Please Read my Rival

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Please Read my Rival

My friend and fellow author Rick Revel published his American Civil War Novel around the same time I did. It’s called In the Hills of Tennessee. It’s based on the life of the real Jack Hinson. Hinson went on a murderous rampage using his legendary sharpshooting skills after his sons were killed by Union soldiers. Like my book, his is the first of a planned trilogy. You can click the hyperlink above to get your copy now.

[image error]Reenactment at Fort Negley. I’m the fiddler on the left

It’s hard to believe this but it’s been five years since I first encountered Rick. I was playing fiddle at a Civil War Reenactment at Fort Negley in Nashville. Rick was the emcee. Rick’s a natural showman and great storyteller. He narrated the action on the field through a PA system for the spectators as the actors fired their muskets at each other and thundered by on horses. It was quite a show.

[image error]Rick and his Art

I saw him again, years later at a Civil War collector’s show in Dover, Tennessee. He had a table there where he displayed his artwork and a promotion for his up and coming novel. I introduced myself and told him that I remembered him from Fort Negley. I told him that I was also working on a Civil War book. He was very encouraging. We talked a bit about our progress and publishing plans. We exchanged contact information. I think we became facebook friends the next day.

[image error]A sample of Rick’s art

I’ve enjoyed keeping up with Rick and watching his progress since. Since we were on similar paths, I wanted to see how he went about things and how he marketed his book. I was really excited once he announced a book signing. To be honest, I had never been to one. I wanted to go to see how they worked in case I would ever have one myself. I thought I’d lay low and just watch anonymously from the crowd.

[image error]Rick and me at his signing

But Rick recognized me immediately. He’s a very kind and engaging man. His talk about Jack Hinson was captivating and when he was done the people lined up to buy a signed copy of his book. He was kind enough to mention to the crowd during his talk that I too was an author. That led to me being invited back to do my own book signing with the local Sons of Confederate Veterans camp.

[image error]My book signing with the Sons of Confederate Veterans. I’m the guy with the tie.

I find Rick to be a fascinating model of an author because of all the ways we are the same and all the ways we are different. Both of us published the first novel of our Civil War trilogy about the same time. Both of our books have depictions of the Battle of Fort Donelson and Nathan Bedford Forrest. We’re both musicians. Rick plays guitar and sings. I’m a fiddler.

[image error]Rick on the Rails

But we’re also different in who we are and how we approach things. Rick is a proud son of the South whose ancestors fought for the Confederacy and in the American Revolution. Rick speaks in the high lonesome tenor of a Southern gentleman. I, on the other hand, sound like a dumpster on fire in a back alley of Detroit, where I’m from when I speak. Rick’s main character is a Southern partisan who fights against a Yankee invasion. I have main characters on both sides, but admittedly, my book follows the actions of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry.

Rick also went with a publisher and does all his own direct sales. I think he’s also in a few museums and gift shops like me. At the moment he only sells printed copies of his book, although I might talk him into doing a kindle version at some point.

[image error]Rick does mostly direct sales in person or by mail.

I, on the other hand, published through Amazon which offers both paperback and Kindle versions of my book. I originally was going to stay our of direct sales altogether, but I was invited to do that first books signing and had a few local friends who wanted a signed copy. So I ended up buying my first box of author’s copies. I was nervous about it at first. Now I’m on my third box. My book is now also available at the Lotz House Museum, The Robertson County History Museum, and Parnassus Books.

[image error]Okay, maybe Grant and Lee like his book better, but Forrest and Sherman like mine.

So why do I promote my rival? Well, I only call him that because it makes for great alliteration in the title of this article. But first, it’s because Rick has been very kind and encouraging to me. Second, because it helps me too. My friend J.T. at the Lotz House has a saying, “all boats rise with the tide.” I promote Rick, other authors, and reading in general because the more people are interested in books, the more likely they’re read mine, especially with Rick’s. The American Civil War is sort of a niche literary topic. I’m hoping that the more people become aware and read about it, the more they’ll become curious and want to read more, like about the 2nd Michigan Cavalry and their adventures at Island No. 10. for instance.

If you’re interested in Rick’s books, art, music, or acting; check out his site here: Rick Revel

Of course, if you’re interested in my book and you don’t live in Middle Tennessee, you can get anywhere in the world in the links below. Thanks and keep reading!

viewbook.at/RampageontheRiver

[image error]

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PTSPD6H

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Germany: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07PTSPD6H

India: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B07PTSPD6H

France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Spain: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B07PTSPD6H

Italy: https://www.amazon.it/dp/B07PTSPD6H