Tom Kane sometimes wonders if his book could have made a difference last April 16 at Virginia Tech.

"You don't know, and that's the frustrating thing," says Kane, a Monroeville resident and author of "Protect Yourself at College: Smart Choices, Safe Results."

Late last month, Capital Books Inc. of Sterling, Va., released the book, which is available in Borders stores nationwide and can be ordered at other stores and online.

The irony for Kane is that after two years of publisher queries and rejection letters, it took only a month after the tragedy at Virginia Tech for Capital to seal the deal.

The incident, when Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people and wounded many others before committing suicide, is the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history.

"It was almost a double-edged sword," says Kane. "I'm happy the book is published, but I'm upset it took Virginia Tech to get it published."

Kane hadn't intended to write a book. He took an interest in the subject of campus safety in 2004, after noticing what he believed was an increase in crime at college campuses.

Six months later, he had gathered two binders full of information on crimes and accidents.

Although there were topic-specific books such as setting up a dorm room and college safety organizations started by parents who had lost children to hazing or alcohol, there was no comprehensive source about campus safety.

With one published book already under his belt, "Priests are People, Too," Kane decided to try his hand at writing "Protect Yourself at College."

Even before going ahead with the book, Kane began giving presentations on the topic. He is available to speak to high school groups and other organizations about college safety.

"Students tend to be lulled into a false sense of security on campus," Kane says. "They're 18. They don't even know they're putting themselves into danger."

He suggests parents talk to their children about campus issues, using news stories of actual incidents to open the line of conversation. If parents don't take the step, no one will.

"Colleges are not doing enough to inform students about the potential dangers," he says.

"Parents need to instruct children of potential dangers that exist without scaring them. There are very specific things students can do."

The book addresses life in the dorms, campus and off-campus safety, dating, Greek life and hazing, alcohol and drugs, spring break, credit cards, cyber crime and vehicle safety.

"The reality is that some random acts of violence can occur at the mall," Kane says.

"College students have to take ownership of their own safety. They need to have an awareness at all times."

Kane has made the book an easy read, integrating real-life stories that students can relate to and learn from with helpful information.

He also adds some humor, such as his "hot tip" about embarrassing spring break photos: "If someone takes your picture and puts it on the Internet, you have a better chance of the Pope coming for Easter dinner than having your photo removed."

With graduation day just around the corner, Kane is hoping his book makes it into the hands of college-bound seniors before they leave for school.

Kane had one condition for the publisher when he signed the book deal -- it had to be turned around in a year.

The publisher had a condition as well -- that Kane finish writing the book within 90 days of the contract.

That meant 12- to 15-hour days, seven days a week to meet the deadline.

For Kane, the effort was worthwhile.

"I thought it was important to have the book released a year later on the anniversary of Virginia Tech," he says.