I’m pleased to welcome Robert G. Williscroft here today on his blog tour!
OPERATION IVY BELLS: A MAC MCDOWELL MISSION
I am Robert G. Williscroft, and this is an updated version of my bestselling, semi-autobiographical Cold War Novel. Operation Ivy Bells is a first-person account of a team of saturation divers locking out of the nuclear submarine USS Halibut on the bottom of the Sea of Okhotsk. Fearlessly facing death, these dare-devil divers tapped into Soviet underwater communication cables and retrieved spent missile parts from the seafloor. The intel they gathered tipped the scales to win the Cold War. This story is based on real events—I led one of the teams depicted in this book.
Is Mac McDowell really me? Some folks would say Yes, but frankly there are many differences between us. I was an excellent submarine and diving officer, but Mac is definitely more capable than I. I would welcome your visiting my website to check out my background. Then compare the real me with Mac and let me know what you think.
A warm thank you to my host for sharing this blog.
Recognition for Operation Ivy Bells
This is what Martin H. Bloom, former President of The Los Angeles Adventurers’ Club, had to say about Operation Ivy Bells:
Magnificently written! A powerful and riveting account of the Cold War fought beneath the oceans by the world’s most famous enemies. Bristles with the same hair-raising authenticity that launched The Hunt for Red October to world notoriety. The factual and detailed descriptions are so realistic they submerge you deep in the ocean depths and make you feel a part of the sub’s crew on a remarkable mission told by veteran submariner, Robert Williscroft, who details an almost unimaginable war of nerves under the most trying conditions, and of the men who possess the incredible capabilities to carry out this mission.
Excerpt from Operation Ivy Bells
I’m not sure who got to Bill first, the Basketball or the other divers. What I do know is that suddenly, the monitor was filled with Bill trapped at his thighs under the forward starboard skid. Right next to him his umbilical passed under the skid as well.
“Green Diver, what’s your condition?” Jack was right on it.
“I’m pinned under the skid. I can move my toes. Don’t think nothin’s broke, but I can’t move.”
“That’s good news.” It was the Skipper. “We’ll get the sub up off him. Get him onboard ASAP.”
“Right, Sir,” I said as he left for the Conn. I reached for the mike. “Listen, you guys,” I said, “Blue Diver back to the Can right now. Get yourself rigged to get Green into the Can. We’re gonna lift the sub gently. You guys get him out, and free his umbilical. Then carry him back – don’t let him swim. As soon as you get him in the Can, Red Diver, you go to the pod bay and retrieve the cable. Stow it securely with no rattles, and then return to the Can.”
On the 1MC Larry (who had assumed the watch) notified me that they were ready to lift the Halibut on my say-so.
“Are you guys ready?” I asked the divers.
“Dive Control, Red Diver, we’re standing by.”
I gave Larry the go-ahead. Bobby moved the Basketball as close as possible without interfering with the operation. The skid inched off Bill’s legs, and two shadowy figures yanked him out from under it.
“Dive Control, Red Diver, we got another problem. When we yanked him out, the umbilical wrapped completely around the skid. We can’t pull it out.”
That was a shitty situation. We had only two options. We could lift the sub high enough to thread Bill through the skid, and then under it, and then through it again to unwrap the umbilical, or we could cut the umbilical and hustle Bill to the Can on his come-home bottle. I could feel the sub reacting to the surface swells. We had to do something right then. I looked Ham in the eyes and ordered, “Red Diver, Dive Control, cut Bill’s umbilical and get him back to the Can immediately. Blue Diver, you jerk the cut umbilical free and then drop it and help Whitey.” I took a deep breath. “Go…Now!”
Watch the one-minute trailer
Author Bio
Dr. Williscroft is a retired submarine officer, deep-sea and saturation diver, scientist, author of numerous books and hundreds of articles, and a lifelong adventurer. He spent 22 months underwater, a year in the equatorial Pacific, three years in the Arctic ice pack, and a year at the Geographic South Pole. He holds degrees in Marine Physics and Meteorology, and a doctorate for developing a system to protect SCUBA divers in contaminated water. A prolific author of both non-fiction and fiction, he lives in Centennial, Colorado, with his family.
Links
Stopping by to wish you the best, Robert. Your storytelling skills are superb. Hopefully this tour introduces you to many new readers.
Thanks for stopping by, Beem. I’m adding this to my TBR list.
Thanks! It’s what every author wants to hear.
This book series sounds like quite the adventure. I will have to look into it.
It sure does sound like an adventure. Thanks for dropping by:)
What makes it more interesting is that it is based upon things that actually happened. I led one of the saturation dive teams on Operation Ivy Bells.
Robert sounds like a man who knows what he’s writing about. I may have to grab a copy.
I was thinking the very same thing, Joe! Thanks for dropping by:)
When you get the book, visit my website, get on the reader list, and let me know how you liked the book.
Exciting excerpt, Robert. Thanks, Denise for hosting.
This is only one of many exciting events that happened during the USS Halibut’s installation of the tap and subsequent retrieval of spent missile parts.
It was, John. I was happy to.
😁
Everyone says authors put a little of themselves in every book. This seems like more than a little. And incredibly fascinating. Best wishes!
Thanks for hosting, Denise.
I modeled Mac McDowell, the protagonist in Operation Ivy Bells, after myself, but in all honesty Mac is smarter and more capable that I was during this operation.
Don’t sell yourself short like that. Either way, though, this sounds like a great story.
That’s very true, Staci! Yes, it does sound like that.
This story sounds great. I am entranced by submarines, wrote one novel about them and moved on. They are amazing. I’ll check out your book.
There is something about submarines that catches the attention, Jacqui!
I appreciate that. I will be continuing the series with further missions for Mac McDowell. The next one is about laying SOSUS arrays under the Arctic ice pack. It should be out early next year.
This is exciting–an excellent excerpt, the prospects of a cool new series. I grew up with a lot of pulp series as my favorites, and this looks like a more modern and mature version of what I’ve always liked. I’m ready to get hooked on #1 and watch eagerly for more. I like authentic, and how much more authentic can you get than a writer who lived it? Thanks for sharing this post with us, and to you, D.L. Finn, for hosting this author and his book!
Reblogged at StephenGeez.com
How does an author respond to that? Except to say a big THANKS!
I was happy to learn more about Robert and his books by having him here today:)
I hopped over to Robert’s website. Wow! He certainly has the background to pen this book.
Wishing him all the best with his release!
I will have to check it out, too, Mae!
I guess you could say that I’ve been there and done that!
What other challenges did you (or Mac) have while diving? Any encounters with dangerous sea-critters?I noticed your book is available as an audiobook, which is a good thing, because I have less and less time to sit down to read! I look forward to listening to it on my drive to work.
Great question, Jillian. It is nice to listen to books while driving.
Hi, Jillian. Indeed I did. The 1st chapter in Operation Ivy Bells details an encounter at a thousand ft. by Mac and another diver with several giant Humboldt Squid–about 8 ft long. They were very aggressive and seemed to communicate and coordinate with each other by flashing color through their bodies. Also, on the tap site, one of the divers was grabbed by a very large grouper-like fish.
I like the drama presented in the excerpt. Congratulations Robert G. Williscroft!
It sure grabbed my attention Shirley:)
Thank you, Shirley. There’s more where that came from. 🙂
What a compelling excerpt! Thank you Denise, for introducing Robert’s book to us. Wishing him all the best.
It sure was Balroop. I was happy to host!
Glad you enjoyed it, Balroop.
Excellent choice of the excerpt, Robert. Thank you for hosting, Denise!
More where that came from, Miriam. 🙂
Great, Robert. 🙂
Happy to, Miriam:) Yes an exciting excerpt for sure.
I enjoyed it, Denise.
Excellent excerpt, Robert. Thank you for hosting, Denise.
Oh cool. Not what I was expecting. This sounds terrific. Thanks for sharing, Denise. Best to RG. Hugs!
Thanks, Teagan. I am excited by the rush this book is bringing!
This does sound terrific. Teagan! Sending hugs back:)
A great excerpt and an intriguing trailer! Thank you for sharing about Robert with us, D.L.!! You’re always a great host!!
Thank you Marlena:) I agree it was a great exerpt and trailer that left everyone intrigued.
Great tidbit from the book. Good luck, Robert!
It sure was, Julie:)
It always warms my heart when authors support fellow authors <3
Mine, too. It’s a fantastic community.