Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The State of Ohio

The Butcher's Thumb author Greg Haas appeared recently on statewide PBS show The State of Ohio.  A great interview with host Karen Kasler about the book's blend of fiction and non-fiction, political messaging, and the role of media.

You can also watch the entire show here:

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Bookstore Update: All of Ohio

On the heels of our very successful reading at the Barnes & Noble at Lennox Center, the corporate offices have decided to stock The Butcher's Thumb in each of their Ohio stores.

That means Cleveland, Dayton, Youngstown, Cincinnati, Akron, Toledo and Mansfield, in addition to the local Columbus stores already stocking the book.

The B&N Lennox reading drew an audience of around 75 people, and we sold out the store's on-hand copies.  In all, we sold 50 books!

We are thrilled that Barnes and Noble sees potential in the novel, and that our work is paying off.  From the beginning we've believed that growing this book would take time and happen in stages, and it would seem to be playing out exactly that way.

We've still got some road to travel, so please consider telling your local bookstores about The Butcher's Thumb, no matter where you are.  (You can order the novel through just about any bookstore.)  Or spread the word online, especially to your friends around Ohio.  We are grateful most of all for the support of our readers and that the book has resonated with them.

Monday, October 4, 2010

New Review: Shelf Unbound


“For those who like their spies Russian, their martinis shaken, and their heroes flawed with a dash of conscience, this entertaining and thought-provoking novel gets a big thumbs-up.” – Shelf Unbound

That's an excerpt from a review of The Butcher's Thumb in the new issue of Shelf Unbound, a fine e-magazine which started up last month. You can take a sneak peek at the entire review here.  It's a beautifully laid-out web experience with an interface that's easy to use.

REMINDER:  Greg Haas will read tomorrow night, Tues. Oct. 5th, at the Barnes & Noble at Lennox Center here in Columbus, Ohio.  The event begins at 7pm is free to the public. 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Senatorial Praise and an Upcoming Reading

Here's a new bit of praise from a man who knows politics:

“Greg Haas knows politics, and is an excellent writer.  That combination makes The Butcher's Thumb riveting, instructional, and good literature.” – Sherrod Brown, U.S. Senator (D-Ohio)

Mr. Brown has been in politics since the early 80s, serving as Ohio's Secretary of State, a U.S. representative of Ohio's 13th District, and has been a senator since 2006.  We're humbled by his kind words!
In Other News:

A free reading at the Barnes & Noble in the Lennox Center on Tuesday, October 5th.  7pm start time.  Plenty of books for sale and another chance to catch Greg Haas reading from The Butcher's Thumb.



Monday, August 23, 2010

Excellent Review from Temple, TX

Here's a snapshot of a review from the Temple Daily Telegram out of Temple, TX, dated Aug. 15, 2010.  Probably the finest review the novel has received so far!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Coming to a Store Near You (If You Live Near Columbus)

It's terribly exciting to tell you that The Butcher's Thumb should be available at Barnes & Noble stores sometime this week in the Columbus area.  That's a hard copy (well, softcover) on the shelf in the fiction section.

The folks at the local Barnes & Noble stores here in Columbus have been enthusiastic and helpful in making this happen, as have the good people at B&N corporate.  The success of any book owes a lot to the work and interest of bookstore staffs.

Along those lines, we're thrilled, too, that the novel is also available locally at Beehive Books in Delaware, Ohio (nowhere near any Barnes & Noble...ahem).  If you've never been to the Beehive, you owe yourself a treat.  Excellent coffee, fine selection of literature, and an intelligent, friendly staff.  All on Sandusky Street in the heart of Delaware's downtown.  A big thanks to them for carrying the book. 

So if you've been putting off your summer reading, march on down to your favorite local bookstore and have a gander the book for yourself.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Behind the Political Curtain

Local monthly 614 features a brief review of The Butcher's Thumb in its August issue.  The article, "The Ugly Truth", discusses two other local books as well, both memoirs:  Good Behavior by Nathan Henry and We Never Learn:  The Gunk Punk Undergut 1988-2001 by Eric Davidson.  In all, three very different takes on what are, indeed, the ugly truths of our society which need to be told. 

Contributor Erin Norris writes:  "By exposing and satirizing the wag-the-dog tactics of the most powerful people in the country, Haas brings the public face-to-face with the other side of the political curtain."

Read the entire feature here or pick up 614 at locales near you.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Two Reviews

We're starting to see some more reviews roll in for The Butcher's Thumb.  The first we'll mention here is from The Free Press--"Speaking Truth to Power"--and the venerable Bob Fitrakis who says, "If I had to choose one novel to read on the beach this summer it would be Greg Haas’ novel The Butcher’s Thumb.  The facts behind his fiction should remind us all how fragile our democracy is, how easy it is to hate, and how much we need courage at this moment in history."

Mr. Fitrakis finds many parallels between the book's characters and real-life counterparts from Karl Rove to Ken Blackwell.  Even Kris Johansen:

Any interesting protagonist must have a love interest. Risen has the hots for a progressive photojournalist who tells him, “I am a socialist, communist, Marxist journalist of Swedish and Irish descent from the great state of Texas. And I’ve got a great ass.” Makes me smile and remember the late, great journalist Molly Ivins.
As might be expected, given the nature of The Free Press, which is a long-standing voice of progressive politics in central Ohio and beyond, Mr. Fitrakis focuses on the political content of The Butcher's Thumb:

Still, the enduring value of Haas’ book resides in his keen understanding of Ohio politics. As perhaps the country’s pre-eminent swing state, his depiction of Ohio political nuances and what may have happened in the 2004 election makes this book an essential read for anyone in the election protection movement. 
Another review, this time from The Front Page in Culver City, CA, calls our hero, Matt Risen:

a protagonist who undergoes the classic quest for a conscience, in no small part thanks to the love of a good woman. Haas draws a gritty character portrait of a political campaigner who is at once unnerving, sympathetic and delivered with crisp writing.

Stay tuned for more reviews, and remember that you can pick up your copy of The Butcher's Thumb at Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.com!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

All Sides Interview

The Butcher's Thumb author Greg Haas appeared the other day on All Sides with Ann Fisher on WOSU 820AM.  All Sides is one of those hidden treats here in Columbus thanks to the exceptionally strong public media organizations through Ohio State.

This hour-long interview is the first of such length about the novel.  Greg and Ann cover the significance of the book's title, the connections between protagonist Matt Risen and real-life figures John Dean and Scott McClellan, and the real dangers of the neo-conservative point of view.  It's a thorough discussion of the book's themes, characters, and how Greg came to write The Butcher's Thumb.

Click here to visit All Sides' homepage and listen to Greg's conversation with Ann.  Scroll down to 7/19.

EDIT:  Please do take a moment to visit All Sides' homepage.  But for a direct link to the interview, click HERE.

Thanks to Scott Gowans from WOSU for the link.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Covering The Spectrum

Greg Haas on The Butcher's Thumb, talking to host Colleen Marshall on her Sunday political show, The Spectrum on NBC 4.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

The Butcher's Thumb on NBC4 and Columbus On the Record

The Butcher's Thumb author Greg Haas recently filmed an interview with local Columbus NBC4 anchor Colleen Marshall; it may air on tonight's 5pm or 6pm broadcast and should appear on Marshall's Sunday show The Spectrum at its new 10am timeslot. 

 

Additionally, Greg will be a featured guest on WOSU's Columbus On the Record this Friday at 8:30pm and Sunday at 11:30am.  (Note the lack of programming conflict!)

 

Tune in, and stay tuned to our blog or here at Facebook for any video we can bring you! 

 

UPDATE:  No appearance on this evening's broadcast, but the interview will be featured Sunday morning.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A Brief Dispatch

As the roll-out of The Butcher's Thumb continues, press interest is beginning to pick up.  A good example is this column from The Columbus Dispatch, written by veteran political writer Joe Hallett:


Haas, 54, who has advised mayors, governors and presidential candidates for more than 25 years, drew upon his experiences with campaigns and government officials to craft the novel. "You spend years writing these little 30-second TV spots, and you spend years yearning to really write something substantive," Haas said.

We're told a review of the novel is forthcoming in the Dispatch's pages, which is terrific news.  If you'd like to see your favorite newspaper or magazine review The Butcher's Thumb, let 'em know.

Of course, the novel is available on Amazon.com and iUniverse.com.  If you haven't picked up a copy, take a gander.  


Stay tuned for more publicity news; we've got some interesting opportunities in the pipeline.  Also, we're working on getting hard copies of the book into Columbus area Barnes and Noble stores; again, let 'em know you'd like to see the book on their shelves!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Update: Amazon Pre-Order & Advance Praise

Great news! The Butcher's Thumb page is live at Amazon with early availability for ordering your copy of the book.

Click on THIS LINK to go directly to The Butcher's Thumb on Amazon.

Also, as promised, the superb advance praise for the novel has been posted to the right of the page. Take some time, please, to read what these seasoned veterans of the political world have to say about The Butcher's Thumb.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

The Butcher's Thumb: To the Printers!

Great news!  The Butcher's Thumb has been carefully "wrapped" and sent to the printers!

After taking time to get all the advance praise onto the back cover--don't worry, we'll post some of that soon--it's a relief to have a hard copy of the book on the horizon.  Every author's dream is to get that first copy into his or her hands...and, of course, into yours!

It should be only a couple of weeks before The Butcher's Thumb is put onto Amazon and Barnes & Noble.  So get those pre-orders ready!

More frequent updates are on the horizon, too.  Bookmark this page, send it to your friends, and let us know your thoughts or any questions you might have!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Blurbs

We have some fantastic advance praise for The Butcher's Thumb from some heavy-hitters both local and national for which we're very grateful.  In order to get those blurbs onto the cover and touch up a few smaller issues, the publication of the book has been delayed a bit...but it won't be long!  More importantly, the book's cover will reflect just how terrific the story inside of it really is.

Stay tuned!

Monday, April 19, 2010

The Butcher's Thumb: Update 3

The final proofs are being reviewed with the proverbial fine-tooth comb, and it looks like we're close to confirming an early June release date!  Check here for more information about book launches and readings to celebrate the release of The Butcher's Thumb....

ALSO....

Thanks to the group of Dems who met this past Friday, April 16 at the Florentine to hear Greg speak about current political issues and field a few questions about his upcoming novel.  Great food and company! 

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Prelim Cover

The updates will be coming more frequently, we hope, and here's a sample: the preliminary cover design for The Butcher's Thumb.


 

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Butcher's Thumb: Update 2

All hands have been busy getting The Butcher's Thumb ready for print. We're now in the final stages of proofing with a provisional release date sometime in early June...just in time to buy that beach book!

Soon we'll have artwork and other goodies available on this site, so keep checking back. The cover looks superb.

On this day of monumental health care reform, we're reminded that fighting for what you believe in can be enormously difficult and emotionally taxing, but that the reward is a sense of integrity found nowhere else and from no other activity.

Monday, February 22, 2010

The Butcher's Thumb: Update 1

The scintillating upcoming novel by Greg Haas, The Butcher's Thumb, is in the final stages of production with an anticipated release of late April 2010.  Stay tuned to this site for updates, or subscribe (to the right) for automatic updates!

Here's a summary of what this exciting novel is all about:


Filled with political intrigue and insight, The Butcher’s Thumb charts the young career of up-and-comer Matt Risen from his role as the campaign spokesperson for the straight-talking conservative William Kensington, governor of Colorado, in the 2000 presidential election all the way to his fall from grace as the White House press secretary.  In the tradition of a roman a clef, the plot and themes of The Butcher’s Thumb examine how fictional characters would deal with events that are familiar, sometimes painfully so, to us all.

After a turbulent, controversial election recount in the battleground state of Matt’s native Ohio, he victoriously takes his place in an inscrutable White House of back-stabbing careerism and cutthroat politics.  Nicknamed “God’s Will” by his ardent supporters, the seemingly incompetent Kensington defers to his senior staff:  the imposing Vice-President Dixon Webb; Stephen Shay, the brilliant political advisor with a quick temper and a love for scotch, power, and the shadows of government; and Gail Turner, a D.C. insider with a forked-tongue and grand ambitions, who begins the novel as Matt’s lover of convenience.  But life throws him another change-up:  the lovely, liberal photojournalist Kris Johansen, who frees him even as she tests his loyalties and beliefs. 

Though terrorist attacks on U.S. soil are thwarted—in part because of Risen’s diligence—the Kensington administration still seizes the opportunity to pursue its foreign policy goals in the Middle East.  Undaunted by the media, and a cool manipulator of words who drips with charm, Matt is forced to make the case for war in Iraq, and to defend the administration from clear-headed opponents—at any cost.  Matt is a good guy, educated and intelligent, with a weakness for women and the bright lights of fame.  Yet he believes in protecting his family and country.  Can job, duty and love be balanced with ethics and morals? 

Meanwhile, in Russia, an ex-K.G.B. agent named Yuri Nesterenko is haunted by the murder fifteen years ago of his team in Florence, Italy.  He sets out to take his revenge in a sub-plot which collides with our hero and his family: when Matt succumbs to internal pressure and reveals the name of a C.I.A. operative who has spoken out against the Kensington administration, national policy turns into a personal nightmare just weeks before the all-important re-election in 2004, which again seems to rest on the shoulders of Ohio.

A substantial yet compelling and page-turning read, The Butcher’s Thumb takes on a number of relevant issues:  foreign policy in the Middle East and abroad, the outing of a covert government agent, the manipulative rhetoric of war and politics, and the subtle combat waged during elections to tip the scales like the butchers of old.  The issue is balance—between the personal and the political, between national and international interests, between the past and an unforeseeable future lurking with the unintended consequences of our present actions.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Save This Space

Coming soon...

A novel by Greg Haas:

The Butcher's Thumb


Keep linked to this space for release information, interviews, and other news!