GREELEY, Colo. — For author John A. Daly, the Greeley History Museum’s newest exhibit, “13-Minute Warning: Weld County in the Atomic Age” doesn’t just revisit the past. It tells the story of a time and a place that inspired his award-winning book, “Safeguard.”
Daly, who grew up in Colorado and lives in Greeley, is a University of Northern Colorado alumnus and author of five books that make up the Sean Coleman Thriller series. He’ll be speaking at the Greeley History Museum and signing copies of his book from noon to 1 p.m. on July 12. The event is free with advance registration and includes the opportunity to explore the “13-Minute Warning” exhibit.
Daly’s first novel, “From a Dead Sleep,” launched the series when it was published in 2013. He was at work on his second book, “Blood Trade,” when a chance field trip sparked the idea for a book with a missile silo as a setting.
For years, Daly saw the “Missile Site Park” signs west of Greeley on Highway 34 but didn’t know it was once home to an Atlas E Missile during the Cold War.
“Having grown up close to one of those ‘rocket ship’ playgrounds that were popular in the 1980s – before they were deemed too dangerous – I guess I just sort of assumed the park was something similar to that,” he says.
He later learned it was actually an old missile silo. At that time, private groups could schedule tours through the county (though this is no longer allowed). Daly and his wife were leading a youth group at their church, so he thought it might be a fun trip for the kids. And while some kids were more interested in the tour than others, it captured Daly’s imagination.
“Some seeds were planted that day for a fictional, but reality-inspired story with the silo as the backdrop,” he says
In the middle of his second book at the time, he set the idea aside, then took a second tour of the site a year or two later. It was then that “Safeguard” began to take shape.
With access to the site still available, Daly hired a photographer friend, Erin Timm, to take detailed reference photos that would add rich detail to the book. Some of those photos Erin captured would later find their way to the Greeley History Museum to be used in the exhibit.
“A place as fascinating as the missile site, including its blemishes and erosion from age, provided ample inspiration for various plot elements,” Daly says. “A large picture of one of the old crews that manned the site 24/7, when it was active, ended up as a key part of the story. So did a large dent in the blast door.”
The book’s authenticity served it well. In 2020, Safeguard received first place in the Thriller/Suspense category at the 2020 CIPA EVVY Awards, presented by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association.
The book has also received accolades from fellow writers. Journalist and New York Times bestselling author, Megyn Kelly, gave it high marks with her review, saying “‘Safeguard’ is a fast, fun page-turner whose twists and turns kept me reading well into the night. John Daly delivers his mix of wry humor with pulse-pounding action that keeps you guessing till the very end. An entertaining, engaging read.”
Daly, whose presentation at the Greeley History Museum is titled “What Lies Beneath: The Underground Silo Behind the Story,” will share his experiences at the Atlas E facility and talk about how its underground corridors and Cold War history shaped the atmosphere and plot of “Safeguard.”
Following the talk, guests will have the opportunity to meet Daly and have him sign their copy of the book, which is also available for purchase at the museum shop. Admission is free but registration is required and includes admission to the museum galleries to explore the exhibit that inspired the event.
Register online for the event or learn more on the Greeley Museums events calendar.
###