View Full Version : New Book By & For The Fans - ELVIS:: Remembering August 16, 1977
Steve F
07-22-2006, 5:05pm
Back about 1 1/2 to 2 years ago, I got an e-mail from a guy named Ron Collamore. I don't have that e-mail anymore because I got a virus on my PC and had to take it in for repair, and I no longer have his original mail. So I must try to remember what he said and asked of me. He was researching for a new book on Elvis he said. When I had read that far, I thought, here we go again, how many books can they write about Elvis. Then I noticed he was saying a book entirely made up of memories by fans of that fateful day, August 16, 1977. I don't recall what his comment was about why he contacted me, but it seems he picked me he said because he's seen some things I'd written for my fan club. He then asked if I had something to contribute. I looked through my postings to the True Fans for Elvis Fan Club [TFFEFC] and found something I'd written in August 2002 to share my thoughts about the 25th Anniversary of Elvis' passing and sent it to him. Mr. Collamore, to my surprise e-mailed me back and said it was great and wouldn't change anything. He told me he would let me know when the book would come out. Anyway, I kind of forgot about the whole thing until about three weeks ago when he sent me an e-mail that the book had been published!! He gave me the sites where it can be purchased. I ordered it from Amazon.com and it came today. I can't believe it, but there it is!!! My article is on Pages 13-15. It looks like there are a few typos, but whose complaining. Afterall, I have a brief story published in a book. I have to tip my hat to myself. Now I'm on a par with my wife. She has a poem published in a book of poems by Maine poets and now I have this. The book is full of many fans and their own private thoughts about that day. For example they are from all over the globe. They are from the US, Holland, England, Canada, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, Germany, Brazil, Sweden, Spain, and Malta. The strange thing for me is that I don't believe I have ever heard of any of these people. It just makes me feel so fortunate to have been a part of this project. It is a very nice tribute by fans of their private thoughts about the the day the King of Rock & Roll left us.
If anyone is interested, these are the sites he said you can go to order it from:
http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/BookStoreSearchResults.aspx?SearchType=smpl&SearchTerm=Spike+Collamore
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1425915302/ref=pd_rvi_gw_1/102-7709664-7967352?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155
http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q...roogle&ct=title
As I mentioned before, got mine from amazon.com.
Woah! I'm still a little shocked that this happened to me.
Steve
Steve F
07-22-2006, 5:14pm
This is what the cover looks like:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/1425915302.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V65579741_.jpg
My True Fans For Elvis Fan Club congratulated me and now they want me to do a review of the book for the next newsletter. Also in the e-mail sent by the Club Officer she mentions that the author Ron Collamore recently contacted her about purchasing some of the many Elvis photos that she has for sale and she is helping him promote his book as well. She put him in touch with Lee Dawson who has an internet radio show that reaches over 9,000 people so this should help his book sales.
Steve
Hey Steve, that's great that your writing was published in this book :up:
When I visited Graceland a few years back, I was amazed by the number of people showing such great emotion in front of his grave, so the subject of this book does not surprise me much after seeing that.
Steve F
07-24-2006, 3:02pm
Thanks. I just read that literally all the hotels will be sold out soon [some are already] for next year's Graceland week in August at it will be the 30th Anniversary of his death.
Steve
Shaniabomber99
07-25-2006, 6:56am
That sounds great Steve.
Carley
Thanks. I just read that literally all the hotels will be sold out soon [some are already] for next year's Graceland week in August at it will be the 30th Anniversary of his death.
SteveI have understood that every year they have a week, and dozens of impersonators show up and the whole town is filled with Elvis fans. This anniversary understandibly will bring even more people than normally.
Steve F
07-25-2006, 4:32pm
I was there for the first one in 1978, but haven't gone since. It is expensive, and to be honest, very crowded. I prefer to go at another time of year when it is a little less hectic. But it is a phenominal event, no question about it!
Steve
I'm with you Steve, I hate big crowds.
I was there in halfway through September, and thought it was okay. Although it was very hot and humid even then.
Have you been there many times over the years? I understood that you were at the actual Elvis-week back in 1978, but perhaps you've been there later on other times?
Great story, I would be honoured too.
Elvis fans take fandom to the highest level...of course I would dream to see Shania lookalikes dressing up in the way we see the Elvis impersonators! They'll never forget Elvis especially because of his fans, they immortalised him.
I've watched a lot of Elvis' books in stores, in CD stores, and they're very sold here, Elvis is still alive, the CDs are amazing, his music likes me. Anyway.
I have never bought a book of him but I'm now interested on that, I'll try to buy it one as soon as posible!
Steve F
07-26-2006, 2:17pm
I've always been a devoted fan of Elvis. "It started basically in 1955 for me. He was still not known nationally, but I'd seen his records on the Sun Label in my local stores and had heard him on the radio from the Louisianna Hayride. I never got one until he was with RCA. Boy, I wish I had got those Sun records. They are worth a lot of money now! :rolleyes: Anyway, it's been a 50+ year connection. Along about 1998, I got a thought I should find another performer to follow as well. I will always be a fan of Elvis, but let's face it, he won't be doing anything new. :D So, when I heard From This Moment On, I immediately fell for the song even though at the time I had no clue who sang it. I decided maybe this was the singer to follow. So, of course I did, fell for the singer as well, and I am not sorry. Granted, I am a fan of many aritsts of blues, rock, & country, but at the same time, I am so lucky to now have two great artists to follow. :)
Steve
EilleenTwain88
07-26-2006, 2:37pm
...his music likes me.
Nicely put.. :)
I've always been a devoted fan of Elvis. "It started basically in 1955 for me.
That is grea for you, a fan of him!;) I'm not a fan of him but I like his music! :great:
Steve F
07-26-2006, 4:37pm
That is grea for you, a fan of him!;) I'm not a fan of him but I like his music! :great:
Alex, you are just a young person, so I understand you not being a fan. It is not something you grew up with, or have much knowledge of. But for me, it was a once in a life-time event. This guy came along and changed the entire music industry. Pop music changed, country music changed, blues as well, everything changed. All of a sudden here was this guy who was white singing music like a black singer and it caught on. It opened up so many doors for others. Nothing would ever be the same again! All of a sudden the Grand Ole' Opry added drums and electric guitars. They had never had that before. Rock and Roll started before Elvis, but when he exploded, so did it! He blew open the doors for everything that has followed since, including Shania. He's sold over a Billion records world-wide. Only the Beatles are at that level, and even then, they owe him for establishing a place for them to do their thing. I think he is much taken for granted, millions of $ are raised by fan clubs around the world each year in his name. There are hundreds of fan clubs, but to be honest Alex, to like his music is all you need. That's enough for anyone. So, I hope you continue to like it.
Steve
Alex, you are just a young person, so I understand you not being a fan.
Perhaps it's a good reason why I'm not a fan:p lol.
I said that because in this season in these days many girls and boys around my age are and they say are a huge fan of Elvis Presley and they collect his music, I have nearly 6 elvis fans, they use to decorate their rooms with elvis posters, they use clothe about Elvis, it's a madness with them:p.. And of course many people is still remembering his music since they met him or enjoy his music in that seasons in back!
The Beatles, with John Lennon, and Elvis Presley maybe are the greatest artists in the back and now they keep living with their music!
Steve F
07-27-2006, 2:23pm
Perhaps it's a good reason why I'm not a fan:p lol.
I said that because in this season in these days many girls and boys around my age are and they say are a huge fan of Elvis Presley and they collect his music, I have nearly 6 elvis fans, they use to decorate their rooms with elvis posters, they use clothe about Elvis, it's a madness with them:p.. And of course many people is still remembering his music since they met him or enjoy his music in that seasons in back!
I read recently that about 40% of Elvis fans now are about your age. From where I look, that is good news. It means that perhaps, he will not disappear from memory.
Steve
I read recently that about 40% of Elvis fans now are about your age. From where I look, that is good news. It means that perhaps, he will not disappear from memory.
Steve
Now you know, Elvis will always be in the memory of everyone in the world. Now the song I have around my head is Hound dog:p
Steve F
07-28-2006, 1:02pm
Now you know, Elvis will always be in the memory of everyone in the world. Now the song I have around my head is Hound dog:p
Hound Dog has never been one of my favorites. Fro his early days, I like "I Forgot To Remember To Forget"; "Mystery Train"; "Baby Let's Play House"; "Don't"; "Love Me"; and "Don't Be Cruel". But my favorite all-time Elvis song is "American Trilogy." It is such an emotional song. Of course if you are not from the US Deep South, it probably doesn't mean a lot, except he sang it so well. "If I Can Dream" is another of my favorites. For bluesy songs, I love "Reconsider Baby" and "Mess of Blues'.
Stvee
Hound Dog has never been one of my favorites. Fro his early days, I like "I Forgot To Remember To Forget"; "Mystery Train"; "Baby Let's Play House"; "Don't"; "Love Me"; and "Don't Be Cruel". But my favorite all-time Elvis song is "American Trilogy." It is such an emotional song. Of course if you are not from the US Deep South, it probably doesn't mean a lot, except he sang it so well. "If I Can Dream" is another of my favorites. For bluesy songs, I love "Reconsider Baby" and "Mess of Blues'.
Stvee
I know that's not the only song, but the others are great, there are some I don't like, maybe for th rithm, but I like the majority. :)
Steve F
08-16-2006, 4:52pm
I did my review of the book for the Fan Club. I e-mailed the author and asked if he would like to see it. He said yes. I sent it to him and told him if there was anything I may have stepped on, or should remove to let me know. Well, here is what he wrote back:
Hi Steve,
Just want to let you know that I'm well pleased with your book review. Go ahead and publish it. Actually I was so wrapped up reading your review and ended up with a few tears. Finally it had occurred to me that it was my book you were writing about. Thank you for writing the review.
Perhaps one of these days I might get a chance to see the newsletter. I'm sure the newsletter is very good.
Keep me posted. Have a good weekend. Take care!
Your friend,
Ron
Needless to say, I was very pleased.
Steve
Steve F
08-17-2006, 1:57pm
Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of Elvis' death. But today would be the 29th anniversary of the Portland, ME concert that never happened. I am showing a picture of my two tickets for that concert that have never been turned in, or punched or whatever. They are just like they were the day I got them after waiting 18 hours for them. They are, as you can see, just 8 rows back:
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g210/steve35terry/ElvisTickets-8-77.jpg
I've been offered a lot of money for them a couple of times by Elvis collectors, but I treasure them a lot, just like I do Shania things I have.
Steve
That is pretty neat Steve that you have those tickets. Looks like those were good seats. 15 bucks for Elvis tickets who knows how much those would be now.
Steve F
08-18-2006, 5:41pm
That is pretty neat Steve that you have those tickets. Looks like those were good seats. 15 bucks for Elvis tickets who knows how much those would be now.
How true. I would have had better than 8th row if they hadn't allowed 20 tickets per person. There were several in front of me. At least when I saw Shania in Montreal, I was in the 2nd row!!! For the record, by the time you ad in all the fees I had to pay for my Shania ticket for that show, it was about $100!!!
Steve
I did my review of the book for the Fan Club. I e-mailed the author and asked if he would like to see it. He said yes. I sent it to him and told him if there was anything I may have stepped on, or should remove to let me know. Well, here is what he wrote back:
Hi Steve,
Just want to let you know that I'm well pleased with your book review. Go ahead and publish it. Actually I was so wrapped up reading your review and ended up with a few tears. Finally it had occurred to me that it was my book you were writing about. Thank you for writing the review.
Perhaps one of these days I might get a chance to see the newsletter. I'm sure the newsletter is very good.
Keep me posted. Have a good weekend. Take care!
Your friend,
Ron
Needless to say, I was very pleased.
Steve
Hey you're very very lucky...
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.