6 book Poopie Suits Series
Cold War Biography - Non Fiction
Date Published: 01-17-2018
Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots is a story of a young man volunteering to serve aboard a US Submarine, and the life changing journey he had to take to even get on a submarine. Then, once aboard, you go through the day-to-day life while on the front lines of the Cold War at sea. The scary incidents, the wild times in ports of call, the ongoing testing the men were subjected to by the crew. Historical touch points anchor the story in the mid to late 60's, a time of the nascent space program and the Vietnam War. Frank's story serves as a frame work to explain how submarine systems operate, in simple easy to understand terms. There is a lot packed into this true story, and we hope that those who read it will come away with an enhanced understanding of what these men went through, the sacrifices that had to made, the unrelenting pressure of zero mistakes in an always potential deadly environment. An deep insight into the Silent Service.
Interview with Frank Hood
What is your schedule like when you’re writing a book?
Since the book under review, "Poopie Suits and Cowboy Boots - Tales of a Submarine Officer from the Height of the Cold War" was about my experiences, I set up an outline and recorded my recollections using a digital recorder. I sent these to my brother, Charles, who is the wordsmith, and he transcribed them, and then both of us did research to fill in the context to make the story identifiable with the reader. Once we finished writing, we submitted our draft to several other submarine veterans to find errors. Once we published, about 6 months had transpired.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
No. The story is more than an autobiography, which is only about 1/3 of the book, interspersed among the stories. The larger part introduces the reader to a brand new, hot running, nuclear submarine and explains most of the layout, the equipment and how it works in plain language, and what it was like living day-to-day in a steel tube designed to sink, with 109 other men. Many funny, scary, unexpected non-classified stories are told, every one of them true, not fiction. The result is a deep dive (pardon the pun) into a world that many wonder about but never before has been revealed with a non-fiction approach.
Have you ever gotten reader’s block?
No. This was my story so there was no problem with this.
Does your family support your career as a writer?
No. We did this to capture a story initially so my kids (yes they never heard most of these stories) and grandkids, and then the general public, will come to understand the sacrifices, courage, training, and more, that was required to man these silent denizens of the deep during a very volatile time in our country's history. We donated the first $50,000 in profits to the US Sub Vet Scholarship Fund. We have sold over 15,000 books in total (6 other books - all true stories) and we make a modest return for all the work we put into these books.
How many hours a day do you write?
My brother Charles is the author for the 6 books after Poopie Suits (www.subtales.com) and he is a physician so he writes when he can. He has devoted thousands of hours and has corresponded by phone, email, and meeting literally hundreds of US submarine veterans. He has devoted most of his "free" time since 2017 to this pursuit. He maintains a Facebook page where he shares short stories and tibits of information about all things submarine. (www.facebook.com/2hoodssubbook)
If you could invite any three people for dinner, whom would you invite?
VADM Hyman G Rickover, the Father of the Nuclear Navy, and with whom I had an interview to even get admitted into the submarine program.
Fred Haise, the Lunar Module Pilot of Appollo 13, which I saw take off live from the Navy base at Port Canaveral and with whom I had a 2 hour conversation many years later.
Jim Lovell, pilot of Appollo 13 but also was on Appollo 8 on Christmas Eve, 1968. The night that they went around the moon and we on earth saw the famous "earth rise" on live TV. Also the night I got engaged.
All of these stories and more are in the book as part of the cultural context of those years.
Would you share something about yourself that your readers don’t know (yet)?
When I graduated from college, I was commissioned an Ensign in the US Navy, and got my first real paycheck. I got my first car (1968 Fire Engine Red Camaro Convertible). I had some hairy experiences with that car along the way. These are described in the book.
Also I almost fought a bull while in Spain. It came very close.
Also, I survived 2 near-death experiences while on the boat. These are described as well.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?
Poopie Suits was told to capture a story, one sailor on a nuclear submarine, and the experiences he had. It sparked a huge interest from other submarine veterans who wanted their story told. These became the genesis of our 6 other books. Our books have 85% 4 or 5 star ratings on Amazon. Two of them are in Top 100 Submarine Books of All Time according to The Book Authority. One was a top seller on Amazon in the Cold War Biography genre. These books deliver with entertaining and informative stories, and who doesn't love a story? You can see 6 of our current 7 books on www.subtales.com
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
We never completely finish the work on the books. Poopie Suits is in its 5th Edition, with many ampflications suggested by other sub vets to make it even more understanable, and entertaining. We have an audio version of Poopie Suits, and a soft cover and Kindle versions as well.
If you could be mentored by a famous author, who would it be?
Jay Abraham, the marketing guru, author of "Getting All You Can Out of All You Got". His style is no-nonsense while at the same time being humurous. He has sold thousands of books of non-fiction stories of marketing challenges.
About the Author
Frank Hood received a NROTC Scholarship to Purdue and started his formation to being commissioned as a Naval Officer. For his Senior Cruise, he was assigned to a WWII era submarine and he saw, first hand, the loose rules coupled with the cool and professional execution of duties, along with the great fun they crew had when the pressure was off. He greatly appreciated the tight camaraderie they had, and he knew that is what he wanted when he graduated.
This is the genesis of this book. For over 1 year of Nuclear Power and Submarine Officer training, to 3 years of keeping the Soviet Submarine Force at bay, this experience was one of the most impacting of his life. Post Navy, he worked as an Engineer, Sales Person, and Business Owner. Retired to New Hampshire and enjoying life. Active in the submarine veteran community, the deep bond formed 50 years before is even stronger and more appreciated.
Charles Hood is a physician practicing in South Carolina. For years he was intrigued by his older brother Frank’s service on a hot running, fast attack submarine, but could not get Frank to ever talk about it. Finally, he convinced Frank by saying, “Even without the secret mission details, your day-to-day life is a unique story, and if you don’t tell it so others can appreciate what you went through, who will?” With that Frank dictated his story and Charles word smithed it and add additional research. Vetting by many other sub vets helped reduce the errors caused by 50 year old memories. The resulting story has been acclaimed by submarine veterans and civilians alike. It is in its 5th Edition, have had other details and stories added to the original content.
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