I’ll be reading new work from my novel-in-progress, along with a couple of buddies and great poets, Alina Nguyễn & Natasha Kessler.
Supremed Reading Series
Events and Appearances
Omaha Reads!!!
I’m very excited to share that The War Begins in Paris has been selected by Omaha Public Library patrons as the book for this year’s Omaha Reads!
Read more about the program and see a list of related events here.
It’s such an honor to have my work voted in by the community. I’m excited to hear what people think!
Upcoming Omaha Reads Opportunities
Sunday, Oct. 27, 3 p.m.: Omaha Reads Author Visit with Theodore Wheeler. Join us for a conversation with the author of the 2024 Omaha Reads book, “The War Begins in Paris,” moderated by OPL Partnerships Manager Amy Mather, and followed by a Q & A session with the audience. Copies of “The War Begins in Paris” will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is required. The event will be held at the Downtown Branch of Omaha Public Library at 1401 Jones St.
Book Club Discussion Groups:
- Tuesday, Aug. 6, 4 p.m.: Under the Dundee Sun Book Club at A.V. Sorensen Branch, 4808 Cass St.
- Saturday, Aug. 17, 1 p.m.: Plain Pages Book Club at Willa Cather Branch, 1905 S. 44th St.
- Wednesday, Aug. 21, 12:30 p.m.: Jolly Neighbors Book Club at Bess Johnson Elkhorn Branch, 2100 Reading Plz
- Wednesday, Aug. 28, 1 p.m.: Go Readers Go Book Club at Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St.
- Thursday, Sept. 6, 10:30 a.m.: Between the Lines Book Club at Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave.
- Wednesday, Sept. 11, noon: Chat N Chew Book Club at Downtown Branch, 1401 Jones St.
- Thursday, Sept. 12, 10:30 a.m.: Benson Pageturners Book Club at Benson Branch, 6015 Binney St.
- Tuesday, Sept. 17, 6 p.m.: Novel Nights Book Club at Charles B. Washington Branch, 2868 Ames Ave.
- Thursday, Sept. 19, 2 p.m.: Page Turners Book Club at Saddlebrook Branch, 14850 Laurel Ave.
- Tuesday, Sept. 24, 6 p.m.: Willa Cather Book Club at Willa Cather Branch, 1905 S. 44th St.
- Wednesday, Sept. 25, 6 p.m.: Double Booked Book Club at Millard Branch, 13214 Westwood Ln.
- Thursday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.: Friends & Strangers Book Club at Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St.
Visit omahalibrary.org to reserve your copy.
MEDIA ROUNDUP: THE WAR BEGINS IN PARIS
I fell way behind on posting this over the last couple months, so it’s link roundup time!
Short interview on Lit Hub with four other others, from Dec 12, 2023.
Radio spot with host Tom Maxedon and the Word program on 91.5 KJZZ in Phoenix. Aired on Dec 12, 2023.
Radio spot with host John Busbee on The Culture Buzz in Des Moines. Aired on Nov 21, 2023.
Interview with Luke Rolfes on Laurel Review from early November.
Radio spot with Lindsay Tague on Arts Today for 90.7 KVNO in Omaha. Aired on Nov 28, 2023.
PHOTOS FROM THE ROAD
Some photos from the first half of my book tour for The War Begins in Paris!
Book Tour is Coming!
I’m still adding events all the time. But, in the meantime, I’m so excited to share with you all this graphic that highlights some of my main stops!
From Denver to DC, Portland to Greenville, St. Louis, Kansas City, Iowa City, and Chicago. This will be a lot of fun. If you live near one of these stops, it would be great to see you!
Kings a Finalist for Omaha Reads!
Some very exciting news last week, as voting opened for Omaha Public Library’s 2018 Omaha Reads selection and my novel Kings of Broken Things is a finalist!
Please go vote for Kings here. We’re up against some heavy-hitters and can surely use your support.
The other finalists are Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, and A Warrior of the People by Joe Starita.
If you’re not familiar, Omaha Reads is the city’s largest book club and marks a great opportunity for increased visibility. In addition to increased sales and library checkouts, of course, OPL also hosts numerous discussion and author events. Here’s a little background from Omaha World-Herald entertainment reporter Micah Mertes.
Friend of the blog (and one of my great mentors) Jonis Agee saw her novel The Bones of Paradise selected last year. It was a lot of fun seeing Jonis get the attention she deserves locally, and I’d be floored to earn the same noteriety for my book too.
A Few Updates, Plus Photos from the Durham Museum
Hey, loyal readers. I hope you’re doing well. Things have been busy here around the Wheeler homestead, what with a few more readings to promote Kings of Broken Things, I spoke with Mary Hartnett on Siouxland Public Radio about Tom Dennison’s legacy in Omaha, saw Kings named as having one of the best book covers of the year by Book Riot, and most recently appeared on the Writing Fun YouTube channel to talk about the process of writing historical fiction and whether or not I’m into the MLB post-season even though the Royals didn’t make it this year. (Meh.) Along with teaching fiction writing at UNO again this fall, starting Dundee Book Company, and that whole full-time job and family thing, I’ve been busy.
A couple more things.
First, I’d like to point out that the hardcover edition of Kings of Broken Things is now 49% off at Amazon. I know many of you already have the book, but if you don’t yet have a copy, or don’t yet have the beautiful hardcover version, and have been waiting for the price to drop online, here you go.
Lastly, Carrie Meyer from the Durham Museum was kind enough to send along some images from our awesome Objects of Inspiration event at the museum a few weeks ago with my fellow Omaha historical novelists Timothy Schaffert and Andrew Hilleman. It was such a fun event, made even more special by the select artifacts that Carrie had pulled from the Durham’s archive. Specifically related to Kings, there was a WWI-era doughboy uniform and an amazing zither. See below for the full gallery. (All photos were taken by Dawn Myron and appear courtesy of the Durham Museum.)
Now we’re all caught up.
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More Photos from August Events
Here are a few more photos from my events this month. Between the release of Kings of Broken Things and the launch of our “roving” bookstore (Dundee Book Company) I took part in an even ten events this month, ranging from traditional readings to launch parties to street fairs, radio spots, a cocktail party, and finally setting up last Sunday at my grandparents church. It’s been exhausting and exhilarating to talk to so many people about the book, and the events start up again this Friday when touring-author Zachary Schomburg and I will read from our debut novels at Solid Jackson Books. See you soon!
A warm welcome to the Lincoln launch of Kings at Indigo Bridge Books.
Working the room at the 1877 Society cocktail party. (Photo by Omaha Public Library)
OWH print edition.
My nephew’s favorite authors.
Waiting for studio time at NET before recording my NPR debut.
Special menu for 1887 Society event at Mercury Lounge. (Photo by Omaha Public Library)
Gallery of authors at the 1877 Society event, including Tosca Lee, Cat Dixon, myself, Liz Kay, Lydia Kang, and Leo Biga. (Photo by Omaha Public Library)
Dundee Book Co. book cart in action.
Kings Makes Book Riot Best Covers List
Some exciting news for a Tuesday, as Kings of Broken Things was recognized by Book Riot as having one of the best book covers of the year! Check out the full list for what look like some great books, and kudos to Book Riot for going there and judging a bunch of books by their covers. As I mentioned last week, it’s a beautiful cover, so I’m glad to see it get some much deserved recognition.
Some other news:
-An excerpt from Kings was posted this morning on Schloss-Post. Thanks to Akademie Schloss Solitude and online coordinator Clara Herrmann for putting together the post. Most all the promotion for the novel has focused on the race riot, so it’s nice to bring a little focus to one of the more character-driven elements. In this case, the chapter introduces Evie Chambers, the female lead in the novel, and sets up her life as a kept woman on Omaha’s Capitol Avenue.
-I have a few events in Omaha and Lincoln coming up in the next week or so, which includes being on a panel of historical novelists at Oak View Barnes & Noble on Sat Aug 19, a reading at Indigo Bridge Books in Lincoln on Tue Aug 22, and a cocktail reception with the 1877 Society and Omaha Public Library Foundation at Mercury Lounge on Wed Aug 23. If you’re in the area, come on out and say hi.
Theodore Wheeler 