Author e-blast from Stephen Puleo

February, 2024

My Latest Updates

and My Thanks to You!

Greetings loyal readers, and I hope 2024 is off to a good start for you!

This is my first newsletter of the year and it leads off with information on my upcoming book, THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union (publication date: April 23!). It contains other items as well, but it is a little shorter than usual. That's because I'll be sending another newsletter to you in April, just before the new book's publication, which will focus on additional "TGA" news, including my busy Spring speaking season to promote the new book

In this issue, you'll also read about a special ebook promotion of my most recent book, Voyage of Mercy, some special Dark TIde (Great Boston molasses flood) projects I've worked on, support I've received from book clubs, a couple of special events coming up in March, and -- a regular feature -- a list of books (besides mine!) that I think you'll enjoy.

I want to express my gratitude to you for your interest, loyalty, encouragement, and support. I'm enormously grateful that you are members of my team. Your direct emails to me at spuleo@aol.com (note that Google and other domain marketing rules required that Constant Contact send this newsletter from a slightly different address, but you can still reach me at mine!), plus your Facebook and Instagram responses, also give me a chance to do what I like best in my author life -- engaging and communicating with you. Knowing you're "out there" inspires me every day.

In addition, we continue to make numerous updates to my Website that I hope will keep it fresh and make it more informative for you. Please check my site regularly to see updated events, content, and photos. Let me know how we're doing and if there's anything else you'd like to see on stephenpuleo.com. We have launched our new section on The Great Abolitionis t , so please have a look. It contains excerpts, book club study questions, pre-publication reviews, and more (and we'll be adding new content to that as time goes on).

I welcome your feedback. I hear from so many of you after these newsletters go out and I love it!

Happy reading and thanks again for your support!

Latest News on My Eighth book, The Great Abolitionist, in Anticipation of April 23 Publication Date!

I enjoy having you follow along with the different stages of the new book's publication as we count down to the release of The Great Abolitionist. In my last issue, I shared with you some wonderful blurbs I received from authors and historians, and a great pre-publication "starred review" from Kirkus Reviews that I hope is a good omen! Among other things, Kirkus called The Great Abolitionist "a wonderfully written book about a true American freedom fighter."

Here, I wanted to share with you the beautiful dust-jacket design (the back cover includes several of the blurbs I mentioned), and the bound galleys that will be sent to reviewers and other media contacts.

Here's a look at the full dust jacket...

And the bound galleys...

It's always an exciting day to receive bound galleys of a new book from your publisher! These advance reader copies (softbound versions) of THE GREAT ABOLITIONIST are being sent to reviewers and media sources in anticipation of the book's (hardcover) release on April 23, with the dust-jacket shown here.

If you missed my last newsletter (or if you need a quick review), check out my publisher's write-up on The Great Abolitionist.

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Also, Goodreads is offering a giveaway contest for The Great Abolitionist for the rest of February. You can go here to enter to win your free copy!

If You're an e-book Reader, My Voyage of Mercy is Available for $2.99 Across All e-book Retailers

Through the End of February!

I’m thrilled to announce that my book, Voyage of Mercy, is available on e-book through the end of February for only $2.99 from your favorite ebook retailer. You can order easily here (my publisher’s website) and simply identify your retailer.

I appreciate all of your great support for Voyage of Mercy, which was first published in 2020. This story -- about the Great Irish Famine and the remarkable American response to it – has enabled me to meet so many readers who have felt drawn to its message of hope, generosity, and goodwill amidst unfathomable despair. For those who have enjoyed Voyage of Mercy, and for those of you who will, you have my deepest thanks.

Looking Forward to Two Big March Events!

Abington (MA) selects The Caning as its 2024 Community Read and I'll be speaking there on March 14

And I'll make a St. Patrick's Day afternoon visit to Middleton (MA) to discuss Voyage of Mercy

I'm looking forward to two big events in March -- a great way to end the winter doldrums, connect with readers in two book-loving communities, and serve as a nice lead-in for a busy warm-weather speaking season! In addition, for my full list of events, you can always check my events page on my website.

First, I’m honored that the Town of Abington (MA) has selected my book, The Caning: The Assault That Drove America to Civil War, as its “Abington Reads” choice for 2024. As part of the program, I’ll be appearing at the Abington Public Library (600 Gliniewicz Way) on March 14 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the book (in the Copeland Room). It’s purely coincidental that Abington chose this book just a month or so before my full Sumner biography, The Great Abolitionist, is released, but this will be a good opportunity to get a preview of Charles Sumner the man, and the event that shocked the nation in 1856. You can find out more here. Just scroll down a bit and get the full info on this event!

I also appreciate the very kind write-up by the Abington Library, where I've appeared several times: “Stephen Puleo was our very first Abington Reads author in 2013 and we are thrilled that he is returning for the 2024 program. During Abington Reads members of the community all read the same book and then discuss it. We will learn new things about the past, each other and we will grow as a community. Be sure to borrow your copy of The Caning, and then plan on attending a book discussion and Stephen Puleo's Keynote address. Let's Talk!”

Thanks, Abington!

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From the South Shore of Boston to the North Shore! On March 17, St. Patrick's Day, I'll be visiting the Flint Public LIbrary in Middleton, MA to discuss my book, Voyage of Mercy. The event begins at 1:30 p.m.

This Sunday afternoon appearance is co-sponsored by the Flint Public Library and the North Shore Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). It is open to the public and free of charge.

I have spoken at AAUW-sponsored events before, and have always been so impressed with the organization's love of books and reading. Many AAUW members also belong to book discussion groups, several of which have honored me by reading my work.

You can find out a bit more about this event here. Hope to see you there for a spirited St. Patrick's Day discussion!

In addition, a few weeks prior to my appearance, the Abington Library's non-fiction bookclub will be discussing The Caning on Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m.

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My Thanks to "Book Buddies" and All Book Clubs!

As 2024 moves forward, and my upcoming book is about to be released, I'd like to once again give special thanks to the many book clubs that have been kind enough to read my work. The photo here shows members of a club from Boston's North Shore called "Book Buddies" at their holiday party after discussing my Voyage of Mercy. The club is made up of a wonderful group of current and former social workers who worked together at a local social services agency. The club has been together for 15 years, and meets every six weeks -- and they read all genres of books.

"We value our time together," said member Ellen Galligan, "and our meetings are filled with book discussions, other conversation, and beautiful supportive friendships."

Her description could be applied to virtually every other book club I've been associated with. Book club members are special people who love to read and who enjoy sharing their love of reading. Book clubs have supported me in a big way during my career as an author. And all book club members should know that I have a special section on my website for book clubs, which includes study questions for each of my books.

I salute "Book Buddies" and all the clubs that have honored me by selecting my books as their reading choice. Thanks to each and every one of them!

A Few Dark Tide Updates!

I Enjoyed my Appearance on "The Morning Show" (Newburyport, MA) to Discuss Dark Tide and the

Great Boston Molasses Flood...

I had a great time recently appearing on "The Morning Show," an interview format show in Greater Newburyport, MA, to talk about Dark Tide and the Great Boston Molasses Flood.

My thanks to host Mary Jacobsen for asking great questions during the 30-minute Zoom interview, and for offering me a chance at the end to talk about The Great Abolitionist!

"The Morning Show" airs locally on WJPB (96.3 FM), Channel 9, and on the YouTube channel on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. You can listen to the interview here or watch it here (about 25 minutes long).

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...I Also Zoomed about the Molasses Flood with

Sixth Graders In Eugene, Oregon!

I also enjoyed an interesting Zoom with the sixth-grade journalism class at the Kennedy Middle School in Eugene, Oregon to discuss the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 and my book, Dark Tide. These students really did their homework and asked great questions during our session! Thanks to Language Arts & Social Studies teacher Sarah Case for setting up the event, and to her students for an energetic discussion!

I make many appearances in schools (live and via Zoom) and always take inspiration from the curiosity and energy of students. You can visit the schools section of my website to learn more. Teachers or administrators who would like to book an appearance on one of my books, a general historic topic, or a writing workshop can reach me here.

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...And Was Thrilled to Assist Hingham (MA) High School Junior Tony Cicerone with His Impressive

History Day Project!

I was really impressed with the History Day Project developed by Tony Cicerone, a Hingham (MA) High School junior, who created a narrated video on the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919.

I think Tony did a wonderful job explaining the disaster, the court case that followed, the issues (immigration, anarchists, etc.) that surrounded the flood story, and the long-term impact of the flood. He also effectively meshed photos, images, and other sources that accompany his narration, and divides the video into easily digestible parts (with titles) that make it a pleasure to follow along. You can watch the video here (you should be able to access it with or without the Dropbox app/program). It's around nine minutes long, and also includes interview clips with me.

I have worked with many high school students on these types of projects and I think Tony's is among the finest I've seen. Congratulations, Tony!

Thanks to the Forbes House Museum in Milton, MA

for a Nice Shout-out!

I greatly appreciate the nice shout-out from the Forbes House Museum in its January newsletter. In her introductory column, Executive Director Heidi Vaughan pointed out that the house regularly gets visits from book groups after they've read my book, Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America's First Humanitarian Mission. Heidi also notes that I'll be visiting the house in June to discuss The Great Abolitionist.

Robert Bennet Forbes, one of the heroes of Voyage of Mercy, built the house in 1833 in Milton, MA. It's a great place to visit if you have the opportunity, with wonderful history, and -- as Heidi notes -- a terrific staff and tour guides. You can find out more about the Forbes House Museum here!

Thanks for Recommending My Books (and me) to Others!

I'm always so gratified when I hear from readers or organizations who start their emails with: "My friend suggested I read your book..." or "I know the person who organized your event at [fill in the appearance location], and she recommended that I contact you to speak to our group..."

For all the marketing strategies, and press releases, and reviews, this book / author business remains, at its core, a word-of-mouth endeavor. I want to thank all of you who have recommended one of my books to a friend or neighbor, suggested an organization have me as a guest speaker, urged a colleague to join my mailing list, or shared a social media post. These gestures are very much appreciated!

You can always contact me at spuleo@aol.com to set up a speaking appearance. If you're reading this, you're already on my mailing list, so I'd urge you to forward the newsletter to friends. They can join my list by either emailing me directly, or simply visiting my home page, scrolling down, and at the bottom right, fill in their email address and click the "GO" button (it's very easy).

Thanks again for spreading the word!

As Always, a Few Books (besides mine)

for Your Reading Pleasure..

Those of you who have received my e-blasts before know that I like to recommend nonfiction books (with an occasional fiction title thrown in, like this issue) from other authors that I think you'll enjoy. Many of you have let me know that you appreciate this, which I'm glad to hear. I love talking about books, so consider this our online conversation.

For previous books I've recommended, you can always go to my "What I'm Reading" section of my Website (this issue's selections will be added shortly).

My suggestions for this issue:

November 1942: An Intimate History of the Turning Point of WWII, by Peter Englund

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and my copy has the margin mark-ups, the underlinings, and the post-it notes to prove it! Englund takes a unique perspective in telling the story of what he argues is the "turning point month" of WWII (and it's hard to argue with him) -- rather than tell a 50,000-foot-view story on the epic nature of the month (Guadalcanal, North Africa, Stalingrad, progress on the atomic bomb, etc.), Englund focuses on individual people around the world and the experiences and hardships they faced. Consequently, there is no overarching narrative that stitches the whole story together -- the reader experiences the story along with the shop keeper in Leningrad, the mother in Shanghai, the Jewish worker at Treblinka, the woman factory worker in Savannah, Georgia, and all the others. None has any idea of what is happening to the other as they simply try to stay alive in and make sense of their own worlds. Somehow it all works! Englund took a similar approach in his World War I "intimate portrayal," called The Beauty and the Sorrow. You need to commit to this book (it's long and meaty), but you'll be glad you did!

Lincoln's God: How Faith Transformed a President and a Nation, by Joshua Zeitz

If you're thinking to yourself, "What else can I possibly learn about Abraham Lincoln?" think again. I marked this book up throughout too and learned a great deal! The story arc traces Lincoln's skepticism-to-near-evangelicalism about religion. First, he rejected his father's strict Calvinist rules and became almost agnostic as a result, keeping organized religion at arm's length and attending church only sporadically, even as a young man. But as he gets closer to and into the Presidency, and considers the issue of slavery, secession, and war, he evolves into a believer and harnesses religion to rally the nation -- first to arms and then to abolish slavery (the war, he told Americans, was divine retribution for the sin of slavery). Lincoln made these religious themes the focus of his most important writing and speeches -- the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and his memorable Second Inaugural. A "different" kind of Lincoln book, but one definitely worth reading.

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, by David Grann

I'll admit that I'm late in reading this book, and I'll also confess that it was the release of the movie that finally drove me to read it. What a story! Grann combines the history of the era (1920s and 1930s) with one of the most chilling crime conspiracies in American history -- the murder of wealthy members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma (who became so after oil was discovered under their land). As the death toll rises, the FBI steps in and its young director, J. Edgard Hoover, turns to a former Texas Ranger to infiltrate the conspirators and solve their crimes.

(Fiction Special): The Murder of Andrew Johnson, by Burt Solomon

I loved this book! But because it's fiction, I can't tell you too much about it for fear of giving too much away! Suffice to say that Solomon does a great job of spinning a mystery of President Andrew Johnson's "murder" (in reality, he was not), a whodunit with a whole host of potential killers. Solomon took a similar approach in his book, The Murder of Willie Lincoln (who wasn't murdered either), and I thoroughly enjoyed that too. What I like about this author is the way he weaves a fictional mystery around absolutely accurate history and real-life characters. For example, the person intent on solving the crime is none other than "current" newspaperman John Hay, formerly one of Abraham Lincoln's secretaries (the book takes place a decade after Lincoln's assassination) -- Hay, a real-life character working to solve a fictional crime. Great stuff! Enjoy!

I'm concluding my message the same way I began -- by offering my profound thanks to you for all of your encouragement and support.

Thanks for your attendance at my author appearances, your emails, your visits to my website, your responses to my social media posts, your book purchases, and your general well wishes.

I'm truly honored and grateful that you're on the "Puleo team" -- those of you who have been with me for the entire 20 years, and those who have been kind enough to join along the way!

Please continue to reach out with your opinions and suggestions.

With much gratitude,

Steve

www.stephenpuleo.com

www.facebook.com/stephenpuleoauthor

https://www.instagram.com/puleosteve

spuleo@aol.com