Books By My Authors

Our agency looks forward with great anticipation for the release of the debut novel, FINDING JACK, by South African author Gareth Crocker, in February, 2011. When the war ends, how do you leave your best friend behind? This is the premise of FINDING JACK. After losing his young family in a tragic accident, Fletcher Carson joins the flagging war effort in Vietnam. Deeply depressed, he plans to die in the war. But during one of his early missions, Fletcher rescues a critically wounded yellow Lab whom he nurses back to health and names Jack. As Fletcher and Jack patrol and survive the forests of Vietnam, Fletcher slowly regains the will to live.



At the end of the war, The U.S. Government announces that due to the cost of withdrawal, all U.S. dogs serving in the war have been declared "surplus military equipment" and will not be transported home. For the hundreds of dog handlers throughout Vietnam, whose dogs have saved countless lives, the news is greeted with shock and disbelief. For Fletcher, he knows that if he abandons Jack, then he too will be lost. Ordered to leave Jack behind, he refuses - and so begins their journey.



Based on the actual existence and abandonment of canine units in Vietnam, Gareth Crocker's FINDING JACK is a novel of friendship and love under desperate circumstances that will grab your heart and won't let go.

Advance Praise:

"Gareth Crocker writes vividly and from the heart.... Crocker has avoided all temptations of sentimentality on the one hand and political pontification on the other."
The Star (South Africa)

"Rarely have I read so moving an account of the heroism of animals, the compassion of the humans who love them, and the transformational relation ships that can spring up between the two. This is a story that will continue to live with you long after you've turned the last page."
Gwen Cooper, Author of The New York Times Bestseller Homer's Odyssey

Gareth Crocker has worked as a journalist, copywriter, news editor, public relations manager, publishing editor and, most recently head of communications and spoksperson for a multinational corporation. Finding Jack, is his first novel.

Schiavone Literary Agency, Inc. promises more to come from this exceptionally talented author.

The Author and Book Publicity

Reader G.M. McGowan said... "It's true to have something to sell. However, public relations, promotion, marketing and distribution are what make money for the publisher. And that's something the publisher has to do... not the new or established author."

G.M. is certainly correct when he/she avers that publicity is something the publisher has to do. His assertion that somehow the author is not responsible, in my opinion does not ring true. All of the large mainstream publishers indeed have publicity departments, and in most cases have several full time publicists within the department. These personnel work diligently to get the book noticed through national print publicity and advertising, sending ARC's (advanced reading copies) to booksellers, reviewers, TV producers, newspapers and magazines. They also schedule book signings and radio and TV interviews, as well as promotions on social networking sites, blog campaigns, and reading groups.

Through all of this the author is key in rounding out the efforts of the publicity department. Today's author needs to have or to establish a platform, which is evidenced by the fact that most authors, even those who remain unpublished, now have Web sites as well as blogs. Gone are the days when an author concentrates on writing with little or no concern given to publicizing his book. The author's input with regard to marketing is especially crucial when the small publisher has little or no capacity to do so.

I believe a large part of the excitement of being a published author is in the marketing of the book through signings, interviews, and appearances. Today's successful authors are multi-talented!