Meet the Author

“This book was a vehicle to my recovery.” —Joseph M.Cammarata, author of Face of Courage: Rise from the Rubble

No one will ever forget Sept. 11, 2001. We all remember exactly where we were and what we were doing when those planes crashed into the World Trade Center. It’s a day that changed the course of American history. For Joe Cammarata, it’s a day that changed the course of his life.

As a New York City police officer, Cammarata was aboard the Staten Island Ferry heading towards downtown Manhattan when it happened: the South Tower collapsed, killing his 22-year-old brother, firefighter Michael Cammarata.

In a note he left behind, Michael Cammarata had a request of his family: “make my spirit live on”. 

And that’s exactly what his big brother, Joe Cammarata is doing. Face of Courage: Rise from the Rubble is Cammarata’s tribute to his fallen sibling. With great detail, Cammarata recounts the fateful events of 9/11, and how he’s dealing with his devastating loss. He has crafted a stellar marketing campaign that includes not only numerous media appearances, but a social media component that allows him to communicate quickly and directly with his audience.

“I utilize a strong social media platform that includes a blog, Facebook account and Twitter page,” Cammarata said. “There are also e-mail blasts that help to promote the book.”

 Cammarata’s social media posts are focused on topics related to his book in an attempt to drive traffic back to his site and drive readers to his book. So far, he has blogged about the emotion surrounding 9/11, and chimed in on a very hot-button issue related to 9/11: the proposed mosque at Ground Zero.

 “No religious institution should establish a presence this close to the final resting place of so many 9/11 victims,” Cammarata wrote. “My brother was never laid to rest in the same traditional burial process that most people have the privilege of exercising.”

As traumatic as Cammarata’s story is, there are thousands of people who can relate to the pain he experienced on 9/11 and thereafter. And some of them are expressing themselves through social media. A large piece of Cammarata’s marketing plan involves connecting with those who have blogs about remembering 9/11, firefighters or other topics related to his story.

“The inspiration for all this is that I will eventually heal,” Cammarata said. “This book was a vehicle to my recovery. Putting your emotions on paper, opening up your soul and sharing with others is a great way to heal.”