"HOW POPULAR CAN THE REMAINS OF THE CORPS BE?"
Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch, in an article included in The Wall Street Journal’s December 2015 issue of “The Future of Everything,” made the following observations that are relevant to my The Remains of the Corpsbooks: there will be “a demand for great and exciting books”; “pictorial storytelling will increase in popularity”; and, “social media will continue to expand the writer’s ability to connect with readers.”
In terms of “great and exciting,” Book I: Eagle includes heroism, betrayal, a ponzi scheme, suicide, a family feud, vengeance, and the seduction of a Catholic priest -- all set against the backdrop of America’s and Americans’ response to the “Great War,” one of the most famous battles in Marine Corps history -- the Battle of Belleau Wood, the Roaring Twenties, the stock market crash of 1929, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and the attack on Pearl Harbor. It covers a lot of ground! An epic journey!
As to the pictorial book, I propose a graphic novel (The Remains of the Corps: Harvard Yard, Belleau Wood, and Beyond) along the lines of The White Donkey: Terminal Lance by Maximilian Uriarte (Little, Brown) and Indeh: A Story of the Apache Wars, by Ethan Hawke and Greg Ruth (Grand Central).
Marines are inherently social which will facilitate bringing The Remains of the Corps to their attention. The book will bring a ready and hungry audience to the table. A priority goal will be to get The Remains of the Corps added to the “Marine Corps Commandant’s Professional Reading List.”
The novel will also have international appeal: Once An Eagle, by Anton Myrer, a comparable book in size, content, theme and approach was published in nineteen languages. The United States Marine Corps has a world-wide reputation which freshens with every engagement.
The Remains of the Corps would make for a terrific audio book.
I envision a bright, bold, colorful cover with images that prove you can judge a book by its cover.