Berthoud Literary Festival & Home Again

Okay, so this is fun. I know this is a month plus out on the calendar but at my age, it will be here before my coffee gets cold. I don’t want anyone to miss this because they have double booked their event calendar.

On Saturday, September 20, 2024, I will be kicking off what has shaped up to be a week of writer-related appearances with a stop at the Berthoud Community Library for its inaugural Berthoud Literary Festival. Right now, this might seem not much-of-much to the coastal glitterati, but ten years from now writers will be firing their literary agents for not getting them a spot on a panel. So, I am honored to have been asked to appear at this first ever event.

I intend to spend the entire 1-6 pm time period that afternoon shuffling back and forth across the railroad tracks between City Star Brewing – https://citystarbrewing.com/ – and the Library – https://www.berthoudcommunitylibrary.org/. At the latter I will be reading selections from all five books of The Claire Saga:

I will tell backstories and answer any questions. I will also inscribe books (and any body part presented), booklets, snap photos, and give hugs to any and all who honor me with their presence. Trigger warning – I have a potty mouth.

Inkberry Books – a wonderful local shop from Nywot, Colorado –

https://inkberrybooks.com/ –

will be selling copies of all of all of the writers books, so if you haven’t had a chance to pick up a paperback set of TCS (or have read the whole series on Kindle) this will be a great opportunity to mark the occasion so you can prove to your great grandchildren that you were there. Serious bragging rights.

For what it is worth, I’m cool with readers videoing/photographing any event as long as you promise to say wonderful things and post it all over social media.

Now, September 22nd, the Monday immediately following the Berthoud Literary Festival, I will flying back east to Riverdale for the first time since I left in 2017.

That Wednesday, September 25th, at 7-ish, I will be appearing at the Bronx Celtic Literary Mecca – An Béal Bocht Cafe – https://www.anbealbochtcafe.com/ for a reading, Q&A and book(s) signing. Same rules regarding hugs, photos, videos and social media. I will do my very best to have books for purchase at the venue, but just in case, if you want something signed, you may want to bring a copy(ies) with you.

Shout out to my literary mentor, Colin Broderick – https://www.colinbroderick.com/ – who just did an ABB reading of his new and amazing novel, Once Upon A Time In Hell’s Kitchen – https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Time-Hells-Kitchen/dp/B0D63GVZFD. I am desperately trying to shame Colin into appearing at ABB that night, so if you bring a copy of any of his books with you, he may be willing to sign them for you. You may recall that Colin provided me with the iconic cover blurb for The Wise Ass – “Grisham on mushrooms” – so if you come with a copy of TWA I will beg him to sign it as well. Probably increase the resale price when you put it up on eBay. As I also have an essay – Bronx Irish Born – on page 305 of Colin’s Iconic collection of Celtic NYC Writers,

Any questions you may have between now and 9/25 concerning the ABB event can be answered by my dear friend and na seacht saoi, Packie Jo Gilheany – https://www.facebook.com/packie.gilheany. Just DM him. Thank you Packie.

Last, but definitely not least, on Friday, September 27th, 7-ish, I will be appearing in my hometown, Riverdale, for my one and only Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) reading, Q&A, and book(s) signing at (FDNY) Brian Downey’s famous restaurant, Downey’s Bar & Grill – https://www.facebook.com/downeysbarandgrill/ –

a wonderful establishment just down the block from the McCaffrey Ancestral home (compound) on Mosholu Avenue in Da Bronx.

Again, I hope to have some copies of all of the books with me, but if you want be certain to get an inscription – I promise I will write whatever you ask me to – the more cheeky the better – you may want to get those copies before hand from Amazon. After all, a lot of Riverdale ended up in The Claire Saga.

I’m also going to beg my dear friend, Riverdale Icon and Celtic Poetess – Theresa Daly –

https://www.facebook.com/theresa.daly

to appear at Downey’s that night, so, if you want an inscription, you might want to also bring with you any copy you have of her wonderful book of poetry along with you. It really is amazing. Theresa was one of the first people who ever read any of my writing back in 70s, and was very supportive. I shall not forget her kindness.

In the meantime, feel free to provide me with any suggestions for whatever you would like me to read, either in the comment section below or on my FB page -Book title, page #, first and last words of the selection. I will do my best to accommodate any requests.

I’ll be wrapping up that week with attending Cardinal Spellman High School’s Class of ’74 50th reunion on Saturday, 9/28th. I have been blessed by an invitation by those wonderful classmates, despite never making it to graduation. I will, of course, be thrilled to inscribe any book placed before me there as well.

Turns out, I’m not the first writer to not make it to his Spellman graduation and lived to tell the tale – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Patrick_Shanley

Maybe there is hope for me yet.

I’m so looking forward to seeing everyone.

Anyway, there you have it. The one week in September when I’ll will be busy as a writer. And I have you fine, five readers to thank for helping me get here.

Now Thursday is upon us, and that means recycling has to be dragged out front, so I better hop.

First some kitties to cuddle and my rounds.

You fine, five readers finish your cuppas and go wrap up your work week. Friday must be free for pleasure planning and early weekend escapes.

And no matter what else we get up to, let us make today a great one.