Books by William Manchee

Well I'm just back from St. Louis. I had a great time and met a lot of nice people. Next week I'll be at the Texas Library Association Convention in Dallas and then it's off to New York for Book Expo.

A couple of weeks ago Janet and I were in Jackson, MS for some signings and a TV interview. It was Thursday night and we were watching Jay Leno and during the commercial there was a big plug for my interview the next day on the morning show. We were shocked. This has never happened before. On Friday a little before seven in the morning I was shocked again when I realized Barbie, my host, had actually read Trouble in Trinidad. This was another first as usually the interviewer has no clue what the book is about when the interview you. The interview went great and all weekend people were coming up to me to say they had seen me on TV. It was by far my best TV appearance to date.

The pre-publication edition of Cash Call just came out so a copy will be going in the mail soon to our fan characters, Jesse Ramirez, Harry Hertel and Harold "Bingo" Besch. Sorry for those of you who weren't chosen. We'll have another contest for my next book which I just finished. It was going to be called Backlash until I discovered there were several other books called that so the name will change.

We now have 250 subscribers to this newsletter. I'd like to boost the number to 500 before Cash Call comes out so Top Publications has agreed to give a free backlist book to anyone who gets a friend to sign up for the newsletter. It should be someone outside your immediate household. So if you'd like a free book here's your chance. If you refer someone, just send a email to info@toppub.com, give the name of the person you referred and an address where you'd like the book sent. Once that person signs up your book will go in the mail. If you have a preference for a book, let us know. Offer good through April 2002 for the first 250 who subscribers referred.

Here's my poem for the month of April.

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Hot Shower

In the morning when I’m stiff and groggy
And my body struggles with the new day
There’s nothing better than a hot shower
To wash the haze and laziness away

Hot steam rising, floating, drifting
Dreams fleeing, dying, clearing
Beads of water soaking, stroking, pounding
Tensions melting, calming, easing

Eyes closed, I relish every drop of steamy fluid
Water flowing, dripping, drowning my skin
Feelings of freedom, exhilaration and utter delight
And all this pleasure without an ounce of sin

I linger, wishing these feelings to last forever
Mind wandering to memories of friendly faces
Across mountains, through valleys and across the seas
Soap sliding, gliding, caressing all the right places

Ideas conceived, problems solved, plots developed
So many dreams, hopes and ambitions raised
And nurtured in this tiny room of liquid enchantment
Another simple joy, the Lord be praised!

Eyes open, water off, I stand a new man, refreshed
Gone regrets, sad memories, ill will, guilt and remorse
All safely tucked far in the recesses of my subconscious
I step into the new day, a strong and vigorous force
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Thanks to all of for your encouragement and support. Hope you all are having a great Spring.

William Manchee