R.C. O'Leary: Author of The Democrats' Secret: Exposing the Con the Democratic Party Runs on Its Voters

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.

Movie Review "Million Dollar Arm"-- a Wonderful Family Movie with a Great Message

5/19/2014

Godzilla was Sold Out So we lucked into Million Dollar Arm

I'm normally not a big monster-movie fan. I haven't seen any of the Transformers or Marvel movies, for example, but there was something about Godzilla that made me (much to my wife's surprise) want to go see it. Maybe it was just nostalgia for those great ABC 4:30 Movies I watched as a kid that had such great intros.

Decades before Shark Week was launched ABC used to have weeks dedicated to themes like Godzilla and the Planet of the Apes. I recall that when I was a kid (a time when HBO didn't exist) I couldn't wait to get home to watch many of the movies.

So it was with that idea in mind I headed with my son and two of his friends to see Godzilla. My son recommended we buy tickets on-line in advance, but I assured him there was no way a 5 o'clock Sunday movie would be sold out. "We'll probably have the theater to ourselves," I said.

Well, suffice it to say that at 5:10 we were looking at the board for options. I like Jon Hamm as an actor (not as much as my wife) and I heard good things about Million Dollar Arm. It was from Disney and rated PG. A good alternative I thought.

But I was wrong. Million Dollar Arm wasn't just a good movie...it was a GREAT movie with all the elements that make movie making special. I was moved many times while watching it.

One of the things I liked best about the movie was the way it accurately portrayed the Indian culture. I have had the privilege of getting to know hundreds of Indian Americans throughout my career and have come to truly appreciate and value the Indian people and their culture. The Indians portrayed in the movie---kind, family oriented, humble, funny, and intelligent--reminded me of so many of the wonderful clients with whom I worked during the years. In many ways, Million Dollar Arm is a love letter to the Indian culture while being what I found to be a pitch perfect (no pun intended) representation of the Indians I know.

The movie does a wonderful job of weaving together multiple story lines as it builds to a dramatic conclusion. Hamm does a great job, but I think the movie was carried by the four Indian actors--Hamm's partner at the agency, the two pitchers, and their coach.

The cinematography and images from the India shoot were fantastic. Plenty of tension, dramatic twists, and lots of laughs. Just a wonderful "Disney-type" movie and as a father it was great that it was rated PG.

I give Million Dollar Arm five stars and my son and his two friends agreed. As a matter of fact, on the drive home we all said that while we still want to see Godzilla we were happy with the way our Sunday afternoon turned out.

If you're looking for a great family movie that will inspire you and give you some encouragement, I can guarantee you'll enjoy Million Dollar Arm. It was an unexpected treat that I'm sure anyone will enjoy.

Book Review Site "Men Reading Books" Reviews my legal thriller Hallways in the Night

5/9/2014

For Fans of Mysteries and Thrillers this is a Great Review Site run by Power Readers for the Benefit of Power Readers

As a self/direct-published author, one of the biggest challenges is establishing the credibility of my book. Obviously, while my mother thinks the book is great, I'm doubtful how much sway she's going to have to convince you to buy the book even if it is only $2.99 for the Kindle version (for the record, that's cheaper than a venti chai latte)

But, I have been, and continue to be, hopeful that the more 3rd party sites review the book, the more credibility the book will have in the marketplace.

Because of that, I have spent some time reaching out to some book review blogs and review sites. As a side note, every one of them, including those who did not have time or an interest in reviewing Hallways in the Night, has been really nice and gracious. Proving that what the great James Lee Burke often says is true: "Book people are the greatest people in the world."

In researching book review sites, I was very fortunate to come across a truly great one Men Reading Books. It's a review site that specializes in mystery and thrillers and is run by four power readers: East Coast Don, West Coast Don, Midwest Dave and Vegas Bill. They are four guys who have teamed up on this site which means readers get a steady stream of book reviews and suggestions.

As part of my process of approaching a blog reviewer to ask if they would be interested in reading and reviewing Hallways in the Night, I always spend some time reading their previous posts and then trying to learn a bit about their background. I find a much better "review" rate if I am able to make an approach that is personalized, targeted and shows I'm not just out there making random requests.

Luckily, in doing my research, I found out that East Coast Don works at the Duke Clinical Research center. Because I'm a Duke law graduate, I mentioned that in my email query to Don. I knew he must be inundated with requests so I wanted to try and find a connection.

Don was kind enough to agree to read Hallways in the Night but he was told me upfront that Men Reading Books makes no promises when reviewing a book and has to, of course, adhere to their mission of "providing an honest appraisal from our standpoint as a member of the target audience of male fiction readers who favor political thrillers, police/legal procedurals, and some occasional historical fiction."

That was all I wanted and was (mostly) confident based upon other feedback and reviews that Hallways in the Night has received. I felt the stakes were a little higher here because of the site's profile and reputation, so I crossed my fingers when Don said he would review.

It was back in February/March (right around Jim Boeheim's first trip to Cameron) that Don and I communicated and I have been checking in on the MenReadingBooks site on a frequent basis. I was excited when I navigated to the site this morning and saw Don's review.

I was excited to see that the review was positive.

In the review, East Coast Don states "the setting and dialogue sings with authenticity" as well as that "the courtroom scenes crackle." He also writes a line I love when he writes "Remo Centrella is starting to decline a bit so he starts looking for a little help using the breakfast of champions.....steroids."

You can click through and read the full review here. Fair warning--just an fyi that this review does include a couple of spoilers with regards to who the "mystery" woman is in the car with Remo.

I feel very fortunate to get Men Reading Books to review Hallways in the Night and secondly to have received a positive review. Hopefully, it's another important step in the process of building credibility, awareness, and momentum for the book.

Check out the review and if you have not already, pick up a copy of Hallways in the Night at Amazon. The book does seem to be resonating with readers in a positive way and hopefully you'll be another reader who finds the book to be a good read that is absorbing and satisfying in a way that only a book can be.

And to my mother, who is the book's biggest champion: Happy Mother's Day!

Book Review Via Marilyn's Mystery Reads Book Review Site

5/1/2014

This is a great website for those who enjoy mysteries. Marilyn was kind enough to review Hallways in the Night. Her review is here: http://www.marilynsmysteryreads.com/2014/04/12/hallways-in-the-night-by-r-c-oleary-book-review/

Happy to share a new 5-Star Book Review from one of Amazon's Top Reviewers

4/26/2014

I was fortunate enough to get a review from Dan Berger. He is a power-reader, one of top reviewers on Amazon and trusted enough to be part of Amazon's Vine Voice Program. Here is a link to his review which I'm going to reproduce here. I think he's done a better job of describing the book than I have:

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Strong treatment of a collision between race, politics, celebrity and justice in Atlanta, April 25, 2014

By
Daniel Berger

This review is from: Hallways in the Night: A Legal Thriller (Kindle Edition)
Apparently a first novel, this book surprised me. It’s fast-moving and well-told. O’Leary shares with Tom Wolfe the ability to flesh out with present-day realism a race-money-politics-and-celebrity tale set in Atlanta, and with John Grisham the ability to tell a good, taut courtroom story.

Atlanta police detective Dave Mackno, sitting through a boring stakeout late one night deep in the city, suddenly finds himself in an altercation with the city’s star baseball player Remo Centrella, who, bull-strong and pumped full of steroids, nearly beats him to death before Mackno shoots him. The only witness is a blonde Centrella has just given a black eye, who flees into the night.

Thus begins a story that pulled me in faster than usual. The shooting derails the team’s until-then stellar season and imperils the finances of mercurial billionaire owner Ray Manning. It triggers political maneuverings by the white governor, Frank Durkin, and black district attorney Maurice Bass, an ambitious lawyer who made his name mobilizing black anger at a white power structure and police. Police shootings of unarmed civilians on streets in the ‘hood are high on the list of things he hates. Mackno is exonerated by the police department’s internal investigation, but Bass indicts him anyway, and so begins a journey leading to a media-frenzy trial.

O’Leary has done plenty of homework on everything from police procedure to legal tactics to high finance. He notes in an afterword that he took some liberties with the legal procedure, but as a former news reporter who covered courts for years, I didn’t see any howlers. It all rang true enough for me.

He places the story in the Atlanta of a decade or so ago. He navigates deftly Atlanta’s distinctive blends of race, politics and celebrity. Ray Manning is reminiscent of Ted Turner in a lot of ways (if this is ever made into a movie, I nominate John Slattery from “Mad Men” to play him). But the other politicians, while suggesting familiar local types, don’t seem to be attempts to characterize, or caricature, any ones in particular.

O’Leary takes a different tack in one major way from Wolfe in his approach to a story like this (Wolfe has dealt with racially-charged, media-hyped incidents in at least three of his bestselling novels, including “A Man In Full”, also set in Atlanta). Wolfe’s characters don’t have major back stories; they find themselves thrust into events whirling out of control to which they must respond in the present without that much reference to the past.

O’Leary’s characters, though, have back stories that count, and the weaving of these into this story is what drives the plot and makes it interesting. His character arcs are positive, suggesting growth is possible, forgiveness exists and people on both sides can learn to look beyond racial stereotyping.

Mackno’s police memories date back to the Atlanta Child Murders and the Rodney King riots, and O’Leary’s treatment discussion of those from different perspectives is well done. You understand where Mackno and other white cops are coming from – and how they’re not all the same – but you also get a fair telling of life as black Atlantans might have experienced it in the Jim Crow, Civil Rights and present eras, and the scars left by those times.

Interestingly, O’Leary notes in an afterword that he was writing another novel, created a back story for it, and found the back story so interesting that he gave it its own book – this one. It is now the prequel for the original story, not yet published. I look forward to it.

5 Stars for Jason Matthews' Espionage Novel "Red Sparrow"

4/18/2014

An overall great Read that Kept me Guessing and Made Me feel Like I've had a Peek Inside the World of International Espionage

This book was recommended to me by one of my former Professors when I was back visiting Duke. We were discussing books and he remarked it was one of the best he has read in years. I picked it up based upon his endorsement and am very happy I did so.

The book is not perfect and I'll confess there was a point where I questioned my Professor's recommendation but by the time I closed the last page, I can say I wholeheartedly agree. This is a true classic spy thriller written by an author (33 years with the CIA) who is clearly the real deal. Anyone who enjoys espionage or books of intrigue will, in all likelihood, love this book. One of the best things about Red Sparrow, it literally gets better and better and better the further you read, and I have to say I felt as if I have spent much of the past week traveling between DC, Eastern Europe and Russia.

The opening of the book is superb as it involves some tradecraft between a CIA handler, Nate, and his agent, a high level Russian mole, who meet clandestinely on the streets of Moscow. As I began reading the book, I began to feel that it was going to be a winner.

After the initial opening in Moscow, we're introduced to the female protagonist Egarova. I immediately liked her story and it was clear from the way Matthews wrote it that he has a gift for creating interesting characters. As a side note, I think it's safe to say that one of the things that makes Red Sparrow so interesting is that every character is interesting. Even the smallest of ones are interesting. I can't think of any author who does this better.

But after we are introduced to the main characters, I thought the book flagged a little bit as we find out about Russia's Sparrow School and when Nate and Egarova first meet. I thought this part of the book was slow moving. But, at about page 90 to 100, it was as if a switch was turned back on and the novel began to soar, climbing higher each section until a wonderful crescendo.

A great many twists and turns, some awesome depictions of Vladimir Putin and the Russian culture, and a plot that literally kept me wanting to turn the pages to find out what happens next and to see how things are finally resolved.

Pacing was excellent, the plot was completely unpredictable, and Matthews wraps it all up in a way that is authentic, credible, and masterful.

One of my favorite parts was the way Matthews was able to create such great imagery whether it be CIA HQ, Moscow's secret service HQ, or a tony Inn near Georgetown.

A brilliant book that is worthy of all the praise it has received.

I'm a major John Le Carre fan, and this book is as good as any of his. If you're looking for a great read that will make you feel like you're part of a counter-intelligence operation, you will enjoy Red Sparrow.

My book Is Being Featured on EBooksoda

4/7/2014

Good new book promotion site and worth checking out if you are a reader and book lover.

My book is being featured on Tuesday April 8th 2014 at eBookSoda, a new readers' site where they'll send you ebook recommendations tailored to your taste. www.ebooksoda.com.

They send you free book recommendations when you sign up,

RC

Some Thoughts On this year's NCAA tournament

3/29/2014

The NBA's rule requiring players to have one year of eligibility has hurt Duke more than any other program. I know Coach K announced on Wednesday he does not plan to change his philosophy, but as I watch these teams with strong mature players (Michigan State and Florida, in particular) it makes me yearn for the days when Duke had Senior led teams that were so hard to beat. In my opinion, one of the things that makes K so great is his ability to teach and develop players within his system. Unfortunately, one year is not enough for the lessons to sink in. I can only imagine what kind of a player Jabari Parker would be if he stayed at Duke for three years. Not only would he likely lead Duke to an NCAA championship, he would, in my opinion, be more likely to have a better long-term NBA career.

CBS/TBS is completely under-utilizing Clark Kellogg. I enjoy the tbs/cbs March Madness show with Barkley, Gumbel, Smith and Kellogg. It's entertaining and it's a perfect set-up for Sir Charles. But it's a complete waste of a guy who I thought should still be paired with Jim Nantz as part of CBS number one team. I still have no idea why they replaced Clark with Greg Anthony. Anthony is good, but in terms of watching a big game, I would definitely prefer Kellogg.

And speaking of announcing, Len Elmore is one of the most erudite announcers on the air, but I just don't get a sense of any excitement or chemistry between him and Reggie Miller. He might be better matched up with Steve Kerr who is excellent and then bring Clark and Reggie together on the same team. Those two tweaks would have much better chemistry.

it's going to be tough and will take many more legal battles before the NCAA begins to treat players fairly. While I was encouraged by the news that Northwestern players can unionize, I'm afraid their leverage is going to be a lot less than expected since their careers are limited to five years (including a redshirt year). I also think you'll see the colleges put some draconian language into already very one-sided letters of intent that will seek to prevent players from exerting any real power.

Billy Donovan has done an amazing job teaching his players to be unselfish. I saw the Gators play in person in Orlando last Saturday and their team chemistry was tremendous. You could see how much the Gators enjoy playing basketball together.

Consistently impressed with the level of defense and quality of 3-point shooting in the tournament. This year's tournament is a huge counterpoint to all the criticism you hear about the AAU system raising a generation of players who don't know how to play fundamental basketball or defense. This year's defense is as good as I've seen.

Why do so few teams play full-court press nowadays? I always though a full-court press was a great way to compensate for less talent but teams a full-court press seems to be an afterthought.

Sports Illustrated's long form piece on the Georgetown-Princeton game is a truly great read. I wish I could say I saw the game live but I was in college in Philly at the time and did not get to watch the game. As a side note, I'm shocked ESPN's 30 for 30 never did anything with this game, it would have been a natural fit for them or their Grantland franchise.

And going back to Duke for a moment. I was talking with a pretty prominent Duke alumnus earlier this week and I mentioned the fact that Steve Wojciehowski was the heir apparent to Coach K. This alumnus said he thought Coach K liked Wojo too much to do that to him and that word around Durham is that Johnny Dawkins is looking like the eventual successor to Coach K.

I agree with Dick Vitale that players should be allowed 6 fouls in a game, but completely disagree with his position that the shot clock should be cut down to 30 seconds. I like the fact there is a major difference in style between the NBA and NCAA basketball. The games have been so good this tournament, why fix what is clearly (at least on the court) not broken.

It is always a privilege to listen to a game Verne Lundquist call and the games he does with Bill Raftery are always excellent. Would love to see CBS find a way to utilize them next week in Dallas

I don't have any favorite teams left but I'm enjoying the tournament as much as ever because so many games have resembled a great Heavyweight fight.

Harvard Upset Sets the Tone for a dramatic NCAA Basketball Tournament

3/20/2014

I've always been a big fan of the NCAA basketball tournament because it can be so dramatic and the first two full days of the tournament are two of the best days in Sports. I put them up these two days up there with the NFL Conference Championships, the Super Bowl, and Final Four weekends as some of the best days to be a sports fan.

My earliest memory of the NCAA final game was in 1981 on the day that President Reagan was shot. It was pre-cable news days so there wasn't the wall to wall coverage that would happen today and the game went on pretty much without a hitch. The three things I remember most from that game were Isiaih Thomas breakaway layups, Randy Wittman, and Bob Knight saying after the game that Hank Iba (I think it was him) told him to never be the first coach to call a timeout.

After that game, I became hooked on the NCAA. Perhaps surprisingly, or because my father wasn't a big sports fan, I didn't watch any of the Bird-Magic matchup the year before. I don't think I even heard of Bird before he became a Celtic, although I would later become a huge fan.

After the Indiana game, the next team I remember pulling for was NC State. Even though I was in Connecticut, I became totally enamored with their run to the Championship. I remember how much fun it was to watch Derek Whiittenburg play. They were an awesome team and I remember jumping up and down when they got the last second dunk. That team personified Cinderella and I was completely enthralled by Jimmy V. A couple of summers later I saw him speak at a Coaches Clinic at Fairfield U and he had the same intensity when teaching as he did coaching.

After NC State, the next team I loved was Villanova. That was mainly because of Harold Jensen who grew up a few towns away in Trumbull. He was a great high school basketball player and had the reputation for being a stellar person, too. It was easy to root for him. His first year at Villanova was kind of a bust, but Harold was a worker and he began to get some minutes during the Big East tournament his sophomore year.

From there, his minutes kept building and by the time Nova made it to the Championship I could not have been more excited for Villanova if I had been a student there. Their win over Georgetown has to be one of the best games I have ever seen. They played a perfect game.

I later had a chance to meet Harold at the Fairfield University basketball camp and he could not have been a nicer or classier person. I remember he spoke to the camp and talked about his work ethic and how it helped make him the player he was. The first story he told was that when he was at 5-Star basketball camp and it was time for recreation, he stayed on the court and worked on his game. That was amazing to me. He was already a top recruit who was dominating high school teams in Connecticut, but he was committed to working on his game. The other story I remember is that he said he would go to the Gym and run wind sprints between classes at Villanova. I think he said that he was able to run about 75 sprints between classes and still have time to shower before the next one began.

What a great work ethic and inspiration and it paid off when he didn't miss a shot during the Championship game.

Ever since those first experiences as a fan March has always been one of my favorite. The tourney has given me so many great memories and it looks like this year's is already off to a great start with both the Dayton and Harvard upsets. I can already hear Warren Buffet letting out a sigh of relief.

This is the most wide-open the field seems to have been in a while and I won't be shocked by whoever wins. I'm definitely pulling for my Dukies but I'm a little worried about their lack of big presence inside. It would be great to see a school like Witchita State or Iowa State win the title.

Whoever wins, it should be a great ride and I can't wait to watch some games each of the next three weekends. If they are as exciting as the Harvard matchup, this tournament may be one of the most thrilling in history.

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