Welcome to SixthFleet.Com, the Cyberspace Home of author David E. Meadows. "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there. David Meadows is the real thing," --Stephen Coonts author of numerous bestsellers, including Flight of the Intruder, Saucer, America, and Liberty. "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future place in the world. It's visionary, and scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" -Joe Buff, bestselling author of Straits of Power, Tidal Rip, and Crush Depth. "David E. Meadows is simply the best writer of naval thriller/adventure fiction out there today." --Tom Wilson, acclaimed author of Black Canyon, Desert Fury, Tango Uniform and other best selling military thrillers.

Rejection slips

I had so many rejection slips after nine years of trying to publish that my wife and I were considering using them as wallpaper in a back bathroom of our old house built in 1916. Fortunately, Penguin came along and offered me a four-book contract, so I still have the rejection slips and ever so often I pull one out, hold it up to the computer screen so the sheet is facing a copy of one of my books, and say, "See! So, there!" (No one ever really says anything profound when they're by themselves. Unless they immediately write it down on a small 3X5 card and say it again in public. I never thought "See! So there!" rated a 3X5 card. It's something you'd write on the back of a wadded up old grocery receipt.)

Rejection slips are the publishing world's way of telling you 'to forget it,' but they have hidden meanings and codes within each of them. Taken as a whole, rejection slips can reveal a trend to your writing to reveal whether you're improving, staying the same, or heading downward.

I have one of the foremost collections of rejection slips and someday may leave it to a small junior college that needs something………anything. Now, I don't have a way to quantify them against others because authors usually don't bond together to exchange rejections slips. Some are so interesting, I read them periodically. There was the rejection slip that after reading my submission the agency closed shop, moved to an undisclosed location, and changed their telephone number. That was the first time one of my query letters generated action. Another favorite is a 5-page diatribe from an agent who dissed me in the first two sentences, then went on to confide how rough the publishing business is and what a terrible time he was having in it. (I had this mental picture of him finishing the letter, sealing it, slowly putting a stamp in the top right hand corner before opening the top floor window and jumping.) I sent a thank-up and a condolence note back to him.

JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA is Meadows' newest novel scheduled for release in March 2005.

Read More About JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA

JOINT TASK FORCE AFRICA A Navy EP-3E is hit by a missile and before the pilot can recover control of the aircraft four aircrew bail out over West Africa, landing in the middle of an African civil war. It is a fast-pace story as Admiral Holman races to rescue the Sailors before they are killed or captured. "Meadows will keep you turning pages and thinking new thoughts." --Newt Gingrich "Rip-snorting, realistic action-adventure from a man who has been there." --Stephen Coonts "When Meadows' men set sail, it's sure to be a mission like no other." --W.E.B. Griffin "Fast-paced, roller-coaster ride with this exhilarating military thriller. Dynamic writer with a fresh voice in this technical-ridden, yet intriguing genre." --Midwest Book Review "An absorbing, compelling look at America's future. Visionary, scary. Great battle scenes, believable heroes, plus villains you'll love to hate!" --Joe Buff, author Tidal Rip.

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David E. Meadows / SixthFleet.Com David E. Meadows Washington D.C. E-Mail readermail@SixthFleet.Com