Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy [Paperback]

Mark McGinty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

The first and only novel that tells the TRUE story of the first moon landing, a world of historical distortions that cleverly merges the Apollo 11 mission with the death of Marilyn Monroe and the assassination of JFK, while explaining all those Elvis sightings.

Described by the Midwest Book Review as "a wonderful romp in never-land," "patently absurd" and "certainly original" this book will interest anyone intrigued by all those conspiracy theories that are constantly emblazoned on the pages of the supermarket tabloids. And more importantly, it's the perfect book for anyone looking to put a little humor into their life.

Not a book about Elvis Presley, Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy tells the story of how our government, the press and our national icons interact with us through the power of television.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Patently absurb...a wonderful romp in neverland!
---Midwest Book Review

From the Back Cover

Months before man landed on the moon in 1969, NASA Administrator and former JFK adviser Jack Monroe thought the mission needed a slight touch-up. He turned to Peter Dixon, his second-in-command and an avid Elvis fanatic, and together this dynamic pair concocted a spectacle that would honor the pinnacle of human achievement: a lunar celebration to cap the space race with an outer space gala called Operation Blue Moon. To make it happen, they needed to hire the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.

Dani Mitchell is a young, ambitious journalist from The Sensational Nation whose recent breakout interview with the Dalai Lama earned critical acclaim. Her next assignment is an exclusive one-on-one with Elvis - but the King is nowhere to be found.

With Monroe and Dixon standing in her way, Dani embarks on a mission to track down Elvis Presley. Was Neil Armstrong the first man to walk the moon? Or was it somebody else? In the final days before the first moon landing, Dani will find her way to the bottom of NASA's mysterious Operation Blue Moon and learn the true story of Apollo 11.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press; 1st edition (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592980309
• ISBN-13: 978-1592980307
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,063,862 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mark Carlos McGinty is a descendant of Cuban cigar makers whose work has appeared in Maybourne Magazine, Montage Magazine, La Gaceta and Germ Warfare. His novel The Cigar Maker won a Bronze Medal at the 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards and was named Finalist at both the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards and the 2011 National Indie Excellence Awards. Mark lives in Minneapolis with his wife and daughter.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All hail Graceland! June 19, 2009

By ellen VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

You know, if you've been to Graceland, and seen the graves of Elvis, his mother, etc next to the swimming pool, experienced the Jungle Room, the whole ticket - then look across the street and see the Lisa Marie airplane, and seen women screaming and crying mourning the King, you'll know Elvis isn't dead - he is among all of us - thank you thank you very much.
My family had ties to Elvis - my aunt was from Memphis and Dr. Nic (the guy convicted of giving Elvis all the drugs) and my aunt's family there were friends - When you went to my aunt's house - there were Elvis' hankies under glass, and other memorabilia Elvis gave them thru Dr. Nic.
I loved the King, but I was more a Beatlemaniac.
So Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy is just the kind of book that would bring back memories.
And Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy does all of the memories with panache.
Author Mark McGinty deftly rewrites history as he has Pete Dixon, one of the NASA boys suggesting Elvis join the crew of Apollo 11, and be the first to set foot and then do a concert on the moon and then the rest of the Apollo 11 gang do their thing.
Firstly, can something soooo out there stay secret??
Seems a reporter Dani Mitchell was dissed at Graceland by a car that turned out to be NASA folk, and she starts sniffing all the way to Houston...Houston, we have a problem!
As for Elvis' part in it, that is for you to read -
I must tell you Mr. McGinty treated him with respect and the way Elvis acted to everyone - he was one of the most polite, giving celebrities ever. And he is treated with reality, but as he was - a really nice guy.
Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy also brings forth conspiracy theories about the moon landing, deaths of celebrities and politicians, etc that will also make you laugh, but make you think -
Mark McGinty is a fun writer, and you will enjoy every page of Elvis and the Blue Moon Conspiracy - it'll leave you all shook up.
ellen has left the building

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Goofy but good July 28, 2004

By Larry Conrad

Format:Paperback

This is actually a very amusing book. The idea that NASA would put Elvis on the moon with Apollo 11 is completely ridiculous, but the story is peppered with enough real facts to make you want to believe it. Elvis is mostly a subplot in this story, which centers around two men from NASA, who have concocted a way to smuggle Elvis onto the Saturn 5 rocket for the journey to the moon. When he gets there, they plan for him to sing a surprise concert. But standing in their way, is a tabloid reporter named Dani Mitchell, who had been assigned to interview Elvis, but can't find him anywhere. She embarks on her own mission to track down the King, while Monroe and Dixon plan to exploit the Concert From the Sea of Tranquility with T-shirts, coffee mugs, even a lunar Elvis action figure, that you can dress in a rhinestone spacesuit. I must say, I would never read a book like this, but after a friend recommended it, I started reading, and couldn't put it down. I needed to know what would happen once they made it to the moon, if they would make it back, and how Neil Armstrong ended up taking the first steps, when the mission called for Elvis to be first on the surface. The story is out-there, but is nicely executed and well-written. There are a lot of funny little subplots too, including an ivory statue of Elvis, an impersonator, and one of the NASA guy's history with JFK and Marilyn Monroe. The book is a sleeper, and it's easy reading. You might want to check it out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Elvis Lives?! Perhaps. Perhaps not. June 10, 2009

By TrendyJendy

Format:Paperback

I just finished reading this book and was so highly entertained, I'm telling everyone about it. Being an avid reader, I'm selective about the kinds of books I read. If it doesn't capture my attention in the first few pages, I'll typically put it down. This book was outrageously funny with enough real-life factual data to make it seem almost plausible. Kudos to the author's amazing imagination and creation of such rich characters. A must read for anyone looking for a good laugh!