Posts Tagged ‘book launch’

A bit more about the entire “book launch” weekend, which in Gettysburg was the “Remembrance Day” weekend.  There was so much in those few short days.  For instance, I met Richard Dreyfuss, who now has a copy of my new release, The Gettysburg Conspiracy. I told Richard one of my absolute favorite movies is What about Bob, and, of course, The Goodbye Girl.  He was very gracious and witty, which was not unexpected.

I had numerous book signings during the various Remembrance Day festivities.  I even had a book signing with Jeff Shaara, who also has a new book out about World War Two, entitled No Less Than Victory.  I’ve known Jeff since we had lunch a few years ago, and he gave me sage advice about writing historical fiction with characters who have foreign accents.  He is most generous with his celebrity and his advice has stood the test of time.

Today I am beginning the long-term promotional process for the new release, The Gettysburg Conspiracy, and am looking forward to it.

In case Ian’s fans are concerned, I’ve started researching and writing the third in the Ian Carlyle Series.  The outline and a few chapters are completed.  I can only tell you this one puts Ian on the trail of some very bad people in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada, in the 1870’s and 80’s.  The working title is The Ear Collector: A Western about the North-West Territories.

The process of writing fiction, especially historical fiction, is amazing, and I love it.  When I thought about the goals of this journal, one of the primary objectives was to discuss and create a dialogue about ‘the historical fiction writing experience.’  I’d be interested in your views.

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I still can’t get over the book launch for my new release. It was more than fun. Folks came expecting merely to see me signing books, but we gave them an entertaining time as well. The food was delicious, our ‘marketeers’ –  the great people from 3rd Idea here in Gettysburg –  organized it and their own Mak McKeehan acted as MC. My lovely wife, Rosemary, introduced the festivities.

There was a “Conspiracy Cocktail” for one and all present, which was received with gusto…and no, I can’t divulge the recipe – not yet. Keith Rocco, the acclaimed historical artist, was also there as my special guest. I’ve known Keith for many years, and he was kind enough to allow me to use his painting, The Last Stand, for my cover art. Bob O’Connor, a fellow Infinity Publishing author also joined us.

Decked out in my family’s plaid (the MacDonald Clan) to honor my main character, Ian Carlyle, a Scotsman of course, I read my novel’s first chapter. After all, they say if the first chapter doesn’t grab you, the rest of the book is likely to put you to sleep.

Ach, but my reading wasn’t the hit of the evening by far. Jim Getty has been portraying Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg for more than thirty years, and for many, me included, he is Lincoln in voice, dress, and demeanor. He was kind enough to read a very poignant portion of my book in which Lincoln speaks with great compassion to a severely wounded soldier. He read it as Lincoln, in first person. Where it would read Lincoln said, _____ – he would say “I said.” The audience was in stunned silent, listening to his every word, taking themselves back in time. For me to hear my words read like that was electrifying.

Will Hutchison

I have so much to talk about right now. In the last several months I’ve published two books, my first non-fiction history and photography book, ‘Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War,’ and the sequel to my first historical fiction novel. My first novel was ‘Follow Me to Glory,’ about a young Scottish nobleman coming of age as a man and an officer in the Crimean War. The sequel, ‘The Gettysburg Conspiracy,’ takes this same officer, Ian Carlyle, into the American Civil War as a British observer, who then becomes involved against his will in a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. I won’t bore you with details, but if you want to know more I invite you to visit my web site at www.willhutchison.com.

The book launch for The Gettysburg Conspiracy was on the evening of 20 November 2009, at the Majestic Theater in Gettysburg. It was part of Americas’ Arts “Hear, See, Now Event,” and was called “Cocktails, Conversation, and Conspiracy.” It was sold out, and I believe the folks attending had a grand time – I know I did.

Crimean Memories

Follow Me to Glory - 1st in the Ian Carlyle Series

The Gettysburg Conspiracy - 2nd in the Ian Carlyle Series