hit tracker Dave Shields Author Blog: May 2007

A journal detailing my efforts to launch my career as a novelist. The goals are to share info about succeeding in this field with other aspiring authors, to provide updates to the many supporters who have asked me for them, and ultimately to build the momentum necessary to assure success in this venture.

Monday, May 07, 2007

IPPY Finalist

I learned today that The Tour is a finalist for an IPPY Award. I'd love to add one of those beauties to my collection. I'm headed to New York for the presentation ceremony in a few weeks. A few weeks ago I returned from the Tour de Georgia. It was my fourth trip around the state with the bike race, and I've made several other trips to Georgia in the last few years for various other reasons. I used to think I knew Georgia from traveling to Atlanta so much. I was wrong. It is a great state with wonderful people and a lot more geographic variety than I'd previously imagined.

This year I took my wife along. She was surprised by two things. 1) How much work it is to chase a bike race around selling books. We were up before 6 a.m. every day and usually got home for the night after 8 p.m. I've gotten so used to this bizarre form of a vacation that I sort of forgot it wouldn't be too much fun if you weren't a big cycling fan. 2) How fantastic Georgia is. She wants to return with the kids for a trip. We hope to do that next year.

For now all of my energy is focused on getting Saul Raisin's biography out. It's titled Tour de Life: From Coma to Competition, and I believe it has the opportunity for major success. I'm going to give it everything I've got to make sure the mainstream media learns about this incredible story.