Two ‘Meet the Author’ Events Planned @ Your Lewis & Clark Library
December 1, 2017 (Helena, MT)—Your Lewis & Clark Library is pleased to welcome two great Montana authors next week for “Meet the Author” events.
On Thursday, December 7th at 6PM Meet Montana Military Fiction Author Peter Nealen.
Nealen will talk about and read from his most recent book, Fury in the Gulf, the first in the Brannigan's Blackhearts series. Books will be available for purchase and signing after the talk.
Fury in the Gulf: Iranian Fanatics, American Hostages, and The Clock Is Ticking! The tiny island kingdom of Khadarkh, strategically placed in the Persian Gulf, has swung back and forth between the Saudi and Iranian orbits for years. But when a mysterious force seizes control of the island, executes the tiny Khadarkhi Army, and takes any Americans they can find hostage, it appears that Khadarkh will be an Iranian puppet for the foreseeable future. The politicians are afraid of risking the hostages. And as the Western powers dither, some people start to look for another solution. They find that solution in John Brannigan, who already has a rep for pulling off the impossible, through a combination of audacity, ruthlessness, and ferocious loyalty to his men. His military service is over, but now he will pick up a rifle again, putting together a squad of mercenaries to land on Khadarkh and rescue the hostages, in a hail of bullets and swift, sharp violence. Brannigan's Blackhearts are about to strike. Fury in the Gulf is the first in a new Action Adventure series by Peter Nealen.
"Peter writes brutal, believable action at a breakneck pace that will keep you turning pages." - Larry Correia, NYT Bestselling Author.
Peter Nealen is a former Reconnaissance Marine and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan. He deployed to Iraq in 2005-2006, and again in 2007, with 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 1st Recon Bn. After two years of schools and workups, including Scout/Sniper Basic and Team Leader's Courses, he deployed to Afghanistan with 4th Platoon, Force Reconnaissance Company, I MEF. He has long been a reader of history, philosophy, folklore, science fiction, and fantasy, and is the author of eleven novels and several short stories in the action adventure and fantasy genres. There are three series: the American Praetorians, the Jed Horn Supernatural Thrillers, and the Brannigan's Blackhearts.
The Library is pleased to welcome author Carson Cunningham and hear from his new book, "Fallen Stars: Five American Athletes Who Died in Military Service" on Saturday, December 9th at 1 PM.
Jon Wertheim, Exectutive Editor of Sports Illustrated describes Cunningham’s book as groundbreaking; “In his groundbreaking book, Carson Cunningham gives us examples of true valor and courage among athletes. Equally parts sports text, psychological study, and military history, this book entertains, informs, and gives readers much to consider. And if it causes us to be more judicious in lionizing athletes—differentiating fine performers from true sports heroes—so much the better." In the spring of 2002, motivated by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, National Football League stalwart Patrick Daniel Tillman turned down a multimillion-dollar contract to join the US Army. Two years later, he died while serving his country in the mountains of Afghanistan. In the process, he became an American icon.
Inspired by Pat Tillman’s story, Fallen Stars captures the lives and times of Tillman (1976–2004) and four other war-hero American athletes: Hamilton “Ham” Fish (1873–98), Hobart “Hobey” Baker (1892–1918), Nile Kinnick (1918–43), and James Robert "Bob" Kalsu (1945–70), all of whom died while serving in the US military.
Why a focus on fallen war-hero athletes, and why these five? Because here we have over a century’s worth of men who faced the fears and uncertainties that come with life and made the ultimate sacrifice. Their stories give us a kaleidoscopic picture of America over the course of more than one hundred years, and through them we can explore the wars America has participated in, the values that Americans have celebrated, and what it has meant, over time, to be an American hero.
Dr. Carson Cunningham is also the author of 21st Century Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, American Hoops: US Men’s Olympic Basketball from Berlin to Beijing, Underbelly Hoops: Adventures in the CBA – AKA The Crazy Basketball Association and Before the Curse: The Chicago Cubs’ Glory Years. Cunningham earned a PhD in history from Purdue University and an MBA from DePaul University, he is in his fifth season as head coach of the Carroll College Men's Basketball program.
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