David Mason
David J. Mason, the owner and founder of HMG ePublishing, LLC, is an epublishing service provider, electronic book publisher, consultant, and author. Mr. Mason's eBook conversion, publishing and distribution curiosity began in 1997 during the very early formation stages of the digital publishing industry when he converted his previously published manual, the Environmental Compliance Tools Kit, into an electronic book. In subsequent years, he founded HMG ePublishing, an online do-it-yourself website service that allows users to build and launch a website for business and personal applications.
Today, HMG ePublishing provides individuals and businesses turnkey solutions to fulfill their eCommerce and technology needs. Its major solutions include electronic book (eBook) publishing and website design, eBook preparation, production and promotion services, ecommerce, web hosting, email marketing, domain registration, and electronic equipment sales. An advocate for digital publishing, he has perfected eBook conversion, publishing, and distribution to HMG ePublishing offerings. Before starting HMG ePublishing, Mr. Mason served as Vice President for the Hatco Corporation. He handled the Company's environmental affairs and safety programs, regulatory management, corporate imaging, and strategic special assignments such as environmental issues related to potential new acquisitions. Before this position, he served with Velsicol Chemical, ICI Americas, and Hercules Corporation, in a variety of positions, including director regulatory affairs, regulatory manager, regional environmental manager and environmental manager. An aspiring Civil War buff, he is the author of The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes, a documentary novel based on a true story and actual historical events drawn from a variety of sources, including published materials and family chronicles. Mr. Mason holds a Master of Science degree in chemistry from Hampton University in Virginia, and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from Norfolk State University. After attending Norfolk State University, he entered the U.S. Army and retired with the rank of Colonel. |
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes -
The Escape from Enslavement in Southampton County, Virginia
Historical Fiction
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes is a documentary novel based on a true story and actual events and was drawn from a variety of sources, including published materials and family chronicles. The novel is the story of Parson Sykes’ a curiously enslaved teenager in Virginia, historic self-liberation followed by his enlistment in the Union Army. The story takes place in Southampton County, near the end of the American Civil War on the slave-holding Jacob Williams’ farm. During the 1831 Southampton Insurrection, the farm came under attack by Nat Turner and his insurgents, which still haunts Jacob. In the book, Parson and Jacob Williams are faced at opposite ends of the disputed points over the moral issue of slavery and secession, a political decision that led directly to war. The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes also functions to draw attention to the important role Black soldiers played during the Civil War as members of United States Colored Troops (USCT). Though less heralded, the USCT regiments were the precursors to Black army units famously nicknamed as the Buffalo Soldiers, Smoked Yankees, the Harlem Hell Fighters, Tuskegee Airmen, and the Red Ball Express. |
The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Book Two - Enlistment in the Union Army
Historical Fiction
During the latter half of the American Civil War, over 180,000 African Americans served in the Union Army, United States Colored Troops (USCT) branch. The Self-Liberation of Parson Sykes: Enlistment in the Union Army Parson’s ordeal from “contraband of war” status to a USCT soldier to gain freedom at age seventeen. Parson served in the Union Army of the James, which comprised two racially segregated army corps units. The white infantry regiments formed the XXIV Army Corps field army. The Black regiments formed the XXV Army Corps, commanded by Major General Godfrey Weitzel. It was the only all-Black army corps in United States military history. By the end of 1864, Black troops had earned the grudging respect of their white comrade-in-arms. Parson felt called to challenge the institution of slavery and the negative stereotypical beliefs about Black people that preceded his enlistment. In the refugee settlement near Fort Monroe, the USCT soldiers, like Parson, helped the refugees gain the strength, stability, and independence they needed to build better lives. Many were in weakened states caused by the harsh conditions of their enslavement and in need of essential humanitarian support. On December 5, Parson began his basic individual and collected training in marching and fighting drills, which were part of the Civil War soldier's daily routine. After training, being stationed at Fort Burnham near General Ulysses S. Grant’s field headquarters in City Point, VA, made it possible for Parson to continue his journey toward human and civil rights in the war zone. During his military service, Parson met several mentors and advisers who helped him enhance his resourcefulness in solving social, political, and economic problems by creating novel solutions to overcoming disenfranchisement. His helpers advised him to challenge the notion that Black people were an inferior race. Parson took it upon himself to fight for and attain the human rights he deserved. On April 3, General Grant ordered the XXV Army Corps to attack the rebels' fortified lines. While General Weitzel considered it a suicide mission, Parson saw and embraced it as a challenge for freedom and self-liberation. Grant ordered the XXIV Army Corps and a division from the XXV Army Corps to renew his assault on the rebels in Petersburg. On April 3, 1865, the 36th USCT infantry regiment entered Richmond, Virginia, the capital of the Confederate States of America. At Appomattox, regiments of the XXV Army Corps cut off the rebels’ last avenue of escape, prompting Robert E. Lee’s surrender on April 9, 1865. Five days after Lee’s surrender, on the evening of April 14, 1865, Parson grieved the assassination of President Lincoln. It was particularly devastating and frustrating for Parson. After fighting a civil war for freedom, he suddenly lost his commander-in-chief. His hope is probably low in this part of the story, and his journey towards human and civil rights feels like an impossible mission. SAMPLE PDF |