★ Los Angeles Times Best Seller ★
★ Chief of Naval Operations' 2013 Reading List ★
Two full stories from the book – click the image to read now!
This book, an entirely not-for-profit collection of thirty-three short stories written by members of the US Naval Academy Class of 2002 and mothers of fallen Classmates, has sold over 14,000 copies. A two-time Los Angeles Times Bestseller, it was also selected by the Chief of Naval Operations for his prestigious Official Reading List for 2013.
All editor & author earnings are donated to veterans' organizations – over $18,000 to date.
Read two of the stories in this excerpt! Purchase your hardcover, Kindle, or iBooks copy today.
We also ship signed copies and are available to speak at events across the country; please contact us.
In the Shadow of Greatness Book Trailer
Supporting Veteran Organizations
All author profits from In the Shadow of Greatness go to the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2002, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization set up exclusively for charitable purposes that support education, training, and excellence within the Navy, Marine Corps, and veteran communities. Tax-Exempt Nonstock Corporation in the state of Maryland. All proceeds have been (and will be) donated to veterans' not-for-profit organizations who have proven their excellence to our nation. The authors and editors are not profiting from their participation in the book.
We support a wide variety of veterans organizations, including:
Challenged Athletes Foundation - Operation Rebound
Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA)
Luke's Wings
The Matthew Freeman Project
The Mission Continues
Run To Honor
Ripley Race
Semper Fi Fund
Team Red, White & Blue
The Travis Manion Foundation
Veterans Campaign
Veterans Crossroads Foundation
Media & Event Appearances
In the Fall of 2012, the book team performed numerous media and promotional appearances across the country. Television, radio, and major in-person appearances are below. The team also spoke at 62 different events in 13 states and the District of Columbia.
Television
☆ Fox & Friends interviewed Josh Welle and Elizabeth Kreft on Veterans Day 2012. (Unfortunately, the video is no longer available online.)
☆ C-SPAN's Book TV covered the National Book Launch from September 11, 2012, at the US Navy Memorial. Watch the entire event. It features an introduction by Josh Welle and an incredibly moving speech from Lisa Freeman.
☆ C-SPAN also features Seth Lynn and his story in the book in this 10 minute clip of the launch event.
☆ On the morning of September 11, 2012, Josh Welle was interviewed on WUSA-TV (Washington, DC).
☆ WDAF-TV interview of Kate Kranz on May 17th, 2013. Watch: (3:35, 66.8MB).
Radio
☆ MAX Media in Hampton Roads, Virginia with Josh Welle. Listen: (29:25, 28MB)
☆ WGET in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania with John Ennis on August 23, 2012. Listen on their streaming site. Special thanks to Fred Snyder for his support of the book and our veterans.
☆ WADK in Newport, RI with Josh on August 8th, 2012. Listen: (39:35, 18MB)
☆ WRNJ radio interview of Josh on August 3rd, 2012. Listen: (7:14, 6.7MB)
☆ Podcast "Midrats" with Graham Plaster. Listen: (61:08, streaming)
Recorded Events
☆ The Marines' Memorial Association graciously hosted Josh and co-authors Rachel Torres and John Cauthen to a wonderful panel discussion. The full event is here; there are shorter versions here and here.
☆ Video of Josh and Donna Checca (mother of author CAPT Rocky Checca, USMC) addressing the Western Reserve Academy. Thank you to WRA for making this video available.
Book Tour
Our book tour concluded in January 2013 after 62 events in thirteen states and the District of Columbia. The map below is a record of many of those events. Thank you to the dozens of people across the country who made this tour a reality!
Supporters
Our individual supporters have given time, money, and other resources to ensure the success of the project. Some of them are listed below. To all who have helped: thank you!
☆ Rocky Checca
☆ Michael Johnson
☆ James Consalvi
☆ Derrick Hunt
☆ Courtney Senini
☆ Anita Brenner
☆ Lisa Freeman
☆ Josh Awad
☆ Roy Dalton
☆ Philip Glenn
☆ Alex Katauskas
☆ Kevin Stepp
☆ Meghan Elger Courtney
☆ Travis Bode
☆ Glyndell Houston
☆ Wallace Elger
☆ Carol Andersen
☆ Nathan Schmidt
☆ Glyndell Houston
☆ Marlon Terrell
☆ Jason Jackson
The In the Shadow of Greatness team is grateful to our many corporate and non-profit partners for assisting with marketing for the book. Because we are a non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity of individuals and organizations. Contact us if you can help us to do more.
☆ U.S. Naval Institute: "The Mission of the Institute is to provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to national defense."
☆ Newman Communications: A national Public Relations firm specializing in book publicity and book promotion for authors, publishers, writers, & speakers.
☆ VideoGenie: Founded by Justin Nassiri (USNA '02) after attending Stanford Business School, VideoGenie enables your customers to talk about your brand through a variety of campaigns.
☆ Troopswap.com: "Founded by veterans, our team is dedicated to working with reputable, military-friendly businesses to bring special deals and everyday discounts to our verified active service members, veterans, spouses and their dependents. Every day, we will send you a new, hand selected deal along with a selection of businesses near you who offer everyday discounts to members of the military community. Our local employees are all military spouses and we give 10% of our profits to the Wounded Warrior Project."
MORE Voices of Leadership, Sacrifice, and Service
Nearly one hundred stories from the class of 2002 were collected for In the Shadow of Greatness. The submissions printed in the bound volume were chosen because each best fit the thesis and helped to offer a variety of perspectives. Those other stories aren't lost, though! Read more here.