Hi, Everybody!

Just to give you a quick update before you get immersed in holiday shopping.

First of all, the book is now at the printers and will be out on the 9th of February. There will be some book signings and other events, mainly in the Northeast, from February through March. We'll be posting those early next year.

If you haven't ordered a copy yet, consider that you'll get a free e-book and free shipping if you order it from Inkshares rather than the other online sources. Any you'll likely get your copy sooner.

Check out the revised Inkshares book page and you'll be able to peek at the table of contents and read the book and project description as well as the book introduction.

Second, to promote the book's greater message about citizenship and service, I'll be leading a cross-country National Service Ride with presentation events and schools and other venues.

You can learn more about it and keep track of the latest developments on the project on the Travels with Harley - National Service Ride Facebook page. I'll also be tweeting about it. In addition to my latest blogs and comments linking current events to the book's content, you'll be able to download a copy of the project brochure and view the briefing I have that explains the project in greater detail. By publication time, you'll be able to see where when and where I may be coming to a community near you as I post the trip itinerary.

Don't forget to "like" and "share" and get the word out. Be a part of a great project to change America from the ground up!

All the best,

Chris

Hope everyone had a great summer!

For those who've been on the beach or in the mountains and not keeping track, we are now through the copy edit thanks to a great job by Holly McGuire and the great team at Girl Friday Productions. The galley proof is next and then we go into production.

Meanwhile, Marc Cohen has captured well the essence of the book's theme on the book cover that you can see on the Inkshares website. We've also received a few more endorsements and those are likewise posted on the website.

The book release date is February the 6th, 2016. That gets us past the holiday book season and poises us nicely to get the book and its message about citizenship and service out to a public staring straight into the barrel of the general election, wondering about the future of the country and what they can do about it.

I'm also beginning to work on the social media build-up, posting the book on Goodreads, and creating my own website to complement the Inkshares website.

And perhaps more importantly, I'll be getting together on the 11th of September with the national chapters of the Freedoms Foundation to get the planning off-ground for what I'm dubbing the "National Service Ride" to go around the country between May and July next year, have people join me along the way, and stop off at schools, universities, and other places where we can promote a dialogue about how people can serve in many ways other than in uniform and serve their country by serving their community.

So stay tuned and look for post, tweets, blogs, etc., on the project - all coming to a cyberspace near you.

Meantime, keep the shiny side up and spread the word. Remember that if you pre-order the book through Inkshares, you pay no shipping costs.

Thanks!

All the best,

Chris

Thanks to the brilliant work of Jaimee Garbacik, and having worked through all 934 of her comments to the manuscript, we're now in the copy editing stage.

Meantime, I'm revising my strategy, given that the book will likely not be out before the end of September, to use the Fall and Winter of 2015-16 to build a buzz for the book - and moreso its message - through a cross-platform campaign, starting with book signings, media appearances. This will include online, radio, and television, magazine articles and reviews, and a social media surge. All this will lead up to another cross-country ride in the Spring of 2016 featuring discussions I will lead in town halls and schools - reaching out to especially younger audiences to promote a greater sense of citizenship and service to community and country in all walks of life.

In addition to the support of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition and UN Association, the Freedoms Foundation has agreed to be a partner. In turn, I am donating portions of my proceeds to its great cause. Following the enthusiasm of the Rolling Thunder committee and the Harley Owners Group, I am reaching out to the Harley-Davidson Company as a possible sponsor for the 2016 tour.

Meantime, check out the update website, featuring revised versions of the Introduction and Chapter 4 - New Mexico: Old and New Posts, as well as additional endorsements for the book.

Will keep you posted. Meantime, keep the shiny side up!

Chris

We're over the crowdfunding hump and now on our way to publication!

I've finalized the draft manuscript and right now it's undergoing developmental editing. You can find the latest versions of the introduction, table of contents, and Chapter 4 - New Mexico: Old and New Posts on the website.

Meantime, I'm gathering more endorsements and beginning to map out the "citizenship and service" promotion tour around the country that will begin soon after publication in the months of September and October.

Let your friends know that they can order advance copies of the book. If they order a print copy through Inkshares, the shipping is free. Not something most of us will get on Amazon.

Take care and TTYL!

Best,

Chris