AAFES

Well, you really cannot tell a book by the cover. When my wife brought home a book, “The Ascendancy” and I saw the cover I was sure it would just be another story about the twin towers and a beanstalk.

I was wrong. This story is one that will inspire you to lead a better life regardless of your age. The author gives such detail in describing the characters you would think of them as being one of your classmates, someone in your church, someone you meet by chance. There are a couple of exceptions to that statement for you will probably never meet the characters that are named Gandor or Potter Sims. They are two that will accompany you on a very strange and adventurous journey. When I use the pronoun “you” I really mean you. The author draws you into the story and makes you an invisible, non-speaking character, but allows you to retain the use of all your senses and power of reasoning. I will tell you that I was “drawn” into the story and it inspired me to reflect on the way I conduct myself in the present and really evaluate my actions of the past. I will tell you that I have walked in the valley of thorns, crossed the desert, been in the upside down room, and eventually climbed to the apex of the mountain. I would strongly suggest that you read this book if you want to experience a change in your life.

–Chief Master Sergeant Bill Umphlett, USAF, Retired, Live Oak, TX

website: www.JohnWeiskopf.com

Judy and I went to the two signings in San Antonio, where I signed books at Fort Sam Houston and Randolph AFB. I signed 180 books, met incredible people, so overall sold 200 books in two days! One college freshman emailed me on Friday. Her name was Kayce. She couldn’t buy a book on Thursday when she was at Randolph, and wanted to get a signed copy of THE ASCENDANCY for her sister for Christmas. She wanted to know where I was signing on Friday; she wanted to come and buy the book. I received her message on my Blackberry, so I emailed her back, while I was doing signings. She showed up at Randolph AFB a second time with her father to get a book for her sister.  I met families, navigators, aviators, retired officers, colonels and enlisted men. I spoke with people who were from Maryland, who traveled to La Paz and Cochabamba, Bolivia, Machu Picchu, Peru and Ecuador, where Judy and I have been, and even met the brother of one of my students at St. Monica Catholic High School. What a small world! It was once again a great experience. AAFES, soldiers and their families, Thank You to all of you for your commitment and dedication.

We’re off to Austin today to sign copies of THE ASCENDANCY at Book People, Borders and Barnes & Noble. –John M. Weiskopf

The book signing at Fort Hood, Texas could not have gone better. 100 copies of my novel The Ascendancy sold out in 8 hours! I talked to everyone, personalized the message, and shook hands. Gary Taylor and Judy were a huge help during the selling of the books. They handed out catchy bookmarks, while they spoke with people.

The book signing was beyond what I imagined would happen. The message of courage, love, and compassion contained in the novel The Ascendancy itself is what unfolded during the book signings. I spoke with a soldier who was leaving for Iraq in four days, another who was leaving his family in January for his third tour of duty, women whose husbands were either in Iraq or Afghanistan, husbands whose wives were there now, soldiers who had their children with them, a woman who had lost her father in 9-11; he was in one of the towers when it collapsed and was buried. He lived, but died eleven months ago of Black Lung disease, a soldier who was going to propose to his girlfriend tomorrow when he arrived in Iraq, where she was stationed. He was joining her division. Even the wife of one of the generals of Fort Hood purchased a book to give to her husband as a Christmas present. The interactions were remarkable.

Almost everyone whom we spoke with loved The Ascendancy, its story and concept. They were drawn to the cover. Almost everyone loved the idea of the beanstalk sprouting out of the debris, three days after 9-11.

The soldiers and their families showed such an incredible selflessness in their duty over their personal lives. I was greatly moved. I am really looking forward to these book signings. It will be a good 2009 for us, not just in terms of book sales, but I know now that The Ascendancy is striking a deep cord in people. I travel on Thursday, December 11 to San Antonio, where I will sign books at three bases: Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, Lackland AFB on December 12th & 13th.

Judy and I stayed with close friends in the Killeen area, Gary Taylor & Steve Butler and Cathy Oldham.

After the signings in San Antonio, between January and June of 2009, there will be Ascendancy book signings in Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and bases along the East Coast, then San Diego, Arizona, the Northwest and maybe midwest areas. The number of The Ascendancy book sales will rise dramatically. That’s what we wanted.