Bun answers some of your questions:

Does Pat do speaking engagements? 

No.  Oh, occasionally a friend will twist his arm and he does, but he really would rather not.

More likely, Pat will refer the request to www.mcmanusplays.com.  Tim Behrens has a website for anyone interested in scheduling a performance of one of Pat’s six plays.  There are even short excerpts to view of two of the plays on the site, play performance schedules, biographies, etc.  Besides theaters Tim can help you with conferences, school performances, classes, plus long and short versions to fit your needs.

Please note that Tim performs the plays that Pat has written.  Pat does not perform, as one irate customer thought.  Pat will seldom be at the shows and only is if Tim has twisted his arm.

Pat does not travel much anymore and prefers to be only “a half day’s ride from the fort” or in this case, our house.

Are there audiobooks available of Pat’s books?

Yes, for some books.  McManus Books has never sold them because for the most part they are expensive.  I have found them for sale on Amazon.com, Recorded Books Direct and www.alibris.com on the internet.  I am sure there are other sites.  Simon & Schuster’s site might have some of the later books, but I couldn’t find them in my search, although I know THE BLIGHT WAY was available on CD at one time.  Recorded Books have some CDs.  They rent as well as sell.  Check them out to see if they have what you want.

I do not know where people that want George S. Irving’s recordings on CD can get them.  The original company who did the George Irving recordings sold out to Audio Holdings, but they don’t seem to have any of Pat’s books.  You can always contact Henry Holt & Company, who holds the rights for the first books, to see what they can tell you.

Penguin Productions sells DVDs of the first two plays Pat wrote.  These are A Fine and Pleasant Misery and McManus in Love.  Details on how to order are at www.mcmanusplay.com.

Will Pat grant permission for our child to use one of Pat’s stories for school debate, etc.?

Yes, contact us at mcmanuscamp@gmail.com if you need a written permission.  This only grants permission to persons or students who don’t get paid for the use of the story.  In the case where you earn money performing, you would need to contact the publisher of the particular book that the story is in for permission.  Henry Holt and Company or Simon & Schuster own exclusive rights to all of Pat’s stories that have been published in books.

How do we get Pat’s earlier books since McManus Books only sells the most recent THE DOUBLE JACK MURDERS? 

A complete list of Pat’s books is on this website.  Just go to Books on the menu. All of the books are in print except WHATCHAGOT STEW, KID CAMPING FROM AAAAIII! TO ZIP and DEER ON A BICYCLE.  You can find copies of most of them at Amazon.com or alibris.com  I have had good experience with alibris.com finding WHATCHAGOT STEW in good condition and at a reasonable price.

I notice that some sites have signed copies as well.  We can’t guarantee the signatures as authentic on those books.  One person asked if the signature on the books we send out is Pat’s.  Yes, he sits at the kitchen table and signs books when Kelly brings over a stack of them.

Will Pat sign the books I already have that are not signed?

Yes, but you will need to send them to PO Box 10324, Spokane, WA 99209 with the proper return postage enclosed.  We only do Priority Mail and it costs $5 per book (please make your checks out to McManus Books). If you want special inscriptions, please print clearly or email us exactly what you want..

Please don’t send manuscripts or books to Pat for critique or blurbs.  He doesn’t have time and a stack is sitting on my desk still waiting and waiting!  Unless you send return postage, they will not be returned.

Why has McManus Books stopped having an 800 number so we can talk to a real person?

As you may know, Peggy and Tony shut down McManus Books some time ago and with it went the 800 number.   Now Kelly is attempting to restart McManus Books but in a limited version.   She created the website as a service to you and Pat so that we can let you know what is happening, Pat’s schedule, about new books and maybe later, new products and to make autographed copies of the latest book available.

Many years ago I started the business because Pat’s name was not known to booksellers and the books were not on their shelves for sale.  That isn’t the case anymore.  Most people can find what they are looking for at their hometown bookstores or online.

We thank you for your questions and interest in our website.  Pat enjoys sitting down and answering some of your gmails.  He gets a boost from hearing your stories and thoughts and so do I.