Samuel W. Gailey's Blog, page 6

BARNES & NOBLE – GROVE – Los Angeles, CA

Samuel W. Gailey will be conducting a reading, leading a discussion, and signing copies of his debut novel ‘Deep Winter’ on February 20th, the release date of his book.  Reader’s guides will be available and the author will be accepting book club and interview requests.

Please join the author at the Barnes & Noble – Grove Event.

EARLY WORD LIVE CHAT

A live chat with author Samuel W. Gailey, and Early Word’s Nora Rawlinson and librarians across the country. February 12th, 2014. Scheduled Time: 4pm est. 

EarlyWord introduces librarians to some of Pengin’s most exciting new fiction writers across the many adult imprints at Penguin, recognizing the key role librarians play in introducing readers to first-time authors.  See more at: http://penguindebutauthors.earlyword.com.

Fear

“Fear is your best friend or your worst enemy. It’s like fire. If you can control it, it can cook for you; it can heat your house. If you can’t control it, it will burn everything around you and destroy you. If you can control your fear, it makes you more alert, like a deer coming across the lawn.” 


I just read that Mike Tyson said this. It caught my eye because a deer plays a significant role in my upcoming novel “Deep Winter.” I didn’t know until after I wrote the book that a Native American Deer Totem symbolizes the combination of gentleness with strength and determination; being in touch with innocence and one’s inner child; as well as moving through obstacles with grace. That could not describe my main character, Danny Bedford, more closely. He’s a child-like man in large body being hunted by a town full of people for a gruesome crime he may or may not have committed. Strange and magical how the subconscious mind works.

Goodreads Debut Author Snapshot

The folks at Goodreads are good to me…I have been featured in the Debut Author Snapshot for February.  It is a Q&A, where I share a little bit about my process and inspiration for DEEP WINTER.  There’s also some intriguing photos…my wife, Ayn, and an old friend from Wyalusing provided me with great pix.  Read the interview here.

Video of Samuel W. Gailey On Debut Novel ‘DEEP WINTER’

Samuel W. Gailey’s critically acclaimed novel DEEP WINTER debuts February 20th, 2014. Please check out the story summary & following links to learn more. See the VIDEO.

 

 

REVIEWS & READER’S GUIDES:

www.SamuelWGailey.com

FACEBOOK FAN PAGE:

www.facebook.com/samuelwgailey

DEEP WINTER SUMMARY:

In this compelling mystery-suspense novel, a devastating murder in an isolated small town sets off an unstoppable chain of events made more complicated—and more dangerous—by the town’s dark secrets.

A devastating murder in an isolated town appears to be the work of a man with the mind of a child—but could the truth be hidden in the swirling snow?

In the small town of Wyalusing in eastern Pennsylvania, a woman is found brutally murdered one winter night. Next to the body is Danny Bedford, a misunderstood man who suffered a tragic brain injury that left him with limited mental capabilities. Despite his simple life, his intimidating size has caused his neighbors to ostracize him in fear. So when the local bully-turned-deputy discovers Danny with the body it’s obvious that Danny’s physical strength has finally turned deadly. But in the long, freezing night that follows, the murder is only the first in a series of crimes that viciously upset the town order—an unstoppable chain of violence that appears to make Danny’s guilt increasingly undeniable.

With the threat of an approaching blizzard, the local sheriff and a state trooper work through the pre-dawn hours to establish some semblance of peace. As they investigate one incident after another, they discover an intricate web of lies that reveals that not everything in Wyalusing is quite what it seems.

With echoes of Scott Smith’s A Simple Plan and Tana French’s In the Woods, Deep Winter is a richly atmospheric and ingeniously plotted novel that is surprising to the final page. It’s impossible to escape this bone-chilling story of deception where the truth is uncertain and something sinister is lurking just below the surface…(less)

AUTHOR BIO:

Samuel W. Gailey was raised in a small town in northeast Pennsylvania (population 379), which serves as the setting for his debut novel, ‘Deep Winter’. Drawn to rural life and the sometimes deceiving atmosphere therein, Gailey’s first novel and his works in progress are suspenseful mysteries and intriguing studies of human nature. In the video, Gailey discusses the process and inspiration behind ‘Deep Winter’.

Visit his author website for reviews, event listings, bio, Q&A, and a reader’s guide.

An Intimate Q&A: Samuel W. Gailey – ‘Deep Winter’

Below is an excerpt from a conversation between myself and my wife, writer Ayn Carrillo Gailey, on the crafting and release of my upcoming debut novel, Deep Winter.

AYN: Your book let’s us glimpse into the life of hunters and even the life of the game hunted. You grew up learning to hunt in Pennsylvania, but have mentioned it would be difficult for you to shoot any big game now. Can you elaborate on that?

SAM: I enjoyed hunting as a kid. By age 12, I hunted all sorts of game in Bradford County. My step dad’s father was a District Fish Warden and worked with the National Wildlife Federation, so the importance and respect of the land and wildlife was certainly passed down to me. Everybody (boys & girls) starts hunting after their twelfth birthday in that region. It’s a rite of passage and a way of life. We were educated in gun safety and hunting regulations, and were required to complete a hunter’s safety course. We had no mall, no movie theatre, no bookstore, no nothing. What we did have was the woods, a place where we spent a great deal of our time. Growing up, we had an unlocked gun cabinet in the house with various rifles and shotguns, but due to our training in gun safety, I don’t remember an incident where a gun was used for anything other than hunting. We also did not have violent video games—unless you consider Atari games like Asteroids, Centipede and Pac-Man violent. School was closed on the opening days of deer season (for both buck and doe). When school was in session during hunting season, we grabbed our rifle or shotgun after school, headed into the mountains and hunted until dark. I hunted pretty much everything, with the exception of black bear. Squirrel, rabbit, turkey, grouse, pheasant, and white-tailed deer. Out of all of these game animals, the only one I didn’t bag was a turkey. Turkeys, despite all general appearances, are not dumb birds—at least not the ones I hunted. They have tremendous eyesight and are extremely cautious animals.

For the entire Q & A, click here.

Wyalusing Rocks – Circa 1972

Wyalusing Rocks is located in Bradford County in Wyalusing, Pennsylvania (originally known as M’chwihilusing), that rises 1,004 feet above sea level.  Wyalusing Rocks has been a lookout point since the valley was originally settled. Historically, it was an important signaling point and sacred spot for the Iroquois, a Native American tribe that resided in the area. Today, it provides an incredible view of the forests and farms in the area.

Wyalusing is the setting for Deep Winter.

Gallmeister Publishing

French publisher, Editions Gallmeister, has bought the French rights to Deep Winter for translation.  Gallmeister is an amazing publishing house with a stable of talented American writers such as Rick Bass, Ron Carlson, Larry McMurty, Tim O’Brien, David Vann & Larry Watson.

Frankfurt Book Fair

The Frankfurt Book Fair, from 9 to 13 October 2013, is the biggest book and media fair in the world – with over 7500 exhibitors from over 110 countries.

West Hollywood Book Fair

12th Annual West Hollywood Book Fair

Sunday September 29th

West Hollywood Park & Library