New Orleans Book Events

April 7, 2015

Hi, All!
     Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil is still selling very well, and I've been doing quite a few book events related to it.  Plus, I now know I'll be doing what I believe will be a really fun book tour in June.  Basically, I'll be retracing, in a way, John Fairfield's footsteps.  That is, I'll be doing book readings and events at many of the Underground Railroad depots/historic sites Fairfield used when he was helping slaves to their freedom. I can't wait!  I'll be posting the full itinerary soon, and if you are going to be in any of the areas at that time, please stop by and attend one of the events.  At each stop I'll be doing a special reading and "photo presentation" related to the story.
     This past week I spent some time in New Orleans and wanted to jot a few words about that.  The world of technology available to authors is simply incredible right now.  It is still difficult for me to wrap my head around this, but I was actually able to do one book event in N.O. while seated on a bench at Jackson Square, right outside of St. Louis Cathedral (with the Mississippi River only a short distance behind me).  The setting was incredibly beautiful -- and it was mid-80's and bright sunshine the whole time.  The truly amazing part to me was being able to use "Face-Time" on my I-Phone to link up to readers over a thousand miles away -- and hold an hour discussion!  Face-Time can now be linked to multiple computers, so authors can visit easily with audiences all over the country.  In addition, no longer is there a lag where a person's lips move and the sound follows several seconds later on.  At present, with the new applications, everything happens perfectly in "real time" for these sessions, which makes the experience positive for all.  I'm going to attach to this message two pictures.  The first is of the statue of Andrew Jackson, which is positioned right in the middle of Jackson Square and immediately in front of St. Louis Cathedral.  For the book event, I was seated just before the statue.  The second picture was taken over a thousand miles away from me by a few members of a group I was visiting with at the time about my book Inman's War (they were at Prairie).  In the picture, my image can be seen on one of their laptops (this was taken while we were having a Q&A session).  They could see me fine, and they looked like they were all right in front of me as we spoke!  Yes, the new technology is really something.  To think that this type of communication has become so simple and easy to use for authors and readers.  Amazing!
    One other quick note: I just finished the manuscript of another book.  Details will follow in the next post.  In the meantime, enjoy the spring weather -- and happy reading!

JSC

Best Seller.....again!

January 13, 2015
Hi, All!
    I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday season -- and that the new year has started off as you hoped it would.
     I'm posting today because I found out something that surprised me yesterday -- and made me mighty happy.  I was told Shell Games has once again landed on some Best Seller lists!  In the very "different and unpredictable" world of publishing, it is not always easy to know what is going on.  Shell Games was a runaway success when it was first published but, as is the case with most books, popularity eventually wanes.  Therefore, I was surprised, and positively giddy, when I received the following news yesterday afternoon:

Best Sellers Rank:  Shell Games -

         #74 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Regional U.S. > Midwest

                  #88 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People >  Social Activists

     I'm not sure why Shell Games is so popular once again.  I do know that many "history organizations" have discovered the book.  At the same time, biographies are the #1 selling category of books right now, and Shell Games definitely also falls into that category.
     Also, recently an incredibly talented designer, Mary Falchney, who owns and operates a company called "Fabfusions," created a line of purses "themed" around famous and important American women -- and she did a wonderful line of purses about the book and Pearl McGill; national sales of the purses, too, may be sparking interest.  I've recently had several people ask me where they can purchase the Shell Games/Pearl McGill purses.  There are several places, but the easiest for most people would be on ETSY.com, which is an amazing site for all sorts of wonderful items.  All one would have to do is go to the ETSY.com site and type in the name of the company, "Fabfusions," into the search box, and the purses should be in with the other items in that store.  In the meantime, I'll provide with this post pictures of a

couple of the purses so that all can see what they look like.  It's a genuine thrill for an author when a product is created related to his/her work, and I absolutely love what the designer did with the purses.
     Whatever is happening in terms of renewed interest in Shell Games, I'm thrilled.  It is one thing for an author to hear a book has hit Best Seller lists after it comes out; it is another thing entirely when the book suddenly pops back up in popularity again later on.  All in all, this is really great -- and I can't stop smiling today.  Ah, I do love the "different and unpredictable" world of publishing.....
     Another subject:  I'm closing in on finishing another book, but I'm not at liberty to say much about it yet.  My deadline for finishing the manuscript is later this spring, so I'll be posting information about it when I can.  I will say this much for now: I believe it will be of great interest to a HUGE number of people!  That is all I'll say at this time.
     Happy reading!
JSC

Happy Holidays to All!

Hi, All!
     Before I get to the purpose of this posting, I'd like to mention a very special group I visited with recently.  The "Ulysses S. Grant Camp of the Sons of Union Veterans" asked me to come to their Winter meeting to talk about Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil.  Ain't No Harm takes place mostly in the year 1856 -- and the Civil War started in 1861 -- so the topic of the book was of great interest to this group.  The members of the Ulysses S. Grant Camp group dedicate a great portion of their lives to helping preserve American history and heritage.  They also perform an incredible array of "good deeds" every year, ranging from visiting with veterans groups to making hospital visits to helping with dedications to helping preserve important monuments and battlefields.  As a matter of fact, they seem to be constantly busy -- and help so many people.  I'm attaching a picture of a few of the members of this amazing group.  The uniforms are absolutely stunning.
     I'm also writing today to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season.  The holiday season is a great time to sit back and reflect on past events and the possibilities of the upcoming year.  I'm grateful and thankful for so many things -- and wish all of you the very best of the holidays and a glorious New Year!
    Here's to a wonderful 2015 for all of us!

JSC
     

"Indies First" -- Part 2

Hi, All!
     Please forgive me, but I'm going to be a little "preachy" in this post.  Last Saturday was "Indies First" day, a day when authors donate their time to help out independent booksellers across the nation.  I mentioned in my last note that I was going to be helping out at Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Missouri.  I had an absolutely WONDERFUL time doing that -- and helped find homes for a pretty good grouping of books.  What I wanted to mention today, however, was just how glorious the atmosphere was in Left Bank Books on Saturday.  What I mean by that is this:  The independent booksellers truly are unique in how they serve their patrons (incredible personal attention and care).  The stores also have a marvelous "book smell" to them, a smell that all lovers of good books know.  They are "comfortable" and "slow paced" -- as it should be when we are 

browsing through shelves of books.  They also stock titles from smaller presses, a bonanza for those who like to dig in other territory than best-sellers and "recommended" major titles.  I think my experience Saturday can best be summed up by something I saw one of the staff members do when a customer asked for a specific book and where it could be found in the store.  Rather than just pointing the customer in the right direction, the staff member said, "I'll be happy to show you the way -- please follow me."  First, it was completely obvious that the staff member was, indeed, "happy" to do this for the customer.  Second, I followed their conversation, and the staff member not only got the customer to the shelf where the book was housed, but the staff member also made the time to tell the customer about half a dozen similar titles that might be of interest.  The staff member then stayed there until all of the customer's questions were answered.  After the staff member left to go back to the front of the store, the customer and I made eye contact.  I said, "This is a great store, isn't it?"  The customer, without missing a beat, replied, "No, it's a beautiful store!"  I just smiled..... because that was so true.
     So, I suppose the "moral" to my preaching this morning is that we should all treasure the independent booksellers and do all we can to support them.  I know it is a great temptation to order books from the gigantic e-retailers out there, and I "get" why people do that: they believe they will save a few dollars here and there (but that isn't always true!).  However, is a savings worth it if doing so leads to the demise of one of our greatest treasures?  I think not.  And, many have said to me over the course of time that they make orders for books on-line because that can be done from the home computer or via a smart-phone or similar device.  Today, most of the independent booksellers ALSO have the capability of ordering the SAME books for individuals by on-line means, and if that is done, many of the independents actually profit (not a huge amount, but at least somewhat) from helping customers do that.  In short, whatever we can do to protect and support the independents should be done.  We must keep our treasures prospering!
     I'm also going to attach below a couple of pictures of "Indies First" day at Left Bank Books.  It was so much fun for me to help these good folks find their next books to read.  Oh -- the young man in the picture informed me he is actually using my book Olivia's Story in his doctoral dissertation about issues of race in America!  That made my heart smile.
     I would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and wonderful holiday season --and a very Happy New Year.  And, as always, happy reading!
JSC

Indies First!!!

Hi, All!
    Thanks to the efforts of the fine author Sherman Alexie, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is now known as "Indies First" day.  On "Indies First" day, authors volunteer their time at independent bookstores all over the country.  We "mix-and-mingle" with customers shopping for books for themselves and for gifts for the holiday season.  The authors participate in this wonderful event because "brick and mortar" independent bookstores are one of our true treasures, and we'd all like to help support them in all ways possible.  In an era when more and more book sales are taking place via electronic means, we should all be helping the "brick and mortar" stores keep prospering and offering book lovers a glorious haven in which to browse books and visit with other readers.
    I've been asked to participate in "Indies First" at Left Bank Books in St. Louis, Missouri.  Left Bank Books is, truly, one of the finest independent booksellers in America.  It is located in downtown St. Louis in the Central West End district, just a rock throw from the historic Forest Park area.  In short, it is in a *perfect* location for lovers of books and history.  I'll attach a picture of the outside of Left Bank Books to this note.
    In addition to touting my own books with the customers, I've been asked to recommend a few other titles, especially titles of books I feel would make good holiday gifts.  I have to admit my list is rather skewed toward authors who are friends of mine and those I greatly admire, but ALL of these titles would be on my "must-read" list for the upcoming holidays and beyond.  Here are the titles I'll be talking about with customers at Left Bank Books on "Indies First" day, which this year is November 29:
**Of course, my new book, Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil.
**The Accursed, by Joyce Carol Oates (I believe this is her best yet).
**Blasphemy, by Sherman Alexie (a short story collection - and a darn fine one).
**T. C. Boyle Stories II, by T. C. Boyle (an "elegant" collection of short stories).
The Valley of Amazement, by Amy Tan (I also believe this to be her best story to date.  I actually like
     it better than Joy Luck Club).
**Gray Mountain, by John Grisham (a tad different from a master of interwoven scenes).
**Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand (and the movie comes out Christmas Day in most places).

     So, those are my "holiday suggestions" for folks.  If you haven't read these, definitely put them on your list!
      If you are in the area on "Indies First" day, please stop in Left Bank Books and say hi -- and help support our great independent booksellers!
    Happy reading!
JSC

Fun with book events!

Hi, All!
     Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil has really taken off, and I've been having a wonderful time at book events and signings.  I was fortunate to be on a National Public Radio program a few weeks back with one of their best hosts, Don Marsh.  Don is always so impressively prepared, and he asks the best questions of any interviewer I've ever worked with on the air.  Basically, I love that man - he is the best!  He'll probably be  horrified, but I just have to tell a funny story about what happened at the end of the program about the new book.  We were wrapping up the program, and Don said, "Again, we've been talking about Jeffrey Copeland's new book, Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil: The Life and Legend of John Fairfield, Abortionist for Hire."  The exact minute he used the word "Abortionist" instead of "Abolitionist," he knew he had made a slip -- and we both howled.  I can't recall exactly, but I "think" I said something like, "No, that is going to be my NEXT book!"  As soon as we were off the air, Don grinned, laughed, and then said, "Can't believe I just said that!"  Don *never* makes mistakes, so that made the situation just all that more funny to me -- and I laughed all the rest of the day.  Times like that are priceless.  I still chuckle to myself when I think of all those who tuned in late to the program and heard that other title.  What must they have thought!
     Last week I also did the "Live From Prairie Lights" program at Prairie Lights Books, in Iowa City, Iowa.  First of all, Prairie Lights is one of America's true treasures -- and is one of the best independent booksellers of all-time.  If you ever get to that area of the country, a special trip to the store would be a highlight of your journey.  So, last week I'm on the "Live From Prairie Lights" program (which is also streamed so that those along the Armed Services Radio Network can listen in) to talk for an hour about the new book, and before the program started I noticed a nicely dressed young man in the crowd who had a very large glass of wine in one hand, and a tray of cheeses and nuts in his other hand. I walked out into the crowd and asked him, "Where's my wine and cheese?"  He laughed, took a sip of his wine, smiled, and said, "You'll get yours if your talk is any good tonight!" What I didn't know was we were already on the air!  I wonder what people all over the world thought when they heard that! Ah, the joys of book events -- I love them!
     After another recent event, I got to go on stage with one of the greatest Bluegrass groups in the entire country -- The Po' Ramblin' Boys.  Rather than just playing the "old-stand-bys" of Bluegrass music (as so many groups do), they play many songs that don't get a lot of play these days -- and the crowds love it.  Oh, it's always nice to hear "Rocky Top" for the zillionth time, but how many groups make the time to play great old songs like "I Heard My Mother Call My Name in Prayer."  Now THAT is a great song -- and The Po' Ramblin' Boys are a MUST if you ever get the chance to go see them perform.  They are THAT good!  I'll attach a picture of me with the boys.  I'm the one in the middle of the kickin'!
     I'm also going to attach one other picture.  Yes, when on the road, I tend to eat way more than I normally do.  I may not actually look right now as I do in the picture, but if I don't stop eating, I sure will in no time at all!
     One other note:  The "Finding Fairfield" e-book companion is also selling quite well, so the

"publishing experiment" of adding a separate book to tell how the main book came about is, so far, showing positive results.  I'd like to ask a favor:  If you've read the companion e-book (Finding Fairfield, which is available electronically only through all major booksellers), please jot me a note and let me know what you think of it.  I'd like to know if this is something I should continue doing for my future books.  At the same time, please also send me notes about your reaction to Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil.  I'd love to hear from you!
     Well, since I've recently been surrounded by Bluegrass music, I'll sign off by saying this, "Take care, y'all!  And happy readin'!"
JSC

Book signings

Hi, All!
     I have two areas I want to address in this post.  I first want to thank all those who came to my book signing yesterday at the Barnes & Noble store in Waterloo, Iowa. It's nice to sell books, but what I love most about signings is the people I get to meet and visit with at those very special times.  Yesterday I got to visit with everyone from one of Waterloo's oldest residents (a delightful woman nearing a hundred years old!) to one of my former students who is now a gifted English teacher in northeast Iowa.  I was also able to visit with presidents/chairs of several book clubs and literary associations who would like me to come visit with their groups about the new book.  Also at the signing, Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil nearly sold out -- and copies of my other books also flew off the table (I was told that Shell Games has developed something of a "cult following" now, and many people showed up to get signed copies of that!).  I'd also like to thank the B&N store manager, Steve Olsson, who has to be one of the best managers in the entire country.  He not only did amazing publicity for the event, but he also made sure there were plenty of copies of all my books -- and I even had a great table right near the front door of the store.  As a manager, Steve is tops.
     I also wanted to say a few words today about "publicity" for new books.  Working with the media is always fun, but there are times when the fun gets to the point of being hilarious.  Such an instance took place this past week.  My local newspaper ran a review of Ain't No Harm, and the review was splendid.  However, the paper chose to place my picture and a shortened version of the title of the book on the front page -- with directions about where the rest of the story could be found inside the paper.  The problem?  Well,  I'll attach a picture of that part of the front page so all of you can judge for yourselves.  Doesn't it look like *I'm* being called THE DEVIL right on the front page and for all to see!!!  All week long I've been teased.  I've lost track of the number of those who came up to me and said, "Well, we knew it all along, but we now have confirmation...."  Very funny -- very, very funny..........  Still, at least they spelled my name right, so I guess I'll just laugh along with everyone else.
     I'm going to attach two pictures with this post.  One is of the book signing event yesterday, and the other is a picture of THE DEVIL (at least according to the newspaper).
      More news coming soon, so please check back often.  In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying Ain't No Harm to Kill the Devil: The Life and Legend of John Fairfield, Abolitionist for HIre.
   Happy reading!
JSC