My Latest Updates on
Voyage of Mercy
and My Thanks to You
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My greetings to you, dear readers. I promise I won't use the phrases "unprecedented times," "flatten the curve," or "we're all in this together" (at least I won't use them again!). I
will say that I hope you and your families are doing well -- physically, emotionally, and economically -- and know that you are in my prayers. I always begin these newsletters by expressing my deepest gratitude to you. I so appreciate your interest and loyalty. I am enormously humbled by and grateful for the help you've given me, and honored that you are members of my team.
I hope you find this edition newsy and entertaining. I'm focusing on my latest book,
Voyage of Mercy: The USS Jamestown, the Irish Famine, and the Remarkable Story of America's First Humanitarian Mission
(St. Martin's Press), which managed to hit the bookstores just a week or so prior to shutdowns. As a result, the many personal appearances I had scheduled this spring have been postponed (many until the fall), but I've been fortunate to receive some great reviews, do blogging and writing for several outlets, and participate in several virtual ("Zoom") sessions --
with more to come (read about a couple, and learn how to register for them, later in this newsletter!). As always, I welcome your feedback.
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My "dining room" signing sessions are working out great!
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First, thanks to the many organizations I've been working with who were kind enough to
schedule speaking appearances this spring, and who are now rescheduling (with fingers crossed) for the fall. In the meantime, I've signed many books at home for people who've ordered them online and had them delivered directly to me -- they'll then send me an email with the names of the recipients, and any pertinent information that will help me with a personalized inscription. Then we make arrangements for me to get the books back to the buyer. It's worked out great, and if you'd like to arrange a similar "signing" (for, say, Mother's Day or Father's Day), please email me at this address. You can order
Voyage of Mercy at any of the sites here. Meantime, I look forward to bookstores opening soon.
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From the
Wall Street Journal
and
the
New York Post
, to
American Heritage
and
Smithsonian
-- some nice
"Voyage"
reviews, excerpts, and my own writing about the book
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In my last newsletter, I shared with you excellent reviews of
Voyage of Mercy from
Irish Central and
Kirkus reviews; a fine feature story in the
Patriot Ledger, Boston's South Shore newspaper; and an excerpt that was published in the
Boston Globe Sunday Magazine. Since then, the book has been prominently featured in a number of national, regional, and local publications and websites. Here's a sampling:
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- The Wall Street Journal published a lengthy and fine review on March 20. Unless you subscribe to the WSJ, you may not be able to get past the paywall, so allow me to excerpt a small portion here: "Mr. Puleo has found a new way to tell the story with this well-researched and splendidly written chronicle of the Jamestown, its captain, and an Irish priest who ministered to the starving...Mr. Puleos tale, despite the hardship to come, surely is a tribute to the better angels of America's nature, and in that sense, it couldn't be more timely."
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- The New York Post, after selecting Voyage of Mercy as one of its "best books of the week" on March 14 (the only nonfiction book named), also chose Voyage as one of the "15 Best Books to Read in Our Age of Social Isolation." In the latter article, Voyage of Mercy was one of two nonfiction books chosen, along with national bestseller The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson. Of the mission described in Voyage, the Post wrote: "It was the first humanitarian mission by the United States -- prior to it, the idea of nations helping each other was not considered -- and it set the precedent for many more such efforts to come. A moving historic tribute."
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- I was thrilled that American Heritage Magazine published an excerpt from Voyage of Mercy in its Winter 2020 edition. I hope you enjoy it.
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- I was honored that Smithsonian Magazine selected Voyage of Mercy as one of its books that "may have been lost in the news" during the pandemic. Smithsonian noted: "Perhaps Puleo’s text, like the event it describes, will offer a glimmer of hope in these uncertain, polarizing times."
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- The National Catholic Reporter published a lengthy review on Voyage of Mercy. Noting that the story begins with the destruction of the potato crop in 1846 that led to the famine, the NCR noted: "This is where Stephen Puleo's inspiring and timely story begins. He explores in laudable detail the charitable efforts Americans — rural and urban, immigrant and native-born, Christian, Quaker and Jewish — put forth to alleviate suffering brought on by starvation in Ireland."
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- I wrote a blog for The History Reader, the comprehensive history-related site from St. Martin's Press, in which I offer my thoughts on Voyage of Mercy, the Jamestown mission, and the overwhelming and unprecedented American relief effort to Ireland during the famine. Enjoy.
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- My thanks to readers' site Shelf Awareness for their excellent review of Voyage of Mercy, saying: "In this meticulously researched, yet eminently approachable book, Stephen Puleo provides a fascinating glimpse at a little-known facet of a well-known trauma...An enthralling history of the Irish famine and the United States' first humanitarian project: sending a ship of supplies to help alleviate Irish suffering."
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- Voyage of Mercy received a coveted "starred review" from Booklist, a key publications for libraries, educators, and booksellers. Booklist said of Voyage: "Puleo (American Treasures, 2016) makes this history compelling, and tells further American aid stories across the decades through the Berlin Airlift of 1948. Puleo’s deep research is evident in an erudite bibliographic essay."
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- I'd also like to take this opportunity to offer my deepest thanks to dedicated Voyage of Mercy readers on Goodreads and Amazon for taking the time to provide their reviews. There is no better way for readers to get an honest opinion on books than from other readers! Thanks to all of mine (including many of you!) who have offered their thoughts online.
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I hope you'll take a few minutes to enjoy these radio interviews...
During the last couple of months, I've had the pleasure of participating in a series of radio interviews of varying lengths to talk about Voyage of Mercy. I hope you'll find some time to listen and enjoy the following:
- I really enjoyed my appearance on WBUR's "Radio Boston" show with host Tiziana Dearing. She asked great questions, particularly about how America's assistance to Ireland during the great famine of 1847 could be compared with the generosity Americans are showing today during the pandemic. The interview is just under 11 minutes long and I hope you enjoy it too
- My thanks to Boston's WRKO's midday host "VB" for selecting Voyage of Mercy as his Book of the Month - I always like talking with VB -- this informal session is about 13 minutes long and I hope you like it too.
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Voyage of Mercy audiobook narrator wins prestigious industry award!
I'm really thrilled for Sean Patrick Hopkins, narrator of the audiobook version of my
Voyage of Mercy
, who was the recipient of the prestigious "AudioFile Earphones Award" for his reading of Voyage.
In its review,
AudioFile
Magazine
said of Sean's narrative style: "He makes this story of America's first significant overseas aid effort and the two people most responsible -- a sea captain and a Catholic priest -- come alive." I completely agree with AudioFile's review -- Sean's reading was compelling and brilliant. Congratulations Sean
!
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Two great virtual events (May 14 and May 20) that I hope you'll join me for! -- Plus, my thanks to the Town of Milton, MA!
I'm excited about two "Zoom" events coming up in May to discuss
Voyage of Mercy, and I hope you can join me by registering for one or both of them:
- On May 14 at 6:00 p.m., I'll be making a virtual appearance at the New England Historic Genealogical Society's (NEHGS) prestigious American Inspiration author series. Initially scheduled as a March live event, the rescheduled Zoom appearance is a tribute to NEHGS's ability to adapt quickly, by partnering with both the Boston Public Library and the WGBH Forum Network to enhance marketing and help make the event a success. Jean Maguire, Library Director at American Ancestors and New England Historic Genealogical Society, will moderate this event. I urge you to register for this free event quickly. I can't wait and look forward to seeing you there!
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MILTON READS 2020: ‘VOYAGE OF MERCY
’
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And finally, a few books for your reading pleasure (besides mine!)
Those of you who have received my e-blasts before know that I like to recommend
nonfiction books from other authors that I think you'll enjoy. Many of you have let me know that you appreciate this, which pleases me greatly -- I love conversations about books, so consider this our online conversation. I hope you'll add these five books to your list for the spring-summer season:
- Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe -- I read this right around the time Voyage of Mercy was published as part of my continuing effort to learn more about the legacy of the 1847 famine. Keefe writes brilliantly about the "Troubles" during the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, and does so by wrapping the big picture history around a murder investigation. The bitterness between England and Ireland has been caused by many factors -- religious, social, economic -- and I maintain that the Great Hunger of 1847 is at the root of much of it. This book is well researched and a riveting story.
- What Caused the Civil War? Reflections on the South and Southern History by Edward L. Ayers -- I've had this book on my shelf for some time (publication date: 2005), and finally dug in to this compelling collection of essays by one of my favorite Civil War historians. I think the title of this book is a little misleading, although Ayers (a great historian and even better writer) does delve into some causes of the great conflict. But he also focuses a great deal on Southern history and culture today, and how the South sees itself both as a region and in relation to the North and the rest of the country. I guarantee you that you will find these thoughtful and sometimes provocative essays among your best reads of the year.
- The Lost City of the Monkey God by Douglas Preston -- If you're up for a true-life adventure story that involves the remarkable discovery of a long-lost culture in Honduras -- complete with poisonous snakes, monsoon-like rainstorms, and a mysterious disease -- this book is for you. Preston has achieved a good deal of fame as a fiction author, and he uses his storytelling skills to make this nonfiction tale hard to put down. Even better: Preston was a member of the expedition that searched for (and found) the so-called "Lost City." Enjoy.
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I'll conclude my message the same way I began -- by offering my profound thanks to you for your support and encouragement. It is reassuring, inspirational, and humbling to know that you are in my corner. Please visit my
website to see the new
Voyage of Mercy material or my
Facebook page for regular updates (remember, it's an "author page," so you are not required to be a member of Facebook to enjoy my postings; if you are a member, your comments are always welcomed!).
I hope to see you soon at one of my events (virtual or otherwise!) or hear from you by email. Look for my next full e-blast in the Fall -- unless "breaking news" compels me to write sooner.
Meantime, please stay well -- and happy reading.
With much gratitude,
Steve
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