A Personal Note From Jeff

Greetings!

My new book, THE UNFINISHED WORK, A Novel of Abraham Lincoln, will be released NOVEMBER 10. The book is now available for PRE-ORDER. Just go to the SHOP page,and choose "SHOP ALL", and you'll see it. Or, simpler still, go down to the bottom of THIS page, and that link will work as well. All Pre-orders are guaranteed to receive a First Edition.

I know that November is a ways off, but the schedule for these things is made by the publisher. At this point, I'm just waiting like anybody else who's interested. If you're NOT interested, you still have to wait. 🙂

This novel is told through the point of view of Abe Lincoln, as well as his wife Mary Todd Lincoln, Secy. of State William Seward, and General George McClellan. Many characters in this story are very familiar, and others are not. This is not a biography, and does not cover all of Lincoln's life. I leave that to the historians. Pre-Orders will be shipped out so the books arrive on November 10 (or close). The book jacket, which you can see below, is pretty cool.

There are many events taking place around the country to focus on Lincoln as part of the celebration for the 250th anniversary of the nation. I'm already scheduled for some of those events which are posted on the TOURS/APPEARANCES page.

I hate to say this, but within the next year or so, most of the HARDCOVER versions of my books will be going out of print. That's just the way the publishing business works. However, I still have secured a good supply of most every title- with only FOUR exceptions. "THE FINAL STORM", "THE LAST FULL MEASURE", "TO THE LAST MAN" AND "GODS AND GENERALS" are no longer available in hardback at all. I'm really not happy about this, and I've been pushing the publisher relentlessly, but it's just the way they do things. For now, I have a good supply of everything else. With Paperbacks, there is no issue at all. Plenty available.

My latest book on the Cuban Missile Crisis, The Shadow of War has been received really well, and I've heard from an enormous number of people who actually lived through those events (as I did).

The book's cover is terrific- my publisher did a really nice job. If you look at the bottom of this page, you'll see the cover art.

We have received an extraordinary quote for the cover of the Lincoln book:

"I can't think of anyone who gets to the heart of the Civil War quite like Jeff Shaara does in his wonderful novels. Here, familiar figures, like our 16th President seem to come alive before us, just as the bigger picture of the war seems to come into stark relief. BRAVO"

KEN BURNS

That's about as nice a compliment as I have ever received.

We have also received this early review: "Shaara’s 20th novel is one of his best, following Abraham Lincoln across the three years, from Election Day (November 6, 1860) through his delivery of the Gettysburg Address on November 11, 1863. Shaara’s compelling presentation is beyond compare. The newly minted president’s humanity is on display throughout. Shaara’s deftly portrays interactions small as well as large: the president’s relationship with his beloved but volatile wife, Mary Todd Lincoln; his toleration of, and even collaboration in, the hijinks of his boisterous two young sons; his coping with the bouts of depression that threatened to derail him and with the unexpected death of son Tad; his relations with a cabinet riven by its own rivalries. Especially fine are the sections on Lincoln’s slow and cautious embracing of emancipation and on the twists and turns he went through to find an acceptable war leader in Ulysses S. Grant. And then there’s the Gettysburg Address.

VERDICT With precision to detail, Shaara (The Shadow of War) shows how much Lincoln had to confront en route to becoming one of the greatest, most openly human leaders of all time. Enthusiastically recommended."

LIBRARY JOURNAL (Starred Review)

It's a really important thing for my family to mention that 2024 was the 50th Anniversary of the publication of The Killer Angels. The publisher has produced both hardcover and paperback which contain a new introduction written by me, something I had never done before. I have plenty of copies here in both formats. As always, I sign them "For My Father's Legacy", plus any personalization you wish.

Please note the email link in the upper right corner- "contactjeffshaara@gmail.com" I look forward to hearing from you, whether with input (or criticism) of any of my work or just a friendly hello. I promise I read every email you send and respond to as many as possible (even the grumpy ones). It might take me a little while, but it's almost certain you’ll hear from me.

I wish you and your family a wonderful summer and fall!

Jeff Shaara

August, 2026