The life of a self-publishing author is never an easy one. The act of writing a book is a labor of love – one that requires many hours, days, weeks and even years of time to complete. Even then, the work of selling must begin after the book is written and “done.” Now, that’s dedication!
So, each week, we celebrate the dedication of one of our successful authors in our Self-Publishing Author Spotlight. This week Outskirts Press proudly features Patrick Shannon, author of the lauded Letters from Wheatfield, Viva Laughter!, Viva Cisco and Tame the Wild Land.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Patrick Shannon was born and raised in Southern California, but now resides in a small Montana town much like Wheatfield. His four previously published books have received five literary awards. He is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the Phi Kappa Phi scholastic society.
Viva Cisco
Nearly true tales of a really cool parrot …
Visit the valley of Topopootl on any given day, and chances are it will be in a stew over another one of Cisco the Parrot’s schemes. In Book One, his show-biz debut bombs big time; he is trounced, in Anything Goes wrestling, by a pair of cockroaches; his attempt at a high altitude flying record ends in a crash landing; and then he starts the weirdest business you ever heard of.
Book Two has Cisco registering 10 on the Richter Scale as a private eye who, amazingly, solves a crime. Only it isn’t a crime. In Book Three, Cisco and his pals go on a dangerous but wacky mission to find a long forgotten story, preserved in a secret room in a strange pyramid.
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Product details…
Paperback
Format: 6.14 x 9.21 paperback, 253 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (Apr 16, 2009)
ISBN10: 1432730371
ISBN13: 9781432730376
Genre: JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Beginner
Viva Laughter!
READERS FAVORITE SILVER AWARD
Treat this book like a box of snacks. Place it beside your favorite easy chair or atop your nightstand, to be on hand when those sudden cravings for something quick and delectable unsettle the mind. Or use it to ease the tedium of your next long trip. It may be opened and sampled anytime and anywhere that you feel the world owes you a little treat. Some of its confections are sweet; some tart. Some are petite; others of a size to be savored a bit longer. And while you may discover a hidden message here or there, their main objective is to make you laugh.
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Product details…
Hardback
Format: 6 x 9 hardback w/ jacket, 450 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (Mar 28, 2013)
ISBN10: 1478711027
ISBN13: 9781478711025
Genre: HUMOR / General
Tame the Wild Land
In the year 1700, a young French Army Captain sets foot on the Gulf Coast of our continent, trudges off into the wilderness and becomes one of this country’s overlooked Founding Fathers. Warrior, explorer, intimate friend of the Indian nations, imprisoned twice for smuggling, Louis Juchereau de St. Denis was the driving force in the settlement of French Louisiana and Spanish Texas. In the Novel, “Tame the Wild Land”, the drama of his remarkable life is portrayed. After enduring extreme hardships and risking his life for the King of France, he becomes disillusioned and dedicates the rest of his life to his two remaining loves: Louisiana and the beautiful Manuela. But the impetus that repeatedly places him in harm’s way is the dilemma his colony faces: to keep Louisiana French, he must insure that Texas remains in the hands of his Spanish adversaries. The book is a fictional treatment of a period in our history that is somewhat neglected: the role played by France and Spain in the taming of wild America.
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Product details…
Hardback
Format: 5.5 x 8.5 hardback w/ jacket, 214 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (Jun 30, 2014)
ISBN10: 1478737638
ISBN13: 9781478737636
Genre: FICTION / Historical
Letters from Wheatfield (Second Edition with Twenty New Stories)
Letters from Wheatfield Second Edition
All the original stories plus twenty new zany reports on life in Wheatfield, Montana. What do you do for fun if you live in a small town, dauntingly far from the nearest city’s amusements? Upon what resources do you draw to spice up your existence? “Letters From Wheatfield” provides the answer—and it isn’t always pretty. In this new edition, cousin Amelia’s book on Wheatfield has been published under the title, “Little Nut House on the Prairie,” and the folks love it. They can’t wait for it to be made into a movie, and ranger Ned wants Brad Pitt to play him. But the fame does not go to their heads. They keep right on being as colorful as ever, and providing plenty of new material for Amelia’s sequel. Now you can enjoy the entire Letters from Wheatfield collection of stories in one volume.
Praise for Patrick Shannon’s award-winning book, Letters from Wheatfield:
“Letters from Wheatfield was the funniest book I’ve read all year. It’s also the best piece of fiction I’ve read all year, and possibly the best book I’ve read all year . . . I laughed until I cried, and so will everyone who reads it.” — Get Book Reviews.
“This is a great read. I giggled from beginning to end and closed the book with a smile.” — Shirley Johnson Midwest Book Review
“Patrick Shannon has written a real whopping wailing winner with Letters From Wheatfield . . . Mr. Shannon, got a sequel coming up? I sure hope so.” — Readers Favorite
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Product details…
Paperback
Format: 5.5 x 8.5 paperback cream, 313 pages
Publisher: Outskirts Press (Dec 11, 2014)
ISBN10: 1478748370
ISBN13: 9781478748373
Genre: FICTION / Humorous
Do you have a book of your own in the works? Let Outskirts Press get you started on your own publishing dreams!
2014 is quickly coming to an end. As you begin planning your marketing goals and setting your marketing budget for 2015, we wanted to share with you the top 5 marketing options selected by Outskirts Press authors this year. The following options have been highest in demand by Outskirts Press published authors in the last 12 months.
