FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VETERAN AUTHOR SET TO TACKLE
LIFE & TILES OF PATRIOT
HARTFORD, CT; NEW YORK, NY; JANUARY 3, 2007—Peter Miller, President of PMA Literary & Film Management, Inc., is happy to announce the sale of journalist M. William Phelps's narrative biography of Revolutionary War Hero Nathan Hale, to Mark LaFlaur at Thomas Dunne Books, an imprint of St. Martin's Press, for publication in the fall of 2008.
“Phelps is bringing the entire heroic story of Hale's life together in a narrative for the first time, finally bringing the truth to Hale's often fictionalized legacy,” says Peter Miller. “Think John Adams meets Band of Brothers.”
Investigative journalist M. William Phelps's narrative biography, For the Sake of Liberty: The Life and Death of Captain Nathan Hale, America's First Spy, will chronicle a period in Hale's life between 1773 and 1776, as told through a variety of primary sources, focusing on the close relationship Hale had with his brother, Enoch, all set against two major battles of the American Revolution.
“There's been some new information about Hale's life to surface,” says Phelps, “which offers a more poignant look into this man's incredible story of patriotism. But that is merely one aspect of a truly epic story—a remarkable life, essentially, of faith, hope and courage, folded against the backdrop of two brothers coping with the immense tragedy of war.”
Part of Phelps's account will detail that personal relationship between Nathan and Enoch, who, upon hearing rumors of Nathan's death, set out on a journey to find out the truth.
“I'm delighted to be writing the book for Thomas Dunne Books, with its strong list in history, and working with Mark Laflaur,” Phelps adds.
“Inside the pathos of Hale's life, you have the heroic passage of the nation's first band of brothers, in part led by Hale, as a group of greenhorn soldiers travel from New London to Boston, heading into the opening moments of the most significant war in American history.”
Phelps brings a unique investigative edge to the project and plans to, in a journalistic approach, explore the entire Hale family legacy.
“I grew up in Vernon, a Connecticut town bordering Coventry, Hale's hometown. When I started this project, I viewed the story as a reporter would,” Phelps says. “While collecting research, I asked questions—and those questions led to letters, journals and other resources.”
Peter Miller says, “Phelps has a knack for finding information in documents other researchers have glossed over or even missed.”
Throughout his career, Phelps has written seven nonfiction books, along with freelance articles for The Providence Journal, Hartford Courant, “The New London” Day, and several magazines. He's consulted for television and been on ABC's “GMA,” CNN, Fox, Court TV, Biography Channel, History Channel, Discovery and more. He's covered a variety of diverse subjects throughout his career. He's going to produce a highly readable, factual account of America's most celebrated martyr.
“My goal is historical accuracy,” Phelps concludes. “My strong point has always been document examination, be it a police report or, in this case, Revolutionary War papers. I gather facts and tell stories based on interviews and documentation. Here, I'll rely on the anecdotes of soldiers who served with Hale, recollections from his friends and family, Hale's own words, along with scores of other documents, books, letters, journals and diaries. My objective is to report Hale's life story through those who knew him best and present it in a narrative the general reader will enjoy.”