I haven’t read any of N4KC’s books, but if the guy has written 29 of them, he’s either awfully persistent, or he’s doing something right. I’d bet on the latter. Below is the press release I received today on Don’s latest one…..Dan
Best-selling author and active radio amateur operator Don Keith N4KC has just published his 29th book. The Ship That Wouldn’t Die is an epic and true World War II story about a little known incident at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. The USS Neosho was a tanker assigned to the Allied fleet preparing for the upcoming showdown with Japan in the Coral Sea. Because of her value to the fleet, the tanker was sent 200 miles to the south for safety. However, enemy scouts mistook her for one of the Allied aircraft carriers and more than 80 dive-bombers were sent to attack her. Her escort destroyer was sunk immediately. Though seriously damaged and afire—she still held thousands of gallons of flammable fuel—the tanker’s crew worked miracles to keep her afloat for four terrifying days until help finally came. Almost 200 men went into the shark-infested sea during the attack. Many of them ended up on life rafts. They drifted nine days before rescuers found them. Only four of those men were still alive by then.
Keith has written both fiction and non-fiction on many subjects including submarines, college football, broadcasting, WWII history, and inspirational fiction. His thriller Firing Point, co-written with former Navy submarine skipper George Wallace, is in pre-production as a major motion picture, set to release in 2016 under the title Hunter Killer. The Ice Diaries, N4KC’s book on USS Nautilus and her historic voyage through the North Pole in 1958, was submitted for consideration for the Pulitzer Prize. Keith headed up an amateur radio special event operation as N9N to commemorate the 50th anniversary of that event, operating from Historic Ship Nautilus in Groton, Connecticut, in 2008.
Don is active in all aspects of the hobby, is an ARRL member, and holds the Extra Class amateur radio license. His book Riding the Shortwaves: Exploring the magic of Amateur Radio talks about the captivating allure of ham radio and gives others—especially newcomers or those considering getting their licenses—ideas on how to get the most from the hobby. The amateur radio book—as well as all of N4KC’s works—is available wherever books are sold and in most common reading formats.
Keith’s web site is www.donkeith.com. His amateur radio web site, which includes many articles for ham radio enthusiasts, is www.n4kc.com.
Elwood Downey, WB0OEW says
I read the “The Ice Diaries” and thought it was excellent. I have no personal experience whether it was accurate but it seemed reasonable and the drama felt very well. Also recently finished “Riding the Shortwaves”. It sort of alternates between intros to technical topics and (what I assume are) functional accounts of ham “stories”, some rather touching. Also read “Firing Point”, a pretty decent Soviet thriller.
Don N4KC says
Dan, thank you for using my press release in your blog.
“…if the guy has written 29 of them, he’s either awfully persistent, or he’s doing something right…”
I’d like to think it is some of both! As a book-writer and publisher yourself, you likely know how these things go. I’ve been fortunate to find publishers—from the big New York houses to tiny regional ones—who want to invest in my writing. I have also self-published four books via CreateSpace, Kindle Direct Publishing, and Smashwords. That includes my ham radio book, RIDING THE SHORTWAVES
Regardless of the publisher, though, from the biggest to the smallest to me/myself/I, the writer still must do most of his own publicity. Good luck with your own books. I often recommend them when people ask about getting licensed or why the heck they should learn that antediluvian mode of CW…which I use about 75% of the time when on the air! I also enjoy your blog posts.
73 and keep up the good work.
Don Keith N4KC
http://www.n4kc.com
http://www.donkeith.com
Author of more than two dozen books, including the latest,
THE SHIP THAT WOULDN’T DIE. Details at the web site.