​Last night (Tuesday) I had the official book launch for Dead Reckoning at my local library.  My wife made three homemade Irish tea cakes which the audience devoured.  We also provided Barry’s Irish tea and coffee.
About 32 people attended which mostly filled the room.  The audience included my publisher, my editor and my publicists.  The show of support from my publishing team was rewarding.  The audience included both a number of hold friends and new friends I made last night.
My presentation covered the book series and then focused on the final book in the series, Dead Reckoning.  I also read selections from each book to demonstrate an element of craft in writing.  I read the inciting incident for the novel from Murphy’s Troubles.  The scene from Out of Darkness demonstrated how I weave history into the story.  The selection from Dead Reckoning was on theme, showing the internal battle of the protagonist.  This was the first time I’ve done three readings in one presentation.  When the audience says “Ohhh” after a selection the pleasure is palpable. 
A number of books were purchased and I was pleased that all three books flew off the table, not just the final book.
When we finished cleaning up it was just 8:00 pm – an hour and a half event.  I was spent but knew I had just had the perfect launch!
 
P.S. Our local cable station recorded the launch so now it will be broadcast several times.  Isn’t that a hoot?     

​UNTITLEDTOWN BOOK AND AUTHOR FESTIVAL
https://2018.untitledtown.org/
Green Bay, Wisconsin
April 19-22, 2018
 
This is a whopping four day event with hundreds of authors making presentations, participating on panels, selling & signing books.  This festival covers every imaginable topic both readers, writers, and editors want to learn about.
Saturday April 21, at 2:00pm in the Neville Public Museum Gallery, I am presenting:  “Where History and Story Meet – Historical Fiction”
Sunday April 22, at 2:00 pm in the Brown County Library – Lower LeveI Conference Room I am on a panel with Brittiany Koren, Kelly Risser, and Angie Stanton discussing “Writing beginnings, middles and ends” 

  

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April 12-15, 2018
Madison Concourse Hotel
https://uwwritersinstitute.wisc.edu/pathway-to-publication/
 
I attended my first Writers Institute July 17 & 18, 1997.  Since then I have missed only one conference so this year will be my 20th Conference.
The conference theme is:  Pathway to Publication.  I am in a unique position this year due to my own pathway to publication for the IrishTroubles Series.
I self-published Murphy’s Troubles in 2013 using Create Space (which is now defunct.
I used published Out of Darkness in 2015 with Assisted Publishing CK Books.
Dead Reckoning is being published in April 2018 by Three Towers Press an imprint of independent publisher HenschedlHAUS Publishing Inc.
Dead Reckoning will first be available for sale at the Book Market at the Writer’s Institute.
I have come full circle in 20 years.  It has been the most fascinating, creative journey of my life.
It’s not too late to register!
 
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I Remember
 
On this day 50 years ago I was a high school freshman.  I was the student manager for the basketball team because I loved the sport but not blessed with any talent to play.  I was also a nerd of the first caliber.  I was a member of the speech and debate team.  The events I specialized in were debate and extemporaneous speaking.

Participating in these two events resulted in being very knowledgeable about current events both nationally and internationally.  I especially liked extemporaneous speaking because of its’ unique challenge.  Here’s how it worked.  You drew a little piece of paper out of a hat that had a contemporary topic listed.  You then had 30 minutes to research the topic followed by a 10 minute presentation on the topic presented to a judge.  I recall using Newsweek, US News and World Report, and Time magazine as my primary sources.  Only Time has survived as a print magazine.

Because of my submersion in current news and cultural events I was familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King and his non-violent crusade for racial and social justice.  I walked home after school on April 4 the just as the national news was coming on.  We always watched Huntley and Brinkley or John Chancellor.
I REMEMBER John Chancellor’s ashen face as he announced the assassination of Dr. King and watching the film of the event on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee.  It was graphic.

I REMEMBER, in that moment hope was banished.  I REMEMBER, life was uncertain and fragile.  I REMEMBER, wondering how cans this happen?  I REMEMBER, wondering what will happen next.  I REMEMBER, a shock wave spread across America, even to my little town in northwest Indiana.  I REMEMBER, America burned – in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit and others.  I couldn’t understand the riots that are now called civil disturbance.  I REMEMBER, even then I felt that Dr. King would be shaking his finger at America for reacting with rage and hate.  
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Again today, on the 50th anniversary of a murder, I REMEMBER.

​                                                     April Events
 
Wisconsin authors and readers celebrate spring by having a series of events in April.  April is going to be a busy month for me.
 
April 12-15, 2018 Wisconsin Writer’s Institute – Madison, Wisconsin
https://uwwritersinstitute.wisc.edu/    
 
Success Panel April 13  5:20 pm
 
 
April 19-22, 2018 Untitled Town Book and Author Festival – Green Bay
https://2018.untitledtown.org/
April 21, 2018 2:00 pm “Where Art & History Meet-Historical Fiction”
April 22, 2018 2:00 pm Panel:  “Writing – Beginnings, Middles & Ends”
 
April 24, 2018  Dead Reckoning Book Launch Blog Visit with Valerie Biel
 
April 24, 2018 6:30 pm  Dead Reckoning Book Launch – Sun Prairie Public Library with homemade tea cake, Irish tea and book give away.
 

Several years ago I was asked to lead one of our Library’s book clubs because there previous leader was moving to Arizona.  I asked to attend several book club sessions to learn how the group worked together.  The librarian told me the group had many challenges in the past and that the leader moving out of state was an opportunity to make a few changes.

The first meeting I attended there were three members and the leader.  Rather than a discussion the leader gave a detailed review of the book based on multiple sources and then offered her own review.  The book club members sat and listened.

I attended a second session to learn if the same format was followed for every meeting.  It was.  My decision was easy.  I told the librarian that I would try on a trial basis but the format needed to change drastically.  I wanted true discussion.

The group welcomed me with some apprehension.  It took a lot to coax comments from them.  When I asked them to recommend books for the next year they were petrified.  They had never been given any choice.  They said they didn’t know how to choose a book to read.  I suggested it was easy – suggest a book you’ve read before that you enjoyed so much you would read it again.  The first year it didn’t work.  The second year there were a few more recommendations and a members that had dropped out of the group returned. This is the third year and we’ve grown to sixteen members and they selected half the books to read. 

Every author should either lead or be a member of a book club.  I learn something about every book we read from the club members.  Everyone brings a unique perspective and life history that allows for exciting discussion.  We often go beyond the hour allotted to us.
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If you want to write – join a book club.  How many of you reading this blog are in a book club?    

Both publisher Kira Henschel and I have completed our edits of the proof for Dead Reckoning and it has been sent to the typesetter.  There were more typesetting errors edits which I found both disheartening and encouraging.  It was disheartening because typesetting errors and technical and indicates a lack of attention to detail.  Writing edits never end, that’s the truth, you just stop at some point to get the book out to readers.

The original plan was to send Advance Reader Copies to both individuals and book reviewers to solicit those wonderful comments on the cover and sometimes the interior page of the book.  Comments like – “damn good writing” or “a fitting conclusion to the Irish Troubles series . . .”    

We have run out of time.  I have four author events in April, the first on April 7th at the Milwaukee MATC and I will need books to sell.  Kira and I had a frank discussion and decided that the initial printing will be a “first edition” – enough books to get me through at least April and most likely May.  Kira still plans to send out Advance Reader Copies to a list of folks I provided and will include their comments on subsequent editions.
​
As a stopgap, I contacted my editor Christine Keleny of CK Books, https://ckbookspublishing.com/ her for an enticing sentence or two about the book.  She did a great job and it can now appear on the “first edition”.
So for now, I’m waiting in the wings, the theatrical analogy is perfect.  I hate waiting.  How many of you hate waiting?  

​I’m going to digress from writing about publishing Dead Reckoning this week.  It is in the typesetter’s hands and there is nothing I can do but wait.
Recently our local library joined the Rotary Club and as Board President I was invited to participate in the induction ceremony.  I learned the Rotary has the Four Way Test
Of the things we think, say or do . . .

1. Is it the Truth?
2. Is it Fair to all concerned?
3. Will it build Goodwill and Better friendships?
4. Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

I was so impressed with this test.  There is no creed or belief system that you must accept to be a Rotarian, just the Four Way Test.
I found myself thinking that if each of us in our everyday living used the Four Way Test we would create an open, civil, empathetic culture and cast away the divisive culture we tolerate currently.
I now challenge myself every single day in everything I do with The Four Way test.  Try it.  Watch how it changes your life.   

​Those few paragraphs on the back cover of a paperback book are called - back of the book blurb.  The purpose of the blurb is to entice potential readers, tell a little bit about the story with the hope of the reader purchasing your book.

Blurbs are intentionally brief, often 100 words or less.  Blurbs are a challenge to write because you don't want to "give away" the story.  I've been working on the blurb for Dead Reckoning for a month.  I ran into a brick wall and enlisted the help of marketing guru Valerie Biel from Lost Lake Press www.lostlakepress.com.  She provided focus to the project.  Below is the blurb for Dead Reckoning - - -


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​After Ian Murphy’s life-long friend, Kieran Fitzparick, dies unexpectedly, Ian’s brief sobriety is shattered, and his life is set adrift. Ian feels incapable of fulfilling Kieran’s last request—to serve as mentor to his 22-year-old nephew—but accepts the role to honor Kieran, never anticipating how important this relationship will become.
 
Shouldering his reluctant role as mentor, Ian returns to his life in Cork but suffers insurmountable writers’ block. When a new friend suggests that guilt may be standing in Ian’s way, Ian agrees to offer an act of contrition to the Irish people for his role in the IRA.
 
With the belief that a work of art is a confession, Ian writes a memoir stage play, “Dead Reckoning”, where he reveals his secret life in the IRA, and relies on the aid of Kieran’s nephew to direct this act of remorse. Can Ian’s repentance for his complicity in the horrors of The Troubles alleviate his guilt and allow him to truly live again?
 
 

​Blog 2-21-18
I have experienced the “Third time is a Charm” affect with my third novel, Dead Reckoning.  It began with the responses received from the query letters I sent out in search of a traditional publisher.  Of the eight query letters I sent I had positive responses from three.  One I had to decline because I did not clearly understand the nature of their publishing business.  Of the other two I had a telephone interview with one and an in person interview with the second.  After the interview I was offered a contract with Henschel Haus Publishing and of course signed on the dotted line.

In addition to publishing Dead Reckoning, Henschel Haus offered to re-publish Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness with fresh book covers and a few interior changes.  They will be published in June 2018.  I couldn’t believe my good fortune.
​
​A major element of my book marketing is to attend author/book festivals and writers conferences.  When feasible I like to make presentations and have the opportunity to sell a few books.  In the past I’ve done a great deal of research and made cold proposals to as many events as possible.  In the past few years I’ve built a record and developed a number of presentations specifically designed to fit a conference and or audience.

Using this approach I’ve participated in:  Irish Book and Music Festival – Chicago; Wisconsin Book Festival; Milwaukee Irish Fest; Oshkosh Irish Fest and many others.  I have learned the art form of making proposals.

For the first time since I began publishing in 2013, this year I have been invited to present at two events:  Write, Pitch, and Publish Conference April 7th in Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Irish Fest August 17-19, 2018.

So, having the third book launched with a traditional publisher is having unexpected benefits. The third book is a charm.  I’m looking forward to receive more invitations and filling my 2018 calendar.