A brief preview of my next book: 20 OF THE GREATEST ADVENTURERS THEY NEVER TAUGHT US ABOUT IN SCHOOL AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM. This event is closed to the public.

Few people realize that Zeppelins carried thousands of paying passengers millions of miles without a single fatality for more than 20 years. As a result, Zeppelins had the best safety record of any form of commercial transportation until the Hindenburg crash in 1937. And Germany wasn’t the only country invested in the success of commercial airships. During the first thirty years of the 20th century France, England, Italy, Spain, Japan, the Soviet Union, and Argentina were just some of the many countries that built and flew airships. Incredibly, the United States Navy spent millions of dollars building Zeppelins that were not only designed to protect Hawaii and California from a surprise attack by Japan in the days before radar, but promoted as the next form of long-distance transportation competing with luxury ocean liners and transcontinental trains for first class passengers. A survey of this fascinating but little-known period of aviation history will include remarkable photographs, first person accounts, and rare film clips.

This course is based on research for my recent non-fiction book, When Giants Ruled the Sky (The History Press, 2022). It will have four, 90 minute, Zoom classes held from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM Pacific Time on Wednesday May 3, 10, 17, and 24. The course is sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of California, Berkeley. For more information visit: https://olli.berkeley.edu/

BOOK PASSAGE LOVES WRITERS! If you are one of the many writers in the Bay Area who are looking for a safe and encouraging writing community designed to help improve your writing skills, Book Passage's WRITERS WORKSHOP is for you. Open to writers of all levels, Book Passage's WRITERS WORKSHOP provides writers with an opportunity to read an excerpt from their current writing project and get immediate feedback from fellow writers. The workshop is moderated by experienced author, journalist, and instructor, John J. Geoghegan. John will ensure that everyone gets a chance to participate, and that comments are both constructive and reasonable.

Book Passage’s WRITERS WORKSHOP will meet at the Corte Madera store (51 Tamal Vista Blvd., Corte Madera, CA) for eight, three hour sessions on Sundays in April 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14, 21; and June 4 and 11 (there will be no class on May 28 in honor of Memorial Day) from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM Pacific Time. So come spend Sunday mornings with a community of like-minded writers and get feedback and inspiration while sipping coffee and enjoying a delicious pastry from the Book Passage cafe.

For more information or to register visit: https://www.bookpassage.com/events-calendar or call (415) 927-0960

This author’s talk about my most recent book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY, will be held on Facebook to commemorate the opening of The National Museum of the U.S. Navy’s (NMUSN) newest exhibit about the airship, USS Macon (ZRS-5). The Macon was the largest, most expensive, most technically sophisticated airship in her day as well as the world’s LAST flying aircraft carrier. My talk can be watched at NMUSN’s Facebook page located here: https://www.facebook.com/NMUSN on April 13 from noon to 1:00 PM Eastern Time.

This in-person course which meets for two hours on three Saturdays in April 2023 is perfect for writers at any stage of their writing life or career (from beginner to advanced) who want a better understanding of how the publishing world works and how to navigate it to their advantage.

“It’s the kind of course I wish had been available when I was starting my writing career,” says instructor John J. Geoghegan. “Since I learned the hard way through multiple mistakes, I’ve strived to strip away the mystery around what it takes to get published. Based on real world experience, concrete examples, and entertaining anecdotes, I’ll demystify how the publishing industry works while covering all the important basics including:

• How to find the right publisher and/or literary agent            

• How to write a compelling query letter and elevator pitch

• Understanding “coded feedback” from agents and editors

• How the publishing ecosystems work and trends you can work to your advantage

• 10 rookie mistakes first time authors make

• And more!

The course will include lectures, group discussion, and workshop exercises. For example, students will craft their own query letter based on time-tested principles we’ll review in class, and receive feedback both from me and their peers. We’re all in this together, so the classroom will be a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment with plenty of laughter and fun. Questions and group discussion will be welcome and encouraged.

The class will meet on Saturday April 1, 8, and 15 from 10:30-1:00 PM at The Writing Salon, 2042 Balboa St., San Francisco, CA 94121, For more information visit: https://www.writingsalons.com/all-classes/ or phone: (510) 982-6252

Did you know that Japan planned on launching a second surprise aerial attack this time against New York City and Washington, DC as a follow-up to Pearl Harbor? You can learn all about this incredible but little-known mission in my upcoming ZOOM talk for the New York Adventure Club on Tuesday, March 14 at 8:00 PM (Eastern Time) and 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). For more information or to register follow the link: https://www.nyadventureclub.com/categories/virtual/

A presentation to the Sons In Retirement Branch #68 luncheon about my latest book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY. For reservations visit: https://sirinc2.org/branch68/

A presentation to the Rotary Club of Marin-Evening about my latest book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY. For reservations see: https://www.marineveningrotary.com/

How to Get Your Book Published is designed to help writer’s improve their chance of getting their memoir, novel, or non-fiction book represented by a reputable literary agent or published by a commercial publisher. For more information or to purchase tickets visit: https://www.bookpassage.com/event/online-class-john-j-geoghegan-how-get-your-book-published or call: (415) 927-0960

The three hour course will be presented on Zoom and will cover:

• How to identify the right literary agent, editor, or publisher for your project

• What publishers, editors, and literary agents look for in a submission

• How to write a query letter

• How to write a non-fiction book proposal

• How to format your manuscript

• What a standard literary agent agreement and publishing contract looks like

• 10 rookies mistakes first timer authors make

• And much more

John J. Geoghegan began his career at Doubleday Publishers in New York City. In addition to serving as a Special Correspondent for the New York Times, he has worked as an editor and writer in both the magazine and newspaper industries. John has written more than 100 articles for the New York Times Science section, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, and WIRED among other publications. He is also the author of three, commercially-published, non-fiction books with a fourth under contract.

Everyone knows who Sir Ernest Shackleton is but there are many amazing adventurers whose accomplishments rival that of the most celebrated explorers yet many people have never heard of them. Take, for example, Aloha Wanderwell who, in 1925, became the first woman to drive around world. Sponsored by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Dominican University, this ZOOM class will meet for four, 90 minute sessions every Tuesday in February starting February 7 at 2:00 PM (Pacific Time); 5:00 PM (Eastern). For more information or to register follow the link: https://lnkd.in/gWb2N2Va

Did you know that Japan planned on launching a second surprise aerial attack this time against New York City and Washington DC as a follow-up to Pearl Harbor? You can learn all about this incredible but little-known mission in my upcoming ZOOM talk for the New York Adventure Club on January 17 at 5:00 PM (Pacific Time). Details in the link: https://lnkd.in/g5GeKJFe

An entertaining look at 50 crazy inventions that should never have been built and what we can learn from them based on my forthcoming book, WHITE ELEPHANT TECHNOLOGY. This course will meet at Dominican University in Guzman Hall for four, hour and a half long sessions beginning on Oct. 17 and continuing on Oct. 19, Oct. 24, Oct. 31, and Nov. 7 as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The lecture will be lavishly illustrated, entertainingly presented and no homework or reading is required. Registration required. For details see: https://www.dominican.edu/academics/adult-and-continuing-education/osher-lifelong-learning-institute-olli

How to Get Your Book Published is designed to help writer’s improve their chance of getting their memoir, novel, or non-fiction book represented by a reputable literary agent or published by a commercial publisher. Sponsored by Book Passage, Northern California’s leading independent bookstore; for tickets or more information see: https://www.bookpassage.com/event/online-class-john-j-geoghegan-how-get-your-book-published

The three hour course, which will be presented in person as well as over Zoom, will cover:

• How to identify the right literary agent, editor, or publisher for your project

• What publishers, editors, and literary agents look for in a submission

• How to write a query letter

• How to write a non-fiction book proposal

• How to format your manuscript

• What a standard industry book contract looks like

• 5 rookies mistakes first timers make

• And much more

John J. Geoghegan began his career at Doubleday Publishers in New York City. In addition to serving as a Special Correspondent for the New York Times, he has worked as an editor and writer in both the magazine and newspaper industries. John has written more than 100 articles for the New York Times Science section, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, WIRED, Smithsonian Air & Space, and American History magazine among other publications. He is also the author of, Operation Storm: Japan’s Top Secret Submarines and Its Plan to Change the Course of World War II (Crown, 2013), which The Wall Street Journal called, “a fascinating, meticulously researched and deft account;” Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow: A True Story of Love, Hearing Loss, Heartbreak and Redemption (New Haven Publishing, 2018), which Book Authority ranked No. 1 on its list of the 38 best books about hearing loss; and When Giants Ruled the Sky: The Brief Reign and Tragic Demise of the American Big Rigid (The History Press, 2022), which New York Times bestelling author, Dirk Cussler, called, “A fascinating account of glory and tragedy that soars with suspense. I enjoyed the hell out of it!”

For more information or to purchase tickets see: https://www.bookpassage.com/

An illustrated presentation to the Old Guard luncheon about my newest book: WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY: THE BRIEF REIGN AND TRAGIC DEMISE OF THE AMERICAN RIGID AIRSHIP. Reservations required.

An entertaining look at the history of the airship based on my most recent book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY. This course will meet at Dominican University in Guzman Hall for four, hour and a half long sessions beginning on Sept. 12 and continuing on Sept. 19, Oct. 3, and Oct. 10 as part of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The lecture will be lavishly illustrated, entertainingly presented and no homework or reading is required. Registration required. For details see: https://www.dominican.edu/academics/adult-and-continuing-education/osher-lifelong-learning-institute-olli

Author’s talk at the Oakland Aviaton Museum about my new book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY: THE BRIEF REIGN AND TRAGIC DEMISE OF THE AMERICAN RIGID AIRSHIP. For details see: https://www.oaklandaviationmuseum.org/