A LOOK BACK ON THE COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF BOOK TOUR Carson CIty, NV - Feb 6, 2010 - Borders Books - BOOK SIGNING EVENT - Tne day before kickoff, when unimaginable sums are being wagered on the Big Game, it's back to Nevada's capital for a pregame signing event. Thanks to Jennifer Fairbanks at KOLO TV Reno for your support and interest in the book's Nevada connection.
Lake Tahoe, NV - Feb 7, 2010 - Game Day Party and Signing TBA - The formal book tour concluded in the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevadas. Heavenly Ski Resort is featured in Chapter III Footloose while the mob checkered past of Tahoe's North Shore is recounted in Chapter VI. Tahoe is the author's second West Coast home. It's also where he and his wife Mindy would have likely watched the Giants Patriots matchup in February 2008 were it not for the freakish bounce of events that sent them in pursuit of a seat at the Big Game.
Middletown, NY - Jan 22, 2010 - Borders Books with special guest and fellow "Accidental Spectator" Jason Kainu cohosted this event. Jason figures prominently into Chapter IV Family Meeting. Without Jason, there would have been no story and the book would never have been written. You'll have to read Making The Big Game to find out why. The first reader to secure a signed copy of Making The Big Game was Lynn whose two young children follow the Yankees and the Giants. Lynn decided that the book would be an ideal gift from her son to her mother who is also a long time Giants fan. As a result the dedication read "To Grandma..." Coincidentally, the author's late grandmother resided in Middletown. Thanks to Kevin Corcoran of Borders Books in Middletown for hosting this opening event on the East Coast leg of the tour!
Ft. Lee, NJ - Jan 23, 2010 - Borders Books - (A New York Daily News EDITOR'S PICK event!) . Ft. Lee is on the doorstep of both Manhattan and the soon to be retired Giants Stadium. Michael Hochman, a long time Giants season ticket holder who is featured in Chapter X Living Up To The Billing, stopped by this event which took place as another New York team, the Jets, anticipated a shot an AFC title. Tom Soriano of Borders hosted this event located just a few minutes away from the Meadowlands where the current and the new home of the Giants and Jets temporarily stand side by side. One Borders staff member broke out his vintage throwback New York Titans AFL jersey just for the occasion.
West Chester, PA - Jan 24, 2010 -Chester County Books and Music - The Philadelphia area stop on the Making The Big Game tour tied in to Chapter I Marking The Spot. This appearance drew both casual fans and die hard followers of both the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles. Immediately prior to the start of this meet and greet, Jeffrey Fekete chatted live with the Dolphins Fanatics Online radio show. Many thanks for this event including Joe Draybak owner of CCB&M and old and new friends of the author including Earle (thanks for breakfast!), Dan, Peter, Alex, Jim, TJ, Julie, Barbara, Cathy, Sue, Tom (, Marcia, and Paul. Chester County Books and Music is one of the largest independent book stores on the East Coast and has an attached cafe to give it a great ambiance. Miami, FL Jan 25-26, 2010 Books and Books (Coral Gables) - A southbound turn to the host city for Super Bowl XLIV. Thanks to Dan Kunz of Miami Dolphins flagship station WQAM for his hospitality on this leg of the tour. On the 25th, Jeffrey was a guest on the Sid Rosenburg show. They talked about the ruthless real time online marketplace for Super Bowl tickets and gave listeners tips for protecting themselves from fraud and abuse. Sid is a former New Yorker and even wore an SB XLII shirt during his air shift. The staff at Books and Books showed why they earned the Miami New Times readers pick for best bookstore. The store is housed in a has a library like feel and a The Coral Gables store is one of three in the Miami area and about a dozen readers came out on a warm Tuesday evening to listen to an hour long presentation followed by Q&A. Miami hosted its 10th Super Bowl in 2010 so this was an informed audience interested in not only the game but its economic impact.
Merced, CA - Jan 30, 2010 - Barnes and Noble - A small California Central Valley town with a big heart and interested readers hosted this first of two stops in one day. Chapter IX True Giants and Patriots owes its' origins to this somewhat isolated region of California - an area that includes the former Castle Air Force Base. Some of the most interesting reader encounters occured here... a former radio manager stopped by and shared a story of the extra mile his small market station took to secure pro sports broadcast sponsors.... Willie, an Air Force vet and New Jersey native served as proof that these days fans can be as mobile as players and franchises. Another reader, Tom, made the Big Game....back when it was still the NFL Championship Game. Tom was in the stands as an 8 year old in 1951 when the Los Angeles Rams edged the Cleveland Browns, 24-17. Thanks to Vicki and Barbie for hosting this store event. Sacramento, CA - Jan 30, 2010 - Borders - A two hour drive up Highway 99 from Merced is California's Capital, Sacramento, the setting for extended portions of Chapter II A Home Game Is Never Far Away. Paul Conrad, a friend of the author and knowledgable fan of numerous sports, dropped by for this stop Thanks to Tom Hedkte for hosting this event and Allen Pierleoni of the Sacramento Bee for promoting it.
OTHER EVENTS AND AUTHOR SHOUT OUTS...
Jan 3, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA - The year was rung in and the regular season wrapped up at O'Brien's Irish Pub. This Wilshire Boulevard fan hotspot caters to East Coast transplants. Thanks to Willy, Steven, James and all the new readers of Making The Big Game who helped make this first appearance of the year a success. Also thanks to Steve Miller, managing editor of FoxSports.com for his introduction and interest in the book.
Sun 12/6/09 Modesto, CA - Thanks to Jason at Borders Books who extended an invitation for Making The Big Game to be the featured book of the day as holiday shoppers found for the perfect gift for the football fan on their gift list.
Sat 11/14/09 Modesto, CA - Big Fan Film Premiere at the State Theater. Thanks to historic State Theater and the Movies Modesto Meetup Group for making possible a pre screening talk and post screening lobby signing event. Making The Big Game is an official promotional partner with First Independent Pictures.
Sun 10/11/09 San Francisco, CA - Ace's Sports Bar - Without a doubt the best New York Giants fan gathering spot on the West Coast. Thanks to owner Scott Broc for welcoming a Making The Big Game signing event to his establishment and to all the Bay Area fans for bring a little bit of New York with them on Sundays to Ace's.
Sun 10/11/09 Alameda, CA - Books Inc. Thanks to Nick and the staff at the West's Oldest Indepenent Bookstore for hosting this signing event in the heart of "Oakland Raider" country. Making The Big Game acknowledges in Chapter VI passionate Raider Fans who gather on home game days in the infamous "Black Hole" at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum They are true "participant spectators" Books Inc. has locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and has "Making The Big Game" in stock.
Sun 9/20/09 Reno, NV - Zephyr Books Reno was an absolute must stop on the book tour given the chosen setting to describe pro football's long and often shrouded association with gambling. Owner Ivye Johnson can be found most days at her store just a couple of blocks from the famed "Reno Arch". The best not so little bookstore in the Biggest Little City in the World.
Sat 6/14/09 Sacramento, CA - Barnes and Noble Thanks to Laini and Sema for making this event possible. Sacramento is the author's current home town and the starting point of the primary storyline in Making The Big Game.
Sun 2/1/09 Roseville, CA - Mandango's Sports Bar Galley release marked on Super Bowl Sunday - one year after the events that inspired Making The Big Game.
Sat 1/31/09 Sacramento, CA - J Crawford Books Prepublication galley signing event. Thank you Jim and Joyce Crawford and my friends in the Hollywood Park neighborhood of Sacramento for helping to launch Making The Big Game.
Retail Debut Book Signing Jan 31, 2009, J. Crawford's Books
