Authors at JCPL presents Brad Taylor

Thanks to a grant from the Rotary Clubs of Johnson County, each ticket reserved will come with a copy of Brad Taylor's latest novel, Shadow Strike. You do not need to have a JCPL library card to attend, but you must be a resident of Johnson County!

Brad will be joined in conversation by Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James Copp.

Important event details:

• No video during talk/Q&A
• There will be a signing line after
• Brad is happy to take pictures (posed or candid) for fans

About the Author

Brad Taylor was born on Okinawa, Japan, but grew up on 40-acres in rural Texas. Graduating from the University of Texas, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry. Brad served for more than 21 years, retiring as a Special Forces Lieutenant Colonel. During that time he held numerous Infantry and Special Forces positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron. He has conducted operations in support of US national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations.

His final assignment was as the Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel in Charleston, SC. He holds a Master’s of Science in Defense Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School, with a concentration in Irregular Warfare. In 2011, Brad published his debut novel, One Rough Man, which was an immediate success and launched the Pike Logan series. Now with more than 18 installments and nearly 4 million copies sold, the series has consistently hit the New York Times bestseller list. When not writing, he serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats for various agencies. He lives in Charleston, SC with his wife and two daughters.

About the Conversation Partner

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James Copp is a senior military leader with over 24 years of service in the United States Army, including extensive experience in Special Operations, strategic planning, and organizational leadership.

Commissioned in 2003 through ROTC at Ball State University, he earned the Ranger Tab early in his career and later completed Special Forces Assessment and Selection, becoming a Green Beret.Throughout his career, LTC Copp served in leadership roles across conventional and Special Operations units, including multiple combat deployments to Iraq and the Middle East. As a member of 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), he led and supported operations targeting extremist networks and contributed to significant territorial gains against the Islamic State.

He commanded the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Dive School in Key West, overseeing training for elite Special Operations personnel, and later served at the Pentagon equipping Army Special Operations Forces. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was Deputy Commander of the Mission Command Training Program Ops Group Juliet at Fort Leavenworth and concluded his career as Commander of the Indianapolis Recruiting Battalion, leading more than 300 Soldiers and civilians across three states.LTC (Ret.)

Copp retired in February 2024 following a distinguished career marked by operational excellence, strategic leadership, and organizational transformation.