Newsletter 08/13 2

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First, some good news: I’ve finished my latest novel, The Quest, and it will be published September 17 by Center Street. will also be available as an e-book, and in audio narrated by Scott Brick. You can check it out online and pre-order now if you’d like.

Also, you can read the first two chapters of The Quest (for free) by clicking here.

What is The Quest about? It is about 460 pages long. Actually, it is about a search for the Holy Grail, set in Ethiopia during the Marxist revolution of 1974. Action, adventure, love, war, and sex. Think Indiana Jones meets Doctor Zhivago.

Also some good news on the movie front: we’re close to a deal to make Plum Island into a TV series. The screenplay is being written by Ron Bass who is one of the best writers in the business, and Aaron Eckhart is interested in playing John Corey. More on this when the deal is finalized. Meanwhile, if you haven’t read Plum Island, this a good time to do that. It’s a great summer read.

I’m now beginning work on the next John Corey book. So far I have no title, no plot, no setting, and no cast of characters. But I’m making good progress.

I’ve seen the TV documentary about the crash of TWA Flight 800, and I found it interesting. I don’t agree with all of it, but the documentary makes a good case that the TWA Flight 800 crash was not the result of a mechanical malfunction, which was the offical conclusion. This TV documentary concludes that the Boeing 747 with 230 people on board was brought down by a missile. So if you haven’t read Night Fall or would like to read it again, this is a good time to do it and see if my novel and the documentary share the same theories.

I’m doing a publicity tour for The Quest and I’ll be posting my appearances on my website. Hope to see you at one of these events which are in the process of being scheduled.

Also, my last book, The Panther, which was published in October last year, is available on August 6 as a trade paperback. If you haven’t read The Panther, this is a good format at a great price, and suitable for the beach, the pool, or the backyard.

The National Security Agency informs me that not only are people buying my books this summer, but they are also talking about them on their cell phones and landlines, and writing about them on the Internet. Thanks to all of you — and we know who you are — who’ve made my books part of your summer.

Have a great August and Labor Day weekend.

 

Newsletter 08/13

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This is my second Newsletter for August, so we’ll call this August Newsletter II.

As I said in my August Newsletter I, I finished my latest novel, The Quest, which will be published September 17, by Center Street. While I was writing day and night, I didn’t have time to look at my website email, but my assistant just printed out my emails going back to March and put them on my desk. Holy mackerel! There are over a thousand letters! I finally finished reading them all and I want to thank everyone (well, almost everyone) who wrote.

Many of those letter writers felt compelled to correct three factual errors I made in The Panther:

1) Dover Air Force Base is in Delaware, not Maryland.
2) Silver Spring, Maryland is not Silver Springs.
3) Ben’s Kosher Deli (or any kosher deli) would not serve cream cheese, or any dairy product, if they also serve meat.

I’ve been getting letters correcting these errors since The Panther was published in October, 2012, and I’m up to about five hundred letters by now. So I get it. Really. But thanks for letting me know.

I can blame the copy editor for the first two errors, but I’ll take the rap. As for the kosher deli mistake, I’ve eaten in enough kosher establishments to have known this, but I was hungry for a bagel and cream cheese when I wrote that scene, so that might explain my mental lapse.

I’ve corrected these three factual errors in the trade paperback edition of The Panther which was published on August 6. Buy a copy and see the corrections.

Other corrections had to do with grammar, but in every case the grammar referred to was in dialogue. My characters are not all Harvard grads, and they speak the way most people speak, which is not always grammatical. I assure you, the author knows the difference between who and whom, but my characters sometimes do not.

In any case, I want to thank everyone who wrote, not only about The Panther, but also about my other books. Many of the letters were quite moving, especially the ones about Word of Honor and Up Country, my two Vietnam novels, and also about Night Fall which deals with the TWA 800 crash. I wish I could reply to everyone individually but that’s not possible, so please accept this Newsletter as a reply and as a thank you for taking the time to write.

Just to remind everyone, the first two chapters of The Quest are available by clicking here, and I’d like to hear from you after you’ve read them. The story begins with a Catholic priest from Silver Spring, Maryland, recently arrived from Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, sitting in his prison cell eating a bagel with nothing on it. There is a knock on his cell door and he asks, “Whom is there?” Or should he have said, “Who is there?” Read The Quest and email me your comments and corrections for the paperback edition.

Enjoy the waning days of summer.

Newsletter 09/13

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I am happy to announce that my latest book, The Quest, was published on Tuesday, September 17. As I’ve mentioned, most hardcover novels are published on a Tuesday. Why? Think of it as the starting gate in a horse race — about a dozen major novels line up in the gates on Tuesday, a gun is fired, and the announcer shouts, “They’re off! The Quest is out in front, followed by…” Well, I’m not saying who else is in the race, but let’s say The Quest has some stiff competition.

To further confuse the race, some books from the previous weeks are still on the track, jockeying for position. There are only a limited number of bestselling positions and it can get ugly.

Having said that, all authors are truly collegial and we wish each other well. We don’t, however, wish to be beaten.

The fall season tends to be crowded with big-name authors on the run-up to the holidays, and this is good for readers who have a lot of excellent choices. I urge you, my loyal fans, to put your money on The Quest.

The Quest is available in hardcover through your favorite online retailer, and also as an ebook and an audio download. The audio CD will be available shortly. There was a slight problem at the CD factory; they mixed up The Quest CD labels with the musical score from Mary Poppins. We’re getting it straightened out.

The audio is read by Scott Brick who is the narrator for all my John Corey books, and though I haven’t heard it yet, the people in the recording studio said it sounded great. Better than Mary Poppins.

What is The Quest about? It has been described as Indiana Jones meets The Da Vinci Code. Lots of action, romance, and mystery. I think this is one of my best books and I hope you agree.

Don’t forget, you can read the first two chapters of The Quest, for free, by clicking here.

Early sales of The Quest have been excellent and I thank you all for your continuing support.

Write to me through my website mailbox and let me know how you liked The Quest.

Newsletter 10/13

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My latest novel, The Quest, was published on September 17 and debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list at #2. Number 1 was The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks, my stable mate at Grand Central Publishing. Congratulations, Nick.

The Quest is available in hardcover through your favorite bookstore, or your online retailer. It is also available as an eBook and audio download. The unabridged audio CD will be available on November 5. The audio is read by Scott Brick who is the narrator for all my John Corey books, and Scott does a great job of bringing the story alive for those who can’t or won’t read. Let Scott read it for you.

For those who do read, you can read the first two chapters of The Quest for free by clicking here. You can read the rest of the book by buying it.

Some good news: Plum Island, the first John Corey novel, will be a cable TV series in 2014. Ron Bass, one of the best screenwriters in Hollywood, will develop the script, and Aaron Eckhart is still interested in playing the role of John Corey. My role is to accept the check, say “thank you,” and get to the bank. More details as they become available.

I’ve been on a five-week publicity trip to promote The Quest, and I’ve done lots of radio, TV, print interviews, and book signings. This is the part of being an author that I really love. Really. Well, sometimes.

I am of the belief that authors should be read and not seen. But over the years, I’ve come to realize that it’s good to get out and meet the people who read my books. If you’re one of those people, thanks for coming to the event and thanks for your kind comments. If you took pictures, email them to me here with a caption. Thanks.

At one of the events, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, I was presented with a commission signed by the governor of Kentucky, making me an honorary Kentucky Colonel. Thank you, Governor Steven L. Beshear and to the staff at the Warren County Public Library for arranging this very special honor. As I said at the presentation, “I left the army as a lieutenant, and now I’m a colonel.” When one is made an honorary Kentucky Colonel, one is obliged to drink a bit of Kentucky bourbon at the presentation, which I was happy to do.

Thanks, too, to the many veterans and active-duty military personnel who showed up at all my book signings. Welcome home and thanks for your service.

At one of my signings, at Books & Books in Miami, two guys from my platoon in Vietnam showed up which was wonderful. I introduced these men to the crowd and they got a big round of applause. Thanks for coming, guys.

Now that my publicity tour is almost finished, I can get back to writing. My next novel sees the return of John Corey and his wife Kate Mayfield, who continue to do battle against the forces of evil. That’s right, they’re taking on the United States Congress. Just kidding.

On a more serious note, I want to mention the recent deaths of three literary giants: Vince Flynn, Tom Clancy, and Elmore Leonard. I knew Vince best of all, and I’ll miss our email exchanges and our radio chats. My condolences to their families.

On a happier note, I just attended my son Alex’s wedding. His bride, Dagmar, like Alex is in the film business and I wish them both a lifelong love story.

My good pal Jeanine Pirro has written a second book in the Dani Fox series, titled, Clever Fox. Jeanine’s debut novel, Sly Fox was a great read and Clever Fox is even greater. Read the Foxes. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks again to everyone who bought The Quest and to everyone who came to my signings. There are a few more scheduled events in the New York area, and you can check them out by clicking here. Hope to see you there.

Newsletter 11/13

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My latest novel, The Quest, continues to sell well, thanks to all of you. The unabridged audio CD is now available for those, like me, who prefer to be read to. I find that I can multi-task while I’m listening to an audiobook. I sometimes watch TV or read another book. Try it.

To remind everyone, you can read the first two chapters of The Quest by clicking here. On page 13 there is the beginning of a nude bathing scene in a spa pool. Enjoy.

My publicity tour for The Quest is over, and I had fun meeting my readers at talks and book signings. I signed a few thousand copies of The Quest, and hundreds of copies of my older books that people brought to the signings. I even signed other authors’ books. Why not?

The final details of the Plum Island cable TV deal are being worked out, and as soon as I have more information about the multi-part series I will announce it here.

I’m now working on my next book which will feature John Corey, former NYPD detective now working in the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force. John has transferred out of the Mideast terrorism unit and is now tracking Russian spies in America. The Russians, as John observes, are a more formidable enemy and they are far more technologically advanced than Mideast terrorists. John’s wife, FBI Special Agent, Kate Mayfield, remains in the Mideast section so they don’t see much of each other, making for a happier marriage. Just kidding.

As I do on every Veterans Day, I got together for drinks and dinner with a bunch of guys who all served in Vietnam. We don’t tell war stories — most veterans don’t — but we do toast those who did not make it home. Then we celebrate life. It was a good dinner.

Thanksgiving is upon us, and this is a good time to pause and reflect on all the things that we have to be thankful for, including the men and women in our armed forces, national security services, local police forces, and first responders who protect us every day, including holidays.

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Newsletter 12/13

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My latest novel, The Quest, has a nice Christmas scene, set in Rome, making it a great holiday gift. And what could be better than an autographed book for Christmas or the New Year? The best and fastest way to get The Quest (or any of my books) autographed is to just sign my name. Who’s gonna know? I mean, you sign Santa’s name on gift tags for your kids. Right? Same thing.

My seven-year-old is into Elf on the Shelf, and if you know about this, you know that you’re supposed to move this stupid stuffed elf to a different location every night after the kid goes to bed. Why? Because the elf flies back to the North Pole every night and tells Santa if the kid has been naughty or nice that day, then flies back to your house and sits on a different shelf or someplace and watches the kid. I think this is creepy. No one likes a rat fink, but the kids seem to love it. It’s like Big Brother watching you all day. Like the Thought Police. Some nights I feel like putting the elf in the toaster oven. The people who invented this are making a fortune. Wish I’d thought of it.

Anyway, it’s that time of year again, when I switch from Scotch to Bourbon Manhattans with a maraschino cherry. Try it. Gives you a nice holiday glow.

On a more serious note, this is the time to remember Christmases past, and remember those who are no longer with us. The holiday season can be very stressful, but we remember the good things, the coming together of friends and family, and the promise of Christmas: peace on earth, good will toward men.

And this is a time to remember the men and women in our armed forces who are serving all over the world, away from home and loved ones.

May you all have a children’s Christmas of joy and wonder, and may you look forward to a New Year of peace, health, and happiness.

I leave you with one of my favorite quotes, from King George VI in his Christmas message to the British people during the darkest days of World War II:

‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.” And he replied, “Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Newsletter 03/14

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Thanks to everyone who bought my latest, The Quest, which was released in September last year and is still available from your Internet retailer and as an eBook. Also, your bookstore can order the hardcover if they’ve sold out. The Quest is also available as an audio CD or download. And don’t forget, you can get Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 free on my website.

I have just about finalized my deal with Lionsgate Productions for a cable TV series of Plum Island, featuring John Corey, NYPD. The script for the pilot is underway, and Aaron Eckhart is still in line to play John Corey. Everyone associated with the project is very excited about this series and if all goes well (which it always does in Hollywood) the first episode will air this fall. Stay tuned for more updates in my next Newsletter.

You and my agent and my publisher will be happy to know that I’m hard at work on my next John Corey novel. Originally I said the book would be set in Afghanistan, but Afghanistan really sucks and no one wants to read about that place. Therefore, I’ve switched the venue to New York City and the Hamptons on Long Island. John Corey has taken a new job with the Feds, and he is on a special surveillance team that keeps an eye on foreign U.N. delegates in New York. Corey’s assignment is to follow the Russians, who he finds more interesting and challenging than Islamic terrorists. The title of the book is A Quiet End, and you’ll see why I’ve picked this title when you read the book.

Saint Patrick’s Day is coming up, and one of my books, Cathedral, is set on St. Patrick’s Day in New York City, in and around St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The book captures the joy, enthusiasm, and energy of the parade and the festivities as the whole city has a couple of drinks and makes merry. Then along comes the Irish Republican Army with plans of their own.

I was recently invited to breakfast by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. I was reluctant to accept the Cardinal’s kind invitation because I imagined that His Eminence did not find my novel, Cathedral, particularly pleasing, though in his letter to me he said he did. A trap? But recalling my Catholic upbringing, and not knowing how to say “I’m busy” to a Prince of the Church, I presented myself at the door of the Archbishop’s residence at the appointed early hour.

Well, to make a long story short, Cardinal Dolan actually did enjoy Cathedral, which was a relief. Cardinal Dolan is an extremely affable and well-read man and we discussed books over lox and eggs. Then we discussed his restoration program for St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It seems that the beautiful and stately Gothic cathedral on Fifth Avenue is in dire need of repairs. About $170 million worth, to be exact. Cardinal Dolan is very enthused about this restoration program, and I assured him I was as well. Unfortunately, as I explained, I’d left my checkbook in my other tattered tweed jacket.

Cardinal Dolan, as everyone knows who has met him, has a great sense of humor along with a persuasive manner and he laughed. To cut to the chase, I pledged my future royalties from my novel, Cathedral, to the St. Patrick’s Restoration Program.

Cardinal Dolan was pleased, and I left his dining room with a light heart and a lighter wallet. But I also felt that since I’d profited by expropriating the cathedral for my book that me giving future profits to the cathedral from Cathedral had a sort of symmetry, and perhaps symbolism. I also felt that I now had a better shot at salvation and forgiveness, and perhaps a place among the heavenly host.

As Cardinal Dolan says, this worthwhile project is ecumenical, and the fund has received thousands of donations from people of all faiths, including avowed atheists who love the landmark building for its art and history.

If you’d like to join me in helping restore this national landmark, please click here.

Assuming I won’t be joining the heavenly host soon, my next Newsletter will be post-St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ll report on my St. Patrick’s Day activities in New York City.

Think Spring.

Newsletter 04/14

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Spring has finally arrived and I can already feel the return of global warming. It seems to happen every April. Unless you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed and the water in the toilet bowl swirls counterclockwise. It’s worth a trip to Australia to see this.

The Panther paperback has hit the shelves this month, and The Quest trade paperback is coming out June 24th, and can be pre-ordered now. As always, all of my books are available as e-books, audio CDs, or audio downloads.

Also, all of my novels would make great Easter basket stuffers. They’re sugar-free and gluten-free, and are made from only high-fiber paper. Best of all, no trees were cut down to produce the e-books.

On another subject, I was invited by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, to attend Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on St. Patrick’s Day. So, with my wife and seven-year-old son, we arrived at St. Pat’s at 7:30am and joined the green-accessorized crowd streaming into the Cathedral.

The Cathedral is undergoing a complete restoration and it is scaffolded inside and out, which assured me that the ceiling would not fall on my head as it has on past occasions when I entered a church.

Anyway, it was a beautiful and moving Mass, and the speakers paid tribute to the Irish immigrants who have contributed so much to this country.

After Mass, we went to the Cardinal’s residence for a light breakfast, then out to the steps of the Cathedral to view the parade on Fifth Avenue.

It was a very cold day, and I was reminded of St. Patrick’s Days long ago when I would make sure I was properly fortified with one of those fine products that the Irish have given to America. And I don’t mean Aran sweaters. But on this occasion, with my wife and young son in attendance, and with the Cardinal close by, I left the flask home and kept warm in the glow of the Saint’s Feast Day.

Afterwards, we returned to the Cardinal’s residence for lunch where Irish beer was being served. Halleluiah!

At lunch, I ran into my good friend, Mary Higgins Clark, and her delightful husband, John Conheeney. Mary has been a past Grand Marshall of the parade, and we discussed the fact that I could never be Grand Marshall because I have no Irish blood, notwithstanding the Guinness in my bloodstream.

If you’d like to make a donation to the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Restoration Fund, please click here.

Also, I should mention that if you buy a copy of my novel, Cathedral, all the royalties I would normally receive go to the Restoration Fund.

The Plum Island TV project continues on track, and I’ve just learned that CBS-TV is interested in airing the series. This is good news in regard to the size of the viewing audience which is much larger on broadcast network TV than it is on cable.

The downside, of course, is that my character of John Corey will have to watch his salty language on broadcast television. There are other limitations on broadcast TV as we know, but on balance this would be a good medium for John because more people will tune in — including, hopefully, his ex-wife and the girlfriends who have dumped him. Living well is the best revenge.

My work-in-progress, titled A Quiet End, is coming along nicely. The book features John Corey, and this time the bad guys are the Russians. Note, I began this book long before Russia annexed Crimea. John, being a very smart man, predicts in this book that the Russians are potentially more of a threat to U.S. security than Islamic terrorists.

Publication of A Quiet End is scheduled for Spring 2015, but I will post a few opening chapters on this website in the next month or two. Hope you enjoy them.

That’s all the news for the month.

To my Christian friends and family, I wish you a happy and blessed Easter. And to my Jewish friends and family, who celebrate Passover, I wish you the same. And for those of mixed heritage, I’ve made up a new phrase — Happy East-Over!

See you next month.

Newsletter 05/14

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“April showers,” said my seven-year-old son, “bring May flowers.” He smiled and asked, “And what do May flowers bring?”

“Pilgrims.”

“No,” he replied, “allergies,” and he sneezed in my face.

Anyway, April also brought the publication of my book, The Panther, in paperback and I’m happy to report that it hit the bestseller lists.

On June 24, my book The Quest will be published in trade paperback, which is the large format edition. The Quest is a religious thriller, described as The Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones. Described by who? By me. You can read some of it by clicking here. Hope you enjoy it.

People often ask me what I read, and I usually reply that I only have time to read cereal boxes in the morning. The rest of the day I read emails. But I did read a very good book recently, titled Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta. Michael sent me an advance reading copy of the book and asked if I’d supply a blurb which I was happy to do, and which I quote here:

“Absolutely breathtaking, nail-biting, and edge-of-your-seat. Michael Koryta is a master at maintaining suspense and a hell of a good writer. Those Who Wish Me Dead is one of the best chase-and-escape novels you’ll read this year — or any other year. The pace never lets up.“

Those Who Wish Me Dead will be published in June by Little, Brown and you can pre-order from your favorite eBook or online retailer, or from your bookstore — while you’re ordering your copy of The Panther or The Quest. All great summer reads and not to be missed.

Plum Island continues its slow but sure progress as a cable TV miniseries. It took me 16 months to write the book and it’s taken 17 years to get it this close to being made into a TV series. And they say that book publishing moves slowly. More on this when the carrier pigeon arrives from LA with an update. It must be the three-hour time difference between New York and California.

We are about to celebrate Memorial Day, which to a lot of people is just a three-day weekend. But for those of us who’ve served, we know it as a solemn day to honor the men and women who’ve given their lives for their country. So please take a moment on May 26 to remember them.

See you in June.

Newsletter 06/14

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First, I want to thank James Patterson for his incredible generosity to small independent bookstores. Jim has created a multi-million dollar fund, out of his own money, to award grants to Indies in need of financial assistance. So far he’s given away over a million dollars, with more to follow. These grants are lifesavers to struggling bookstores across the country, and maybe there’s a bookstore in your community that has benefited from James Patterson’s generosity. So thanks, Jim. You done good.

And let me take this opportunity to urge everyone to be an angel and support their independent neighborhood bookstore.

On to another subject, my novel, The Quest will be published in trade paperback on June 24. The Quest is a religious thriller, described (by me) as The Da Vinci Code meets Indiana Jones. You can read some of The Quest by clicking here. Hope you enjoy the sample chapters and buy the whole book. The Quest is great beach or pool reading.

As you know, my book Plum Island, featuring John Corey, is in development as a ten-part cable TV series. The series producer, Mace Neufeld, was in New York this month and we had a chance to discuss the series over dinner. Mace, as you may also know, produced The General’s Daughter movie based on my book of the same name. So, what’s the latest? Well, Aaron Eckhart is playing Hamlet by still trying to decide: to be or not to be John Corey. We expect an answer by the end of the month. Everything else is on track, including the script. I told Mace Neufeld if Eckhart bows out, I’m available.

My work-in-progress, titled A Quiet End, featuring John Corey, is coming along nicely. Publication is set for spring 2015 — about the same time that Plum Island will be aired, if all goes well.

My book before The Quest, The Panther, was published in paperback in April, and it continues to sell well, thanks to everyone who forgot they read it in hardcover. If you haven’t read it — or aren’t sure — this is a good time to buy the paperback, or download it as an eBook or an audiobook. The Panther will give you some insights into all the news coming out of the Mideast. Plus, it has a better ending than the news.

Have a happy and safe Fourth. And thank a serviceman or woman for our freedom.