Friends:
We have great news to share: "Blasted by Adversity: the Making of a Wounded Warrior" was selected as a “finalist” for the Florida Authors & Publishers Association’s “President’s Award.” We’ll be going to Orlando in August to see if we take away the Gold. This is a huge honor.
In other good news, our publisher, Inkshares, has also ordered a second printing of the hardcover books, which means we’ve just about sold 2,500 copies. Again, that is BIG NEWS in this business. We are thrilled.
Luke was invited to meet with Florida Governor Rick Scott and hand delivered an autographed copy of the book. He’ll be appearing on WCTV in August and we are looking at other media opportunities. So far, the book has a solid 5 stars on Amazon and GoodReads. If you haven’t yet written a review on either of those sites, please consider adding yours.
We’re adding invitations for Luke to speak all the time. If you know of a corporate event that needs a professional speaker, please contact him. And feel free to share this message with your social communities!
Luke Murphy – www.LukeMurphy101.com
Julie Strauss Bettinger - www.JulieBettinger.com
(Special message from Luke's co-author)
For this Memorial Day weekend, Luke wrote a very moving opinion piece for CNN. "What Veterans Really Think About on Memorial Day." To many of us, the holiday has lost its true meaning. To service members like Luke, who saw their fellow warriors injured, perhaps watched them die, it's impossible to forget. Please take a moment to ponder that sacrifice, to consider their lives. And remind those around you, especially children, about what the holiday REALLY means. The lives of these service members mattered, their sacrifice is appreciated.
- Julie Strauss Bettinger
Happy “Pub” day to us!
Yes, today is the “official” publishing day for “Blasted by Adversity: the Making of a Wounded Warrior.” If you’re receiving this email, then you were a BIG part of getting us here. We’re also celebrating an “anniversary” of sorts. It was one year ago this weekend that Julie was introduced to Inkshares’ publisher, Larry Levitsky. We are especially grateful to Larry and his team for believing in Luke’s story and providing the guidance and encouragement we needed along the way.
If you’ve received your copy of the book, and you backed us
at the Grand Patron level ($100 or more), be sure to look for your name inside
the back cover. And if you’ve read the book, please consider giving it a review
on Amazon
or Goodreads.
The e-book is available and you can order the book through Inkshares or virtually any bookseller. Stay tuned for book signings in Tallahassee, Stuart, FL (Luke’s hometown), Palm Beach and New York City, plus links to media interviews.
Again, thank you for being a part of the story behind, “Blasted.”
Luke Murphy – www.LukeMurphy101.com
Julie Strauss Bettinger - www.JulieBettinger.com
Blasted
by Adversity: The Making of a Wounded Warrior
Friends:
Books are arriving! Our formal publishing date for "Blasted by Adversity: the Making of a Wounded Warrior" isn’t until May 22nd, but we’re getting reports that some people are receiving their books in the mail — even before we’ve gotten our copies!
It’s great timing, as Luke is the featured commencement speaker at the Tallahassee Community College graduation Saturday night.
When you receive your book(s), we’d love to know what you think about it. And if you love it (like we think you will), please consider giving it a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Every little bit helps!
Remember: YOU made this book possible...we appreciate you.
Luke Murphy – www.LukeMurphy101.com
Julie Strauss Bettinger - www.JulieBettinger.com
Hello, everyone –
We have lots of good news to report. We produced a book trailer last week, which has already created some buzz on Facebook. We wanted to make sure you didn’t miss it:
Book trailer for Blasted by Adversity: the Making of a Wounded Warrior
We also wanted to share this “hot off the press” review we
received last week from Brian Mockenhaupt. Brian is a widely published
freelance writer (Esquire, New York Times, The Atlantic) and also the editor of
the Journal of Military Experience. He served two tours in Iraq as an
infantryman with the 10th Mountain Division, so if anyone understands our book,
Brian does.
Here’s how he describes “Blasted”…
With humility that belies doggedness, Luke Murphy leads readers from the stress-fueled rhythms of a soldier at war, to the blast that took his leg and the long road home from the battlefield – and the unexpected places that journey has taken him. As America's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan fade from public view, Blasted by Adversity reminds us that wars don't end when the shooting stops. —Brian Mockenhaupt, former Army infantryman and author of The Living and the Dead: War, Friendship, and the Battles that Never End.
We appreciate all of you – our faithful fans and backers for
the book – and we look forward to sharing
more success stories in the future.
Luke Murphy – www.LukeMurphy101.com
Julie Strauss Bettinger - www.JulieBettinger.com
Blasted
by Adversity: The Making of a Wounded Warrior
Friends and readers:
As our earliest supporters, many of you have been telling us over and over that you think “Blasted by Adversity: the Making of a Wounded Warrior" deserves wider recognition. Well, we received some shine Saturday night in Orlando, when the book received a gold medal at the Florida Authors & Publishers Association’s President’s Awards banquet.
Competitionfor our category was fierce and there were 31 judges including librarians and publishing professionals from out of state who read the entries, but “Blasted" proved to be a winner. We were both available to receive the medal in person, so it was extra special. Earlier today, Luke talked about the award on WCTV Eyewitness News at Noon, and we are being encouraged to enter the book in national competitions. Julie will be giving a talk at the Tallahassee Writers Association’s monthly meeting about the experience of writing someone else’s first-person story, and we are open to book signing invitations through the fall.
We’re also grateful that the book is still holding strong with 5 stars on Amazon and GoodReads. If you haven’t already, please consider adding a review or rating!
Again, all appreciation goes back to you — our earliest supporters and readers. We wouldn’t be in our second printing if not for the encouragement we received early on. Thank you.
Luke Murphy – www.LukeMurphy101.com
Julie Strauss Bettinger - www.JulieBettinger.com
Blasted by Adversity: The Making of a Wounded Warrior