December 22, 2005: I received a very nice pre-Christmas gift yesterday when four boxes of Torch hard cover books arrived on my doorstep! If you'd like a signed copy, see "How to Order" link at left.
In my latest blog entry is a passage from the Christmas scene in Torch at the Maguire household. See "The Persistent Writer" link at left and click on the link to the blog on yahoo.com to read and reply.
December 11, 2005: I had a great book signing at the Pelham Public Library. Thanks to everybody who showed up, the other "world-famous" authors, and the library staff!
December 2, 2005: I'll be signing and selling copies of Soot and Sweat on Flesh at Pelham Public Library, 24 Village Green Road, Pelham, NH, from 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday, Dec. 10th.
Thanks to my friend, Christine, for writing about my book and web site on her blog on monster.com. See http://monster.typepad.com/monsterblog/ for the December 2nd entry. Christine can definitely write a book if she wants to -- as soon as she finds a subject that can captivate her as much as firefighting and group harmony captured mine. I believe in you!
November 18, 2005: I've finalized Torch and it is now available for sale! I'm very relieved. It has been a long time coming. Thank you to my readers for your patience! I hope you enjoy the sequel as much as I enjoyed writing it! See How to Order at left for more details on buying through xlibris.com. I should have signed copies available for sale at my Ebay store right around Christmas.
November 16, 2005: I've just started my first blog, The Persistent Writer, where you can comment on my first novel or discuss writing in general. I should be receiving the author copies of Torch any day now and I'm crossing my fingers that it's perfect and I can approve it immediately. When it's ready for purchase, I'll post the news here right away. Thanks for your patience! I know mine is about gone. :-}
November 3, 2005: I just received an email saying that we need to order hard cover books by November 10th or we won't have them in time for Christmas! That's a shock to me. How can I order if I haven't approved the book? I've emailed my author rep to see if there isn't any way I can approve this book fast and not wait for the author copy to arrive. It's essentially done and final. Sigh. So much waiting!
October 23, 2005: Okay, good news. I've approved Torch again and should receive an author copy within 3 weeks, hopefully before Thanksgiving. Then, if all looks good, it will be available for sale. It took a while to get it approved because I've been on vacation and have had limited email contact.
October 9, 2005: There's a slight setback in the publishing schedule. I found a major mistake inside Torch that I had to fix (plus the cover needs to be corrected), so it will be 20 business days before I receive another author copy and hopefully finally approve it. Torch will thus probably not be available until November 2005. I apologize for the delay. It'll still make a great Christmas present, I promise!
October 1, 2005: Great News! After many weeks of waiting, I've finally received the author copies of Torch: The Continuing Adventures of Firefighter Bette Maguire. Now I have to review them and approve them before they're available for sale. I see a small problem on the hard back's cover that I will have to fix. Sigh. But the rest of both SC and HC look great! I am so relieved they're here!
September 30, 2005: Thanks for coming out to the "Meet the Authors" night at the Nashua Public Library. I met a lot of great readers and authors. We discussed the fascinating publishing world and the mysterious process of writing a book.
September 25, 2005: Thanks for coming out to Nashua to see me at the yard sale. I met a lot of nice people. In other news, I'll be holding a free raffle for my first book, Soot and Sweat on Flesh, at the "Meet the Authors" night at the Nashua, NH, Public Library on Thurs., Sept. 29th from 7 to 9 pm. The library's address is: 2 Court Street, Nashua, NH; ph (603) 589-4600. Free parking available. P.S. Still no author copy of Torch yet from publisher, so I can't give it a final proof, so it can't be put on sale.
September 24, 2005: Here I am at the book signing today. Thanks, Barbara, for the photo!
September 22, 2005: I'll be selling and signing copies of Soot and Sweat on Flesh at my company's yard sale to benefit the Courage and Valor Foundation on Sat., Sept. 24th, at 98 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, NH, from 8 to 11:30 am, and also at the Nashua, NH, Public Library on Thurs., Sept. 29th from 7 to 9 pm. Any questions, please let me know!
October 23, 2005: Okay, good news. I've approved Torch again and should receive an author copy within 3 weeks, hopefully before Thanksgiving. Then, if all looks good, it will be available for sale. It took a while to get it approved because I've been on vacation and have had limited email contact.
09/05/05: I'll be selling and signing copies of Soot and Sweat on Flesh at my company's yard sale to benefit the Courage and Valor Foundation on Sat., Sept. 24th, at 98 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, NH, from 9 to noon, and also at the Nashua, NH, Public Library on Thurs., Sept. 29th from 7 to 9 pm. Any questions, please let me know!
08/03/05: I've been invited to do a group book signing at the Nashua Public Library, Nashua, NH, in late September. I'll have Soot and Sweat on Flesh books to sign and sell there. If Torch is out by then, I'll bring some copies of that as well. The public is welcome.
5/30/05: I've found a beautiful Cairns helmet to put on the book cover. It's a little beat up, but I like it that way. See it below sitting on my desk:
Of course, I may use something totally different, but this looks very good with a background of fire.
1/05/05: Rivier College has printed a short burst of information about my book. See page 40 (3rd to last page)at this link. Thanks Rivier, my alma mater for my masters degree!
11/01/04: The first draft of the sequel has been completed on schedule. I'm working on the second draft now and am happy it is turning out well. If things go as planned, the book should be available in fall of 2005.
8/3/2004: The publication of my first book was noted in Stonehill College's Summer Alumni Magazine. I am a proud graduate of the Class of 1989...now let's see...that would make me how old?...15-year Reunion this year. How time flies...
7/25/2004: Soot and Sweat on Flesh has been featured in the ASBPE web site bookstore. Click on the "Bookstore" on the home page's left menu bar. ASBPE stands for the American Society of Business Publication Editors, of which I am a member. Thanks!
7/7/2004: Soot and Sweat on Flesh takes place in the fictional city of Webster, NH, population 90,000. However, there is also a real Webster, NH, population 1500. I thought you might like to see a few photos of this small hilly town, which does not remotely resemble its namesake in the book. In the first row is the Webster Town Hall; then the one fire house; and two views (north and south) of the Blackwater River, which runs through the town and apparently causes flooding problems during certain times of the year. In the second row is a far-away look at the river's dam, plus a couple of warning signs, and the Webster Elementary School, across from the town hall on Route 127.
5/24/2004: I've posted Chapter 1 on the web site! Now you can read both the Prologue and First Chapter under "FAQ" at left! Enjoy! Send me your comments!
4/30/2004:The book signing at Canton Hearts and Stars Bookshop was a great success! Thanks to all who showed up! I enjoyed seeing old friends and family. A bunch of Ernies were bought; donation to be sent shortly. See story; copyright Canton Citizen 2004.
4/27/2004: FIREMAN ERNIE TO THE RESCUE!
At my Canton, MA, book signing on April 29th, we will be selling miniature Ernie PVC figures to benefit the Canton Fire Department. My illustrator-brother will be there to decorate as requested -- with initials, numbers, you name it. Ernie is part of the famous Sesame Street duo, Ernie and Bert. If you can't make it to the book signing and would still like to contribute, please let me know. An Ernie can be mailed to you!
4/23/2004: The Pelham-Windham News newspaper has written a short article on me in today's edition. Thanks for the write-up! The Pelham fire department needs our support. Apparently, they are renovating their fire station themselves, which must be a lot of work.
The information on whom to call is incorrect, though. The lady listed in the newspaper article has nothing to do with the book. I'm not sure what went wrong there.
4/16/2004: A hearty thanks to the two Pelham firefighters who got me to the hospital afer a brief, but severe, bleeding spell. Very professional. Thanks to the whole team: Lt. Midgley, Mr. Ryan, and Mr. Farwell!
4/15/2004:April 29th book signing listed in Canton Citizen. Thanks!
4/3/2004: Today, I had a wonderful book signing here at the house with family and friends. Oh, and 1400 Sesame Street monsters...also part of the family. My brother Mark, the illustrator, showed up and displayed his talent with all things art. Here is a photo of me and one of my brother:
GREAT NEWS! Definite book signing at Hearts & Stars Bookshop, Canton, MA, on April 29th from 7 to 9 pm. Come by and purchase the book and have it signed by the author! Hearts & Stars is located at the Village Shoppes #560, 95 Washington Street, tel: 781-821-1515, e-mail: hsbookshop@aol.com
2/1/2004: Possible book signing arranged in Canton, MA, on April 29. More information to come soon.
1/31/2004: Just heard that I may have made my first international sales to my cousins in Italy. Grazie, cugini!
1/25/2004: I have heard that the first copies have been bought by a non-family member. Thanks for your support, oh wonderful Cantonite!
1/23/2004: After months of anxious waiting, Soot and Sweat on Flesh, a flesh-and-blood novel by Julie MacShane, is finally available at Xlibris, an on-line bookstore. Go to "How to Order" on my home page or click right here, the book's Xlibris web site. You can also order by phone at 888-795-4274 or 215-923-4686.
Production News from Soot and Sweat on Flesh from Oct. 2003-Jan. 2004
