"Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather"

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Mike Smith

The books have left the printer and are on their way to numerous book company warehouses and independent bookstores for the May 1 debut. I just saw a copy of the actual book for the first time and it is a beauty. Greenleaf did a great job with the cover design, color insert photos, etc.

Copies are available from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...ce+tamed+the+weather&x=0&y=0&sprefix=warnings

Mike Smith Enterprises, LLC is offering autographed and inscribed copies of Warnings by sending a check for $30 (which includes the book, sales tax, and priority mail shipping) to: Mike Smith Enterprises, 4031 N. Tara Circle, Wichita, Kansas 67226. Please let us know how you wish the inscription to read (maximum twenty words, please). Books will be put in the mail on April 26th, so purchasers will have them by the May 1 official publishing date.
 
"Warning's" first "literary" review

This from Publisher's Weekly published this morning:

Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather Mike Smith. Greenleaf, $24.95 (312p) ISBN 978-1-60832-034-9

A well-known meteorologist and founder of WeatherData, Smith takes readers on a fast-paced account of the biggest storms in recent years and how weather forecasting has developed into a true science since the 1950s. Part memoir, part science account, Smith's tale begins in the late 1940s, when weathermen were actually forbidden to broadcast tornado warnings. The U.S. Weather Bureau blocked storm forecasting for fear of getting it wrong, just as today, according to Smith, the FAA has banned weather radios from airport control towers. He delivers a moment-by-moment account of the monster tornado that leveled Greensburg, Kans., in 2007 as well as a damning account of governmental incompetence in the leadup to Hurricane Katrina. But as Smith shows, scientists themselves can be close-minded and prevent their field from progressing: Smith recounts the struggle by Theodore Fujita, creator of the tornado severity scale, to see his findings on microbursts—which have killed hundreds of people in airline crashes—accepted by other scientists. This account of people who do something about the weather should appeal to just about anyone who enjoys talking about it. Photos. (May)
 
"Moment by moment account of Greensburg"?

Mike Smith said:
This from Publisher's Weekly published this morning:

Warnings: The True Story of How Science Tamed the Weather Mike Smith. Greenleaf, $24.95 (312p) ISBN 978-1-60832-034-9

He delivers a moment-by-moment account of the monster tornado that leveled Greensburg, Kans., in 2007... (May)
Click to expand...

Mike,
it is with the utmost respect that I feel obligated to question the above statement. Please foregive me if this sounds or seems asinine as I am more than familure with, and respect your work past and present.
However, I feel that it needs to be asked.... How do you know what happened with "a moment by moment account" during the monster tornado that leveled Greensburg KS?

I understand that you were "following" the event from ICT via your products as well as open sources and I am fully aware of the "warnings" you/your company made and or disseminated to "those" in the area. But the question remains: How are/were you able to give a play by play of that event when you were 108 miles away? Furthermore, I wonder if your "moment by moment account" includes digging through the rubble to pull people out dead and alive? And if not, how are you able to justify the above stament to the people of Greensburg?

Maybe your publisher meant
He delivers a moment-by-moment radar account of the monster tornado that leveled Greensburg, Kans., in 2007... (May)[/QUOTE]

For those of us who were really there including myself, I am actually offened with your above statement. It is IMO a damn shame that John Q. does not know the difference between sitting at a location 108 miles away from the tornado and "armchairing" it as opposed to actually being on scene from the first tornadoes near Sitka and Protection area to helping to pull bodies out in Greensburg proper.

For a 9 minute "sample" feel free to see my video below: Please note that there is foul language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOwxeMAMQhM


Just my thoughts. BTW, congrats on your new book ;)
 
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Lanny Dean said:
How do you know what happened with "a moment by moment account" during the monster tornado that leveled Greensburg KS?
Click to expand...

Hi Lanny,

The words, "moment by moment," were written by Publisher's Weekly, a trade publication for the publishing industry. They not written by, nor suggested by, me or my publisher, Greenleaf Book Group. PW reads many books, choses to review a fraction, and then writes their independent opinion. I learned about the review when a Google News Alert popped up on my screen.

I acknowledge your point, I was not there and I do not and could not -- literally -- offer a moment by moment account of Greensburg.

This is not the first problem that review has caused. This sentence: as well as a damning account of governmental incompetence in the leadup to Hurricane Katrina caused me to receive a scathing email from a meteorologist asserting that I falsely accused the NWS of incompetence. But the sentence says nothing about the NWS. It refers to the incompetence of local government officials in the runup to Katrina.

I believe the modern NWS will be pleased at the way it is depicted in the book as will the entire meteorological profession. My primary motivation for writing the book was to gain some much-deserved respect for meteorology.

I would like to offer a suggestion: While I am going to post additional independent reviews in the Marketplace section of Stormtrack please don't form a personal opinion until you have read the book. Then, fire away. Keep in mind that this is not a "science" book but a non-fiction story about the development of the storm warning system.

But here is a caution: Throughout the 4+ year journey of writing and trying to get this book published, I ran into numerous agents and publishers (primarily, but not exclusively, on the coasts) who thought a book about this topic wouldn't sell. They are absolutely convinced no one cares about weather, success of Twister not withstanding. So, if you like the book, please recommend it to your friends. If it sells well, it might just open up additional opportunities to the entire community.

Best wishes,

Mike
 
Book Signings

By the way, these might be of interest...

Book Signing, Watermark Books, Wichita, 7pm, May 5

Book Signing, Borders, New Market Plaza, Wichita, 1pm, May 8,

Book Signing, Barnes & Noble, Country Club Plaza, Kansas City, 7pm, May 11

Tentative: NEOK Chapter AMS luncheon meeting with "Miracle at Greensburg," Tulsa, May 14 (more info to follow)

"Miracle at Greensburg" and Book Signing, Exploration Place, Wichita, 1 and 3pm, May 22

We are working on a possible book signing in the Dallas-area

It would be great to see any of you!!
 
Save 50% and get it for $15 on Amazon with free shipping.

Lanny and Mike are both right. It's impossible to Armchair Quarterback and keep reviewers from bloating their statements.
He delivers a moment-by-moment account of the monster tornado that leveled Greensburg, Kans., in 2007 as well as a damning account of governmental incompetence in the leadup to Hurricane Katrina.
Click to expand...
You just can't keep them from making stupid statements. The reviewers also know that the more hyped their reviews are the more likely they are to make some money off it.

Lanny, your video is....wow. I'm glad you have it up.

Good luck with the book Mike.
 
The Book is Out!!!

To my surprise (and the surprise of my publisher), Amazon is shipping the book, a month early. The first copies, I'm told, were shipped to purchasers today.

Also, Watermark Books in Wichita has the book and it is on display.

Thanks, everyone, for your interest and support! For those who have purchased the book, my sincere thanks. Hope you enjoy reading it!
 
Mike Smith said:
By the way, these might be of interest...
Tentative: NEOK Chapter AMS luncheon meeting with "Miracle at Greensburg," Tulsa, May 14 (more info to follow)...It would be great to see any of you!!
Click to expand...

Mike, I have a a 10 day media tour scheduled for that time frame:
May 8-17, would love to go since it's in my neck of the woods but....Do you know if anyone is planning on taping the meeting?
 
Lanny,

The media is invited to cover it, but I don't know if it will be taped. Dick Faurot is handling arrangements.

Mike
 
Since it is a luncheon meeting (i.e., you are less likely to be under time pressure if you are in the area), your tour members might really enjoy Miracle at Greensburg. It gets rave reviews and really explains how meteorologists save lives.

Also, forgot to mention, I will be doing Miracle at Greensburg along with a book signing at the OU weather center on Tuesday, September 7. That is a way off, but with everyone out chasing in Oklahoma in spring, this is an opportunity on what will likely be a calmer period than May. We don't have a time for OU event as yet. I'll keep you posted.
 
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"Warnings" "Extras" site up

In case any of you have the book and have tried to go to the "Extras" site (think of it as the book equivalent of "DVD Extras") and found it not to be working, it is fully up now.

With a book release date of May 1, we had said we wanted to have the site up April 1 and were caught off guard by the early release. The guys at High Frontier Productions worked very hard to finish the work as quickly as possible today.

Instructions for accessing the material are in the book. I think you'll enjoy the "extras."
 
To my surprise and delight, I received in the mail yesterday, my birthday, the book Warnings. My sister in Wichita picked up the book at Watermarks. Am already through the first 2 chapters and eagerly look forward to finishing the book over this Easter weekend. So far, I'm very impressed with the work.
 
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