News, Reviews, Book Signings & My Next Novel
It really happened!
To Catch a Spy on the same table as John Grisham, James Patterson, and other great authors! Or am I dreaming?
Quick Note: To Catch a Spy is now available from several retailers; also, you can order it online at Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
Our Friends at the Barnes & Noble store on Hilton Head Island
Going Well
Some of you thought I was joking about writing a book, especially since the publication date was April Fool’s Day. While I can be funny (debatable, I know), I’m not that clever, and not that cruel.
To Catch a Spy is real. It’s out there!
A good friend of mine named Phil walked into the Barnes & Noble in Eatontown, NJ (my first book signing event) and said, “You weren’t kidding!” Now that’s funny; he always makes me laugh.
Phil and I in NJ
I’ve also done presentations, and they’ve been very well-received. I’ve got a few more coming up and I’m looking forward to them.
Along those lines, I’m happy to attend book clubs via Zoom or live (in the lowcountry area); just let me know. I enjoy talking about the book, but what I love more is hearing what readers have to say.
The thing that thrills me the most is To Catch a Spy is getting GREAT reviews -- check out Goodreads (Click Here), Amazon (Click Here), and Barnes & Noble (Click Here) to see for yourself. Not a huge sample size, but readers who like it really like it! That gets me excited; after all, that’s what it’s all about.
But the best review came from a neighbor -- she stopped my wife on the street and mentioned how much she loved the book. Then she said, “He really knows women. How does he know how we think?”
Not surprisingly, that comment caught my wife by surprise, and she reminded her friend that the book is fiction. I think you all get the picture…
Book Signing Events
I’m happy to report that the first book signing events at Barnes & Noble in Eatontown, NJ was a huge success -- all the books on hand were sold and signed.
With two of my brothers, Walt and Mike
The others -- one at Barnes & Noble on Hilton Head Island, and one at their Savannah, GA store -- were very successful, too. In fact, other stores in the South Carolina area have asked for book signing events. I’m always happy to do them.
New “Readers” Feature on Website
I’ve added a new feature on my website; check out the ‘Readers’ page.
It’s an idea I got from my brother Paul and his wife, Sherri. Years ago, they owned an Italian Ice store in Spring Lake Heights, NJ. They started taking pictures of their customers and posting them at the front of the store.
Customers loved it! The photos helped them see they were part of a community.
So I copied their idea. If you go to my Readers page, you can post a picture of the book, of yourself with the book, etc. Just fill out the form, attach your photo (location is the only requirement), and it will magically appear.
One of the first readers
Well, not magically -- our son John uploads them. I can’t handle that yet, so it is magic to me.
The Next Book
My second book is well underway, and I wanted to tell you about it since it will be the basis for future newsletters.
It’s my second ‘To Catch a Thief’ story, and it takes place just after ‘To Catch a Spy.’ It includes the same cast of characters and takes place on the Caribbean island of Martinique. Each newsletter will be like the earlier ones for To Catch a Spy — sections will be John’s World, Francie’s World, Martinique, and My World.
Martinique
It’ll be lots of fun; I love researching and sharing different time periods and cultures.