Dan Coonan

Greetings! We are indeed better than this. That simple, yet powerful truth drove my two novels. My latest, ANOTHER ROUND of Presidential Spirits,, released on the Fourth of July, is a sequel to the first, Presidential Spirits. This website is to support the novels and my Presidential Spirits profile videos, highlight the media attention I’ve been fortunate enough to get for them, house some political and sports essays I’ve published, and serve a few of my other obsessions - which appear under the “Extras” tab above. I hope you find something you connect with. Thanks for stopping by, And thanks also to all who have posted such great reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and the other sites.
If you want a signed paperback or hardcover, or if you want to host an in-person or virtual book club meeting, message me through the contact page.

Cheers! DC

LATEST UPDATES:

November 25, 2024: I was asked to speak about the two novels today at the Gaelic American Club of Fairfield. Great venue. I might just have to come back for St. Patrick’s Day . . .

October 29, 2024: Had to post a photo from the World Series last night. As a life-long Dodger fan and former season ticket holder, it was great to witness this age-old rivalry from the vantage point of Yankee Stadium. That’s my sister Katie in the Brooklyn hat.

October 11, 2024: Always great waking up to see a nice new review has been posted for one of the novels. I've been thrilled to see the ratings and reviews the two books have received. I've got two more in the works by the way - unrelated to these two. One getting close! Stay tuned . . .
Thanks for all the support!

July 7, 2024: Amazon has included a new feature titled “Customers say,” where all written reviews for each book are synthesized to create one composite, representative review. I know many in the writing community are troubled by this new feature, which appears for any book with the requisite minimum number of reviews. But as of now, in light of this composite review above, I like it.

April 10, 2024: I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes US government, history and politics. Gosh, do you think it shows? :)

I’m posting this article by Nate Silver because it contains a really fascinating and unique mechanism for calculating the relative values of presidents, senators, Congress members and Supreme Court justices - one I had never seen before. Thought provoking stuff. I’m not endorsing the values he attaches to those offices - but I like his attempt to quantify it nonetheless. (It appears halfway through the piece.)

I’m also not really down with the premise of the article. I believe our justices should retire when they want to, not when one of our parties wants them to. But I’m intrigued by his attempt to quantify it all. This election promises to be far crazier than anything I cooked up in my two novels.

Sonia Sotomayor's retirement is a political IQ test (natesilver.net)

January 1, 2024: While on vacation with family back “home” in California I had a chance to go to lunch with this wonderful couple who have read the novels and purchased so many for their family and friends. Had a wonderful lunch and discussion. I am so appreciative of the countless ways writing these novels has changed my life and enriched it beyond measure. Meanwhile, both books sold really well last month, which is so heartwarming to see four years after the release of the first one.

November 24, 2023: I just added my bloody mary recipe to the “Drink Recipes” page of this website. They went over big at Thanksgiving. It’s been a while since I added a new drink to the list, but this one was definitely worthy. Cheers!
Drink Recipes — Dan Coonan (dancoonanauthor.com)

November 12, 2023: Had a chance to talk a little politics and college football with Kaitlan Collins today. She is as sweet, genuine and humble as you would hope - even going so far as to tell me she wants to read Presidential Spirits. I don't really believe that but it was nice of her to say and so I am sending her one tomorrow. She led a great discussion of our politics and the media. What a time for her to emerge as an influential media figure in this country these past eight years.

The best quote, talking about the upcoming election, she said, "This next year is going to be insane. That's my formal political science term for it." (Maybe she will read the book . . . )

October 19, 2023. I just received this nice message via direct message on my facebook author page from a reader who purchased a book during my appearance at the Boston History Camp in August. I love that I’m still getting great messages about Presidential Spirits three and a half years after we released it. I save all the letters, social media messages, emails, and website communications I get in a file on my computer. That now numbers over 500 for the first book. Thanks so much to everyone who takes the time and effort to reach out to me. It means the world to me. I’m so thrilled that I embarked upon this literary journey.

September 18, 2023: I was all too happy to have my two novels featured on this very unique podcast titled Books & Brews - perhaps the perfect title for a podcast to discuss the topic of presidential spirits.
I'm thrilled that my books are still selling and generating attention. That is so heartwarming. I'm not nearly as thrilled that the polarization and political dysfunction that inspired me to write them seems to only be getting worse.
We're better than this . . .

Books and Brews meets Dan Coonan in an Amazing Saloon! - YouTube

August 27, 2023: With my old Little League team in the Little League World Series, I had to make that pilgrimage to Williamsport - an iconic baseball destination in a class with Wrigley, Fenway and Cooperstown. Many decades ago the team I played on had an impressive run but fell short of this. I'm so happy for El Segundo, for my friend Danny Boehle who is coaching this team, and even more for his son Quinn and his teammates who will cherish this memory forever
I was channeling today all those dozens and dozens of kids I grew up playing ball with in that little baseball town by the sea. Wouldn’t trade that for anything.

August 12, 2023: How nice of a few of these “spirits” to stop by in support of my appearance at HistoryCamp23 in Boston today. Thank you Ben Franklin, Louisa Adams, Henry Knox and Martha Washington for coming by to purchase books. Oh, and for all you did for our country too. Especially that. :) I met many terrific and “colorful” people, listened to a few enlightening talks, took part in a valuable discussion, and sold a ton of books. Great day. Love history . . .

June 24, 2023. I was honored to be featured on this podcast. The interview was taped last year, but didn’t get released until recently. Linked below:
The Spin Chicks | iHeart

June 21, 2023. I had the opportunity to visit the Lincoln Museum in Springfield last week. I had been to his home there and his tomb, but this was my first time at the museum. I loved it. Definitely among the very best of all the presidential libraries, museums and homes I’ve had a chance to visit. A worthy tribute befitting his place among all these gentlemen. It may get criticized for being “too Disneyesque,” but many of the life size dioramas, interactive exhibits and theater shows appeal to all ages, which I appreciate. You walk in to the rotunda and are greeted by replicas of his childhood log cabin on the left and the White House on the right. Pretty powerful stuff. Definitely worth a visit.

June 3, 2023: Driving through Albany today we had to stop to check out the Schuyler Mansion, the home of Phillip Schuyler, the delegate to the Continental Congress, US Senator, and Revolutionary War general, who these days has found new fame as the father of Angelica and Eliza Schuyler in the Broadway play Hamilton ("take Phillip Schuyler, the man is loaded . . ."). A fascinating and influential guy in his time. And he had quite a place up there on that bluff overlooking the Hudson. You get a sense of all he was risking quite in going all in on the war with the British as he did.

He doesn't appear in either of my novels, although many of his contemporaries do, but he did have a large gathering room upstairs in the mansion which he referred to as "The Saloon," and for that perhaps he deserves a place in the next one . . . Cheers -

June 3, 2023: I had the opportunity to attend the panel discussion this afternoon at the FDR Library in Hyde Park for the unveiling of their new Exhibit: Black Americans, Civill Rights, and the Roosevelts, 1932-1962. The exhibit is worth a look. Quite an impressive collection of authors and historians in the building. :)

June 2, 2023: I had to be in Vermont this past weekend and stayed at the Equinox Resort, where many of our presidents have stayed: TR, Taft, Benjamin Harrison and Grant. Mary Todd Lincoln brought her sons Robert and Tad here in 1864, and the whole family planned to visit again in the summer of '65. The hotel built out a suite specifically for Lincoln in anticipation of their stay but of course he was killed in advance of that. That Lincoln suite still exists today. Roosevelt once gave a fiery campaign speech in front of the hotel Loved bringing him (and all the others) to life in my novels.

May 6, 2023: I found myself in Dallas for the first time in my life these past few days on a work trip.
I never allowed myself to be sucked into the obsession with the Kennedy assassination and the never ending conjecture about it, but as a lover of American history I always knew I had to come to this spot one time and take it all in.
I broke away to do just that on Friday. I desperately missed my buddy Brendan Owen, who we lost a few years ago. He was at my side for so many of my pilgrimages to see battlefields, presidential homes and libraries, or other essential American history sites. He was always at his best on these sojourns, supplying endless running commentary laced with both astute insights and sardonic cracks. He quoted JFK in his toast to us in our wedding video. Only Brendan. Instead I went alone. (My tribute to Brendan is in the “Extras - Tributes” section of this website.)
In the cloudless sunshine yesterday the place looked very much the way it appeared in those iconic Life Magazine photos I so vividly recall seeing through the years. I knew it would be terribly emotional, particularly given how I feel about this country and its promise. It was.
I expected to feel sadness, and I did of course, but I also found it all so profoundly disturbing, not unlike how I felt in the aftermath of 9/11 and again on January 6.
The museum on that sixth floor in the former Book Depository where the shots were fired is really well done, with tons of great exhibits, photos and video of JFK, his life, presidency and legacy, and everything about that fateful day. But after a couple hours of immersing myself in it all I felt that was more than enough.
I didn’t see this coming, but I came away wishing somehow I could do a whole lot more going forward about this present mess we find ourselves in. That wasn’t so much about JFK, but was more about the feelings the whole thing stirred in me about America. I am a hopeful, optimistic sort, but so much needs to be done if we are ever to achieve some form of genuine unity again in this country. And sometimes these days it’s really hard to see it.
We’re better than this.

April 5, 2023; I had a great day today at the Fairfield Museum and History Center. I spoke for an hour about much of the history that appears in the two novels, and then signed books for the crowd. They sold all they had preordered from us. Luckily I brought along more boxes. Enjoyed it very much.

March 17, 2023: Happy St. Patrick’s day! How about a message of unity on this glorious day?

My congresswoman was torched on Twitter this week for saying she’d be participating in a “St. Patty’s” Day Parade. For that she got called “a moron” and “stupid,” told she was “misappropriating the Irish culture,” and that she “proved she didn’t belong” in the parade. Now I know the world has bigger issues to deal with these days than this. But I felt compelled to weigh in on this discussion to add a bit of history and context. And love. I penned a little essay that got picked up by this website. Link below.

Enjoy the day. We’re better than this. Sláinte!
St. Patty’s or St. Paddy’s? Why Not Both? - SMERCONISH

March 3, 2023: I’ll be speaking at the Fairfield Museum and History Center on April 5 at noon as part of their History Bites series. The discussion will focus primarily on the history that makes its way into my two novels. I am thrilled to be asked to do this, and I’m looking forward to it. Feel free to join us if it’s convenient for you. Cheers.

March 2, 2023: I was approached at a booksigning I did the other night by a gentleman who asked for my address, saying he wanted to send me a book. This is the book that came in the mail a few days later - a old bio of John Tyler. He wrote me a long letter too, explaining that decades ago he set out to read the definitive biography of every US president. When he found that many were out of print, he decided to simply start his own press (American Political Biography) and put dozens of discontinued biographies back in print. I like his style. And he is the prefect target reader for my two novels. I am adding this book to my history/presidents bookshelf. I don't have a book on every one of them, but I'm getting there . . .

February 27, 2023: The Booksmiths Shoppe, a great new bookstore in Danbury, CT, hosted a really cool event and book signing for my novels last night. Such a perfect evening. They’ve had a successful on-line business for years and now have the in-person store as well. Consider them next time you order books, new or used. In an industry increasingly dominated by the corporate giants, they are a breath of fresh air. Michelle Smith runs it, and is perfectly cast in that role. Bookstore, Books - The BookSmiths Shoppe - Danbury, Connecticut

Presidential Spirits Profiles — Dan Coonan (dancoonanauthor.com)

February 15, 2023: Any book lovers in Connecticut should come check out this really cool new indie book store – Booksmiths Shoppe - located at the Summit in Danbury. It is described by Summit’s project manager Mike Basile in the article linked below as the type of bookstore you’d find in Greenwich Village, with a huge selection of quality new and used books They are hosting a book signing for me Thursday the 23rd. I love that this owner, Michelle Smith, is creating a niche in an industry increasingly dominated by corporate giants. Come support her cause (and this rando author she booked!) :) The Danbury News Times article on her shop is linked here: https://www.newstimes.com/.../booksmiths-shoppe-danbury...

February 5, 2023: I was messing around with ChatGPT yesterday, and like everyone else I’m absolutely blown away by its capabilites, speed and potential, but I still have my eyes wide open about what it could mean for a whole lot of jobs and careers. I know many in my kids’ generation are quite worried, and I know some people who write for a living who are concerned. Of course, of the many inquiries I typed in, I had to ask it for a review of Presidential Spirits just to see if that could even show up on its radar. This is what it instantly produced. So far I think I might like this new technology . . .

January 30, 2023: I love that you can still get a drink at the Fraunces Tavern where Washington bade farewell to his officers a week following the evacuation of New York in 1783 before heading back to Virginia. I include here a photo of the “Long Room” upstairs where the officers enjoyed a turtle dinner (not turkey - turtle) before a very emotional goodbye. 

“With a heart full of love and gratitude I now take leave of you. I most devoutly wish that your latter days may be as prosperous and happy as your former ones have been glorious and honorable.”

King George, of course, upon learning of Washington’s plans to retire to life as a private citizen in Virginia, supposedly said., “If does that, he will be the greatest man in the world.” Love that quote!

This tavern formed a piece of the inspiration for the saloon in my novel, Presidential Spirits,” which is like a political Field of Dreams or Midnight in Paris. Washington has a key role. Definitely worth a visit here if you find yourself at the tip of Manhattan. 

January 25, 2023: I’m excited to be doing an event with The BookSmiths in Danbury for Presidents Day the evening of February 24, just a few weeks after the opening of their new store.

January 20, 2023: I had to throw a party in San Antonio for the intercollegiate athletics conference I run - The ECAC. We were there for the NCAA Convention. In my mind there was only one place to hold this gathering - the iconic Menger Bar. That’s the same saloon where Teddy Roosevelt rounded up his Rough Riders in 1898. I love the huge Bull Moose head and all the other Teddy memorabilia. I wasn’t asking these folks to go storm San Juan Hill with me - only to come have a few drinks on the ECAC, which they happily did. It was a great party. So glad I chose this bar.

January 17, 2023: I’m thrilled with the great reviews my two novels have received on the book review sites. Thanks to all who referred them to friends, bought them as gifts, and left such nice reviews. Cheers!

January 16, 2023: Whatever your politics, I believe this recent Gallup poll identifies a trend worth keeping an eye on. 52% of millennials and Gen Z are now rejecting the two traditional parties and becoming independents. That’s quite a statement about what they are observing in our politicians and the political discourse in this country. Additionally, 41% of all Americans now consider themselves independent, with Democrats and Republicans garnering just 28% each.
With over a century of systems and structure and both national and local rules designed to support our two-party framework, it would take something monumental to bring about a tectonic shift in our political dynamic. However, as Americans become more and more dissatisfied (to put in kindly) with our political dysfunction and polarization, these developments are certainly worth tracking.

Younger voters declare independence (axios.com)

November 9, 2022: I was thrilled to be asked to do an event talking a little politics, American History and my “author journey” at the C.H. Booth Library in Newtown, Connecticut. They tell me the two novels are being checked out regularly! :) No shortage of compelling issues to discuss in light of the midterms yesterday.

November 2, 2022: The Newtown Bee reached out and asked if I would do a “Snapshot” interview with them. Why not? I enjoyed it. They have been very good to me in featuring my novels.

Snapshot: Dan Coonan | The Newtown Bee

October 28, 2022: I penned an essay for Smerconish.com published today about our polarization and what independents can do right now to help avoid a disastrous choice in the 2024 election. How Can Independents Best Help Overcome Our Polarization? How About Reregistering as Republicans For 2024? - SMERCONISH

October 18, 2022: C.H. Booth Library in Newtown is hosting an event and book signing on November 9 at 6:00 pm. All profits will go back to the library. Registration in advance is encouraged. To register click here: EventKeeper - Popup Event All profits will go back to the library.

October 7, 2022: I had the opportunity to attend “The Un-Convention” in Philly - an effort to provide a platform for those who don’t affiliate with either of our political extremes. This is Michael Smerconish interviewing the former heads of CNN and MSNBC and questioning them about their role in our division. Not surprisingly, neither was willing to take ownership of any fault, pointing instead to Fox, social media and gerrymandering.

September 21, 2022: I was a guest on the History Ago Go podcast today. I love that podcast so much and was happy to have the new book featured. The episode will be released in the next two weeks.

August 24, 2022: I was honored to be asked back to spend an evening with the Exchange Club of New Canaan yesterday at the swanky Woodway Country Club in Darien to discuss my literary journey and sign some books. I really admire the remarkable work they do in the community and financial support they provide to those in need. And they supported me too by purchasing a ton of books! :) They are an impressive organization.

August 22, 2022: Together, my buddy here and I have sold millions of books worldwide, some of which have been translated into dozens of languages. :)

August 20, 2022: I’m excited to be speaking and doing this booksiging Tuesday night at Woodway Country Club. I spoke before them two years ago and really enjoyed the evening.

August 9, 2022. I love all the photos people send me on social media or through the contact page of the website. It never gets old! Thank you!

August 8, 2022: Some nice reviews are beginning to come in for Another Round. If you liked it consider putting up a review or a rating on Amazon or GoodReads or one of the other sites. Those all help the cause!

July 20, 2022: Thanks to the Newtown Bee for featuring the two books in their latest publication. I am honored that they took the time and effort to do that. Newtown Resident Pens “Another Round Of Presidential Spirits” With New Char | The Newtown Bee

July 6, 2022: There’s a bit of a backlog on some of the book websites due to the extent of demand for the new novel but also some supply chain issues. If you are in Connecticut, one bookstore I know that stocks both books is Books on the Common in Ridgefield. We are very appreciative of their support! Love this bookstore!

6/18/2022: It’s finally here.! And not a moment too soon. You are now officially invited back to the Saloon! They’re all waiting for you .

I wrote this second novel during the pandemic as a thank you for all those who loved and supported Presidential Spirits. Thanks for reading it, posting about it, putting up such nice reviews, profiling it in your bookclubs, sending me photos of you reading it with a cocktail . . .  Forever grateful! Honestly.  It changed my life. (This new one blows the doors off of that old one, by the way. 😊)  I hope you get nearly as much of a kick out of reading it as I did writing it.

 ANOTHER ROUND of Presidential Spirits . The sequel to Presidential Spirits. Available July 4 – how perfect is that? Preorder now. Any bookstore or Amazon or Goose River Press.

Another Round of Presidential Spirits: Coonan, Dan: 9781597132473: Amazon.com: Books

You gotta be first up to the bar, right? Hurry! I hear they’re expecting quite a crowd . . .

6/1/22: We are anticipating a July 4 release - how perfect is that? I love the cover and we have some really nice reviews/endorsements for it. It’s in the final editing phase. Hope to formally announce that through Goose River Press and open presale very soon. Can’t wait. If you liked the first you’ll love this next one.

3/21/22: I am thrilled to say my next novel - the sequel to Presidential Spirits - is coming really soon. Thank you to Goose River for believing in me again. I don’t want to say much more than that other than I had a blast writing it and people who like the first one will love this one. Stay tuned for more details and the release date- early summer at the latest but likely late spring. Thanks for all of your support!

11/1/21: Just posted on the “Tributes” page under the “Extras” section of this site a tribute to Dr. Jim Zaremba, my college roommate, who we lost two weeks ago. Great dude. Gone way too soon.

10/27/21: I was beyond thrilled that Notre Dame hosted me for a book signing at the ND Bookstore the day before the USC game - their busiest day of the year. They treated me like I was Joe Theismann. They sold all the books they had bought and we went deep into the extra boxes I brought just in case. I am so honored that they did that and it was, in all seriousness, the thrill of a lifetime. And our tickets for the game weren’t bad either. We could see adequately from there. :) For a little window into what that game means to my family, check out the story on my parents’ first date on my Tributes page under the “Extras” tab on this site. (We brought the bookstore sign and put it up the next day at John Garibaldi’s tailgater - always the best in the parking lot - and I signed a bunch more.)

10/23/22: The University of Notre Dame is hosting a book signing for me Friday—precisely the sort of thing one might hope from an alma mater but never in a million years expect. Forever grateful.

9/12/21: I just completed the first draft of the next book. I started it in August of ‘20. I still have quite a bit of editing to do on it, but thrilled to have reached this point. And I’m very excited for the ND book signing in October.

6/18/21: The sequel to Presidential Spirits has now surpassed 100,000 words - the first novel ended up at 130,000. I absolutely love writing it and how it is coming along. So great to be back in that saloon. I was a guest on another podcast that will run soon. I’ll post that in the Media section.

3/27/21: Presidential Spirits was featured on the History Ago Go Podcast this week. That is a great podcast for history, baseball, books and so much more. Please check out their topics over the last two years. They have a pretty cool thing going. (Link on my media page)

1/12/21: Presidential Spirits is approaching 2000 copies sold. Thank you! No signs of stopping yet. Four book clubs are presently reading it. Contact me if you have a book club that wants to set up a Zoom. Happy to do it.

12/1/20: Goose River Press has produced hardcovers of Presidential Spirits for Christmas. They are not available on Amazon (would have had to charge too much). Available in some New England bookstores - or just message me here to get directly from me.

11/15/20: See the writeup about the novel in ND Magazine this month (included on the media page of this site).

8/4/20: The Numismatist Magazine featured Presidential Spirits this month. Their feature appears on the Media page of this site.

7/11/20: Michael Smerconish of CNN and SiriusXM Radio discussed Presidential Spirits on his national show today. The link appears in the media page of this site.

6/8/20: Sports Stories with Denny Lennon did a feature on Presidential Spirits. The link appears in the Media page of this site.

6/7/20: Hit the Author devoted its entire show to Presidential Spirits. The link to the video is on the Media page of this site.

AVAILABLE THROUGH GOOSE rIVER press, YOUR LOCAL BOOKSTORE THROUGH INGRAM, OR through bookshop, or ON AMAZON

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Praise for Presidential Spirits