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Q-C co-workers write book

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By Kay Luna | Tuesday, May 20, 2008 |

They aren’t politicians or celebrities. And they admit they aren’t experts.

Instead, Greg Sullivan of Moline and Adam Watkins of Viola, Ill., say they’re “just two simple guys” who happen to agree on a lot of issues and want to see a better way of life in this nation.

So, together, the co-workers at Fidlar Technologies in Rock Island wrote and self-published a new book, called “Just Two Simple Guys: Rediscovering Common Sense in America.”

The book — printed on their dime by their employer’s sister-company, Fidlar Printing — can be purchased locally at Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores in Davenport or online at just2simpleguys.com.

“We have a dream for this book; it’s a real life-changing book,” Sullivan said. “I have a dream to help change America with this book.”

Calling himself “unashamedly conservative,” the 47-year-old Sullivan said he and Watkins, 27, used to travel a lot together for work. Their on-the-road conversations led them to realize they share a lot of the same opinions on hot-button issues such as immigration, abortion, Social Security and the economy.

“We were very frustrated because we didn’t like the way things were going,” he said.

That’s how the idea for the book was born, although Sullivan said they do not align with any specific political party in their writing.

Recently, the pair was invited to speak to students at Augustana College in Rock Island and Monmouth (Ill.) College, and they talked about the book on local radio shows. They also hosted a book-signing event at the Borders bookstore in Davenport.

Another book-signing event is planned next month at Barnes & Noble in Davenport.

The attention has been a nice surprise for Watkins, who said one of his goals is to see young people get more involved, and less apathetic, about the way the country is run.

“We’re not out there to make people change their opinions,” he said. “We just want them to ask intelligent questions to make sure everyone’s doing the right thing.”

Kay Luna can be contacted at (563) 383-2323 or kluna@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

Meet the authors

Quad-City residents Greg Sullivan and Adam Watkins, co-authors of “Just 2 Simple Guys: Rediscovering Common Sense in America,” will host a book-signing event 2-5 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at NorthPark Mall in Davenport.

For more information about the book, go online to just2simpleguys.com. Copies of the book can be purchased through the Web site for $12.95, plus $6 for shipping and handling, or they can be found at both the Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores in Davenport.