Irish Winters's Blog, page 40

I love fall...

Just saying.... 

Contest is closed - Author signed copy of Connor, Book #5

The contest is closed. Congratulations Janett Gomez!

I recently changed my profile picture of Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.irishwinters

It depicts a young man in uniform behind marble columns (see below).

The first person who can tell me where the picture was taken will win an author signed copy of Connor, Book #5, In the Company of Snipers, as soon as it it released (early November).

Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial

Wow. I did not expect to be so profoundly moved when I visited this wall.It's been on my bucket list since I found out it existed,But to be standing in front of the names of men and women who sacrificed all....Well, I could not hold back my tears. I didn't want to.Not when I reverently took etchings of names of heroes like Marc Lee (panel 5A, row 36)and Adam Brown (panel 5C, Row 35).Wow. I did not expect to feel so -- humble.

Marseilles is a statement all by itself.A quaint country town alongside the Illinois River, it declares the spirit of true American.The American flag waves proudly, as well as a few biker club flags.Well, good on 'em. This wall's existence is due to patriots like the Illinois Motorcycle Freedom Club.Did you know the city of Chicago was approached to host this heroic tribute?They turned it down. Weren't interested. But I digress.The point is that America is alive and well and it's in little out of the way towns likeMarseilles where the flag still means something.Where Gold Star Families are still honored.

There are 13 panels filled with name after name, 2 more panels mostly blank.It honors all military members who have died in combat since 1979,like the Marines lost in Kobar Towers, the men lost aboard the USS Cole, and others....

Friends and family leave mementos...I left my eternal appreciation that good men and women still exist,that heroes are not the things of myth and fantasy,that God has blessed America.
Check it out: www.ilfreedomrun.orgYou'll be glad you did.

Introducing Connor, Book 5

Heartache hurts so much worse than gunshot…
How many times can a man say he’s sorry?Junior Agent Connor Maher is about to find out.
On a hot dusty operation in the middle of sun-baked Utah,he comes face to face with his worst nightmare.Diminutive spitfire and ex-Marine MP, Isabella Ramos,
has only three words for him: I. Hate. You.Like he hasn’t heard that before….
Why was he the one who got to live?Izza only took the Utah assignment because he'd be there.
It was time Connor knew the truth, only she’s not so sure
she should tell him. Grief made her bitter. Not stupid.Besides, he’s not the man she thought he knew.
Their life and death struggle in the Western Utah Desert may prove her wrong.Or will it?

Anticipate release date ~ November 2014

Announcing Harley, Book 4, In the Company of Snipers

It's a party!Come join the Blog Tour for HARLEY, In the Company of Snipers, Book4.The Blog Tour link is: http://nblo.gs/ZVU9R

There will be prizes - a $25 Amazon gift card and/or a personally signed copy of the paperback.
~ ALSO ~Harley's buddy, MARK, Book 2, (kindle version) is FREE on Amazon Sept 15th and 16th only.

AMAZON link:http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Company-Snipers-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00HSS9YMC

Will I Ever Do Another Book Signing?

A friend of mine asked me why I go to all the trouble of book signing.
Man, they are a lot of work, especially at community celebrations like Layton Days, Roy Days, and the last one, Peach Days. Us crazy authors arrive early with some contraption that's supposed to be real easy to set up, hence the name: EZ-Up. Bet me. Maybe for one of my hunky heroes it would be, but when you're all of five-foot-five, it's a bit of a challenge.

Then we drag in boxes of books, and of course we need tables to display all those gorgeous books. Not to mention concrete blocks that weigh a ton to weight that simple, easy to set up contraption down in case of wind. Not to mention a rotating fan because we do live in Utah. Not to mention all those other essentials an author needs to sustain themselves during one or two full days of - work. Whew! I'm tired just hinting about it!

And then it rains because, like I said before, it is Utah. You never know what kind of weather is going to show up. The wind tests our determination. The heat tests our endurance. And remind me why the heck am I doing this?

I'll tell you a secret. It isn't for the money.

It's for the Korean War Veterans I've had the pleasure of meeting. My guys are fiction. These guys were the real thing.

It's also for that real covert operator who stopped by my booth late last night to shake my hand, that real guy who went into Afghanistan during Charlie Wilson's War. Him. Yeah. You know who you are. I so wish we could have talked more. It was totally my honor to meet you, sir. And thanks for signing up to do more of the same. You know what I mean.

It's for that special friend who came all the way to Logan to chat with me and keep me company. Man, I should hire you as my publicist, Nancy. You sold a couple books for me while you were there!

It's for that nephew of my favorite author, Stephen Templin. Wow! What are the odds that I would have  that bright, young man at my booth in the middle of nowhere Utah? He asked me if I've ever read SEAL TEAM SIX. Like about a hundred times! And then he told me his uncle wrote the book, and, holy cow, peel me off the ceiling of that simple, easy to set up contraption. I forgot all about selling and signing. My day was made just meeting Sergie (I hope I've gotten his name right). What a terrific young man! Thank you for stopping to talk.

But mostly, it's for that young woman whose navy SEAL husband is away from home right now doing his duty. She was standing at my booth and I looked into her eyes and it was plain to see that she was missing him. And she's afraid. And she was shaking my hand because I'm a real author, like I'm the important one? Talk about a great big fat reality check. I'm nobody. She is the hero, and so is that hubby of hers, God bless him wherever he is. And God bless her while she waits. Yeah. I'm pretty sure I'm nobody in this equation.

So there you have it. My secret. I don't do author signings for the money. I do it 100% for the choice opportunity of face time with the best fans in the world. My fans.

And yeah. I'll be at as many author signings as I can. I'll sit in the sun and the heat. I'll set up that simple, easy to set up contraption again and again. And in the end, it will be me who is the privileged one because I got to shake their hands.

God Bless America.

Another Irish Winters Book Signing!

Come one! Come all!To the Hearts of the West local authors' booth AtPeach Days in Brigham City!
This Friday and SaturdaySept 5th and 6th.
Look for the big red Hearts of the West banner!I'll be signing and selling,Meeting and greeting
Don't miss it I'd love to see you there!
Look for me to be In the Company of Snipers with ALEX… MARK… ZACK…. maybe HARLEY….Who knows? He might just show….

Hmmmm. I'd come if I were you.

HARLEY is in the house!

Just released!
HARLEYBook 4 of the very successful In the Company of Snipers series


Amazon kindle eBook link:http://www.amazon.com/Harley-Company-Snipers-Book-4-ebook/dp/B00N016A2I
Amazon print edition link:http://www.amazon.com/Harley-Company-Snipers-Irish-Winters/dp/0991069366

Celebrate Labor Day Weekend - FREE eBook!

FREELabor Day Weekend OnlyAug 30, 31, Sept 1Mark, Book 2, In the Company of Snipers

PARTY HEARTY for HARLEY

It's going to be a FaceBook Blog Tour party!
Monday - Friday - September 15 - September 19

There will be prizes, grand prizes, an over abundance of really good trivia,but best of all…. (drum roll please) ……There will be HARLEY!!!!!
Come join me on each stop of the BLOG TOUR
Stops will be posted on the FaceBook Party Page
Official Book Tour: Harley (In the Company of Snipers, #4) Irish Winters

Release Date: September 2014 - maybe as early as Labor Day weekend
BLOGGERS - CONTACT -- amydelrosso@gmail.com OR- sign up to be a Blog Tour Host or hostess @  http://eepurl.com/EUr21(The schedule will be posted on the tour page and all information will be emailed to all participants in sufficient time to prepare for their stop.)

Goodreads Book Descriptions: https://www.goodreads.com/series/118552-in-the-company-of-snipersALEX #1: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19231149-alexMARK #2: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20513010-markZACK #3: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22031519-zackHARLEY: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22843356-harley