Book Release Party . . . Finally!

“What a long, strange trip it’s been”

                        –Grateful Dead

In 1979, Iranian students, encouraged by fanatical cleric Ruhollah Khomeini, stormed the US Embassy in Tehran, grabbed 52 hostages, and held most of them for 444 days. President Jimmy Carter negotiated their release on his last day in office, and the entire nation sighed and quoted former President Gerald Ford, saying, “The long, national nightmare is over.”

While my struggle to get my first novel published hasn’t been as dramatic as that famous event, it certainly has lasted longer. But, at long last, it appears that my hostage situation is coming to an end. In any case, I am pleased to finally announce a celebration party for the release my novel, The Forest Primeval. For those in River Falls, you are invited to a party on Saturday, August 2, from 3:00 to 5:00 at the storm shelter in Hoffman Park, behind the baseball stadium. At 3:30, I will play a couple of songs and talk briefly. We will have cake, beer, wine, and soft drinks, and books will be available at a lower price than those available on the Written Dreams website.

I mentioned the Iran Hostage Crisis because that’s what I feel I have experienced in dealing with my publisher. I signed my contract with Written Dreams Publishing on August 31, 2022. My release party is scheduled for August 2, 2025. That’s 1066 days, for those counting at home. So, my book and I have been held hostage for longer than JFK was president, longer than the Spanish Civil War, and about twice as long as the marriage between Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett.

The saga began when I signed on (August 2022) with Written Dreams, a small, mom-and-pop publishing company from Green Bay that specialized in Wisconsin writers. It has been more like a Written Nightmare since then. They promised the release of the book in “just over a year.” Everything seemed to be in order, and, in spring of the following year, they even announced the “cover reveal,” with a release date scheduled for “Fall 2023.” The problems started when my editor’s family had health issues, and my book was ignored for many months. The next thing I saw was another press statement announcing that my novel would be released in “Summer 2024.” Many more months passed. Whenever I contacted her, I was assured that she was working on it and completion was imminent. None of this was true, and she didn’t actually begin editing the manuscript until November 2024. I completed my rewrites in two or three weeks, and my part was done in January of this year. Then . . . nothing.

(A brief aside which speaks to her ability as an editor. In writing this book, I was inspired by such authors as John Sandford (Lucas Davenport, Virgil Flowers), Elmore Leonard (Get Shorty, Justified), and Michael Connelly (Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer, Ballard), and I wrote my book as fitting into that genre of crime/suspense/mystery novels. Meanwhile, my editor/publisher kept pushing me to turn it into a Young Adult (YA) book because the main protagonist is a 15-year-old girl. While editing, my publisher expressed surprise and horror that the story included violence, and argued that the girl should never use violence to defend herself. I said, “Have you ever read Hunger Games, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, or seen The Game of Thrones? Those stories all have young, female protagonists who are violent heroines.” She finally agreed to produce the book the way I wrote it, but it all led me to believe that she had never read those sorts of books in her life and was absolutely the wrong person to edit this book.)

To spur her to action, I was again forced to harass her with calls, texts, and emails. Finally, I threatened to withdraw my book from her company. She called me right back, apologized profusely, and promised to have it completed by May 31. I no longer believed her, so I gave her an extra three weeks to finish the work, and we agreed on a “release date” of June 20. A short time later, I told her I was planning a book-signing party in late June. Her response was, “Do you plan to have books there?” I said, “That would seem to be a basic requirement for a book-signing event. That and a pen. Of course, I want books there.” She then informed me that it takes 3-4 weeks to have the books printed and shipped to me, so they wouldn’t reach me until late July. I inquired as to the meaning of the term “release date” if nothing was actually released, but she failed to respond to my sarcasm.

Thus, I am announcing this book release event without knowing for sure that the books will arrive before that date. Even though she has not honored a single one of her promises, I am taking a leap of faith here and hoping for the best. Anyone who lives close to River Falls is invited to this event and encouraged to bring their friends.

Meanwhile, I am still planning to have similar parties in Chicago and Nashville in the near future. I will keep everyone posted as to times, dates, and locations. I have also asked my beloved publisher when the book will be available on the Written Dreams website and when those who preordered the book can expect delivery. I have heard only crickets in response. I will send out that info as soon as I know something concrete.

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me in this lengthy process and I hope you enjoy the book.

46 thoughts on “Book Release Party . . . Finally!”

    1. Dan will be throwing a party at Bourbon Street on 115th sometime soon. Look forward to seeing you!

      1. Congratulations Jack. Uncle Ron and I will be at Bourbon street unless out of town or scheduling conflict!

        1. Great! BTW, our local campground is less than a mile away. Keep it in mind for Winona’s football season

  2. Jack, let us know when you will be in Chicago. Good luck with the first showing. Donna and Dave Gavin

  3. This is SO wonderful!!! We are so proud of you!! I can’t wait to order and read!

    Hugs and love,
    Kate (Pittman) Sayre

  4. Fingers crossed the books arrive on time. What a journey! Keep us posted on the Nashville date.

    1. Thanks! The Nashville party will probably be at Harpeth Hall. I hope your Brentwood Academy family will still be there

  5. I was starting to think that you made the whole thing up.
    Congratulations!

    1. Funny you should say that. My biggest concern was that my reputation was being destroyed and people would think I was lying!

  6. Lisa and I should be at the River Falls event. I’ll bring a copy of Mad Magazine for you to sign in case there are no books.

    1. Haha! There are probably several lines in the book that I stole from Alfred E. Neuman. Look forward to seeing you. While waiting for these damn books to arrive, I’ll be reciting the mantra, “What, me worry?”

  7. Jack, Congrats! Looking for to the signing event and reading your book. I’m especially looking forward to the part about the Dodge Dart.

    1. Thanks, Wheels. It’s been so long since I submitted the book that I can’t recall if the car I described as “a puke-brown Dodge Dart” is still in there or if it was a victim of editing. I’ve never seen another car with a manual transmission shifter on the column like yours.

  8. Congratulations! Jonathan and I are looking forward to your book signing in Nashville!
    Keep us posted and I will let Adelaide and your symphony buddies Debby and Don know, too, in hopes they can join in, too!
    All the best,
    Molly Morphett

    1. Thanks! It will probably be at Harpeth Hall. Every time I see Emma Stone or Ryan Gosling, I remember that night at the symphony and your generous gift.

  10. Congratulations, Jack! The life of a writer is not an easy one. You have pervsiked, and I couldn’t be more impressed. Hats off to you. Scottie

  11. Congratulations!! I can finally read the final edition. I’m so excited and happy for you.

    1. Thanks! Been thinking of you a lot as I am currently reading “The Viking Heart: How Scandinavians Conquered the World.” Say hi to Sweden and Mats

  13. Your editor needed an extension of 1,000 days? I think she might have been in my world history class a few years ago. Did she ever send you an attachment of your book but the document was blank? Then she cited some kind of tech issue? Just trying to figure out if it’s the same person. Let me know.

    1. I never tried that one. In grad school at Florida, though, I asked for an extension for a paper and promised to complete it by the end of the Christmas break. January arrived, and I still wasn’t finished. As I was getting my mail from the history office, someone said, “Hey Henderson, Dr. Adler’s looking for you. Something about a paper you owe him.” Wanting to avoid the prof at all costs, I took off running from the 4th-floor office. I zig-zagged through the building, taking hallways and stairs that I didn’t even know existed. I finally made it down to the ground floor and exited the building. I took two steps to the corner–and practically knocked Professor Adler over. I actually collided with the very man I was trying to avoid. Flustered, all I could say was, “Dr. Adler! I was just looking for you . . .”
      Good to hear from you. I think about you and your boys every time I see a newspaper story about youth hockey up here. And that’s every day!

  14. Congatulations, Jack!
    Looking forward to receiving and reading my copy. Hope to see you at a book signing in Chicago soon.

    1. The plan is to have the party at Bourbon Street on 115th. I’ll let you know when we finalize plans.

  15. Looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately, I can’t make it to your RF soirée. Trust me, only the wedding of my youngest daughter would keep me away. Have a belated good time!

    1. A daughter’s wedding trumps all other events. I trust you’ll be wearing a Viking headpiece, complete with horns, to the wedding. See you soon.

    1. Good to hear from you! I have picked up the guitar again and playing and writing every day. The plan is to play a few pertinent songs at the Wisconsin and Chicago events. Probably not in Nashville, though. Some of the people who might be there are “real” musicians, and I don’t want to embarrass myself.

  17. Would love to see you in Nashville. Hope you get books in time. Patti Simpson

  19. Holy cow, what a journey! Good for you for being so tenacious. Here’s hoping the books come through, and you have a fun and successful launch party! Can’t wait to read it!

  20. Keep us posted. Looking forward to reading the book and celebrating the author!

Comments are closed.