Freddie's First Flight is the first of three children's books to be published about the life and times of Freddie the Great-tailed Grackle. Book one, Freddie's First Flight, chronicles the first few weeks of Freddie's life and that of his siblings Buddy and Maggie. It is a story about birth, love, joy, fear, excitement and achievement. The time comes when Freddie must leave the nest for the first time. He is overcome with fear and is only able to leave the nest with a little reassurance from his mother and help from his brother. He becomes so excited with the joy of flying that his lack of attention to other things going on around him almost results in him becoming the meal of the day for a bird of prey. Freddie learns a very valuable life lesson along the way. Bill Brown was born on August 27, 1947 to Bill and Wilma Brown. He was one of six children who were born and raised in Southeast Texas, County of Brazoria, and approximately 50 miles southwest of the city of Houston. Bill joined the Army in 1964 at the age of seventeen and served with the Eighty Second Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg North Carolina and First Cavalry Division in Vietnam. He was severely wounded during Operation Crazy Horse in May, 1966. His love and trust in God prevented him from being just another casualty of the war. He completed his stint with the Army in December, 1967. Bill's love for nature eventually leads him to receiving degrees in Wildlife Biology from Colorado State University and Fisheries Management at the University of Washington. After graduating from the University of Washington in 1975, Bill began a distinguished career with the USDA Forest Service as a Wildlife Biologist. He remained with the Forest Service until May, 2005 when he retired after thirty years of service. He now lives in southeast Texas with his wife Myra and cat, Sadie and dog Matty. He has four children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Bill's inspiration to write a children's book about the life and times of a Great-tailed Grackle named Freddie comes from years of observing this magnificent creature in the wild.
