Big Blue Society: Fishtails and Mayhem is a collection of true stories following a group of lifelong friends as they overcome life challenges and live life by one motto: Go for It… and Deny Everything. What inspired you to write this book and share these stories?

We were lucky to be part of a brotherhood that formed in the great outdoors, and we wanted to share that experience with others. But the inspiration to write the book did not take hold until one of our men died. His passing let us in on the unspoken obvious… that we all will pass, and the Big Blue Society along with it. This book is our legacy, and we pass it on to our family, friends, and anyone else who has felt their soul expand in the wild.

How did you balance the need to be honest and authentic with the need to protect your privacy and that of others in your memoir?

The statute of limitations ran out. Seriously, we were involved in some illegal activities back in the day, but some are no longer prosecuted, like smoking marijuana. And there was a time when we had to keep Society activities hidden from our children lest they get the wrong idea, but they are grown now and can handle the truth. Finally, we guarded our reputations in the past, lest we lose employment or get sanctioned in some way. Now, as elder retired statesmen, if you will, we don’t give a hoot about our reputations. We have the liberty of candor and honesty, and in that spirit of full disclosure, we revealed all in this memoir. Let the chips fall.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

For our war-torn hero, Norm Hansen, he found healing in the Big Blue brotherhood. TWe all did. And there was no “political correctness” about it. That mattered because the Society stood apart from the societal standards. We were in revolt against the straight jacket placed upon men these days. Our motto, “Go for IT… and deny everything,” has a certain ring to it.

What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?

Guys love each other in unconventional ways. The ties that bind us through misadventures help us endure the hard realities of life. And sometimes, a guy needs to cut loose, get whooped-up and, hell yeah, have a little fun… so they can deal with the daily responsible grind.

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