Going Out Like A Lion

 

Aye, it's not fit for man nor beast down here on the Alabama Gulf Coast today. Storms are making their way in. That makes it a perfect day to sit here in my office, gaze out the window and soak in the inspiration of the gathering storm for a bit of writing.

A lot has been happening since last we met. Many new writing projects - and a few old ones that I've been revamping - are boiling waiting to be released to the world. 

Having said that, I had one of those mornings this past week that writers dread, filled with rejection emails. I always joke that my rejection letter collection keeps growing, but in reality, I am very fortunate that it is relatively small. But this week I was hit with four. I always give the same advice to aspiring authors: remember not to wear your heart on your sleeve. First, that would be a literal bloody mess - LOL! - and second, it happens. Be ready and take them in stride. Hopefully the letters will give you feedback as to why your work was turned down. If so, latch on to it and make your work better.

In other news, Episode 1 of the companion podcast to my new book, "The Pig War & the Pelican Girls: Forgotten Stories from American History," dropped last week. Episode 1 is titled, "The Keeper of the Flame." You can listen or download the episode by following the links below. I look forward to reading your comments. Episode 2 drops April 8th.

* My Website (w/video clips used in the episode): http://www.joe-cuhaj.com/the-pig-war---pelican-girls.html

* Public Radio Exchange (PRX): https://exchange.prx.org/.../566459-the-pig-war-and-the...

* Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ewxpb-185ae1c...

As for the book itself, I was excited this past Saturday to open my front door and nearly fall flat on my face tripping over a box. It was full of my latest book (#20, I had to do a recount), “The Pig War and the Pelican Girls: 21 Extraordinary and Forgotten Stories from American History.” I will have a very limited number of copies for sale beginning tomorrow, a few weeks before it hits bookstores. Visit my website - http://joe-cuhaj.com - tomorrow (4/1) for details. 

And in yet more news about "The Pig War," I hope you will join me for a celebration of independent books stores April 26th at the The Haunted Book Shop, 9 S. Joachim St., Mobile. I’ll be signing copies of my new book, “The Pig War and the Pelican Girls,” from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., but you’ll want to spend the day. Author Frye Gailliard will be there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and I’m sure there will be plenty of surprises and specials.

 

That's all for now. Until next time, thanks for reading and for your support of my books. 

It's Here!

 

In case you haven't heard, Episode 1 of the companion podcast to my latest book, "The Pig War and the Pelican Girls," has dropped! Titled "The Keeper of the Flame," the episode tells the story of Charlie Deleo, the man who was literally the keeper of Lady Liberty's flame.

You can listen and download the episode by clicking on the following links. Episode 2 drops April 8th. The book hits bookstores April 22nd.

My website (w/video clips used in the episode):

http://www.joe-cuhaj.com/the-pig-war---pelican-girls.html

Public Radio Exchange (PRX):

https://exchange.prx.org/.../566459-the-pig-war-and-the...

Podbean:

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-ewxpb-185ae1c...

It Begins Tomorrow

 

Good morning, friends. A reminder that the companion podcast to my new book, "The Pig War and the Pelican Girls," debuts tomorrow! The 5-part series will present even more little known, obscure, and forgotten tales of American history that wasn't included in the book.

I'll be posting links to where you can download or stream each bi-weekly episode. It all begins tomorrow. 

The book hits bookstores April 22nd. My first signing is set for April 26th at the Haunted Bookshop on S. Joachim St. in Mobile, AL, from 1pm to 3pm. Hope you see you there. 

Marching In...to March

 

Spring is about to, well - spring, which actually means that summer is about to hit us here on the Gulf Coast. We skip over the nicest month of the year here on the Gulf Coast and go from a dead stop into the heat and humidity of summer. Just kidding, of course, but it sometimes seems that's the way it is.

I had an amazing time at the Orange Beach Festival of Art in - where else? - Orange Beach, Alabama this past weekend. Met some really great people including a couple from Long Branch, NJ, which immediately brought back memories of my first job in radio at WWUU - U107 - in Long Branch. I was working parttime overnights and part of my job was calling the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford and get the harness racing results read them over the air. And if I ever hear the Sheena Easton song, "9 to 5 (Morning Train)" one more time, it will be too soon.

The best part about doing an event like this where there are two or more authors together is spending quiet times talking about writing and the business of being an author. I learned so much comparing notes with history author Mike Bunn, poet and songwriter Mike Turner, and of course, mystery author Carolyn Haines who gave me invaluable insight into the process she uses for writing her 30 (THIRTY!) Sarah Booth Delany mysteries. 

It's on to the next event and it will be a big one - my new book, "The Pig War and Pelican Girls," hits both brick and mortar and online booksellers April 22nd and on April 26th, my first signing at one of my favorite indie bookshops, the Haunted Bookshop in Mobile. The signing coincides with Independent Bookstore Day. I'll be there from 1pm to 3pm. If you can't make it, you can pre-order the book here. While the sub-title says "21 Extraordinary Tales of American History," there are 21 main stories and another 25 shorter ones. I think you will find the stories fascinating.

Oh, and did I mention - author Frye Gaillard will be there signing as well from 11am to 1pm. His book, "A Hard Rain," is on the top of my recommended reading lists.

As for writing, I have a ton of projects in motion, as always. Besides doing promotion for "The Pig War," I am completing production of the 10-part companion podcast. My book, "Notable Women of Alabama," is still not ready for release. I was hoping the publisher would have had the edits and galleys completed by now for release during Women's History Month, but the deadline for me to complete the writing made it impossible and those edits are taking a long time. Still, I should be getting the final proofs soon and before you know it, it will hit bookshops. The book bios 50 incredible women who are from or moved to the state and made a difference not only here, but around the world as well.

Two publishers have shown interest in a couple of proposals I have sent out - a new non-fiction history and a new fiction book. Keep your fingers crossed on those. If the fiction is picked up, I'll be a happy man. It's something I've always wanted to write.

And that's all from the writing room for now. I hope to see you April 26th in Mobile.

Book Signing Updates

 

The spring book signings are starting to come in. Besides the Orange Beach Festival of Art March 8th, I am honored to be the guest author at the Haunted Bookshop's celebration of Independent Bookstore Day April 26th. Here's the latest schedule. I hope to see you at one of these events.

MARCH 8th: Orange Beach Festival of Art

at the Orange Beach Art Center @ 1:30pm

APRIL 26th

National Book Store Day @ the Haunted Bookshop

9 S. Joachim St., Mobile, AL

What's Snow With You?

 

We did it! The Alabama Gulf Coast survived “Snowpocalypse 2025” and the ensuing “Great Melt 2025.”

Here on the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay we had 6” of the white stuff and across the bay in Mobile, there were reports of 9”. Plus we had some bitterly cold temperatures here dipping down to the single digits. Unheard of along the Gulf. When it comes to a white ground cover, we’re only used to the pristine white beaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the pure white of cotton balls in the fields.

 

It was fun, though, and brought back many memories of growing up in New Jersey. My fondest memories were not so much after the snow had accumulated, but as it fell. The world became so quiet and still, all sound being muffled by the ground covering blanket.

I sat here in my writing room watching the kids play out in their yards and in the street amazed by this once in a lifetime – if that often – event. One local television station posted online instructions on how to make snowmen. That just comes naturally, doesn’t it?

Well, the excitement is over and now it’s time for Mardi Gras here in L.A. I gave up on the party a long time ago after my daughter started getting older. We used to cover the parades live on WMML radio back in the 1980s when I worked there. I remember two of our crew sitting atop the station’s Ford Bronco being pelted by Moon Pies that would spin their headphones around on their heads. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t such a great idea, but we did eat well, trading advertising for coolers full of crawfish. This photo is of our sports director, Chip Hill, and an unknown co-host covering one of the parades.

 

In my writing world, there is a lot going on. It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since my first book, “Hike America Alabama” (later called “Hiking Alabama”) was released. And here we are – 20 books under my belt with at least one more set for release this fall.

 I hope you will join me and some of South Alabama’s best writers and poets at the 51^st annual Orange Beach Festival of Art in Orange Beach, Alabama, March 8^th – 9^th. Admission is free. I’ll be speaking March 8^th at 1:30pm and will discuss how history has connected my writing the past 25 years and my Mobile and south Alabama-centric books. I’ll also have copies of my books that I will be signing.

Be on the lookout for two new books hitting shelves in April. “The Pig War and the Pelican Girls: 21 Extraordinary Forgotten Tales from American History” comes out April 22^nd. The title is a misnomer. There are 21 main stories but many more “Footnotes to History” that bring to life fascinating history that has long been forgotten.

 

The companion podcast for "The Pig War" debuts mid-March. Stay tuned for the premier date.

And hot on the heels of that release, “Notable Women of Alabama” will hit book stores. There are so many incredible women from Alabama or who moved to the state that made a difference not only here, but the world as well. The book tells the story of 50 of these women, many you may have never heard before.

I do have a couple more nonfiction history proposals making their way through the acquisition process with publishers and I am still shopping for a publisher for my cozy mystery series, “Crystal Bay Mysteries,” and the first book in the series, “Dead Air.” While the manuscript makes the rounds, the second book of the series, “A Matrimonial Mystery,” has been written. Stay tuned…and keep your fingers crossed.

 

That’s it for now from L.A. Until next time…

...And a New One Just Begun

 

Welcome to the new year! I trust you all had a happy and safe holiday season. Winter has hit the Gulf Coast with temps at night dipping into the 20s, daytime 30s to low 40s. I know, all of my northern followers and friends are saying "boo-hoo" and laughing at me, but after living down here 40+ years, I think the tolerance I built up for the cold as a kid in New Jersey has finally worn off. 

I was busy over the holidays mainly with the second book of my Crystal Bay Mystery series, A Matrimonial Mystery. The book picks up where the first of the series, Dead Air, leaves off and I tell you, writing about these stories about the mystery solving sleuths Judy Campbell and Art Foley and the shenanigans at radio station WRCB is like visiting old friends. First of all, Judy and Art have my idealized romance and relationship with easy, fun loving dialog that makes that part easy to write. Then there are the shenanigans at the radio station, mostly culled from my real-life experiences in the business.

I'm looking for a publisher for the first book (if any publishers out there are looking for an excellent cozy mystery series, you know where to find me, hint, hint.) It may go the self-publishing route by mid-year. We'll see.

Also over the holidays, I started filling in my calendar for book signings and presentations. The Daphne Public Library in Daphne, Alabama, has asked me to do a presentation. Date and time to be announced. And I was honored to be asked to do a presentation and signing at the annual Orange Beach Festival of Arts March 8th and 9th. For the first in the event's 51 years, they have added a literary component section and I can't thank the organizers enough for the invitation.

So, that's all for right now. Have a wonderful - and warm week, everybody.