Mitch Topal is a Public Relations professional who writes and edits content for the media including websites, annual reports, editorials, feature stories and newsletters.
Mitch is Vice President of the Delaware Press Association, a member of The Public Relations Society of America and the American Association of Political Consultants.
This is Mitch's first novel, a non-fiction work about a decorated WWII bomber pilot who beat the odds and survived 25 missions over Nazi Germany. It's named "Against All Odds, The Ray Firmani Story."
Born in upstate New York, Mitch graduated from Syracuse University and worked for Donnelley Marketing and in the commercial lithography industry before starting his own company in 1999.
As Managing Partner of Out of the Box Communications, Mitch has spent the last 17 years providing compelling and effective P/R and communications for commercial and governmental clientele. He is an achievement-driven Public Relations and Communications expert with outstanding qualifications in all phases of corporate and government communications.
Mitch writes and edits content for websites, annual reports, editorials and newsletters. He is Vice President of the Delaware Press Association, a member of The Public Relations Society of America and the American Association of Political Consultants.
This is Mitch's first novel, a non-fiction work about a decorated WWII bomber pilot named "Against All Odds, The Ray Firmani Story." A labor of love, this book is the culmination of a life spent surrounded by World War II veterans. These men and women are the only first hand link we have with the greatest and defining event in our global history and we are losing them to the ages. According to the VA, they are dying at a rate of 740 per day. Most are well into their 90th decade and a small handful are fit enough, both physically and mentally, to remember and reiterate their experiences.
Ray Firmani is one of them. His story is no less amazing than that of Louis Zamperini, the protagonist in Laura Hillenbrand's
Unbroken. Statistically, Ray should not have survived the war. He beat those odds, earned the DFC, and went on to have a successful career and family. He has spawned four generations, including grandchildren, great grandchildren and is expecting his first great, great grandchild.
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$15 The Digital Pack
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Receive the "Against All Odds" Ebook Edition (PDF, ePUB, MOBI). This is a special and limited quantity and limited time reward.
1 copy + ebook included
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$20 Paperback
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$20 Paperback
Receive your very own Paperback copy of "Against All Odds." For those who want a true to life war story that includes love, danger and the constant threat of meeting a violent death in the sky, this book won't disappoint.
"Against All Odds" is a compelling war story that has just the right amount of historical background to support the narrative.
Who is this reward for?
-Fans of WWII novels
-Individual buyers
-Followers of the book's Facebook page (almost 250 likes, most have
indicated they want to purchase a copy when it's available)
-Members of the Delaware Press Association (DPA - the author is Vice
President)
-Volunteers, visitors and staff of the Dover Air Mobility Command
Museum who've helped us with research and a venue for our video,
and have offered to help market it with a book signing event and
prominent shelf space in the museum store
-Many friends and neighbors who've asked to buy one (50+ of them)
-General public
1 copy + ebook included
$5 shipping
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$25 Individual Book signed by the author and subject
75 readers
1 copy for individuals priced at $25 signed by the author and Ray Firmani, the subject of the story.
-Book collectors
-Military history buffs
-Collectors of military memorabilia
-Museum staff and volunteers at DAFB
-Airmen at DAFB and the Delaware Air National Guard base
-DPA event attendees
-VFW chapter members
1 copy
$5 shipping
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$100 Patron Book Sponsor
3 readers
Receive 5 copies of "Against All Odds," and receive special acknowledgement in the book as a patron sponsor. See your name in the printed book and I'll personalize your copies.
-Book collectors
-Military history buffs
-Collectors of military memorabilia
-Museum staff and volunteers at DAFB
-Airmen at DAFB and the Delaware Air National Guard base
-DPA event attendees
-VFW chapter members
5 copies + ebook included
$7 shipping
47 of 50 left
$1000 Corporate Sponsor Package
1 reader
Receive 50 copies of "Against All Odds," for executive teams or employees. This reward includes special recognition in the acknowledgements section of the book and a private session on heroism and to share my story.
-Corporate sponsors that would like to use it for publicity and events
-Institutions of higher education that want to make the book available to
students at a discounted rate
-Non-profit veterans organizations that subsidize historical projects or would like to sell the book to raise money for their missions
-Museum stores
50 copies + ebook included
$15 shipping
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$2500 Against All Odds Sponsor Package
0 readers
150 copies bundle for those who'd like to sponsor our effort to get this story into the hands of readers.
-Corporate sponsors that would like to use it for publicity and events
-Institutions of higher education that want to make the book available to
students at a discounted rate
-Non-profit veterans organizations that subsidize historical projects or would like to sell the book to raise money for their missions
-Museum stores
150 copies + ebook included +$750 shipping; guest appearance and book signing event by the author and Ray Firmani at no additional cost; private tour given by Ray Firmani and the author of the restored B-17G "Sleepytime Gal" at the Dover Air Mobility Command Museum; prominent mention in the book's acknowledgement section.
150 copies
$750 shipping
150 of 150 left
The Ray Firmani Story
Against All Odds is the incredible true story of combat, love and heroism in World War II. It follows Ray Firmani, a first generation Italian-American who became the head of his household an early age and rose to meet every challenge life offered. He enlisted in the Army, earned his wings and won the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary heroism.
Share Post on X Threads LinkedIn Embed| History World War II | |
| 130,000 words | |
| 100% complete | |
| 8 publishers interested |
The idea for this book was hatched at a Delaware Press Association holiday brunch in December, 2014. While sitting at a table with eight people I hardly knew, a stately older woman introduced herself as Lynn Maniscalco struck up a conversation. After some small talk, we happened on the subject of World War II history. Lynn must have heard the excitement in my voice when I mentioned it was one of my keenest interests – studying, reading and absorbing anything I could about that war. Most of my life I’d been surrounded by the men and women who, either through military service or civilian efforts on the home front, contributed to that great national triumph. Both my father and stepfather served, as did many uncles and friends of the family.
After asking if I would ever consider writing a book about the war, Lynn set the bait that finally hooked me. “I know these two gentlemen. They are close friends, who each have amazing stories.” She explained that one was a decorated lead bomber pilot who flew 25 missions in a B-17 over Germany. The other was an Estonian conscript into the Wehrmacht whose family suffered greatly at the hands of both the Nazis and the Soviets.” She promised to introduce me to both men. “I think after you meet them, you’ll consider the book idea,” she prognosticated. She was spot on.
So I set off to research the war and begin the lengthy interview process. Most of these men are in their 90’s, greatly limiting the amount of time that I had to build a relationship with them. I soon realized I had to make a choice. This book could only focus on one man’s story. After talking to a number of potential subjects, I decided to write the book about Ray Firmani, the decorated lead bomber pilot.
The decision was both difficult and simple. I know a number of living World War II veterans, each with a compelling story. But Ray’s, besides being a great story, is the most well documented, which meant that I could spend more time interviewing him and writing as opposed to performing hours upon hours of tedious research.
Finally, the Estonian conscript, who had an incredible story, declined to participate. After 70 years, his memories were still too painful.
Ray receives the Distinguished Flying Cross: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllOddsTheRayFirmaniStory/
Ray Firmani today at the helm of a restored B-17: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllOddsTheRayFirmaniStory/
I. Preface
A. Personal notes about the book
B. Losing veterans at a fast pace – a race against time to tell their stories
II. Prologue – Introduction of character and setting the tone
III. Chapter One “Extraordinary Achievement”
A. Part One – (Meeting Ray for the 1st time)
1. Ray Firmani: His early life; parents; rough start; Great Depression; Wilmington, DE in the 1930’s
2. Background – something about Ray’s uniqueness and why; Italian heritage
3. School, building model planes and protecting his siblings
4. 1st camera
5. Job at DuPont
B. Part Two – Wings Across America
1. Historical Background – Geopolitics while Ray grows up
2. Development of aviation technology before WWI to 1930’s
3. Great Depression
4. Rise of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan
5. German aggression; American isolationism
6. Roosevelt’s gambit and Secret meeting with Churchill – Lend Lease
7. Pearl Harbor; America enters the war
8. Ray enlists in Philadelphia
C. Part Three – Growing pains
1. Ray’s family gets off to rough start
2. Father dies; mother remarries an alcoholic
3. Mother gets an annulment
4. Ray becomes head of household
D. Part Four – Risk Management
1. Train to Miami, FL for basic training
2. CTD-College Training Detachment, Kent State University
3. First experience with airplane (Piper J-3 cub)
4. Preflight School SAAC-Kelly Field, San Antonio, TX
5. AAF Flight Training, Missouri Institute of Aeronautics; Trained in a Fairchild PT-19
6. Basic Flight Training, Strother Field, Kansas; trained in a Vultee BT-13 Valiant (“Vultee vibrator”)
7. Advanced Flight Training, Eagle Pass, TX; trained in a North American Aviation AT-6 Texan; P-40 Warhawk
8. Accidents; dangers
F. Part 5 - Love Birds
1. Met Elaine, fell in love as training was ending; quick marriage
2. Earned wings
3. Ray ships home for a week on leave
4. AWOL – bought war bond to get out of it
G. B17 bomber training
1. Waiting in Lincoln for crew formation – delays
2. Disappointment to find out he’d be a bomber pilot – wanted to fly P-51’s
3. Payroll SNAFU; borrowed money from a banker – personal loan
4. Crew assignment; sent to Lincoln Air Base for B17 training
5. Spending as much time as possible with Elaine before shipping out
IV. Tennessee Bomber Boys
A. Europe ablaze but allies closing in in May, 1944
1. Examples of bomber losses – personal
2. Historical implications behind Ray’s missions
3. D-Day preparations
4. Ray’s trip to Dyersburg with wives
5. Training days in the B-17; dummy bombs; strafing runs at 500’
B. Deployment
1. Flight from Lincoln to Goose Bay, Labrador, Wales
2. Layover in Goose Bay – returning crews shared same space – bad idea!
3. Funeral atmosphere for rest of trip
4. Train to Subury, UK
V. Crucible in the Sky
A. Settling into Sudbury; local people; bikes because airfield a mile or so from quarters
B. Ray's crew - idiosyncrasies, personalities
C. . 1st Mission briefing; 1st son born while on bombing run
D. Missions 2 – 25; details, dangers, events
E. BF-109 attacks
F. Me-262 attacks
G. 88 mm flack guns on trains
I. DFC mission
J. Shrapnel piercing plane, missing crew many times – odds of survival
K. On leave in London – narrowly survives V-2 rocket attack
VI. Distinguished Flying Cross
A. Ceremony; award
B. Aftermath – shuttling people, food and refugees in B-17
C. Other non-combat missions
VII. Going Home
A. Flight Home
B. Re-uniting with Elaine
C. Back home with Elaine in Elsmere
VIII. Epilogue
D. DuPont: Groundbreaking industrial photographer for 46 years
E. Award winning photographer and mentor
F. Ray today – tech savvy at 94
G. Looking back at 1944; reflections
H. End
World War II was the defining event of the last 100 years. Many compelling stories have been written, both fictional and non fictional because of the global implication and vast scope of that war. Yet all this material represents the tip of the literary iceberg. There are many, many stories waiting to be revealed.
Our WWII veterans are in their 90's and dying off quickly. Many of those who survive suffer from memory issues and can no longer relate their experiences. These stories are precious and compelling, attracting a wide demographic. College history students, baby boomers and anyone who has a grand parent that still remembers the war are interested in reading about one man's experience when the world was on fire nearly 3 generations ago. Today, World War II books and films continue to be produced because of their immense popularity.
Consider books like Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand, Flags of our Fathers, by James Bradley. Or movies such as Band of Brothers and The Monuments Men which were released in the last couple of years. World War II continues to fascinate readers 71 years after V-E Day.
Against All Odds isn't just another war story. Ray Firmani personalizes the story, making it easily relatable to all demographics. Mitch made it his goal and mission to relate Ray's story to the world. In a culture obsessed with Kardashians, selfies and sexting, it's refreshing to read about true courage, resilience and devotion to comrades, country and family. As a popular subject among millennials, baby boomers and veterans, this war story is about a freshly minted 23 year old B-17 pilot. Young people today will find an amazing story that is unconscionable in this day and age. Older readers (40 plus) who remember what the greatest generation, perhaps having had a WWII vet as a parent, are eager to know what life was like during that dark time.
Finally, we would not be averse to sanitizing and simplifying an edition for younger readers (see
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/business/media/laura-hillenbrand-jon-meacham-adapt-titles-for-children.html?_r=0).
Hillenbrand's Unbroken sold 4 million copies across a wide demographic. Against All Odds is after the same demographic.
Against All Odds, The Ray Firmani Story on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllOddsTheRayFirmaniStory/
In the first week, it attracted over 100 likes in its first week, with many more clicking the like button ever week. We now have 272. We will continue to build our audience into the future.
The book should have it's own website, with an SEO strategy and possibly pay-per-click advertising program which will be provided by the publisher with supplemental help from Ray and I.
Ray and I will make ourselves available for events such as book signings, award ceremonies and anything else that will give us visibility. When it's complete, I will enter the book into the NFPW writing competition, giving us national press exposure. And we will continue to expand and leverage our networks, as we have in the past, utilizing some or all of the following:
1. Author events
2. Reaching out to indie bookstores (we'll create a media kit for this effort)
3. Traditional and online media
3. Unpaid media - write-ups in the local papers for the Veteran's Day, Memorial Day and V-E Day issues
Though hard work and perseverance, we successfully achieved our Publishizer pre-order goals . Now, we are looking to partner with a publisher that will provide marketing and distribution channels so we can refocus on the completion of this book. We have built a beach head locally and now require a publisher that will promote the book nationally and globally.
Please visit and "Like" my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllOddsTheRayFirmaniStory/). There, you'll find excerpts, photos of Ray past and present, and plenty of fan commentary.
1. Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand: Against All Odds is a very similar book, except Ray was never captured. His nerve wracking 25 missions are the focal point.
2. Flags of our Fathers, by James Bradley: This story follows the lives of the men who raised the American flag on Mt. Suribachi after the battle of Iwo Jima. It focuses on the event. Characters were brought in based on their participation in that event. Against All Odds focuses on one man, is biographical in nature and details his experiences throughout the war.
3. Catch 22, by Joseph Heller: Is war satire at its best. It starts as a set of paradoxical requirements whereby airmen mentally unfit to fly did not have to do so, but could not actually be excused, so they flew anyway. Against All Odds is not satire, but has humorous moments.
4. Slaughterhouse Five, by Kurt Vonnegut: Also great war satire, this book uses flashbacks, freeing the protagonist, Billy Pilgrim from temporal boundaries, allowing him a unique perspective regarding the fire bombing of Dresden. Ray Firmani's Bomb Group did not participate in the firebombing of Dresden, and the book isn't satirical.
5. Band of Brothers, by Stephen Ambrose: An iconic story of the ordinary men who became the World War II’s most extraordinary soldiers: Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, US Army. Ray's story has similarities in that an ordinary man rises to do extraordinary things in the face of adversity and war.
6. A Bridge Too Far, by Cornelius Ryan: Relates the story of Operation Market Garden, the failed attempt (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allies_of_World_War_II) to break through German lines across the Rhine river. This book centers on one battle while Against All Odds centers on an individual who participated in one of the larges allied bombing campaigns of WWII.
7. Flyboys: A True Story of Courage, by James Bradley: Like Unbroken, Flyboys details the horrific experiences of American aviators captured by the Japanese. Again, Ray was never captured. His nerve wracking 25 missions and near death experiences are the focal point.
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Agora Publishing
Agora Publishing is a Canada-based not-for-profit organization, founded in 1997 with the aim of making book publishing accessible to all writers across Canada and internationally. Hybrid publisher All categories Worldwide |
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Austin Brothers Publishing
100 copies • Partial manuscript. Hybrid publisher Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Travel United States |
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i2i Publishing
250 copies • Completed manuscript. Hybrid publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Society & Culture Worldwide |
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Motivational Press
250 copies • Completed manuscript. Hybrid publisher Mind & Body, YA Fiction, Business & Money, Career & Success, Health, Fitness & Dieting, Journalism, Personal Growth & Self-Improvement, Politics & Social Sciences, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Travel Worldwide |
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BookFuel
From Manuscript to Market. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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Mill City Press
100 copies • Completed manuscript. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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ShieldCrest Publishing
ShieldCrest are book publishers based in the UK who fill that vital gap for talented authors where mainstream publishers are unwilling to give them that chance. We strive for excellence and invest in our authors and are listed in FreeIndex as the number one independent publisher in the UK for price quality and service rated author satisfaction. We publish books of all genres including; fiction, historical, biographies and children's books. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
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Virtualbookworm Publishing
Virtualbookworm (VBW) Publishing was founded by a writer frustrated by the long wait time and occasional heartbreak often associated with the publishing industry. After researching the various "alternatives," he discovered a number of subsidy publishers that would publish any author ... for a price. Unfortunately, many reviewers (and readers) thumb their noses at books from such houses, since all it takes is cash to get published by them. Service publisher Children Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mind & Body, Mystery, Thriller, Horror & Suspense, Romantic Fiction, Science Fiction & Fantasy, YA Fiction, Biography & Memoir, Business & Money, Career & Success, Cookbooks, Food & Wine, Health, Fitness & Dieting, History, Journalism, Politics & Social Sciences, Religion & Spirituality, Science, Society & Culture, Sports & Outdoors, Technology & the Future, Travel Worldwide |
For those who've not pre-ordered the book through Publishizer, it's available from Barnes & Noble online at: https://www.barnesandnoble.com...
Please share the link with your networks. …
Hello All,
The publisher informs me that the printed books will ship to us on 3/26.
The e-book is available now (Nook version) from Barnes …
We've finalized the cover design! The book is in the final editing stages. Ray and I will be sitting down with our editor, Katherine Ward, …
Here's a piece of great news. I was doing some research trying to find out if any of Ray's crew mates were still alive. Unfortunately, …
The book is finished!
It's currently in the hands of two proofreaders who are sending sections back and forth and then to me so that …
Hello Everyone,
I am closing in on the end of the book. There are just three more short chapters left including the epilogue. Then it …
Hi Everyone,
As the saying goes, "every gray cloud has a silver lining," my recovery from recent knee replacement surgery has afforded me the opportunity …
Hello All,
Just a quick update.
The book is progressing quickly now that the election cycle is winding down and I have more time to …
Hi Fans! Yes, I am closing in on the end of the book. It's well into Ray's 25 harrowing missions and the word count is just …
Yes I am diligently writing, carving out time whenever I can. It's up to 72,000 words and I expect it to end at about 85-90,000. …
Dear Fans of Against All Odds,
We are diligently trying to finish the book, that's what! I am just past the 65,000 word count and …
WE WON!!!!
Thanks to everyone who pre-ordered a copy of Against All Odds. And a very special shout out to Ray Firmani who cashed in …
Thanks to you, we are closing in on the 250 pre-orders needed by July 2nd to get published! As of this morning, we've achieved 219 …
Thanks to you, we are closing in on the 250 pre-orders needed by July 2nd to get published! As of this morning, we've achieved 219 …
Thanks to you, we are closing in on the required 250 orders needed to
attract a publisher! We still need 100 pre-orders so we are …
Against All Odds has finally been approved for Publishizer.com. You can now pre-order as many copies as you like!
Thanks,
Mitch and Ray
We just pre-ordered the signed copy of Against All Odds!
Way to go Papa! We are all so proud of you. Each of your grandchildren and great grandkiddies too will now have a signed copy!
So proud of my Uncle Ray!
Looking forward to a successful publication.
Good luck "Uncle Ray"! God bless and I can't wait to read your story!
Best Regards,
Charlie Burleigh
Can not wait to read it!!!
Can't wait to read it!
We can't wait to read it!
so proud of you!
Ordered for Carolyn Duffy. So happy to do so.
Ray's life story is a great slice of American history. It shows how a good person evolves, leads a normal life and becomes a inspiration to many others. Bob Hunt
Please consider pre-ordering, my friend, Ray's book. He's a great guy!
Looking forward to having the book in my hands.
I don't understand the pricing. The site says it's $20 with free shipping; then it becomes $25. It's confusing.
Anyone who knows Ray is going to want this book. His story is worth telling and retelling.
Love this. Want it!
Looking forward to it! Thanks
Why was final cost $30 when it originally read $25 for paperback signed by author?
Anxious to read this story!
cant wait poppa
MY FRIENDS HAVE MADE THE STORY OF MY LIFE. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL. R.
Keep pushing towards 250 copies Mitch! We'd all love to see Against All Odds get published, and share Ray Firmani's story!
Great story everyone should buy one!
I look forward to reading this. My father was a carrier pilot in the Pacific theater in WWII.
So looking forward to receiving my copy of this book!
I'm excited to read Mr. Firmani's story. I met Mr. Firmani through Sal and Ann Muzzi. I've been in his company many times and have had great conversations with him.
Sounds like a great book, Good Luck
Excited to read his story ... He's an amazing American. God Bless you and THANK YOU for your service, Ray!
Congratulations Mitch!! Living the dream! :)
on June 2, 2016, 1:14 p.m.
Good luck to you and Ray!! I can't wait to read it!