August 2013

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A Note from Nelson

First, some good news: I’ve finished my latest novel, The Quest, and it will be published September 17 by Center Street. will also be available as an e-book, and in audio narrated by Scott Brick. You can check it out online and pre-order now if you’d like.

Also, you can read the first two chapters of The Quest (for free) by clicking here.

What is The Quest about? It is about 460 pages long. Actually, it is about a search for the Holy Grail, set in Ethiopia during the Marxist revolution of 1974. Action, adventure, love, war, and sex. Think Indiana Jones meets Doctor Zhivago.

Also some good news on the movie front: we’re close to a deal to make Plum Island into a TV series. The screenplay is being written by Ron Bass who is one of the best writers in the business, and Aaron Eckhart is interested in playing John Corey. More on this when the deal is finalized. Meanwhile, if you haven’t read Plum Island, this a good time to do that. It’s a great summer read.

I’m now beginning work on the next John Corey book. So far I have no title, no plot, no setting, and no cast of characters. But I’m making good progress.

I’ve seen the TV documentary about the crash of TWA Flight 800, and I found it interesting. I don’t agree with all of it, but the documentary makes a good case that the TWA Flight 800 crash was not the result of a mechanical malfunction, which was the offical conclusion. This TV documentary concludes that the Boeing 747 with 230 people on board was brought down by a missile. So if you haven’t read Night Fall or would like to read it again, this is a good time to do it and see if my novel and the documentary share the same theories.

I’m doing a publicity tour for The Quest and I’ll be posting my appearances on my website. Hope to see you at one of these events which are in the process of being scheduled.

Also, my last book, The Panther, which was published in October last year, is available on August 6 as a trade paperback. If you haven’t read The Panther, this is a good format at a great price, and suitable for the beach, the pool, or the backyard.

The National Security Agency informs me that not only are people buying my books this summer, but they are also talking about them on their cell phones and landlines, and writing about them on the Internet. Thanks to all of you — and we know who you are — who’ve made my books part of your summer.

Have a great August and Labor Day weekend.

 

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

July 2013

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A Note from Nelson

Sorry I haven’t done a Newsletter in a few months, but I’m working long hours to complete The Quest, which will be published September 17.

Meanwhile, you’ve probably heard a lot in the news about the TWA 800 crash. There’s a new TV documentary on this crash airing on EPIX-Cable TV on July 17, which presents the theory that the cause of this crash was not a mechanical malfunction, but perhaps something else. Those familiar with my book, Night Fall, will recall that my hero, John Corey, and his wife Kate Mayfield, came to the same conclusion.

My publisher has decided to offer Night Fall as an eBook for $2.99 for a limited time, so if you haven’t read Night Fall or would like to read it again at this promotional price, this is a good time to do it and see if my novel and the documentary share the same theories.

I hope to have a full Newsletter out for August when I’m finished with The Quest.

Have a great summer

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

April 2013

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A Note from Nelson

April, according to T. S. Eliot, is the cruelest month, and I agree. He was talking about the weather; I’m talking about income tax.

On a happier subject, Plum Island is inching closer to becoming a cable-TV movie or maybe a ten-part series. Everyone at the production company who is reading Plum Island is loving the book and loving the character of John Corey. Stay tuned.

As I mentioned in the last Newsletter, The American Legion magazine did a cover story and interview with me about my writing and about my tour of duty in Vietnam. Check it out.

Back in October when The Panther was published, my publisher put out an eBook omnibus edition of the first three John Corey novels, Plum Island, The Lion’s Game, and Night Fall, for the incredible low price of $19.99. That’s about fifty hours of reading for less than a penny a minute — which is about what I make after taxes. Check out this omnibus edition.

I’m still working on The Quest, and publication date is September 17. See my last Newsletter for more details.

I was in Florida for a week and I posted a photo on my Facebook page showing me in a wildlife preserve. My social media person thought it would be funny to caption it, “Nelson in Florida Wildlife Preserve before an alligator ate him.” Well, I didn’t get eaten by an alligator, so anyone who was celebrating can stop celebrating. And you know who you are.

April 1st was April Fool’s Day and also the day that most publishers send their authors their royalty statements. You may not see a connection there, but I assure you authors do. And then comes April 15. A cruel month, indeed.

I want to thank everyone for all their emails and also for following me on Facebook and Twitter. I feel very connected to all my readers and I’m truly blessed to have so many fans.

And finally, April 26 is Arbor Day. Don’t forget to plant a tree that can be chopped down and turned into paper pulp for future DeMille books. And April 22 is Earth Day when we bury other author’s books for compost.

Happy Spring!

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

March 2013

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A Note from Nelson

March comes in like a lion and goes out like The Lion’s Game. Order now. And don’t forget the sequel, The Lion. And the latest, The Panther.

I was honored to be the subject of a cover story in the Long Island Pulse, for their March edition. Check it out. The cover photo shows me smoking a cigarette, which as I explained to my health insurance provider and my life insurance agent, is only a prop. Writers once had a bad reputation for drinking and smoking, but now they eat macrobiotic food, exercise, and meditate…” which might explain some of the crap that’s out there. Did that come out right?

Anyway, I’m on a roll with magazine covers, and the April edition of American Legion magazine will have me front and center. I’m not sure what photo they’re using for the cover, but I hope it’s the one where I’m on the treadmill eating an organic apple. But I digress. I was truly honored to be interviewed by the American Legion magazine, not only for my writing accomplishments, but also because of my military service. More on this in the April Newsletter.

On the movie front, Aaron Eckhart as John Corey in Plum Island has moved another step closer to reality. More on this as it develops. I don’t want to jinx it.

More exciting news: Many years ago, I wrote a paperback originally titled The Quest. It’s about a search for the Holy Grail, and it preceded The Da Vinci Code and the subsequent slew of religious thrillers by about thirty years. Well, I decided to resurrect The Quest and I’m rewriting it. It will be published on September 17 by Center Street. You can pre -order it now. We don’t have cover art yet, but I’m thinking of Da Vinci’s Last Supper, showing Judas smoking a cigarette. Maybe French fries on his plate. Bad guy.

Let me take this opportunity to wish all my Irish friends — and everyone is Irish on March 17 — a happy St. Patrick’s Day. And let me also take this opportunity to suggest a book that captures the spirit and joy of that day: Cathedral, by me. It’s about the Irish Republican Army taking over St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York during the parade on Fifth Avenue. So, maybe it doesn’t exactly capture the spirit and joy of the day, but it’s a good read. It’s a perfect St. Patrick’s Day gift. Order now.

And finally, because Passover and Easter come early this year, let me now wish everyone of both faiths a joyous and blessed holiday. And keep in mind that there are more things that bind us together than divide us. Jesus, remember, was in Jerusalem for the Passover, and the Last Supper was a Seder meal. Judas got stuck with the bill, and well…you know the rest.

So, happy St. Pat’s, happy Passover and Easter, and happy spring.

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

February 2013

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A Note from Nelson

In my January Newsletter I asked everyone, “. . . let me know if you’d like to see another John Corey novel, or a book featuring one of my other characters, or maybe a book with a totally new character.”

Sincere thanks to the hundreds of readers who responded. The consensus seems to be to stick with John Corey. Many people also urged me to write faster. That wasn’t the question, but I appreciate everyone wanting more DeMille books. My agent also wants me to write faster, as does my publisher, my wife, and the IRS.

So, due to popular demand, my next book will again feature John Corey, and as in The Panther, this story will be set in a dangerous country – Switzerland. Actually, it’s Afghanistan. But I’m doing the research in Switzerland. That works.

Meanwhile, I’m working closely with my movie agent to get the John Corey books made into a cable-TV series. On that subject, many people have written to me asking if the FX-TV series, The Americans, was based on my novel The Charm School. I haven’t seen The Americans yet, so I don’t know. But if you’ve seen one of the episodes and also read The Charm School, I’d be interested to know what you think.

On another subject, I have two Kindle Single short stories – Rendezvous and The Book Case – now available through Amazon. The Book Case features John Corey in his early years when John was an NYPD detective. Rendezvous features me (fictionalized) in my early years when I was an infantry officer in Vietnam. Hope you enjoy both stories. Also try my short story titled Death Benefits, available in eBook and AudioBook. All the proceeds from my short stories are split 50/50 between me and the IRS.

As I mentioned in my December Newsletter, I’m getting emails telling me that I made a few errors in The Panther, and by now I know it’s not Silver Springs, Maryland, it’s Silver Spring. Also, Dover Air Force base is in Delaware, not Maryland, and cream cheese would not be available in a kosher deli where meat is served. My readers are correct, and you can see all the corrections in the trade paperback edition of The Panther which will be published on August 6 and is available now for Pre-order.

And now a confession: I purposely make errors in my books to see if anyone is paying attention. LOL.

And finally, February 14 is Valentine’s Day, and what better gift can you give to your loved one than a copy of The Panther, a story of terrorism, murder, and treachery, filled with four-letter words . . . ? Well, maybe flowers would be better.

I’ll be back in March.

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

January 2013

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A Note from Nelson

Well, the world did not end on December 21, but the Mayans in the Yucatan were overrun with goofy tourists who arrived for the big day to find Mayans selling T-shirts that said, “I Survived The End Of The World.”

I’m happy to report that my latest novel, The Panther, is now in its Fifth printing. I am most grateful to everyone who has bought The Panther for themselves and for holiday gifts. The Internal Revenue Service, too, is grateful and we all know that our tax money is put to good use.

On another subject, I have a new short story called Rendezvous that was just released as a Kindle Single, which is a short story e-book. I think you’ll like Rendezvous, based loosely on my experiences in Vietnam. You can’t go too far wrong for a buck-ninety-nine. Also, see my Kindle Single titled The Book Case.

Also, try my short story titled
Death Benefits in e-book or audiobook; it’s part of the anthology titled
The Rich and the Dead. This is the story that I mentioned in a previous Newsletter and it’s about an author who plots to murder his agent. This story is also based on my personal experience. Just kidding.

I mentioned in my last Newsletter that I’d say something about my work in progress, but it’s not in progress, so I’ll hold off on that. But let me know if you’d like to see another John Corey novel, or a book featuring one of my other characters, or maybe a book with a totally new character. Shoot me an e-mail with your thoughts. Thanks.

Thanks, too, to all my readers who have e-mailed me through my website. I wish I could reply personally, but I’ve read over two thousand e-mails and they’re still coming in. Glad you all enjoyed The Panther — except for a few people who took offense at John Corey making fun of New Jersey, Kentucky, and Alabama. Not to mention making fun of just about everybody and everything. I don’t share Detective Corey’s views on most subjects, and I’ve spoken to him about his wisecracks, but he persists in his political incorrectness. He’s afraid that if I make him tone it down, he’ll become as dull and one dimensional as some other action/adventure heroes who will go unnamed here. He may be right.

My good friend, Linda Stasi, a staff writer for the New York Post, has a new novel coming out on January 22, titled The Sixth Station. I’ve read it and it’s terrific — gripping, suspenseful, and controversial. Pre-order it now, or look for it at your local bookstore on the 22nd. A really great read.

In conclusion, I want to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and productive New Year. And thanks to the Mayan Historical Society who just sent me a new five-thousand-year calendar. FYI, this is Year One. Here we go again.

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

December 2012

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A Note from Nelson

Well, it is December and the end of the world is just around the corner. That’s right, not many shopping days left until December 21.

Actually, Hurricane Sandy looked like the end of the world around here, but I’m happy to report that things are getting back to normal. Unfortunately, many people are still left homeless, so please consider a donation to Hurricane Sandy relief. Google “Hurricane Sandy relief” and see what charities or organizations you’d like to contribute to. This would be a nice thing to do for the holidays.

When the lights go out and the house gets cold and the Internet is down, there are only a few things to do to pass the time. We know what the first thing is, and the second thing is reading.

Dozens of people have told me that they read The Panther, by candle or flashlight. Or read it on their eReader until their batteries ran out. One guy told me he and his wife sat in their car to get warm and listened to the audiobook of The Panther. Thanks to everyone who bought the book and who have written to me since publication on October 16.

I received a few letters pointing out some errors in the book. One was that I put Dover Air Force base in the wrong state — it’s in Delaware, not Maryland. Right. They moved it again. Look for the correction in the paperback.

Also, I had a character in the book order a bagel and cream cheese in Ben’s Kosher Deli. Kosher delis and restaurants don’t serve dairy products if they serve meat. It’s not kosher. But this was a non-dairy cream cheese, and the bagel was not made with a milk product. I know this is true because I just made it up. So, no error there.

Perhaps more importantly, the world will not end on December 21. We know this because an archaeologist turned over the stone Mayan calendar and found a carved solicitation to buy a new thousand-year calendar, while supplies last. So that’s a relief — pardon the pun.

I’ve just celebrated my 30th anniversary with my publisher, Grand Central Publishing, formerly Warner Books. My first book with them was Word of Honor and each one since then has been a bestseller, thanks to their great efforts and my great writing. The publisher gave me a swell party and presented me with a 30 year-old bottle of scotch and a new contract which I think I signed.

On that subject, I’ve begun my next book and I’ll talk more about that in my next Newsletter.

Anyway, thanks again for buying The Panther and for making it #1. And remember, a signed copy is a perfect holiday gift. How do you get it signed? Just sign it yourself. Who’s gonna know? Right?
I’d like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, a happy holiday season, and a New Year of peace, prosperity, and good health. And special greetings and thanks to the men and women serving our country all over the world. You may not be home for Christmas, but our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

November 2012

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A Note from Nelson

Well, as you’ve seen on TV, or as you’ve experienced firsthand, Hurricane Sandy hit hard in this area on October 29, followed by a Nor’easter. On Long Island where I live we experienced devastating winds and tidal surges, and there’s widespread destruction and some loss of life. I won’t get into the details — you’ve seen and read about it — but I can say everyone in my community is pulling together, helping their neighbors and coping well with the loss of electric power and gasoline shortages. Learn more on how you can help at The Red Cross.

I almost don’t want to report some personal good news, but I’ll tell you that my new book, The Panther, debuted at Number One on the New York Times Best Seller list of Sunday, November 4. I should be celebrating, but this is not the time or place to do that.

I thank everyone who has written and called to see if I and my family were all right — and, yes, we all came through this without harm, though like most people we had some house damage.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all my friends, family, and neighbors who suffered damage or injury. We’ve been through storms and hurricanes before — though nothing as destructive as
this — and most of us will rebuild and get back to our normal lives as we’ve always done. For those whose homes were a total loss, or for those who lost friends and family, nothing will be the same again. But life goes on and with the help of those close to us we’ll get through this.

I want to also thank the men and women who were first responders during this crisis; police, fire fighters, EMT workers, and other professionals; they were truly heroic and in many cases they made the difference between life and death.

The good thing that came out of this disaster was and will remain the stories of heroism during the storm and the thousands of stories of friends and neighbors who helped others in the aftermath.

And finally, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. And special thanks to the men and women in uniform — military and non-military — who keep us safe in war and peace. Their sacrifices and devotion to duty are what makes our way of life possible.

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

October 2012

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A Note from Nelson

Publication Day for The Panther is tomorrow, Tuesday, October 16. In my
last Newsletter I said I’d tell you why all hardcover books are published on a Tuesday. There are actually two reasons: One is that the New York Times Bestseller List is calculated on sales beginning on Tuesday, so publishers want a full seven days of reported sales. The other reason is more traditional: the Bible was published on a Tuesday, and publishers have been observing this tradition ever since. So now you know.

As I said in my last Newsletter, I believe The Panther is one of my strongest John Corey books. As it turns out, I was right. Pre-publication reviews from trade magazines and online industry newsletters all agree that this is a very strong book. But you can judge for yourself by buying it. If you’d like to see it before you buy, click here.

The Panther will be available as an eBook, and a Hachette audio CD, and also as an audio download, plus, of course, a hardcover. All formats will be available tomorrow, Tuesday, October 16. If you’re like me, you like to read a hardcover book while also reading it as an eBook and listening to it on audio. It’s an intense experience.

I’m also making a few live appearances and my publicity schedule can be found by clicking here. You’ll see that I’ve scheduled nothing after December 21. And you know why.

When I have a new book out, I get an avalanche of snail mail and also email through my website, and again I assure everyone that I read each and every letter, though unfortunately I can’t reply to everyone. But I do appreciate hearing from you and I’d like to know what you think of The Panther. You can also post your comments on Amazon.com, B&N.com, Goodreads.com, and other online sites, and of course on Twitter and Facebook.

By now you’ve had enough political ads and talking heads on TV. You’ve kept yourself informed as a good citizen and you’ve made up your mind. So now you’ve earned a break. Shut off the TV and turn off the radio and open a good book, or pop the audio in your car radio. And on Election Day if your presidential candidate doesn’t win, it’s not the end of the world. That happens on December 21.

I sincerely hope you enjoy The Panther and I look forward to hearing from you. All letters and emails must be postmarked or dated before December 21. Right?

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature

August 2012

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A Note from Nelson

First, the big news — I’ve finally completed The Panther and I am now unemployed. But not for long, because I’m thinking about starting my next book. In fact, I thought about it all week at the beach. And I’ll think about it for the rest of the summer.

I believe The Panther is one of my strongest John Corey books and I hope you do too. Publication date for The Panther is Tuesday, October 16. Here’s an interesting factoid: Virtually all hardcover fiction is published on a Tuesday. Why? The answer, if you care, will be revealed in the next Newsletter.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to see a sneak preview of The Panther on my website, click here. Or if you purchase the recently released paperback of my last book, The Lion, in the back of the book is the preview of The Panther.

And don’t forget, you can pre-order The Panther from your favorite retailer or etailer. In fact, you should do that now. I’ll wait.

Back already? Okay, as I mentioned in my last Newsletter, I’ve written a short story titled, “The Book Case,” which is now offered as a Kindle Single eBook through Amazon for $1.99. This is a great short story at a great price and also available for a limited time in print.

In addition, “The Book Case” is available as an audio download through Hachette Audio, read by Scott Brick who reads most of my novels for audio, and who is an excellent narrator.

What is “The Book Case” about? It features John Corey in his early days as an NYPD detective, before he became an agent for the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force. Check out the customer reviews on Amazon.

So, to recap, “The Book Case” is available as an Amazon eBook and an audio download through Hachette, and in a limited print edition at Mysterious Bookshop. Enjoy.

On to the next short story: “Death Benefits.” This story originally appeared in the Mystery Writers of America 2011 Anthology titled The Rich and the Dead, published by Grand Central Publishing and still available in all formats.

“Death Benefits” was published on August 1 as a stand-alone short story eBook and is available through your favorite etailer. And if you
order “Death Benefits,” you’ll also receive the preview of The Panther for free.

What is “Death Benefits” about? As I said in my last Newsletter, it’s about an author who plots to kill his literary agent. It’s pure fiction, of course, or maybe fantasy.

As I also mentioned in my June Newsletter, my childhood friend, Thomas Block, who is my co-author on Mayday, has written an airline disaster/thriller titled Captain which is available online. Visit  Tom’s website here and check it out. Tom is a former U.S. Airways captain so he knows what can go wrong at 30,000 feet.

As I also reported in my last Newsletter, there is some strong interest in a cable TV series of the John Corey books. I’ve been in discussion with the heads of a few cable networks and also with Sony TV. Aaron Eckhart remains interested in playing John Corey, and if we can get everyone onboard, this may become a reality. Stay tuned.

August is my birthday month, and to mark this occasion, I’ve asked my congressman to introduce a House Resolution declaring August as “Read a Nelson DeMille Book Month.” He has responded, “Okay, but what’s in it for me?” Well, we’ll work that out. Dealing with Washington is not that different than dealing with Hollywood.

On another subject, the end of the world, according to the Mayan Calendar, is December 21, the first day of winter. The good news is that it will be a short winter.

Which brings me to a new book by Dustin Thomason titled 12.21. Dustin co-authored, with Ian Caldwell, a novel titled The Rule of Four, which I enjoyed very much, and which was a bestseller. Now Dustin has written 12.21 and as you can guess, this novel is about the end of the world. Note that 12.21 has been published in August, well before the events in the book come true and abruptly end all book sales. Smart publishing and clever merchandising.

My own book, The Panther, will have a predictably short run on the bestseller list — October 16-December 21 — but the book and I will go out in a blaze of glory.

Many people ask me if I’m going to make personal appearances when The Panther is published, and the answer is yes. We don’t have a complete publicity schedule as yet, but I will post my book signing schedule on my website soon and update it as it develops. Note, there will be nothing scheduled after December 21. Hope to see you at one of these events.

On the subject of appearances, I am sharing the stage with my pal and fellow author, Susan Isaacs, on October 2 at The Landmark on Main Street. The Panther won’t be out yet, but Susan’s newest, Goldberg Variations, will be published that day. Susan, as you know, is the author of Compromising Positions and twelve other novels, all bestsellers. I’m reading Goldberg Variations now, and as always Susan Isaacs is witty and intelligent. You can pre-order Goldberg Variations at your favorite etailer. Hope to see you at Landmark in Port Washington (Long Island), NY for what promises to be a great evening. For more information, click here.

Want a free book? I will have advance reading copies of The Panther by the end of August. Advance reading copies (ARCs) are limited editions, usually sent to reviewers, booksellers, media, and others who need an early copy of a book before it is published in hardcover. But you can have an autographed ARC of The Panther by entering my contest, click here. Be the first on your block to read this book before it’s available to the public.

This is the month of vacations, and traditionally a lot of books are sold as people have more leisure time to read. Here’s my pick for a great vacation read: Plum Island, by Nelson DeMille. This has just been reissued in a large paperback size which fits nicely into a beer cooler.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and live it up; the first day of winter is not far off, if you know what I mean.

 

Sincerely,
Nelson DeMille signature