Be safe! Stay well!

 October 30, 2020

    Hi, Everyone!

     I hope this note finds you well and navigating these very odd and unsettling times.  I think the toughest part of all this for me is not seeing friends and loved ones.  I've been isolating pretty much of the time because I have the underlying kidney situation, so, like so many of you, I've tried to limit my time with others.  Instead -- again like so many of you -- I've resorted to Zoom, Skype, FaceTime, BlueJeans, and old-fashioned phone calls to keep in touch with everyone.  Still, that just isn't the same. There is a real "lonely factor" here that I think sometimes gets forgotten during this age of Covid.

    In terms of my writing, I *am* continuing to research and write my next book, but there is a great irony (weirdness?) that I think about all the time: the book I'm working on now will probably be out before I can do any book events for my last book!  My latest book, Lt. Elsie Ott's Top Secret Mission, came out March 15, one day before most bookstores and similar venues started shutting down because of the virus.  So, my 12-city book tour for the book was immediately called off.  At the same time, I was scheduled to go to the United Kingdom this past summer to do more book events (for reasons I'm not completely sure of, my books are very popular over there), and all that was shut down as well.  I was able to do a couple of NPR programs about the book, and I appeared on the Armed Services Radio Network twice, but other than those, I really haven't had a chance to do any book readings/events because of the current situation here and around the world.  I'm NOT complaining.  Problems with a book are absolutely nothing compared to the suffering that has fallen on so many because of Covid and related issues.  Still, for an author, this is a living example of "If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it -- does it make a sound?"  Well, the book came out, but because of the situation, it didn't make a sound at all.  My publisher tells me we will try to do a book tour once the circumstances change, but who knows when that will be.  Plus, as most authors will confirm, if events are not done when a book is released, LATER events just won't create the same publicity and readership.  Again, I'm not complaining.  This is just an observation that this may be a book that never finds a readership because of the current circumstances.  If that happens, it happens.  All I care out, honestly, right now is that everyone stays safe.  Like my Grandma Dunavant always used to say, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything."  The older I get, the more I see just how much she was right.

     So, I'll sign off by again saying, please stay well.

     Take care!

JSC

Lt. Elsie Ott's Top Secret Mission

April 16, 2020
Hi, All!
     Today I also wanted to post the link to the radio program I did about my newest book, Lt. Elsie Ott's Top Secret Mission.  I also did this program for Veterans Radio (and the Armed Services Radio Network) for veterans and those who are currently serving.  I'm hoping that this book will provide a good distraction for everyone while so many of us are in isolation because of Covid-19.  I know so many of our people in the service right now are being told to stay where they are, and the opportunities for entertainment are small.  Hopefully, this radio program will lift spirits.  This book is the story of a true American hero, a person who literally changed the way we live.  This year is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote and other rights as well.  Lt. Elsie Ott is considered one of the most important women of the 20th Century, and when you read the book you will see why.  She was an amazing person, and her legacy will live on forever.
   Here is the link to the interview.  I hope you enjoy it!
   Take care -- and stay well!
Jeff
LINK:
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/veterans_radio/2020/04/14/the-first-medevac-flight-is-discussed-with-jeffrey-s-copeland

Covid-19/Plague Interview

April 16, 2020
Hi, All!
    First of all, I hope this finds you well and doing your best to stay safe at this terrible time. I know better days are coming, but right now these are tough times for us all.  However, we will get through this.  We WILL!
  Several of you have asked me to post the link to the program I did for Veterans Radio (and the Armed Services Radio Network) that was broadcast worldwide to our veterans and those who are still serving now.  I'll provide the link below.  The interview basically get into how the Black Plague outbreak in 1924 in Los Angeles and what we are going through today are so similar.  Actually, what we learned about dealing with a pandemic in 1924 has served as a model for what we are doing to stem the increase of Covid-19 now.  In 1924, the officials, both medical and with the government, went to strict isolation, self-distancing (forced), and a "tracking" of the spread so that it could be stopped.  If you haven't read the book Plague in Paradise yet, you might find some answers to what is going on today in those pages.
     Here is the link:
https://www.blogtalkradio.com/veterans_radio/2020/03/24/covid-2019-spanish-flu-1918-plague-1924-discussed-with-author-jeffrey-copeland

Please -- PLEASE, everyone take care -- and stay well!
Jeff

March 22, 2020
Hi, All!
   I'm sorry I haven't posted recently, but the world around us has sure been unsettling. I also teach at the University of Northern Iowa, and we have been busy night and day getting everything ready for our students to complete their coursework online for the rest of this semester, this summer, and if necessary, next fall as well. Just telling instructors and students to "go online" is one thing, but the reality of the situation is still another.  Through this crisis many of us have learned that our students don't have their own computers and other electronic devices -- that they rely on the technology here on campus to do their work.  In plain-English, this means not all students can continue their work online because they do not currently have the means to do so.  Our students have all been instructed to go back to their homes for at least the remainder of this term, but many do not have Internet at home or electronic devices there. In addition, many faculty members have never delivered instruction by way of the Internet before, so there is a steep learning curve on this end as well.  Most will likely end up using Zoom, Skype, Panopto, or other visual means of interacting with students and others, but this will be a challenge if many do not have access to the Internet or appropriate devices.  In short, this is going to take all of us working together for this to work.  I also urge everyone, wherever you are, to be kind, understanding, patient as everything in our daily lives changes.
    Right now, we must all concentrate on keeping our health.  The virus is continuing to spread at alarming rates, so many cities, and even states, have instituted "stay at home" policies to try to stop the exposure.  My mom, who is in her 80's, lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and where she lives there has a "stay at home" order that goes into place today and will last a minimum of thirty days.  Other places are following suit.  That is a long time to be isolated, but it is what is needed right now.  We haven't gone to those measures yet here in northern Iowa, but I could see that happening soon here as well.
   I know many sites on the Internet have suggested that people read while isolated to help keep busy.  For many, reading will help fill a small part of the void in daily lives caused by the "stay at home" mandates.  I hope reading does turn out to be a nice way of relaxing for everyone.  My new book, Lt. Elsie Ott's Top Secret Mission, was "officially" released two weeks ago, but because of what is going on, all of my book readings and events have been postponed indefinitely.  That's the way it should be because the last thing we need is groups getting together right now.  However, it is available in e-book format for those who would like to get it from your favorite book e-tailer.  I wrote the book to have a "cliffhanger" at the end of every chapter, so I hope it provides good entertainment for everyone during this very difficult time. I also did a podcast about the book on Veterans Radio.  If you go to the Veterans Radio website, you can click on a link there to hear the discussion.  I think you will enjoy listening to this.
   At the same time, my last book, Plague in Paradise: The Black Death in Los Angeles, 1924, is currently being read my many because the events surrounding the Plague outbreak in 1924 is so, so similar to what is taking place with the Corona Virus right now. If you would like to see how health and government officials dealt with a deadly outbreak in the past, you might want to read this book as well. It is a literary nonfiction account, so the story will take you behind-the-scenes to see exactly what happened to everyone -- those who were ill, those who governed the area, and the medical professionals who put themselves at great risk to help stop the spread of the disease.  We learned a great deal from the 1924 outbreak, and much of that knowledge is being used right now to fight the spread of the virus.  I'll attach a picture of the book cover for you to see.

     I wish all of you good health.  Take care -- and please stay well!  I'll try to be better about posting once we get organized here. 
JSC

December 17, 2019
Hi, All!
     First of all, I'd like to wish everyone a wonderful, happy, and healthy holiday season.  Next, I simply can't believe that 2019 is almost over.  Where did the time go?  So, I'd also like to say Happy New Year!  I hope 2020 is a great year for all of us.
     I would also like to pass along a little information about my next book, Lt. Elsie Ott's Top Secret Mission.  It is scheduled for release on April 1, 2020.  I will soon know my schedule of book readings/events for the initial book tour, so I will report those here when I can. In the meantime, I'll post a few "teaser" pictures here to get everyone ready for the release.  The book is a very fast-paced account of this amazing woman's adventures, and I think you will enjoy it!

     I also just returned from Cooperstown N.Y. and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.  I needed to be there to conduct some research for my next book.  That is all I can say about that project for the time being, but I imagine that trip will give you and idea of the subject matter I'm digging into. I finally get to write a book related to sports!

  More on this research in the coming year.
     Again, Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year!
     And, happy reading!
JSC

Much going on!

October 12, 2019
Hi, All!
     Much has happened since my last post.  First, I've been on the road quite a lot to do readings and events related to Plague in Paradise, which seems to be increasing in popularity all the time -- likely, I'm guessing, because of all the parallels in what is going on today in 2019 to the events in the time period of the story, 1924.  Plague in Paradise takes place in Los Angeles where, in 1924, some of the officials wanted to build a wall around the Mexican-American community.  Does the concept of putting up a wall sound familiar in news items today?  Plus, many of the problems in the city at that time were blamed on the poor and down-and-out.  I just visited L.A., and I heard the same refrain over and over, everywhere I went.  The bottom line?  The more things change, the more they stay the same -- unfortunately.  There are other major parallels as well; please read through the book to see quite a reflection of contemporary issues.
    At the same time, I also finished writing another book: Lt. Elsie Ott's Top Secret Mission: The WWII Flight Nurse Behind Aeromedical Evacuation (MEDEVAC). This book is another work of Literary Nonfiction that looks at one of the most amazing heroes of modern times.  Lt. Ott literally changed the world in so many positive ways.  In a nutshell, she was asked to take six wounded soldiers from Karachi, India, back to Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C.  This trip was an experiment of epic proportions, one designed to show that the wounded could be transported great distances by plane in order to get the help the needed.  The trip back to Washington, at that time, would normally have taken three and a half months by truck, train, and ship.  However, Lt. Ott managed to get the soldiers back in six and a half days by using planes for the whole journey!  Along the way, she braved snipers, German fighter planes, her own plane catching fire -- and much more.  I think those who enjoy stories about people who risked everything to help change the world will really like this one.  It is scheduled for an April 1, 2020 release, and I have most of the early book tour for it scheduled.  I'll be providing venues and dates soon in case you'd like to stop by and hear more about the book and how it came about. I'm also posting two related pictures. One is of the plane use for part of the journey, the "Able Mabel."  The other is a picture of the book cover.
     Also, my documentary film about the landmark "Shelley v. Kraemer" U.S. Supreme Court Ruling was placed on Amazon Video so that everyone will now have a chance to view it.  The title of the documentary is "The Story of Shelley v. Kraemer," by Jeffrey S. Copeland.  The Amazon Video version is a shorter version by design -- so that schools all across the country and the globe can fit it into their class periods.  I hope people all over will enjoy this story of a milestone ruling that literally changed the face and color of America. I'll also post the photo used at the Amazon Video site to showcase the film. The photo is of J.D. Shelley, the man who started this historic episode in our history.

     I'm also currently working on another book.  I'm not at liberty yet to discuss the specifics of the story, but I can say that it will be the first story I've written about the world of sports.  As a matter of fact, I will soon be at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum to do some more research for this project.  I'll post more on this as additional work is completed.
     I hope all of you are well -- and are enjoying the fall weather.  I'll post again soon.
     Happy reading!
JSC

January 9, 2019
Hi, All!
    I hope all of you had a wonderful and relaxing holiday season -- and I wish you all the best in 2019.
    I thought I'd share a few quick updates with you.  First, Plague in Paradise is still doing very well, and I'm quite happy about that. Book sales in today's market can really be mystery at times.  The reasons why book sales jump one day -- and go flat the next day -- aren't always easy to determine.  A couple of years ago the sales of Shell Games went through the roof one week, and I had absolutely no clue why it happened.  Then, at the end of that week, I found out a dear friend of mine (another author) had talked about the book at an international convention -- and that was all it took to have sales skyrocket.  There are other times when "sales spikes" happen, and I never find out why.
    Another side of this same discussion has to do with why some book readings/events are well attended (and why many books are sold there) -- and why others have just a few people show up (causing low sales).  I, literally, wrote the book about ways to do book readings and events (I'm Published! Now What?), and I've done over three hundred book events worldwide.  However, this area is still one of great mystery of the publishing world.  Here is a classic example of this.  I recently attended a book reading done by an author the week her new book jumped on the Best Seller list.  The venue had done all manner of publicity for the event -- everything from Facebook (and other social media) to spots on all traditional media outlets in the area.  Special letters of invitation were also sent out to hundreds of people in the area.  That evening, six people showed up to an auditorium that could have seated five hundred.  Six people.  Six.  To her credit, the author did her regular reading for the six souls who came out to hear her.  I once did a book event for well over a thousand people -- and I've also done a reading when two people showed up -- and everything in between these numbers.  Getting a crowd to a book reading/event these days is tough.  Really tough. For all you aspiring writers out there, start asking veteran writers what they do to build audiences for events -- and start putting your ideas together/making a master plan for the time when you will be doing your own events.  Believe me -- it isn't too early to start thinking about this now.
      I also visited right before the holidays with an incredibly talented painter, Lowell Davis.  May of you may know the wonderful figurines that have been made based on his paintings.  If you don't know Mr. Davis's work, all you have to do is type his name into a search engine on the Internet -- and you will see quite a range of his accomplishments.  He currently lives in Carthage, Missouri, where he grew up.  Funds earned through sales of his art allowed him to build a village around his home - literally!  He moved in an old church, gas station, diner, and so forth.  If you are ever in the area, you should definitely consider stopping by Red Oak II to see his village.  It is quite a sight to behold.  I would go so far as to say his village is "living art" on many levels.
    Finally, I'm just about finished with the research for my next book -- and will start writing soon.  I expect to have the book completed by the middle of summer.  I'll talk more about the subject of the book in an upcoming post -- so stay tuned.  It is going to be another "medical" thriller -- and will be loaded with adventure and plot twists.
    Happy reading!

JSC
*The picture I'm posting here is of Lowell Davis, taken when I met up with him right before the holidays.