NATIONAL PARK RANGERS AS HEROES

 by Patricia Bradley

We've had a tough two years and I'm hoping and praying that 2022 will be better! But I did learn a few things during 2020 as I wrote Crosshairs, the book that came out in November. One, if I show up at the computer and make myself write, the words will come. Eventually. Two, I can’t edit what I don’t write. Three, this too shall pass—“And it came to pass” has long been a favorite Bible scripture.

It wasn’t like I didn’t love the story in Crosshairs, more that my mind was paralyzed. I found it easier to spend time on social media or even cleaning the toilets. Before I knew it, it was September and I only had two months to finish the book. 

That’s when I learned the most important lesson—if I practice 1 and 2, the words will add up, ideas will come, and the story will come together, and I will have a completed manuscript and three becomes true.

Another way I lost time was in research. Researching about the Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers and the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) was fascinating, and it was much easier to do that than to pull the words out one word at a time. 

A couple of the things I learned was The ISB, or Investigative Sevices Branch of the NPS has thirty-seven special agents who are regarded as the FBI of the National Park Service. They are spread out all over the US and are sent in when needed, sometimes even undercover.

Another thing I learned, the Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers are separate from the National Park Service, although under the same umbrella. That really changed the way I wrote about them. 

I also learned there's a difference between rangers: there are interpretive rangers--the ones you see the most--they give you all the information about the area you visit. And then there are law enforcement rangers--On the Natchez Trace, they're the ones who carry a gun and give you tickets for driving over 50 miles an hour. lol

Linc is an interpretive ranger with the National Park Service in Natchez, while Ainsley is an ISB Special Agent. Interpretive rangers in the South don’t carry guns which worked well for Linc since I wanted him to be a ranger. Writing this series has changed the way I look at the National Park Service. I’ve always admired rangers, but even more now!

Someone asked me which of the characters in Crosshairs was the hardest to write. I’ll have to say Lincoln Steele was. As a former FBI sniper who suffered from PTSD from almost killing a child and who believed he was responsible for his friend’s suicide, it was hard to flesh out a hero who was no longer a hero—or who at least didn’t see himself as one since he could no longer even hold a gun. Yet, he had to be strong, someone Ainsley, the heroine, could trust. I discovered there are other ways to show strength in a character—like throwing himself in front of Ainsley to protect her. His willingness to do anything to keep her safe showed his true character, and eventually, he came to embrace who he was.

As for Ainsley, she is stubborn. Strong-willed. She didn’t want to admit she had any faults. And she certainly didn’t want to forgive Linc and her father for undermining her singing career. But if she hadn’t lost the singing career, she would never have found her life’s work—that of an elite Investigative Services Branch Special Agent.

I'm giving away a print copy(must have a Continental US address; Digital copy for all others) of Crosshairs to someone who leaves a comment. Tell me if you knew any of this stuff about National Park Rangers. :-) Be sure to leave you email address like this: pat at ptbradley dot com