SeanPaulMurphyVille: Chapel Street Book Signing: Dulaney Valley Memorial Garden

Monday, November 9, 2020

Chapel Street Book Signing: Dulaney Valley Memorial Garden

We just had a fantastic Halloween book signing at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens. I want to thank Amy Shimp and the staff at the cemetery for both their help and enthusiasm. It may seem strange to have an event like a book signing at a cemetery, but it is a growing trend to have respectful events for the living at cemeteries. Unlike in the recent past, modern Americans tend to recoil from anything or place that draws attention to their own mortality. That is not healthy. Nor does it stave off the inevitable. Like the hero of my novel Chapel Street, I spend a lot of time in cemeteries. I think a cemetery is a perfect place to contemplate the limited amount of time we will enjoy among the living, and how to make the best of it.

My wife Deborah and myself at the table
under a tent they provided by the lake.

Here's the press release for the event:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Baltimore Author Sean Paul Murphy will hold a

Halloween book signing at Dulaney Valley Cemetery.

October 15, 2020--Baltimore, MD—Baltimore horror author Sean Paul Murphy will hold a drive though signing of his paranormal thriller Chapel Street on Halloween afternoon at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

“Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is thrilled to have local author, producer and screenwriter Sean Paul Murphy host a book signing for his haunting novel Chapel Street in the spirit of and talking place on Halloween,” said Amy S. Shimp, the general manager of Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.

Chapel Street is the terrifying story of a young man straddling the line between sanity and madness while battling a demonic entity that has driven members of his family to suicide for generations. The novel was inspired by an actual haunting his family experienced in Northeast Baltimore.

“I grew up in an actively haunted house and experienced the tragic suicides of two siblings,” Murphy states. “A few years ago my mother asked me if I thought the entity in our house was responsible, in part, for their deaths. Chapel Street is my fictional response to that question.”

The signing will take place near the lake on Saturday, October 31st, between one and three p.m. Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens is located at 200 E. Padonia Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093.

About Sean Paul Murphy:

Sean Paul Murphy, a writing instructor at Towson University, has written fourteen feature films including Hidden Secrets, Sarah’s Choice, The Encounter and the Revelation Road trilogy. He is a 2012 winner of the $50,000 Kairos Prize for Screenwriting. A series of short crime films he wrote for the FBI won a combined six Emmys on the Pentagon Channel.

About TouchPoint Press:

TouchPoint Press, a traditional publisher of digital and print fiction and nonfiction, strives to be innovative and energetic in all we do from acquisitions to promotion before and after publication. We are proud to work with talented authors whose works have received or were nominated for several awards. Our staff is comprised of professionals whose collective experience in publishing, editing, journalism, design, and marketing set the stage behind our growing fiction and nonfiction lists.

Here are some photos. Sadly, I did not get pictures with everyone, but we did manage to visit with some special guests.

With trusty Trish Schweers, my initial editor.
She was the second person to read the
book after my wife Debbie.

At the grave of Colt great Artie Donovan

Marree brought us an apple cake, but we didn't
share it with her husband who is buried nearby!

Cousin Paula came out to support the family!

This was the first time I've seen Aunt Elsie
since the COVID lockdown began.

Charlotte was familiar with the true story, so she
was afraid to read Chapel Street. But she picked up
a copy of my memoir The Promise.

I took the time to show the book to Mayor William
Donald Schaefer. The city of Baltimore needs him
now more than ever!

Connie bought a book, but I think she was looking
for a copy of my movie The Encounter.

Thanks for coming by Will!

I don't know if the book is appropriate for children...

The greatest quarterback ever, Johnny Unitas,
took the book signing in stride.

I think these folks came for the Halloween candy....

Steve represents the St. D. Class of '75,
and the Curley Class of 79.

The party never starts until Brian Keller appears!

Former Vice President Spiro Agnew liked the book
but called me a "nattering nabob of negativism."

Little Mara just missed Santa!

Brenda and her husband Dick came down
from Delaware for the event. Thanks!

Patricia is the best interior designer in Baltimore,
who also has an excellent taste in books.

All in all, a great time at the cemetery! I wish I had more pictures, but I missed some because we were so busy chatting! If you missed this appearance, keep an eye out for the next one! I'd love to meet you!

My thanks again to Amy and the staff at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens! You couldn't have treated us better! Deb and I were tempted to buy a plot, but a space just opened up next to my great-grandfather in Holy Redeemer....