R.C. O'Leary: Author of the Legal Thriller: Hallways in the Night

Saturday is the Last Day for Free Kindle Download of Hallways in the Night

12/25/2014

Tomorrow-Saturday December 27--is the last of the 5 day free promotion I have been able to run via Amazon's KindleSelect program.

So far, the results have greatly exceeded my expectations. I was hoping to get between 1,000 and 1,500 downloads for my book. Maybe, if things went perfect I would reach 3,000 downloads. 600 per day would have been pretty great.

Well, through a confluence of good luck and some other factors--including high rankings on the free list for thrillers and crime which then led to showing up as one of the top 100 free books on Kindle, I'm proud (slightly stunned) to say I'm going to close the 5 day period with over 10,000 downloads of Hallways in the Night.

Now, how many of those who downloaded the book will actually read it I have no idea. I guess the best way to tell will be in how many reviews show up in the next fews months.

Anyway, if you have yet to pick up a copy or if you want a free copy for your kindle, here is the link for a free download.

Happy Holidays!

http://www.amazon.com/Hallways-Night-Thriller-R-C-OLeary-ebook/dp/B00HCLRPPS/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Gruden To the Oakland Raiders? Much More Likely to the Florida Gators (possibly with Tim Tebow)

10/5/2014

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Muschamp probably Gone end of Season and Gator Job will allow Gruden's Sons to stay in School in Tampa

I was watching SportsCenter this morning and saw the report that Jon Gruden might go back to the Raiders. That would be a coup for Oakland and great for the league. The NFL is at its best when the Raiders are in the mix and I think Mark Davis will get them back on track sooner versus later.

That being said, I can't see Jon Gruden going back to Oakland. I think he is going to take a coaching job in college--he started off on the college level--and I think the Gators job will be his if he wants it. Unless Will Muschamp turns it around this season and his offense figures out a way to score some points, he is likely gone.

Gainesville would be an ideal fit for Gruden. Most importantly, as a father of two sons not yet in college, he would not have to re-locate his family. Instead, he could likely commute a few days a week from Tampa to Gainesville, which will allow his sons to remain in school. Secondly, from a football point of view, he would have an opportunity to take over a premier program in the premier conference in the state he now calls home.

I think Gator Nation would be ecstatic if UF hired Gruden and that coaching at the college level would fit Jon Gruden's personality to a T. Gruden is born to teach....he obviously loves it, as seen from his ESPN Quarterback Academy he does with NFL prospects....and the University of Florida would give him one of the best opportunities in all of football.

Based upon the wealth in Florida and among Florida's alumni base, money would not be an issue. And Gruden is young enough that he could become a legendary SEC coach over the next 20 years. I can already see him firing up the Gators with a pre-game speech.

The other aspect which Gruden might like about college football is in the college game the coaches are the stars unlike the NFL where the players are the marquee names. He would get more attention as the Gator Head Coach than he would with an NFL franchise.

The only downside might be the need to recruit, but Jon is a born salesman who seems to thrive on human interaction. His enthusiasm, combined with his competitive nature and not to mention a Super Bowl ring, Jon Gruden, as head coach of the Florida Gators, would be able to get more than his fair share of players, especially at the QB position. And, to add even more hype to his hiring, what if Gruden brings in Tim Tebow for his staff? The combination of Jon Gruden and Tim Tebow would give the University of Florida more pre-season buzz next year than any other school in the SEC.

And recruits would be lining up outside Gruden's office. What high school QB with NFL aspirations would not want to play football at Florida for Jon Gruden? It's a perfect fit all the way around. Great for Florida, great for Jon Gruden's family, and great for him as a coach.

That's what I'm expecting to happen in Gainesville.

R.C. O'Leary is the author of the Amazon 5-Star legal thriller Hallways in the Night. When a veteran cop tries to arrest baseball's home run king, one of them ends up on trial and the other ends up dead! Click here to buy on Amazon. On Sale for Kindle only $0.99 for a limited time.

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U2's Songs of Innocence is a Great Album--Fantastic Songs from Start to Finish--5 STARS!

9/26/2014

U2'S New Album was Worth the Wait

I've been a die-hard U2 fan since the mid-1980s and have purchased every album they have released over the years and have enjoyed almost all their music. They are an amazing band that I've had the privilege of seeing almost a dozen times in college, including once at the Super Bowl in January of 2002.

The band has also been a big part of my kids lives as I bought several of their Live DVDs in the early 2000s, including the Vertigo tour and Live at Slane Castle. I spent many evenings and more car rides than I can remember watching these videos with my kids when they were still in their pre-elementary school stage.

One of my great memories is seeing U2 in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium for their No Line on the Horizon tour. I'm not a huge fan of that particular album, but the tour performance was great, especially the chance to hear Ultraviolet live again. Ultraviolet from the Achtung Baby tour was an example of U2 at the peak of their power.

That's why I was excited to hear that U2 was releasing their new album. I had been tracking stories and rumors of it for over a year and was disappointed when it was not released in early 2014. I liked the song Invisible but apparently the band was not happy with the reception of it. They kept working on it until they felt it was almost perfect and in my opinion they really got it right.

I love this album and have been listening to it on a daily basis since it was released. The more I listen, the more I appreciate the album. Just like Achtung Baby, there is not a bad, or even average, song on the album. Every song is great and the album has a great combination of rythym, rock and pop. These are songs that are going to translate very well into the tour.

I know some people are upset at the way U2 released the album, but on this topic I'm inclined to agree with my daughter who said "Wow, that's really nice" when I told her Bono and crew released the album for free. While some reviewers have analogized it to spam, I think of it more as the band giving back to its fans after all we have given the band over the years. I thought it was a great gesture and I'm excited about their upcoming World Tour. I can't wait to see u2 in person again and I'm excited to hear them play their Songs of Innocence live.

This is a 5-Star Album from top to bottom. Great music, complex with some of the best lyrics in U2's history. A truly inspired work of art from the band and proof that they have no desire to go quietly into the night.

R.C. O'Leary is the author of Hallways in the Night, a legal thriller that several reviewers have compared favorably to the work of the Master, John Grisham. Available now in Audio format, paperback and the Kindle at Amazon

While the Media is Focused on Trying to Take Down Roger Goodell, He's Focused on Trying to Fix the Issues

9/19/2014

Roger Goodell has Already Begun the Process of Changing the Culture in the NFL

Yesterday, ESPN's Tim Keown wrote a piece "Roger Goodell has gone to ground" in which he excoriated Roger Goodell for "disappearing" at this time of crisis. According to Keown "Goodell has sealed himself away from the mounting pile of rubble." While the piece, and its accompanying headline, is an attention grabber, it's not the truth. Roger Goodell hasn't sealed himself away during this crisis, he's rolled up his sleeves and gone to work to fix it.

In less than two weeks, since the video of Rice surfaced, there has been a sea change in the NFL's culture. Under Goodell's leadership, the NFL has moved towards a zero tolerance policy towards domestic violence. The latest proof can be seen from the Arizona Cardinals' coach, Bruce Arians, who said that Jonathan Dwyer will not be welcome back to the team unless he is exonerated. You can also see the change in the way that Adrain Peterson is now deactivated
indefinitely,even though the team's first response was that he was going to play Sunday. I have a pretty good feeling Goodell told the Vikings that was not going to happen. A similar change has taken place with the Panther's Greg Hardy who has gone from starting in week 1 to being deactivated in Game 2. He is now likely out for the season, pending the outcome of his court case.

Clearly the message has become clear--If you're arrested for domestic violence, you are not going to play. NFL players will still be entitled to due process under the law, but Roger Goodell is going to suspend them immediately. That's leadership.

I understand the media's frustration with the fact that Goodell has not hit the morning shows or sat down for a mea culpa on Sunday NFL Countdown, after all the media machine must be fed, but the fact is he is actually doing what is necessary to change the culture. He's not a politician running for the nearest microphone because that's not how Roger Goodell is wired. He's a guy who loves the NFL and has devoted his life to it. He's also a husband and father of daughters which probably makes the issue of domestic violence personal to him.

Those in the media who say that Goodell doesn't care about women or that money is the most important thing to him are wrong. I would say that many in the media lambasting Goodell seem much more interested in promoting themselves and generating clicks than they are about domestic violence. I would challenge the media outlets that are devoting hundreds of minutes and prime column space on their websites in order to criticize Goodell to instead devote some of that precious time and space to raising money for and educating the public about domestic violence.

It's a serious issue and Roger Goodell is addressing it in a serious manner by doing the single most important thing he can do--changing the NFL culture from the top down. That is what he's doing. He's not out there on a media tour giving interviews about what he "might" do, he's actually getting it done. And the fact of the matter is that Roger Goodell, who has the trust and support of the NFL owners, has a much better chance of getting it done than would a new commissioner.

I know that Goodell's style is at odds with the media's need for instant gratification and that his failure to genuflect on Morning Joe means he will continue to get bad PR for the short-term. But I don't think Roger Goodell cares. I don' think he's worried about the next 24-hour news cycle. I think he's worried about the long-term and doing what is necessary to fix this serious problem on a long-term basis.

R.C. O'Leary is the author of the legal thriller Hallways in the Night. Over 30 5-star reviews on Amazon for a novel in which the worlds of professional sports, politics and the criminal justice system collide. On sale for only $2.99 on the Kindle here.

Roger Goodell Has Always tried to "protect the Shield" and Now the Shield is likely to protect him

9/16/2014

The sharp Knives are Out for Goodell But He is Likely to Remain Commissioner

This time last year, the NFL was riding high. Peyton Manning was back and the NFL was sitting comfortably atop its throne as the King of Professional Sports. Everything seemed to break its way and the sport was so popular that CBS struck an agreement with the NFL to broadcast Thursday Night Football games. The league was riding high as Peyton Manning led the Broncos into the Super Bowl against the Seahawks.

But just like that, the whole narrative seems to have changed when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell gave Ray Rice a slap on the wrist for knocking out his then fiancee. It was a stunningly light sentence and the media backlash was swift.

But the backlash over the sentence was nothing compared to the reaction when the actual video of Rice's barbaric actions became public via TMZ. That was the accelerant that turned what seemed like a manageable public relations brushfire into a serious wildfire heading right for the NFL's front door.

You can't turn on the news today without seeing the outrage towards the NFL. Hannah Storm was in tears as she asked what the NFL stands for. And Morning Joe has been devoting big slots of time to the topic every day, welcoming guests who are calling for Goodell to be fired.

You see it on almost every site. The Drudge Report has been running several "NFL Hell" headlines, and the situation went from bad to worse with the disturbing report about Adrian Peterson's arrest for injuring his four year old son. What's next Goodell must be asking himself? Reports of the FBI investigating point shaving on one of the franchises?

Blood is in the water and the sharks--mostly in the form of media commentators and special interest groups seeking to capitalize on the situation--are circling what they perceive to be a weakened Roger Goodell. They think the shield has been damaged enough that they can take Goodell down which, end of the day, will do more for their own personal agendas than it will change the culture of the NFL.

But that seems to be the tacitly agreed upon endgame: Keep up the pressure until Goodell resigns. Once that happens, once the media takes him down, then the NFL will be allowed to get back to business. It truly resembles a media lynch mob: "Get Goodell!"

Nine times out of ten the media "gets their man" whenever there is this much pressure. I can only imagine the pressure Roger must be feeling when newspaper columnists claim, without any proof, that he is completely indifferent to domestic violence and only pretends to care about women. This despite the fact he is married and has daughters. Doesn't matter. Roger Goodell has now become public enemy number one and the media machine will not rest until he is destroyed.

In my opinion, it's a disgrace the way they are vilifying Goodell for the terrible behavior of a small number of bad actors. Yes he made a stupid decision with a two game suspension but should the man's career be ruined over it? Does the media and all those calling for Goodell's resignation hold themselves up to the same standard? Not even close.

In my opinion, Roger Goodell is a sincerely good guy who wants the NFL to be a force for good in society. If he could fill his team with nothing but choirboys I'm sure he would jump at the chance. But that is not reality.

Luckily for Roger, he is likely to survive thanks to the NFL shield that he has always sought to protect. In my opinion, he is almost certainly going to be supported by the owners until this situation blows over.

And it will.

The first thing that has to happen is that the NFL has to reverse the Vikings absolutely asinine/tin ear decision to reinstate Adrian Peterson. That was one of the dumbest PR moves the team could have done and I'm sure everyone at NFL HQ cringed when they saw the story. Even the Governor of Minnesota says Peterson should be suspended. And the fact is, he will. I would be absolutely shocked if Peterson isn't suspended for at least six games by close of business on Wednesday. I think he should be suspended for the season based upon the fact there are other reports of him abusing another of his sons.

But once that is done, once Peterson is suspended, if there are no more incidents--and you can be sure every player is going to be extra careful for the next few weeks--this story will, inevitably die down. You'll still have the media pushing it, but by mid-season the focus will be back on the field.

That's just a fact of life. The fact is, the NFL makes too much money to be pressured into doing anything it does not want to do.

As I think about the current pressure being brought against Goodell, it reminds me of theMasters when they refused to let in female members. Advertisers began to pull out, pressure built and the Masters announced they would simply go it alone with no advertisers. CBS, as you may recall, continued to broadcast the Masters, just like it will continue to broadcast the NFL.

Augusta eventually did the right thing and admitted female members. But it was on their terms. The NFL is going to do the right thing but it will also be on their terms--under the leadership of Roger Goodell.

The fact of the matter is there is no real way to pressure the NFL to offer up Goodell as a sacrifice for the media machine because there is no way that a large percentage (even a meaningful percentage) of fans will boycott. Roger Goodell has done too good of a job building up and strengthening the shield.

Ironically the same media trying to take down Goodell is the same media that made the NFL big enough that it can withstand this current attack and protect its Commissioner. 2014 is starting out as a bad year for the NFL, but the even so, the "shield" is almost impenetrable and there should be no doubt that it will be strong enough to protect Goodell in this crisis.

R.C. O'Leary is the author of Hallways in the Night, a legal thriller in which the worlds of professional sports, media and the criminal justice

What Happens When your AudioBook Ends Up Sounding a lot Different than Expected

9/1/2014

Accepting the Fact that Your Narrator is Going to Make your book His or her "own"

While writing Hallways in the Night I knew that I wanted to eventually publish the book in audio format. I wanted to do it as an audio book for two major reasons. First, as a self-published author, I thought having an audio version available would, along with ensuring the book was error-free, help establish the book's credibility in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Secondly, I was optimistic the story would translate well into an audio book.

Fortunately, ACX.com's platform provided an extremely easy and straightforward way to achieve this goal. Once the manuscript was completed, I was able to upload a sample of my book onto the ACX platform and invite potential narrators to audition for the book. Narrators were then able to review the book and, if interested, send me a sample.

Once I joined ACX, it wasn't long before Steven Jay Cohen and I decided to work together. Steven posted a sample, I listened, contacted him and we agreed to move together in a partnership pursuant to the terms set out by ACX. Everything was straightforward---ACX provided a standard contract, terms, responsibilities and deadlines were clearly defined, and ACX acts as the intermediary splitting royalties evenly between Steven and me.

I was excited based upon the initial sample I heard and confident that I found a great narrator for my book. You never know when you agree to partner with someone how things turn out, but with Steven everything was easy. His work after we reached agreement was just as good, probably better, than his sample. As a side note, he and I did speak on the phone before I agreed to have him narrate the book mainly because I wanted to get a feel for what he might be like as a collaborating partner. He came across as a genuinely good guy, and his on-line presence at stevenjaycohen.com was more confirmation that I was dealing with a true pro.

I was stoked and excited about having him read my book. When the day finally came that the audiobook was ready for me to review, Steven posted it to ACX where I had the chance to listen to Steven's narration of it. I downloaded the files to my iPad and took the "book" with me on a business trip.

It was a bit surreal as I pressed play and heard Steven utter the opening line that I had hoped would be one that hooked readers-"Sober, Remo Centrella would have never tried to make the exit."

"Boom!" I thought, "he nailed it." But, as the words began to flow out of my speakers, I realized Hallways in the Night was no longer solely mine. Part of it now belonged to Steven. And his interpretation of the story, his reading of it, was different than I expected. Characters sounded and spoke differently than I expected and certain sentences, certain words, were emphasized in ways that were different than I would have done it. As I listened to the story, I realized that I wasn't just listening to my book, I was listening to to what Steven was creating based upon my work.

Truth be told, at times, his interpretation was a bit jarring. He read certain sentences, emphasizing certain words, in a way that I would not have done it. As a matter of fact, there were a few times as I listened to the book that I said to myself things like "he's emphasizing the wrong word here," "he's reading this part too slow" or "why is he rushing through that line that was supposed to be delivered much slower?" In other words, as I listened to Steven, I realized he had taken what had been solely mine and made it his own.

Which is just what a great narrator has to do. Anyone can phone in a narration. Reading a book out loud is not, in and of itself, an art. But bringing a story to life, that is something that takes work, passion and commitment. And that's what Steven Cohen has brought to the audiobook of Hallways in the Night.

Once I got over the fact that his interpretation was going to be different than how I would have read the book, I was able to let go and enjoy his performance. And as I did, I began to realize his unique reading of the book made it richer and more enjoyable for me.

While I did my best to add different speech patterns and language use for each character, Steven created a unique and different voice for each character. That's one of the things I think makes the audiobook such an enjoyable and fun listen--each character, even when two characters are engaged in a rapid back and forth, are clearly differentiated from each other.

It was only after listening to Hallway in the Night that I realized how many truly different characters are in the book and how different they are from each other. They run the spectrum from black to white, young to old, Southern U.S. to Upper Crust England, and Steven made sure that each character was given their own distinctive voice.

When I finished listening to Hallways in the Night, I contacted Steven to commend him on his work and to tell him that he truly was the "man of a thousand voices." I thanked him for the immense care and attention to detail that he provided to each and every character. His efforts and commitment to his craft truly brought the book to life in a way that I could not have imagined. He added a completely new dimension to my book.

Because of that, I have had to accept the fact that while I wrote Hallways in the Night, it no longer belongs only to me. Part of it now belongs to its narrator because he put in the work and applied the dedication that was necessary to take ownership of it.

It was a reminder to me of how much can be accomplished through teamwork and that sometimes what you give up in a partnership is often dwarfed by how much you can gain

Doing a 24 Hour Sale at $.99 for Hallways in the Night

8/24/2014

As I explore different options to try and increase the exposure and sales for Hallways in the Night, I've decided I am going to enroll my book in Amazon's Kindle Select Program and see how that works.

In advance of that effort, I decided to run a 24 hour sale of Hallways in the Night for 99 cents through Monday.

Click here to be taken to the book's kindle page:

"Fans of early Grisham and Turow will love HALLWAYS IN THE NIGHT"

8/23/2014

Book Review from one of Amazon.com's top 500 Reviewers!

I've been fortunate to get some great reviews for Hallways in the Night. Along those lines, here is a review I was very happy to receive from one of Amazon's top 500 reviewers. It can be found here on Amazon with the full review pasted below. I hope if you are on the fence about reading Hallways in the Night, perhaps this might encourage you to delve in.

Fans of early Grisham and Turow will love R. C. O'Leary's gripping legal thriller, HALLWAYS IN THE NIGHT. The story centers on veteran Atlanta police detective Dave Mackno who fatally shoots baseball superstar Remo Centrella (Atlanta's "home run king") during a late-night encounter. Dave claims Remo, souped up on steroids and alcohol, resisted arrest and tried to kill him, forcing Dave to shoot Remo in self-defense. But the prosecution argues that Dave acted irresponsibly, failing to call for back-up and escalating a situation that should never have gotten out of hand. But what happened the night Remo was killed is just the tip of the iceberg. O'Leary's novel masterfully weaves elements of Dave's trial with Atlanta's political shenanigans, racial tensions, as well as an over-extended team owner trying to come to terms with both a crumbling marriage and the devastation of his franchise. What results is an exciting story that would make one fabulous movie.

The best parts of HALLWAYS IN THE NIGHT are its characters, all of which are richly developed and marvelously complex. Dave is a decent guy, but it's not easy being a white cop in an increasingly black Atlanta, especially when he's working in the city's most dangerous district. Up-and-coming prosecutor Maurice Bass is ambitious and ruthless, with an eye on Congress, but he also has a fascinating history - Bass is a black man raised by white adoptive parents who is determined to assert himself as a leader in Atlanta's African American community. And Ray Manning, billionaire owner of the Atlanta Barons, is juggling an oil venture in Canada, escalating debt, a young trophy wife, and a flagging baseball team without its most important player. Ray knows the governor, and the governor knows Maurice Bass - it isn't long before Dave Mackno is on trial for manslaughter and all of Atlanta is in the grip of a media blitz.

The story is crisply paced and beautifully written - never once does this feel like a "self-published" novel. The legal and political maneuverings are as authentic and believable as anything Grisham has come up with. There's a bit of a twist at the end that was totally unexpected - it caught me off guard and left me putting things together in surprising and satisfying ways. I liked the twist - it worked - and that's saying something. Too many novels end with "twists" that just defy credibility. Not so here. The ending is solid, and that's hugely important in a legal thriller - it also sets up the possibility of another Dave Mackno novel, which would be fantastic! I, for one, can't wait!

The one thing I'm not totally sure of is when this story takes place. Dave mentions having been part of the investigation into the Atlanta child murders in the summer of 1980, as well as the Rodney King riots in 1992. At the start of the novel, just before he encounters Remo Centrella, he's listening to Bruce Springsteen tapes on his Walkman - which suggests a mid-1990's timeframe. It's not a big problem with the story, but I did feel a little disoriented at times, wondering how old these characters are and when the action is taking place.

But this is a very minor quibble, because HALLWAYS IN THE NIGHT is a fabulous read. O'Leary had me from the first page, and I literally found myself not wanting to put the book down once the story got going. I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys realistic, complex, exciting legal thrillers. It's a terrific read. And it really would make a great movie!

Goodreads Group "The Source" is a Great Opportunity for Independent Authors to have their Books Screened and Judged by Readers

8/16/2014

Earlier in the year, as I was looking for opportunities to promote Hallways in the Night, I came across a Goodreads group called The Source which was established as a group that is dedicated to the task of trying to find high quality books written by self-published authors. One of the members analogized the group as an "American Idol for Writers."

The group's mission statement is:

The primary goal of this group is to find the best indie titles out there. We're looking for self-published books that are every bit as good - if not better - than those traditionally published.

I submitted Hallways in the Night and have been following it and the group's process since that time. What is somewhat unique about this group is that the books need to make it through a screening process before the book will be reviewed. The Source is not a book review swap site or even a book promotion site. It's more like a public critique group in which members of the group vote your book up or down. Kind of like America's Got Talent.

The format allows a large number of books to be screened because the screening requirements are not time consuming. In a nutshell (and you can get more details on the screening requirements here) group screens the submitted books based upon 3 factors: 1) Cover 2) The Blurb and 3) The Sample offered via Amazon's Look Inside Feature.

In order to move from the "Books Needing Screened" to the "Books Needing Reviewed" thread, a submitted book needs to garner 5 votes for approval. Similar to the America's Got Talent format where you need to get voted to the next round.

One of the relatively unique aspects of the Group is that the moderators have structured it in a way that allows the reviewers to make their recommendations either public or private. Thus, writers are able to get largely unfiltered feedback on their work. Because of this, writers will need a thick skin--even if your book is approved you're likely to get some critical feedback in the process---but the opportunity to have your book judged by independent screeners is worth it.

The process for writers wanting to submit is easy. You simply post your book in the thread "For Authors and Readers--Pitch Here." And then, you watch and wait as your book moves through the process.

As of last week, Hallways in the Night received the 5th vote of approval needed for it to move from "books needing screened" to "books needing reviewed," so my next step will be to provide 5 reader copies to reviewers interested in reading it. We'll then find out what their verdict is on the book.

This is truly a great opportunity that the Source gives to self-published writers. Over time, I think there is the chance that it can become a trusted voice for this growing segment of publishing.

Finally, The Source is an open group. Any readers who are a member of Goodreads can join. If you're a reader, consider becoming a screener and helping other readers discover some high quality self-published books. Hopefully, you'll also discover some great reads during the process.

tom Swyers Hits a Home Run with his Novel Saving Babe Ruth

8/3/2014

As summer begins to wind down and Pennant races begin to tighten up in preparation for the Fall Classic, author Tom Swyers' debuts with a novel that is truly one of a kind. Saving Babe Ruth is a truly original story that possesses many great elements of story telling.

One of the things that makes Saving Babe Ruth an excellent read is its unpredictability. While I will admit to having had a pretty good sense of how the book would end, I was never exactly sure how Swyers would get there. To use a baseball analogy, Swyers throws plenty of curveballs throughout the book which will keep you guessing throughout the story.

This is a book with enough elements that it's hard to fit it into a single category. While Saving Babe Ruth is definitely, at its heart, a baseball book, it's also a fictionalized memoir and has enough action and suspense that I could make the case it is somewhat of a sports thriller, too.

Saving Babe Ruth tells the story of how its protagonist, David Thompson, a lawyer in upstate New York, tries to save his local Babe Ruth league from being ruined by parents and promoters who stand to benefit (both monetarily and egotistically) by attempting to "professionalize" youth sports.

The book is completely relevant in an era when kids' sports have, at best, been tainted and at worst, almost ruined, by parents who want to live vicariously through the athletic accomplishments of their kids, and the "promoters" who exploit these delusions of grandeur through the continuing creation and proliferation of "travel" "elite" and "All-Star teams." Anyone who has a kid playing in a youth sports league will recognize several of the characters that Swyers creates.

One of the refreshing parts of this book is the way Swyers so clearly delineates between good guys and bad guys. At a time when the line between amateur sports and sports as a business has become as blurry as a batter's box chalk line in the 9th inning of a game, it's nice to spend time rooting for a character with intentions that are completely noble....even if you're not sure if he might decide that his noble ends may justify some questionable means.

In writing this story, Swyers could have easily written a book that was predictable and preachy. But he does not. Instead, he wrote a book with some of the most realistic characters you will come across. As a matter of fact, one of the things I liked best about this book was how real the characters seemed to me. This could likely be due to the fact that the book is, as Swyers discussed in a recent interview on the Guy Who Reviews Sports Books' blog, somewhat auto-biographical. Hence the reason I think it can be categorized as a fictionalized memoir.

In addition to writing a book with a wide cast of characters who are both real and relatable, Swyers did something I found to be very impressive. He created, at least in my mind, a very strong sense of uncertainty in how the book will eventually turn out through his opening scene in which Thompson fires a shotgun at his nemesis, Rob Barkus.

David's reckless act as the book opens made me wonder throughout what the overall arc of the story would be. Will David actually crack and will the final outcome be decided with someone looking into the barrel of a shotgun? Are we dealing with a happy ending or are things going to turn out very bad for some people? As a matter of fact, the opening scene was so original and unexpected that I had a nagging sense of uncertainty throughout the book. It was one of the reasons I kept wanting to turn the pages.

As the story progresses, it builds up to a final confrontation, a battle so to speak, that is completely original and one that would translate well onto the big screen. By the time Swyers reaches this point of the book, I was fully invested in the characters which made this scene even more satisfying. There are a lot of well written scenes in Saving Babe Ruth, but this scene, in particular, gave me a true sense of almost being there in person.

If you're looking for a book to read that has colorful characters, a strong plot-line, and a sense of unpredictability from page one, do yourself a favor and make some time to read Swyers' book. Available on Amazon in both kindle and paperback.

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19 5 STAR Reviews on Amazon

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD CHAPTERS
1-5 FOR FREE

From Reveiwers: 

"the courtroom scenes crackle....the setting and dialogue sing with pure authenticity." MenReadingBooks.com 

Tampa Tribune:"this legal thriller is certainly hard to put down."

BookStory: "An edge of the seat legal battle. Unputdownable."

From Readers:

"I had a hard time putting it down."

"5 Stars Across the Board!"

"A cross between John Grisham and Tom Wolfe."

"Hard to Believe this is O'Leary's first novel."

"Great action!"

"Loved every minute of it. Great twist that had my jaw dropped"

Author

R.C. O'Leary author of legal thriller Hallways in the Night.