you for your interest in B.C. Street. I recommend the hardcopy. The paperback doesn't carry endorsements found on the hardcopy, and it means an extra quarter in my pocket.

[FDokinawa]

sounds like a good book, will probably order it once im done with the current set of books im reading.

[P_chan]

He probably didn't even read it. Just spouting nonsense so he could play the arcade.

[dk]

He's our first member to be banned from the arcade.

I will reverse the ban if he learns to make quality posts and stop trolling.

[Isaak Brodsky]

i have a copy. have been going through it.
fantastic prose, very lucid style.
the tale is also interesting because of how it's situated in history. you learn something about life here during the vietnam years from an excellent perspective - the g.i.'s.
i really like the book and'll very likely write a positive review on amazon once i've finished it up.
cheers, ib

[telescope]

dk,

Good call. If this member has 2000+ posts he/she should know that such garbage posting is not allowed.He's our first member to be banned from the arcade.

I will reverse the ban if he learns to make quality posts and stop trolling.

[Isaak Brodsky]

is it really a garbage post to promote a book??

[ja_Patriot]

It's not EACooper they talking about. Some posts of another user have been deleted.

[FDokinawa]

I had his post quoted, but I edited it because it wasnt even worth quoting it was so bad.

I can understand not likeing a book, and you have every right to let the author and/or other people know you didnt like it. But at least have the courtesy to tell them why you didnt like it.

[Oxmix]

I emailed E.A. Cooper about a sequel to BC Street. As Paul Harvey would say, we need to know "The rest of the story".

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/USBar-1.jpg

I enjoyed the book. What made the book even more enjoyable for me was that I was there in the 60's. I experienced many of the things written in the book. While I was stationed on Okinawa there were demonstrations and strikes. We were told to avoid the demonstrations, not to provoke the demonstrators. I found the demonstrators to be non violent. When I approached them while driving a vehicle I would smile and wave at them. They always allowed me to pass.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/1968OkinawaDemonstration.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/0903/Oxmix/RallySummer70Koza.jpg

Regards

Ox

[TheNoNamedOne]

Friendly demonstrators are the best kind to rule over with occupation.

[ryukyuboi]

I met one of the High Commissioners in the 60s at a social function. I think his name was General Unger.

Most of the peaceful demonstrations that I witnessed ended up being in front of some US military gate entrance. Some would last for awhile, with the demonstrators camping our after their march down Highway 1 (now 58) from their gathering point to the targeted gate(s). I never felt threatened or in any danger. I was more bothered by the traffic delays and alternate routes you had to take in order to get somewhere in a timely manner.

[eacooper]

News articles about the novel "B.C. Street" have appeared on Okinawa.com and Japan Today. Also, the novel, which highlights issues affecting Okinawa in early postwar days (some which still continue) was recently critiqued in Japanese in The Okinawa Times. Obviously, it has also been discussed somewhat in guest books, forums and blogs on VirtualOkinawa.com and Japan Update.

The novel carries a five-star review rating on amazon.com. Part of what makes the story so popular is that it brings back fond memories for many former GIs. It's also a fairly entertaining love story according to reviews from readers thus far. And, of course, English proficient Okinawans who have read the book love the fact that it's critical of U.S. military treatment of Okinawa. In that sense, the book is controversial but that too drives its popularity. Before all is said and done, I expect the book to eventally become a best-seller, primarily by word-of-mouth. What's your opinion? Of course, you'll need to read it in order to have a valid opinion. That somewhat implies that you'll also need to purchase a copy or borrow one from someone. What are you waiting on?

Oxmix has requested a sequel. So have several other readers. Some are even suggesting story lines. I might start writing the sequel on-line and let readers suggest material for the current chapter in progress. Seems everybody wants to have some say in the relationship between PFC Cole and Kimiko, the lovely nightclub hostess. Others want to know more about Valdez and Donlon. I'm always interested in knowing how others react to my work. . . E. A. (Ed) Cooper

[eacooper]

I appreciate you speaking up in my behalf. I'm pleased to report that my novel was recently critiqued in Japanese kanji and katakana in The Okinawa Times. It's gaining more and more publicity all the time (mostly in Asia), so I really don't have to do my own advertising. However, because it's my creative product, I find it difficult to resist talking about it. I don't mean it as advertising, but I can see how others might view it that way. . . E. A. (Ed) Cooper

[FDokinawa]

Have you ever thought about having it translated into japanese and having it sold in japan, or even just okinawa?

[TheNoNamedOne]

I am not sure how thick the book is, but perhaps it would have a stronger appeal here if it were bilingual with different sript language printed on opposing sides, like Japanese on the left page and English on the right.

Just a suggestion.