Our family visited the Mesa Grande Cultural Center, (now called Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki). It’s one of the sites mentioned in the book, Coat of the Ancients. Do any of the images below remind you of a scene in the story?
Archives
A John Case Family Adventure #2
Description #1:
Still suspected of treason and under FBI surveillance, John Case is once again unwittingly enmeshed in the nefarious plans of evil mastermind El Shah and Iranian intelligence agents.
Iran wants to consolidate power in the Middle East and destroy America. El Shah seeks to exercise his right by lineage to control the Middle East and the Americas. Both believe an ancient artifact can help them achieve their quest for power. The key to finding the mystical object may be hidden in a notebook John Case’s eldest son stole from an Iranian operative two weeks earlier.
Now, someone is intent on getting the notebook from the Cases before they turn it in to the FBI. When the Case boys go missing, John has one day to deliver the coveted coat of Nimrod and swear allegiance to Islam or else his sons may not survive.
Can John clear his name, rescue his sons and prevent Iran and El Shah from unleashing the coat’s power on the world?
If you’ve been looking for an exciting action adventure thriller without vulgarity, bad words, or scenes that would make your grandmother blush, this is it!
Description #2
Evil men millennia apart…
A coat with incredible powers…
A father who’s intent on saving his family…
Who will win in this thrilling adventure?
Read now to find out.
Reviews
“Bible Verses About Fatherhood +11 Best Books For Dad”
“Book Review – COAT OF THE ANCIENTS by Brandan C. Hadlock”
Alternate Book Cover
This cover may have actually been used on Amazon for a time. I’m not sure. But as of November 2025, it does display on Good Reads. It brings to my mind Conan the Barbarian. What do you think of it?
Fun promo video
This was a fun video that one of my sons created. The three of us were all writers, and the video references what we had written or were working on. Sadly, what was written of the story of the rat and dragon was only the beginning and is no longer available. A version of the story of the blob may yet appear in print. It’s never been finished either. You can, however, read the story of Alshear (hint, it’s found in the book advertised on this page!)
On-site Photos
Can you identify a scene from the book? These photos were taken on-site at the Mesa Grande Cultural Center, now called, Sce:dagĭ Mu:val Va’aki.
A John Case Family Adventure #1
Description:
John case’s ordinary life is about to become not so ordinary.
Cuba and Iran want the top-secret missile schematics someone named Big J has clandestinely auctioned.
Thanks to a set-up, they think John is Big J.
Tonight, they’ll make their move, forcing John and his family into a terrifying adventure of international espionage and extortion.
If you’ve been looking for a thrilling, clean, family adventure, buy this book.
Reviews
“Book Review: Working with the Enemy by Brandan C. Hadlock”
“Working With the Enemy by Brandan C. Hadlock- A Really Good Short Story”
Good Reads page for Working with the Enemy
Previous Book Cover
This cover is not quite the same as the current cover, is it? But, it was a cover. And the book needed a cover.
Anna’s first book, The Wingdoodle Rocket, came to life when she was only 8 or 9-years old on a long, family car ride. She spontaneously imagined horror after hilarious horror her poor brother, Joshua, had to endure, always pausing between each unlikely misadventure for a long “and then…” She had us all laughing uncontrollably…even Joshua!
Eventually she wrote out the adventure and–already a budding artist–illustrated her book, too. Since then, her artistic skills and style have become something worth noting. She has also developed into a talented musician, charming audiences with her lovely soprano voice, writing her own rather stunning compositions, as well as beginning to master to varying degrees piano, harp, organ, and violin.
At age 19, she put her education on hold to head off on her own adventure to northern Italy to share her faith. At the same time she was blessed to experience the rich and ancient Italian culture. Looking forward, she’s not yet sure where her talents will lead her, but she appears to be headed forward. We are eager to post her creative projects here.
A farm girl at heart who needs green beauty, Christine not only thrives beholding the beauty of creation, she loves being creative herself. A writer, teacher, composer, and now, publisher, Christine first discovered she loved stories and words as a child. Then, as a teenager, she started teaching piano lessons and discovered she loves teaching, too. Around the same time, she put a few chords together and created her first piano composition, Dreamer’s Sonata, which won her first place overall in the high school talent show. That experience was all she needed to energize a lifetime of love for music. It took a few decades before she realized she loves publishing, as well. Now, she feels blessed for the skills she’s developed pursuing all of her passions; they work well together enabling her to teach through word and music and then share her thoughts, feelings, and techniques with others.
Christine’s first CD, In the Distance, consisted of 11 of her own compositions of piano solos and violin/piano duets, self-published and recorded with a violinist friend in 1997. She finished writing The Good Shepherd, in 2003 and played the piano in its first performance. (It has since been updated and orchestrated.) In 2008, Building Blocks Press published her 26 children’s songs for learning to read, Critter Crew with Melody Lou: Alphabet Songs. Her Playing the Piano, Do Re Mi series, first appearing in 2016, was inspired by training she received in the Kodály philosophy of children’s choir education. expanded to encompass piano education. That project opened the door for Christine to start developing and publishing non-musical publications she would use in her own home and family including a personal history book, annual journal series with index, financial record-keeping books, kitchen planner, garden planner, and more.
Christine’s favorite in-progress projects include:
- Desiree – a historical musical recounting the life of Napoleon’s first fiancé, whose husband helped defeat Napoleon and with whom she later founded of the current Swedish dynasty. (What an amazing story!)
- The Music Mountain, in combo with Christine Hadlock’s Musical Alphabet Games– 1st, a visual approach to mastering all of the notes on the grand staff through the imagery of snowmen (C chords in various octaves), their accessories, and their place on the mountain, and…2nd, games to play in lessons/class and at home to solidify the knowledge….because it is so nice when students actually know the notes!
(Subscribe to be notified about these and other projects as they become available.)
And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
And thou shalt have joy and gladness; …
And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Zacharias did not believe he would have a child because it was too late in life: the time had passed for his wife to conceive and bear children. And yet, she did conceive and bear a child.
God can take that which is too late and make it NOT too late. Even though Zacharias doubted, yet he still became a father.
What dreams and promises do we give up on because we feel it is too late that or God does not have enough power to keep His promises?
God in the Bible teaches that we are to be meek. This is not just some other way to say weak. It is a strong, powerful, understanding of self and of one’s relationship to God and others.
The meek recognize that whatever they lack, it is God’s grace that will provide what is missing; it is not the weakness of another person that will provide what is missing. My worth, my ability, my value, my ability to rejoice and be happy, is not made greater by the weaknesses or faults of others. How could someone else’s lack make up for my lack? No, it cannot. God, however, is perfect. He is omniscient. He is perfectly balanced. Through my relationship with Jesus Christ, his perfectness, his lack of lacking can make up somehow for my lack. Therefore, I do not need to find fault in others, make them look bad in other people’s sight, or look down on them in order to substantiate my own worth.
How does God’s perfectness make up for my incompleteness? Perhaps, in part, that can only be done because of Jesus’ infinite, perfect atonement; and more completely done only after I yoke myself to him.
When I was a kid, I loved a good rain storm. I might go to the car with a book and read while the rain pounded on the metal roof. Or perhaps sit on the back porch. There is something majestic and wonderful about nature’s power. And thankfully, usually, storms are safe. We have wonderful buildings to protect us from which we can look outside and view God’s might. Rain smells wonderful. Especially in Arizona. Wind can whip the hair. Rainwater brings life to farms and desert communities.
Sometimes, though, storms become more powerful than buildings or vehicles. Tornadoes and hurricanes destroy homes, throw cars, and devastate lives. Sometimes, too, life is hard. Despair comes. Relationships struggle. Dreams continue unmet and far away. Each of us has had some of these types of storms in our lives. Years can pass as we endure. But there is a God who watches over us and helps us. He sent us to earth to grow and progress and become like Him. He loves us and is aware of our thoughts and feelings, hopes and fears, and dreams and dislikes. Like any good father, He wants us to talk to Him, ask Him for help, and follow His counsel. Sometimes He answers our requests with a, “No.” Sometimes with a, “Yes.” Sometimes He allows us to struggle and figure things out so we can learn and grow and experience.
You might wonder why a bio about me starts with theology. Why not mention that I had a cockatiel as a pet or that as kids, we used to float around our backyard in a plastic swimming pool floating on irrigation water? Or perhaps I should interest you with that fact that my father fit and fabricated artificial ocular prosthetics. That’s right, he made hand-painted fake eyes and blessed many lives doing so. But God is central to all I am. My parents created me, but before they did, God did. My thoughts, my views, my greatest aspirations are all influenced by God and my belief in Him and his teachings.
The impression to write has come, and this time it might be fulfilled through a family collaboration. Right now, perhaps just with one son as a co-author, but hopefully a daughter will decide to help us out and add her unique flair. The “code name” (not really a code name, but that sounds cool, doesn’t it?) is “Dark Clearly.” When my wife heard that, she suggested, “Clearly Dark.” We’ll see what wins out.
Here’s some of what we tentatively have so far:
Joshua Case: Cousin to John Case. Named after Joshua the Israelite spy in the Old Testament who brought back a good report of the land of Canaan and believed God would deliver the inhabitants of the land into the Israelites’ hands. Optimistic. “Just Joshua Case” (in other words, no middle name). Perhaps a black and white type of guy.
Tertius Michael Case: Joshua’s third son. Works out, but eats a lot of candy. Learns things from his dad. Love history. Has secret language he speaks with his parents.
Secunda Elssie Case: Joshua’s second daughter; younger than Tertius. No one better stand in her way.