Vol 2 of the world-ignored series is out

[MajGenl.Meade]

Yes, it's true. All those who enjoyed Snooks North and South, vol 1 of the series, will be thrilled to know that the second and concluding volume (Snooks The Presidents' Man*) will be available on Amazon by the end of next week. You can save $12.35 by not buying it, a savings strategy that seems to have worked for millions over the past 2 years.

Snooks becomes an actor (at Ford's Theatre); a spy for one president and a lightning rod repairman for another; hates the fattest woman in the world and gets a nice surprise; kills another famous general (sort of); rubs shoulders with two more, one of 'em twice trouserless; advances race relations in a retrograde fashion; suffers prisons, assassins and Fenians in various sprinklings and finally is party to the most famous crime of the 19th century. And apart from the bits I made up, it's all true.

*not a misplaced apostrophe

[Gob]

\

I hear she's suing you for breach of copyright.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Oh she has a vowel instead of a consonant at the end so it should be OK

Hmmm. maybe she has one consonant too many at the beginning....

[oldr_n_wsr]

Yet another thread I have no idea what you are talking about.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Which part, oldr? That my second book has been published or that Gob made a joke about Snooki, alleged entertainer and future Dancing with the Nonentities contestant, no doubt.

[oldr_n_wsr]

Which part, oldr? That my second book has been published or that Gob made a joke about Snooki, alleged entertainer and future Dancing with the Nonentities contestant, no doubt.

I vaguely remember you talking about a book in the past. Forget about me remembering the name/plot/any detail. I have heard the name "Snooki' but I don't think it was from your book.
Carry on.


I am happy not knowing.

[MajGenl.Meade]

Well that's the marketing paradigm right there. He's heard of Snooki.... but my book is just a rumor

[Bicycle Bill]

Which part, oldr? That my second book has been published or that Gob made a joke about Snooki, alleged entertainer and future Dancing with the Nonentities contestant, no doubt.

So which name do you go by in the real world — Peter or Brian?

-"BB"-

[MajGenl.Meade]

The first in order (as it should be).

[Big RR]

Tell that to (Hiram) Ulysses S Grant.

[BoSoxGal]

[Lord Jim]

I just took a look at both of your book listings on line...

You have some nice reviews for the first one; this review in particular caught my eye:

Well-written with a nice balance of adventure and humor. I enjoyed this book very much. There can be no replacement for Fraser but there is a genuine effort here to check the same boxes and produce a reasonable explanation for the multitude of places and events that Fraser's character Flashman claimed to have visited and experienced. New characters and extensive historical footnotes round out the package. As another reviewer noted, it takes a few pages to get going - perhaps because of the need for a new back story - but once it's moving the pace and variety never flag. Purists may want more womanizing but this is Snooks, not the other chap. It's an interesting idea that all of "Flashman's" Civil War references were in fact stolen from Snooks. It will be interesting to see if the author manages to convince us in the sequel that Phil Sheridan and Snooks get on so well that Sheridan invites the "real" Flashman to his wedding many years after the war. A good read - a smart one. Pity that Fraser didn't write it.

What I immediately noticed with that review was the "name" of the person who wrote it:

By Meade, Major General, U.S. (AOP) on December 12, 2014

That on-line moniker seemed so familiar to me, that I clicked on it to see the review writer's profile, and you'll never believe what I saw...

Meade, Major General, U.S. (AOP)

Kent, OH USA

Man, who would have thought there would be two people using the online handle "Maj. Gen. Meade" living in Kent Ohio? What are the odds?

Do you know this other guy? Sounds like you may have a lot in common...

[MajGenl.Meade]

I read that review at the start of this year and got quite excited.... it seemed well-balanced and honest, containing faint praise for the effort and twice bemoaning the fact that it wasn't George MacDonald Fraser that had written the book, which is well written given the style in which the character thinks and speaks. It does contain a balance of adventure and humor. I was impressed that the reviewer was so aware of the real Flashman's history that he or she recognized the importance of the Sheridan connection.

How was it possible that Snooks (a fake Flashman) could have all the adventures and yet somehow the real Flashman would (a) get the wedding invitation and (b) know enough about "his" actions in the War to fool Phil Sheridan (not to mention Grant and Custer).

It took a while for me to realize that I'd written that review a year earlier. I was appalled that I'd used the word "interesting" in consecutive sentences - not well written. Obviously, I knew that the Sheridan section would be difficult. It was actually two years' difficult.

I had the Appomattox surrender, which involved interaction with Sheridan, and most of the subsequent chapters written four years ago. But I had a gap from Savannah to Appomattox. It took two years to work that out, beginning with two new chapters on Yellow Tavern to explain Snooks meeting Sheridan. And so it goes.

I am not convinced that the second book really is very strong on the Sheridan conundrum - if I "review" it, there may have to be some criticism there. Personally, I enjoy the first book more - but my wife liked the second one better. In other ways, I'm sick of both of them. (The books, not the book and the wife).

One actually must buy the book from Amazon to review it. So I'd be delighted to see a review from you LJ... or anyone else for that matter. Also, it would be interesting to know if you found my review to be fair and balanced. For $12 and change you can be part of the new wave of Snooks aficianados.

[Lord Jim]

it seemed well-balanced and honest,

Yes it did, (and I notice it also teased the sequel) and I thought it was quite modest of you to refrain from giving yourself five stars...

For $12 and change you can be part of the new wave of Snooks aficianados.

Actually it looks like I could get the original for $6.51 and the new one for $11.27 if I bought them used...

[MajGenl.Meade]

Get 'em both then....

I don't know about those "used" ones. The thing actually wasn't released because it needed a cover adjustment, and those "used" ads were already up on the held Amazon page. Where are they going to buy these things? I have one used (proof) copy - the only one. And four copies of the actual new book - but I get those at author prices and not from Amazon.

I think there are a species of booksellers who put up those "used" links before there are any copies in existence, new or used. Some of them are understandable (kinda) because they are higher than the "new" price. But others......?

Yes it was only 4 stars - 5 I would reserve for my version (modest, eh?) which really was Flashman and has a terrific opening three chapters involving the World's Fair, the Boer War, the New York subway opening, Geronimo and two invitations to the big Gettysburg reunion.