Newsletter 10/13

October 2013

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.

Sincerely,