About me
About me: I am a prior infantry Marine, who earned the rank of Sergeant and a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997, and I’d love to do my small part to unite this country.
That’s the primary reason I publish my newsletter each week. To unite the country and to support our military and the men and women who serve in it. (It’s hard to find military news, as most of you know. But I’m also not afraid to criticize the military when it falls short. That’s the job of a responsible press. Done correctly, you can help reduce wasteful military spending, help improve our military forces, and in the long-run, save lives in the process.)
When I’m not working on my newsletter or working my day job, I’m also a proud independent author, who has published 11 books.
My friends aren’t surprised I launched a new publication, as I once launched a weekly newspaper from scratch. (Hey, what can I say? As a former journalist, I love the news and I believe in the role of the media; and I think a lot of the media falls short.)
You can ask anyone who lived in Oak Ridge during that time that I worked hard to downplay controversy, understate headlines, and never create panic, all of which is a terrible way to sell newspapers (but a responsible way for a media outlet to act).
Looking back, it’s clear I had (and have) a big heart and that I wasn’t made to be some kind of cut-throat business executive.
It’s this same streak in me that prevents me from signing any book deals, even big ones. I just don’t trust ruthless business executives at the big publishers.
And even if I did, that very same company that I trusted could be bought and purchased overnight. Sorry, but I’ll pass on that.
The truth is that while I’ve relented and signed some distribution deals, such as the one I did with Audible for my Nick Woods series, I’m just not willing to be owned by any of the big publishing houses.
If I want to speak out on China? I will, and do so regularly. If I want to send free books to military members? I will. (And I have.)
My success to this point has been made by doing it the right way: gaining one new reader or one new subscriber at a time. So join me on my journey. Let’s build a community of like-minded Americans, who believe in this country and in our fellow citizens (even those on the other side of the aisle).
People who believe in small businesses and independent dreamers on their own journey, whether it’s owning a small farm or staying independent in their creative fields.
And when it comes to politics? No name-calling. No screaming. Just honest discussion and a genuine search for the truth.
In the end, we truly all want the same: good government, unity throughout our land, and ethical leadership. And if you’d like to support this dream, you can subscribe below.
Or, you can check out my books at this link: http://amzn.to/3p6lAnQ.
I’ve sold 70,000-plus copies and had thousands of reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. I’m confident you’ll enjoy them. (I’m a super picky reader, who hates slow-moving books. And isn’t this exactly the kind of author you want to read? One who doesn’t write slow-moving, boring books?)
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. If you have further questions or would like to email me directly, you can reach me at: authorstanrmitchell@yahoo.com.
Official bio:
Stan R. Mitchell considers himself an action fiction author, who writes exciting, fast-paced thrillers. Both military action and mystery whodunnits. He's also a prior Infantry Marine with a Combat Action Ribbon. Some of his favorite authors and influences are Tom Clancy, Vince Flynn, Robert B. Parker, and Stephen Hunter. If you enjoy them, then more than likely you'll enjoy his writing.
MILITARY HISTORY: Mitchell entered the Marine Corps in 1995. He insisted his contract guarantee him the MOS of infantry, nearly joining the Army after the Marine recruiter claimed no infantry slots were available. After boot camp at Parris Island, Mitchell would serve all four years with Alpha Co., 1st Battalion, 8th Marines. Military peacetime highlights included: selection as Marine of the Quarter for the entire 2d Marine Division in the 4th Quarter of 1997; Honor Graduate of Corporal's Course in December 1998; promotion to Sergeant in less than four years in 1999 (no small accomplishment in the infantry at that time). Additionally, Mitchell earned a Combat Action Ribbon in 1997 while serving in Albania, where his unit helped evacuate more than 900 civilians who were in danger, following the country’s collapse (Operation Silver Wake.) Besides this mission into harm's way, his platoon also served as the Covering Force for a Force Recon team, which deployed with the 26th MEUSOC. In addition to working for a year with Force Recon, his platoon also had the privilege to operate with the Navy SEALs, training for Direct Action missions and practicing fast roping and ship takedowns.
WRITING RECORD: Mitchell penned his first story at the age of nine about four young Native American braves. The tale spanned more than twenty pages and Mitchell has been writing thrillers ever since that day. Following a military stint (see below), Mitchell raced off to college to major in English literature. He felt certain this would propel his writing to higher levels and advance his writing career. Instead, he learned he despised most literature (excluding Steinbeck and Hemingway) and needed to adjust his academic plans. Mitchell would go on to excel in the University of Tennessee's journalism program, earning the Kelly Leiter Scholarship for academic excellence and professional promise in March 2001. After graduation, Mitchell published thousands of newspaper articles over the next decade, honing his writing skills during the day in the newsroom, while still hammering away on several novels during the late hours of night. He would exit the field of journalism to become an author in 2012, publishing his break-out novel "Sold Out," which tells the story of a retired Marine sniper, whose life is turned upside down. The explosive sales of "Sold Out" prompted Audible to sign a multi-book deal with him. Since that launch, Mitchell has drawn up more than a dozen stories. Several of these are in the publishing pipeline and will be released soon.
Mitchell lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his wife and stepson. He enjoys writing, lifting weights, and martial arts. You can learn more about the author at www.stanrmitchell.com.
And if you want to know just a tad more about me and my journey as an author, there’s this: Writers are crazy, and I’m crazier than most.