Podcasts about sunbury press

TVC 678.3: Actor and author Laurence Luckinbill talks to Ed about working with William Shatner, both as an actor and as a director, in Star Trek V, as well as the approach he took toward playing Sybok, Spock's half-brother, in that film. Larry's autobiography, Affective Memories: How Chance and The Theater Saved My Life, is available wherever books are sold through Sunbury Press.

TVC 678.2: Part 2 of a conversation that began last week with Laurence Luckinbill (The Boys in the Band, The Delphi Bureau, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Lyndon, Hemingway, Teddy Tonight!, Clarence Darrow Tonight!). Topics this segment include how Larry's guest appearance on Harry O in the summer of 1974 resulted in Larry adopting an Alaskan Malumute, whom Larry named Mush (and who remained a beloved part of the Luckinbill family for the next thirteen years), and how William Shatner cast Larry as Sybok in Star Trek V after seeing his one-man show Lyndon on PBS. Larry's autobiography, Affective Memories: How Chance and The Theater Saved My Life, is available wherever books are sold through Sunbury Press.

TVC 677.6: Actor and author Laurence Luckinbill (The Boys in the Band, The Delphi Bureau, Star Trek V, Affective Memories: How Chance and The Theater Saved My Life) shares a few memories of his years in Oakland, California, where he moved to be with his family in the 1950s; the many mentors in his life, including the Catholic nun who taught him to appreciate the power of words; and how he first came to learn the difference between a “movie horse” and a “horse” horse while filming an episode of Bonanza. Affective Memories is available wherever books are sold through Sunbury Press.

What can be learned from a diary? What indeed, from not just one but several original writings, letters, journals, and other memorabilia of the Colonial and Victorian times? The answers lie in T.N. Pollio's new book, Voices from Early America on Sunbury Press Books. Speaking with Lawrence Knorr, Pollio discusses his work as a historian and author and his collection of authentic and true diaries and writings of American settlers. Their times were different, but like today, their emotions and perspectives on life mirror those of today. T.N. Pollio lives on the shore of Southern New England. He is the author of two books on ancient and medieval history, which are on the shelves of nearly 900 academic libraries on five continents. He has also published numerous articles and essays on art and historical subjects. Pollio is also a member of the Archeologic Institute of America and other historical forums.

Author, intuitive dreamer, and channeler Patti Fields returns to the Ars Metaphysica imprint with her new book, Freedom Now--Transform Life Experiences into Miraculous Moments. In her second release, Fields channels her spirit guide Neshea to offer transformative teachings for inner liberation and empowerment. Insights on relationships, expanded consciousness, and divine purpose are explored, which provide the reader a path to greater self-discovery. Speaking on the Sunbury Press Books Show, Fields talks of the formative experiences that led Fields to discover Neshea and share insights on universal questions, the answers of which can be applied to real-life issues. Fields is also the author of Dreaming Miracles--Spiritual Messages that Help and Heal. You can find out more on her website.

Author Robert John Andrews brings the 18th-century Susquehanna Valley to life in this Catamount Press novella, A Susquehanna Tale. This period of early American history is hard, where the rifle, tomahawk, and knife rule. It is a time of hope and loss, land-hungry settlers and the Iroquois; here, two men, frontier scout Alexander Tennant and pioneer Colonel William Montgomery discuss the stories of their lives and times. A Susquehanna Tale is discussed by Robert John Andrews and Sunbury Press Books founder Lawrence Knorr in this BookSpeak Network podcast. Retired after more than 40 years of pastoral work, including nearly three decades as head of the Grove Presbyterian Church in Danville, Pennsylvania, Andrews is a popular newspaper columnist, community and church leader, and public speaker on historical and spiritual topics. His first book, Nathaniel's Call won the First Book Award from the Presbyterian Writer's Guild, the first print-on-demand book so honored.  Danville remains Andrews' home, and he says he's learned to cherish this region's rich history and love the tale of its river.

Horror author Stephen Paul Sayers comes to Hellbender Books with a new tale of suspense in The Carousel Man. Haunted by nightmares and visions, a desperate man returns to their source: a childhood carousel ride. There, he uncovers a shocking truth—and a long-forgotten promise that he is condemned to fulfill. Sayers is the author of the bestselling Caretakers horror trilogy, A Taker of Morrows, The Soul Dweller, and The Immortal Force. He appears on the Sunbury Press Show to discuss his love of old horror movies (watched with his ill-behaved dog, Ollie), how they influenced his writing, and his work as a college professor. He makes his home in Columbia, Missouri, and Plymouth, Massachusetts.   You can find out more about him at his website.

"We are vessels...and sometimes we have to empty them." For years, Jhana has traveled the country as a National Public Radio reporter, looking for the stories of interesting people to tell. Now she has returned to her hometown of Sorel, to empty her vessel and tell listeners her own tale. As she navigates a hometown that has changed but still retains much of what it once was, Jhana reunites and remembers to see if one can go home again, in How the Story Ends. The seventh book by Tory Gates, How the Story Ends finds the author returning to commercial fiction. His works on Brown Posey Press include the Sweet Dreams Series, a young adult/time travel series with an emphasis on music. He is also the author of the award-winning A Moment in the Sun, Live from the Cafe, and the self-published Parasite Girls, which can be found on Amazon and Draft2Digital. For nearly 40 years, Tory has worked in broadcast radio, and is currently an anchor for NBC News Radio, but also provides news content for stations across Central Pennsylvania. He is also the host of "The Brown Posey Press Show" here on the BookSpeak Network. On this episode of The Sunbury Press Books Show, Tory discusses his career, his Vermont upbringing, and what inspires and drives his writing. You can find more on his website. A native of Cambridge, Vermont, Tory graduated from Saint Joseph's College of Maine. He lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with his cat, Kao. He can be found anywhere that good coffee is served.

Elbridge Corvallis finds himself in an unenviable position. About to start his professional hockey career, "Elby" is called home to Lowland, Pennsylvania, due to his mother's death. A car accident then keeps him home, and Elby has to somehow heal, and figure out how to get out of a gritty, dying steel town. Elby must also contend with his father's slide into madness, a pervy landlord, a revenge-minded physical therapist, and also the "Duke of Ash Avenue," a mysterious character who wants to secede and return the town to British rule. The darkly humorous situation and the strange characters that surround him leave Elby to consider his own place in the world, and whether Lowland really has anything for him? Garrett Stack brings his first novel, "The Duke of Ash Avenue" to the Catamount Press and the Sunbury Press Book Show. A poet and author of short fiction, Stack's work has appeared in several literary magazines. "Yeoman's Work," a collection of his poetry came out in 2020 on Bottom Dog Press. He holds degrees from Indiana University, the University of San Diego and Carnegie Mellon University. You can find out more about Garrett on his website.

Arcane Assassin: Path of Annihilation is the first of the Raven Naelo series, now available on the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press.  The daughter of an elven king and human mother, Raven is a would-be rogue seeking to follow her father's path and become a realm guardian. After proving her worth against a gang of half-orcs, her father sends Raven to a training camp, where she meets fellow travelers, mages, nymphs, and archers. Their training is tested as they step into the world of advanced magic, but Raven finds her own power and danger at every turn. As the world plunges into war, Raven must fight to save her homeland from destruction, and the possibility that living and dead will never find peace. AnneMarie Knorr-Fischer is co-author of what promises to be an exciting quest, that she and her wife Rachel have set Raven upon. She discusses with host Lawrence Knorr how a love of Dungeons & Dragons and the discovery of old gaming documents and maps inspired Raven and the newly-released start of an exciting and captivating series. The authors live in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

R. Kane Maurer brings his love of fantasy and adventure tales to a trilogy of his own design, The Forbidden Powers. After agreeing to explore a local cave, Jonny is thrust into another world of magic, trolls, dragons, and legendary heroes only read about. Jonny quickly finds this is all too real and must learn to not only save himself but to defend the world he knows from a sinister force who seeks the power of a god. "The Cup in the Shadows" is the first of Maurer's three-volume set, available through the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press. Inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and others, Maurer has brought his original storytelling to the printed word, and discusses the trilogy with host Lawrence Knorr. R. Kane Maurer lives with his family in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

This episode features the First Chapter of Going Home by Sharon Marchisello. It is read by local actor Amelia Ryan. Going Home was published by ‎Sunbury Press, Inc. on August 15 of 2014. You can learn more about the author on her website. In each episode, we share with you mystery short stories and mystery novel first chapters read by actors from the San Joaquin Valley. Our theme song was written and performed by Kevin Memley. If you enjoyed this episode please review or rate it as that helps more people be able to find us! Also, consider subscribing so you never miss an episode! If you would like to help support this podcast and Kings River Life financially, and get some fun rewards, check out our Patreon Page. You can also make a one time donation through Paypal and you can purchase some fun Mysteryrat's Maze merchandise on Redbubble. If you would like to help support this podcast and Kings River Life financially, and get some fun rewards, check out our Patreon Page. You can also make a one time donation through Paypal and you can purchase some fun Mysteryrat's Maze merchandise on Redbubble. You can find more mystery fun on our websites Kings River Life Magazine and KRL News and Reviews.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were the doormat of the National League for much of the 1950s but began to turn things around late in the decade. Through changes in the front office and management, the Bucs had their first winning season in a decade in 1958 but slipped to fourth place the following year. 1960: When the Pittsburgh Pirates Had Them All the Way is the story of that magical run, from spring training to a wild World Series against the New York Yankees. Wayne Stewart brings his love of baseball, plus extensive research and player interviews to the table in this comprehensive look at a unique team that won 95 games and then took the Yankees the distance. Shortstop Dick Groat earned the NL MVP Award, 20-game winner Vernon Law took Cy Young honors, and an outfielder named Roberto Clemente hit .314 with a then career-high 16 home runs. Players such as Harvey "The Kitten" Haddix, Roy Face, Hal Smith, and Bill Mazeroski made their respective marks; the latter was mostly a defensive specialist who hit the series-clinching homer. A native of Pittsburgh, Wayne Stewart grew up in Donora, Pennsylvania. The town produced several athletes who made it in the pros, including Stan Musial and Ken Griffey, Senior, and Junior (Stewart in fact was a high school teammate of the elder Griffey). Stewart is the author of a string of books on baseball, football and basketball, and has interviewed some of the biggest names in professional sports. "A must-read for every baseball fan." -- Vernon Law    

Massachusetts was one of the states on the front line when it came to the Abolitionist Movement, but it also served as an early hub for the slave trade in New England. In his new book on Local History Press, Slavery and Abolitionism on Cape Cod, Dr. Michael Pregot looks into how both the pro and anti-slavery factions took hold. To understand the shift away from slavery, Dr. Pregot looks into the forces that caused this change, including the political and religious persuasions, economic factors, and social movements of the time. A resident of Brewster, Massachusetts, Michael Pregot's interest in the stories of the Cape and Islands led to his research into the sea captains who acquired wealth, fame, and prominence as they sailed the world, as chronicled in his first Local History release, Sea Captains of Cape Cod. 

Justin Moore, the protagonist of Dennis Clausen's works, The Accountant's Apprentice and The Return of the Fifth Horseman is back with Apocalypse in Our Time. In Justin's time as the director of a homeless shelter, he's seen an awful lot. The latest residents of the shelter include Young Angelina, an artistic savant with an obsession with Shakespeare's plays and the paintings of Michaelangelo. When Justin later picks up a nameless, catatonic man from a bus depot, he wonders if the long-lost A.C. has indeed returned. Or is he an otherworldly figure whose mission is to convince Earth's inhabitants to destroy themselves? Dennis Clausen is a native of Minnesota and draws on his home state to inspire his numerous works. He is the author of books that include Prairie Son, My Christmas Attic, The Search for Judd McCarthy, and The Sins of Rachel Sims. A professor of American Literature and Creative Writing at the University of San Diego for over 40 years, Clausen has also written the instructional Storytelling as Art & Craftsmanship: Practical Strategies for Screenwriters and Creative Writers. Find out more at his website.

Altoona, Pennsylvania, 1966. Nineteen-year-old Frank Davis stands on the edge of adulthood in a tumultuous time of American history, brought to life in Fred J. Lauver's new novel, Heart in the Jungle - Mountain City. Frank's middle-class neighborhood has streets named after poets, in contrast to the reality of the city's industrial lands, the remains of the coal and railroad industries. Amid this, Frank dreams of rock stardom with his band, while living a somewhat-sheltered life that hearkens back to a decade before. The Vietnam War hangs heavy over the nation, and while patriotism remains strong, the feeling pervades many that this is a war we should not be fighting. Frank enlists in the Air Force, only to find he's been drafted, by the seemingly standard practice of the local board. Efforts of wealthier families, determined to keep their sons from this war resort to extreme measures and Frank is caught up in it. All the while, Frank tries to find love. His lifelong friend Jeannette Wiley is gone, the allure of Sarah Meade, the girl everyone wants, and the courtship of Brandi Jo Pulinni, guided by her Italian-American family's ever-changing perceptions.  A native of Altoona, Fred is the author of works including Aziza, the Caves of Mars, and Olympus. His short stories have appeared in anthologies such as The Darkened Doorstep, and Bitter Sweet. He co-authored The Pennsylvania Trail of History cookbook and was assistant editor of Pennsylvania Heritage magazine.  Find out more about Fred here.  

A small-town murder in rural Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania is examined by author Taj Magruder in his Milford House Press debut, In the Day of Trouble. On March 17, 1934, a woman named Susan Mummey was shot and killed by a known assailant. Her murder was due to her being known as the Witch of Ringtown Valley, which Magruder covers in detail for the first time. For years Mummey was rumored to practice magic from her isolated farm home, and her battles with family, neighbors, and the law were known. When detectives extracted a confession from her assailant, the revelations that followed not only shocked the county, but far beyond. As quickly as the excitement and interest in Mummey's murder and what she was alleged to have done grew, it faded away. Magruder's research into the historical record, press reports, and insights from survivors of those involved has resulted in a fascinating look at a strange time in American history. Magruder examines Mummey's life, and her connections to "powwow," the Pennsylvania Dutch form of mysticism, faith healing, and spirituality. He also looks into how Mummey came to be misunderstood, the mental disturbance of her killer, which may make the reader examine their own selves. A Baltimore native, Taj Magruder has worked in state and local government. A graduate of Penn State University with a degree in political science, he lives in the Greater Philadephia area with his cats, Benji and Roxie.

Rita Wilson's debut novel, When the Only Light is the Moon tells the tale of four women, each with their own story, and a chance encounter in a foreign land that changes everything. Demi is a Greek-American banquet manager who is still recovering from a breakup. She joins her mother, aunt, and cousin for a trip to Greece. The plan for a relaxing holiday does not begin well as their rental car breaks down. Rescue by a villager and her grandson Stavros leads to an unexpected romance, with Charles, a British author who offers humor and sage advice.  Demi must consider her feelings for Stavros, and with Charles' advice in mind, all four women face their issues in this work on the Milford House imprint. Rita Wilson is an award-winning artist, writer, and educator. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including the literary magazines Rune and Riverspeak, Voices from the Attic, and The 100 Lives Anthology. Her first book, Greek Lessons is a biography and memoir, and her many trips to Greece have informed the new novel she speaks of with host Lawrence Knorr. Wilson has an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Carlow University in Pittsburgh. A retired teacher, Wilson has held creative writing workshops in the US and Europe. She is also a Western Pennsylvania Writing Project fellow, a Non-Fiction Editor for the Northern Appalachia Review, and a Director of the Writing Conference of Northern Appalachia (WCONA). She lives near Pittsburgh.

The Young Frontiersman Series follows Barnabus Locke as he lives through a formative period in America. The son of a fur trader, Locke's odyssey from the Revolutionary Period through the time of the Louisiana Purchase. The volumes of his adventures, "Fidelity," "Allegiance," and "Alliance" are now joined by the latest in the series, "Identity." All come from the pen of Matthew Blaine and available through Milford House Press. Inspired by the works of Ernest Hemingway, Jack London, Louis L'Amour, and John Steinbeck, Blaine tells of his varied life: a steelworker, factory floor assembler, carpenter, and cab driver, he also managed trade shows across the East Coast. His interests included primitive archery, hiking, and canoeing. During the pandemic, Blaine wrote two self-published memoirs of his life. All of this spurred him to create Barnabus Locke, and live history through times of change in the colonies, the Spanish/French conflict over the Louisiana Territory, and the Ohio Country, which has its roots in Western Pennsylvania.  Retired, Matthew Blaine lives in rural Pennsylvania. When not writing, he works in a shop in the woods, practicing the skills required for leather working, shaping and fletching primitive arrows and marrying old ax heads with newly fashioned handles.

The fourth and final volume of the Anthems of al-Andalus series, John D. Cressler takes the reader to Spain and tells the tale of forbidden love during a bloody war that heralds the end of a golden age. As much a tale of fiction, it is also one of history, which most never learn about in the west. Most of modern Spain was under Muslim control from 711 to 1492 C.E. This time was one of deep influence in world events, including the rediscovery, translation and dissemination of the lost works of science, medicine, and philosophy of the ancient Greeks. The Umayyads were great lovers of books and learning, and the 10th and 11th centuries was a period of religious and spiritual acceptance, where Muslim, Jewish and Christian communities embraced one another. The three traditions sparked a cultural revolution.  This discussion with host Lawrence Knorr provides insight into centuries past, and how faiths lived and grew together and inspired immense change, now seemingly lost. John D. Cressler is the Schlumberger Chair Professor in Electronics at Georgia Tech. His debut novel, "Emeralds of the Alhambra," was released by Sunbury Press in 2013, followed by "Shadows in the Shining City," and "Fortune's Lament." He is also the author of non-fiction works that include "Silicon-Germanium Heterojunction Bipolar Transistors," "Silicon Earth," and "Extreme Environment Electronics." You can find out more about him at his website.    

Baseball cards were collected, traded, and used in games we made up as kids. In recent decades, however, the collectibles market has turned these into a multi-million-dollar business. They are the stuff of memories, the object of historians, and an addition to some people's portfolios. A recent discovery of a rare set of T206 cards sold in cigarette packs in the early 20th century has become a book, "What's in Ted's Wallet?"  The owner of these cards was Theodore "Ted" Edison, the youngest son of Thomas Alva Edison. In the summer of 1909, Ted began collecting these cards and soon amassed a collection of 61, including 58 players. Many of them ended up in the Baseball Hall of Fame, such as Ty Cobb, Frank Chance, Walter Johnson, and Christy Mathewson. He kept them in a wallet made that year, and they were found among Ted's donated papers in the 1990s. When J.B. Manheim and co-author Lawrence Knorr found these during archival research on Edison and baseball, they knew they had a book! J.B. Manheim is Professor Emeritus at The George Washington University, where he developed the world's first degree-granting program in political communication. He is also the founding director of the School of Media & Public Affairs. He is the author of "The Deadball Files," a five-volume series on the early years of professional baseball in the 20th century. He is a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, and International Thriller Writers.  

The full, eventful, and rich life of Lew Wallace is examined in detail in "Lew: The Life and Times of the Author of Ben Hur." Biographer Michael E. Fox appears on the Sunbury Press Books Show to discuss Wallace's career, and how one of the most popular novels of the 19th century was not religious, but a semi-autobiographical account of his own times. Fox traces Wallace's early life in Indiana (Fox was raised in Crawfordsville, where Wallace was sent for schooling at the age of nine, and where he retired), his experience in the Mexican War, and his time serving as a field commander under General Ulysses S. Grant during the western campaigns of the American Civil War. Wallace also served as Governor of the New Mexico Territory, where he completed "Ben Hur," and as a US Minister to the Ottoman Empire. Wallace's greatest work, "Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ" is considered the most spiritually influential novel of the century. He also wrote several other novels and a biography of President Benjamin Harrison, a fellow Indianan and Civil War general.  Michael E. Fox developed friendships during his childhood with men who knew Wallace. He is a graduate of Purdue University, an attorney, and with a Master of Law (LLM) with Honors. He has worked for Eastman Kodak and served as President of Screen GP Americas, a maker of high-speed, high-resolution printing equipment and is considered a pioneer in modern-day printing and publishing technology. Now retired, he lives in Southern California.  

Book 3 of the Rian Krieger's Journey takes Roger A. Smith's tomboyish heroine to Russia in "The Blackmailer." Thirteen-year-old Rian (that's Ree-in) runs away to Russia in 1838 to assist her uncle and cousin as they build a railroad for Tsar Nicholas I. There's a problem, though perhaps not for Rian--she is masquerading as her uncle's coachman, a boy. Rian's bravery and resourcefulness are soon noted by the Tsar, and Rian finds herself assigned to his palace, companion to Grand Duke Konstantin, his young son.  Across the ocean, an economic depression has struck the US, and in Philadelphia, where Rian's family is based. Jules Freeman, a man who fled slavery years before works as foreman of Krieger Coach, while his home serves as a stopover on the Underground Railroad. He is then tasked with a new project, one that intrigues and challenges him. Roger A. Smith continues to combine his love of history with a story that has been ignored for nearly two centuries. In his third appearance on the Sunbury Press Books Show, Smith discusses what brought Rian, her family, and friends to life, and how a girl who has already accomplished much in her life will live history. A teacher of mentally gifted students, a farmer, an entrepreneur, and director of a rural arts council, Smith lives on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Find out more about him at RogerASmith.com

Steven Grier Williams brings his latest work, "Skadi and the Geats," the third of the Prose Edda Series to the Sunbury Press Books Show. The heart of the mysterious Ironwood forest has been pillaged and turned into a mine. Hrothgar, the Earl of Lejre has staked his claim as ruler of Midgard, but with force and violence which leaves the kingdom in his grip. But there are those who will fight... Skadi has proven her worth as Viking warrior and now joins the wide and bodiless Mimir in search of his physical form. An invitation from Hrothgar draws Skadi into a conspiracy that involves the Aesir gods, and she realizes that relying on others may be the only way to oust the Earl and restore her home. Steven Grier Williams is a graduate of Northwestern University, and his interest in Iceland and Nordic myths has resulted in the series, which includes, "Skadi," and "Thyra." He lives with his wife Danielle in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

John becomes candid about Merrilee's story - about to be released by Sunbury Press. “FLOPPY FEATHERS” This is the first time John advanced the importance of the phenomenon around Merrilee - the staggeringly powerful starseed from NGC-234. You can look that up. Merrilee in context is amazingly brilliant. Our future with her even brighter. Merrilee was uneasy. She is the most powerful person in our galaxy, and living into that requires introspection. It's John and Merrilee every day on Spotify. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-lacasse/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-lacasse/support

Author Dan Van Tassel returns to the Sunbury Press Books Show to discuss his new travel memoir, "Beyond Barron." The sequel to the 2008 release, "Back to Barron," Van Tassel tells of he and his wife Rhoda's travels and career. The memoir focuses on schools and universities attended, taught and visited; homes built, bought and redecorated; vehicles and pets acquired, all done with humor and detail.  Dan Van Tassel grew up in Barron, Wisconsin, about 80 miles northeast of Minneapolis, Minnesota and discusses his upbringing in a small town reminiscent of the life Garrison Keillor often wrote and told his own tales about. Van Tassel graduated from St. Olaf College, and earned graduate degrees from the University of Iowa. He taught literature at Muskingum College and Cal State-San Marcos, and now teaches courses for senior citizens. Dan is also the author of the 2022 Sunbury Press release, "Journey by the Book: A Guide to Tales of Travels." He lives in Northfield, Minnesota. 

The life of Major William Trent is shrouded in relative obscurity, but his mark on the Colonial period of early US history cannot be taken from him. The son of a Philadelphia shipping merchant, and the namesake for the capitol of New Jersey, Trent served as the factor for one of the most powerful land speculation companies, known for his impeccable record-keeping and penmanship. By the eve of the American Revolution, Trent was the face of westward expansion. He was also purported to be the giver of smallpox-infected blankets to Natives at Fort Pitt in the summer of 1763. Author and historian Jason Cherry works to dispel that notion and to tell how Trent served alongside contemporaries such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. A research consultant for the 1719 William Trent House Museum and the author of "Pittsburgh's Lost Outpost: Captain Trent's Fort," Cherry brings the biography of Trent forward in this new book. He lives with his family in Butler, Pennsylvania.

In this second of two special episodes, the Sunbury Press Books Show hears from participating authors in the 2024 Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia, held at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Producer and presenter Tory Gates interviews three of these authors: Hilary Hauck, author of From Ashes to Song, on our Milford House Press imprint, discusses the WCONA Conference experience, and her session on writing craft. L.E. DeLano, author of both young adult and romance works, including Traveler, and Dreamer. Her 2021 novel, Blue was named the SPARK Award winner by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators and was the 2021-22 Teen/YA Book of the Year by Reader Views Kids.  Stephen Sherrill is a Professor of Creative Writing at Penn State-Altoona. He is the author of works that include Motorcycles, Minotaurs and Banjos: A Midwest Odyssey, which documents a personal and musical journey, Joy, PA: A Novel, and Visits from the Drowned Girl. He is also the creator of Despondent Man, a character you must hear about in Sherrill's own words. Through our Northern Appalachia imprint, Catamount Press, Sunbury Press Books aims to highlight not only the past works of authors such as Herbert E. Stover but current works of fiction and non-fiction by authors of this region.      

Debuting in 2019, the Writers Conference of Northern Appalachia honors the authors, past and present who occupy a unique place in this part of the United States. The goals of the annual conference are to help writers continue to evolve, progress, and improve their work while highlighting the region, and its character. Sunbury Press is a sponsor and supporter of this event, held this year at St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Producer Tory Gates sat down with several participants in this conference, and in this first special episode, heard from three of the voices of the region. PJ Piccirillo is a founding father of the WCONA Festival. A two-time winner of the Appalachian Writers Award for Short Fiction, he is the author of the novels Heartwood and The Indigo Scarf. He is also an editor of the Northern Appalachia Review, available through Sunbury Press' imprint, Catamount Press. Ben Moyer is an outdoor writer and essayist, whose work appears in numerous publications. Smoke to See By is a new release on Catamount Press, a collection of 21 stories and essays, which won the WCONA Book of the Year Award. Paul T. Ricci is a statistician, author, blogger and educator, with a degree in biostatistics and research methodology from the University of Pittsburgh. The founder of Allegheny Independent Media, Ricci is the author of Wuthering Depths in Johnstown: By the Numbers, a look at the changes of his hometown, and he speaks of Johnstown's history, and what its future may hold.

"Leave Everything You Know Behind" is the story of two women who meet by chance, and find how their lives intertwine around the ultimate end. Anne Canfield is a cranky, aging newspaper publisher who believes she will live forever, only to discover she doesn't have much time left. When she rescues a younger woman, teacher Indira Anand from drowning, Anne finds Indira is dying, too and wants to end her life.  Anne has decisions to make--she must save her business, deal with a decision made long ago, and protect her family. Add to this, a vengeful relative discovers Anne's secret and tries to disrupt the family even more. "Leave..." is a story of an unlikely friendship, and reminds of what keeps people wanting to live. An award-winning journalist and writer, Ginny Fite has covered crime, politics, the arts, and healthcare. She has served as a spokesperson for a governor, a member of Congress, along with three colleges and universities, plus a robotics firm. Her books include "The Physics of Things, "Possession" and the Sam Lagarde series. 

Author Jill Evans winds the tales of two young people from different worlds into a strange, gritty odyssey and search for self in "Travels with Jim." Jim is on a quest to find his father and is traveling the roads and rails in search of the man he believes to be his father, The Doors frontman, lyricist, and poet Jim Morrison. Sorrie is a girl from a family of means who has little interest or interaction with the world around her and is on the run from a suffocating family. Through her bookworm personality, she tries to draw Jim out, and along a path fraught with adverse circumstances and oft-unfriendly characters, the pair find something more than just their freedom. Jill Evans is a writer of fiction and memoir, and her works have appeared in several newspapers and magazines. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Stony Brook University and an MFA from Lindeonwood Unviersity. She teaches creative writing at Suffolk County Community College, and lives on Long Island. 

Joe Regenbogen's long career as a schoolteacher led to writing later in life, and has encompassed a series of thoughtful, researched and diverse works. Appearing on The Sunbury Press Books Show, Regenbogen discusses his experiences in the classroom, which led to his first two books: Questioning History and Relearning History were targeted at those bored with traditional methods of teaching. His following works were equally fulfilling: The Boys of Brookdale tells the stories of veterans of World War II, while Making a Difference details the work of Irl Solomon, who dedicated his career to teaching in the schools of East St. Louis. From here, Regenbogen stepped into fiction with his first novel, Longs Peak, and his latest, Dying of the Light, available on Sunbury's Ars Metaphysica imprint. When Ethan's wife of 40 years passes away, he realizes the guiding light of his life is now extinguished. Haunted as well by a decision made decades before, Ethan takes a road trip to rediscover himself, and find a way to make things right, after so many years. A native of New Orleans, Joe Regenbogen taught in the city's schools before moving to St. Louis, where he now resides. In addition to writing, he has hosted talks and penned op-ed pieces for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The history, the landmarks, the myths and tall tales of Pennsylvania are a mission for author Jeffrey Frazier, who makes his second appearance on The Sunbury Press Books Show. A Centre County native, Jeffrey grew up in a "Tom Sawyer sort of way," and his boyhood explorations have turned into a five-decades-long search. In "The Pennsylvania Mountain Landmarks" and "Pennsylvania Fireside Tales" series, Frazier uncovers legends and folk tales known and unknown.  These stories are, as Frazier describes, them, "waves of time." He joins host Lawrence Knorr in reflections on those who have chronicled Pennsylvania's past tales, and what Frazier has learned. From the Blue Mountains of Berks and Lehigh Counties, the South Mountains of Adams County, the Black Forest area of Potter and Tioga Counties, to the Alleghenies and in between, there are tales you will remember and those which might have been forgotten. Jeffrey Frazier graduated from Penn State University in 1967, and earned an MBA from Rider University in New Jersey. He lives in Bellefonte, PA.    

Bioterror, geopolitics, detective work and a virus with no cure collide in The Red Mutation, the latest work by Barry Libin. A Chinese-inspired virus could bring about world domination--Dr. Jeffrey Moss is assigned by the NYPD to find an antidote and destroy the virus, before it's too late. Barry Libin has brought to life writings that combine his experiences with a sense of history. A periodontist and medical researcher, Dr. Libin is a graduate of the University of Rochester, where he majored in History and Biochemistry. He studied writing ot Hofstra University and the University of Iowa. His work includes The Mystery of the Milton Manuscript, released on Urim Publications in 2014. Sunbury Press Books also has released the acclaimed The Vatican's Vault in 2018.  In addition, Libin is a playwright, lyricist and composer. His play THE TRIANGLE tells the story of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory disaster. He lives in New York City. 

The life (or perhaps lives) of a man who made a career change in mid-stride of life to serve his nation, and the struggle for validation and vindication are brought to life by Dr. Scott Zuckerman, in his second book for Sunbury Press. Nothing Left to Prove, Nothing Left to Hide: The Long and Winding Road to Redemption of Major Sebastian Thomas Tosto, Zuckerman tells the story of a man who grew up in the shadow of his father and other relatives, and his quest to get out from under it. The son of a World War II veteran, Tom Tosto was a successful physician, who at age 50 gave that up in the wake of September 11th, 2001. He joined the Army and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper and brigade surgeon. He saw action in Iraq and Afghanistan, where Tosto earned the Bronze Star and Meritorious Service Medals. His story, however, leads Tosto to become a patient of Dr. Zuckerman's, and he tells of what has haunted him. A Brooklyn, New York native, Scott Zuckerman's four-decade career as a physician brought him back to the advice given him by his high school English teacher, Frank McCourt, who encouraged him to "cultivate" his gift as a writer. Dreams of My Comrades was released by Sunbury Press in 2017, and earned First Place in the Non-Fiction category of the 2015 Utah Original Writing Competition. Zuckerman also contributed two pieces to the Sunbury Press anthology, After the Pandemic: Visions of Life, Post COVID-19.

Linda Schifino's memoir, Neighborhood Girl: A Memoir of Loss, Longing, and Letting Go takes the reader back to her Italian-American roots, in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. On this episode of the Sunbury Press Books Show, Schifino discusses a time when neighbors looked out for each other, trust was paramount, and the values of another place and time made their home in America. Most of what Schifino recalls is no longer there, but she brings the customs, traditions and memories back to life. Recollections of her confirmation, the neighborhood grocery, and her brief career as a numbers runner(!) collide with the now. When her son asks if it's all right to bring a ham to the Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes, there is a fear of dismantling these traditions further, but also there's the letting go. Linda Schifino holds a Ph.D in Rhetoric from Duquesne University, and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Carlow University. She writes with Madwomen in the Attic, and her essays have been published in Adelaide Magazine, Avalon Literary Journal, Northern Appalachia Review, and Brevity Blog. You can find more about her at her website.

Author, educator, and writer Dr. Catherine DePino discusses her second volume in the Help Yourself Every Day Series on the Sunbury Press Books Show. Thirty Magical Meditations to Boost Your Emotional Well-Being offers the reader practical ways to deal with stress, anxiety, loss and fear. Whether experienced or new to the spiritual journey, this book allows you to harness the power of your mind, and to heal by way of quick and simple meditations.  Catherine DePino is the author of 22 books for parents, teachers and children on topics that include spirituality, mindfulness, bullying and women's issues. Her writings have also appeared in national magazines, and she served on the board of the Philadelphia Writers' Conference. Dr. DePino earned degrees in education plus a doctorate in Curriculum Theory and Development and Educational Administration from Temple University. She worked the Philadelphia School District as a teacher department head of English and world languages, disciplinarian and curriculum writer. She also returned to Temple as an adjunct assistant professor and student teaching supervisor. In addition, Dr. DePino is a professional tarot reader and Reiki Master.  You can find out more about her writings and activities at her website.

At a time when political and social discourse is fractured, beyond repair some may say, Pennsylvania's former Lt. Governor, Mark Singel offers wit, wisdom and guidance regarding events on the state and national levels. Seeking Truth in America is Singel's third book with Sunbury Press, and he discusses this collection of articles with host and founder Lawrence Knorr. These selected pieces are meant to provoke thought, and perhaps action, and Singel's desire for these was to make Pennsylvania and the nation a better place, and to pursue what the Founding Fathers called, "a more perfect union." A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Mark Singel was elected to the state Senate in 1980, and won the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor in 1986. He joined Governor Bob Casey, Sr. in Harrisburg and the pair won re-election in 1990. During their second term, Casey was diagnosed with a rare liver disorder, which forced Singel to step in and serve as Acting Governor between mid-June and mid-December, 1993. His experience was chronicled in A Year of Change and Consquences, his first book for Sunbury Press. Singel also discusses The Life and Loves of Thaddeus Stevens, a biography of the Pennsylvania Congressman who played a pivotal role in the Civil War period. 

Following the First World War, conflict between the United States and Japan was considered an inevitability. In an effort to protect vast expanses of US shoreline on two coasts, the Navy needed craft that could conduct surveillance and cover a lot of ground. Borrowing from German technology and the zeppelin, the Navy turned to the airship.  In Far Away Places: Vice Admiral Charles Emery Rosendahl and the Navy's Airship Program, Dr. M. Ernest Marshall documents the history of a time that saw great advances in aviation, but also the internal issues within the Navy Department. Using the unpublished, detailed memoir of Vice Admiral Rosendahl as a guide, Marshall brings this part of American history into focus. M. Ernest Marshall is an award-winning author and historian whose research examines the US Navy during the World Wars and the inter-war period. His book, Herbert V. Wiley, USN: A Career in Airships and Battleships has won the Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison Award for naval literature. He is also the author of That Night at Surigao: Life on a Battleship at War. 

Legend, fiction, and reality collide in the Dead Man Who Walks Away series, brought to the Milford House imprint of Sunbury Press Books. Author Herbert Dean Ely tells of the Peralta Mining Expedition in the mid-19th century and its annihilation, verified by the bones of men, horses, and mules in a place called "Massacre Ground." The story goes, however, that there was one survivor, who was assisted in a bar fight by Jacob Waltz. In gratitude, Waltz is shown what became known as the "Lost Dutchman Mine."  While fiction, Ely follows the trail and has determined that the above legend is the only one that makes sense, regarding the origin of the gold that came out of the mine. Ely examines the Peralta expedition, as well as the point of view of the Yavapai and Apache tribes.  Ely served in the US Air Force, including time within the Strategic Air Command--Underground. He later worked in management and executive positions in the cement and armored car/ATM industries. For the past 40 years, he has lived in Arizona near Superstition Mountain. This has resulted in his keen interest in legends of the Southwest US, and he is also one of the few who has located and indeed seen the Lost Dutchman Mine.

The topic of gun violence in the United States is a highly-charged and emotional issue. As part of an effort to discuss the issue, an eclectic group of award-winning authors come together to craft American Roulette, a novel that brings eight people to a mall food court, on a day they think will be like any other. The collaborative efforts of these writers takes a different tack to examine the tension, dread and action of a novel with the real-life question for all readers: could this happen to me or someone I love? Two Sunbury Press authors involved in the project join Sunbury Press founder and publisher Lawrence Knorr on this podcast to talk about the subject of gun violence, what brought them all together, and what they hope to accomplish with a book that garnered rave reviews from the outset. Sherry Knowlton is no stranger to the BookSpeak Network, as host of the Milford House mystery podcast, and the author of several mystery works, including the Alexa Williams series. Pat LaMarche is an author, political activist, historian and homeless shelter director. They are joined by Matthew Best, Robert Bradshaw, Andy Carey, James Dodds, Cheryl Dunn Bychek, Phyllis Orenyo, J.M. West and Cheryl Woodruff Brooks. All proceeds from this book will go to gun violence prevention, by way of the non-profit Charles Bruce Foundation.  Find out more about the book and its authors here.

Shawn McLain creates characters that are not always all-powerful, nor are they perfect. He works toward the relatable, even when delving into fantasy, horror and his other interests. In "Thorn," McLains kicks off a new series in which a young elf seeks adventure, but also, freedom in a world where elves and men are segregated due to prejudice. A chance meeting with a half-elf girl leads to a quest to stop an evil witch from world destruction. Through their interactions, acceptance is learned, as well as Magic, they must also consider a dark secret.  McLain draws on zombies, elves, trolls and a love for both Tolkien and Dungeons & Dragons for the worlds he has created. He joins Lawrence Knorr on the Sunbury Press Books Show to tell of "Thorn" and his other books, including "Respect the Dead" and the "Grey Girl" Trilogy. He writes promotional copy and materials for the Pennsylvania Cable Network.  

All Josh wants is to have one final weekend getaway with his high school buddies before they have to get serious about life. A spooky October camping trip in rural Appalachia fits the bill...what could possibly go wrong? Kyle Alexander Romines returns with the latest of his thriller series, "The Vengence of the Crows" on the Sunbury Press Books Show. Dr. Romines, we should say--a physician, winemaker and prolific author, Romines joins host Lawrence Knorr to discuss his series, which can be found on the Hellbender Books imprint. "The Keeper of the Crows" and "The Whispers of the Crows," like this new release tap into different elements of horror and suspense.  Kyle is the author of 15 books, which also include the western novel "Atonement," the "Tales of Fál" fantasy series, and standalone works that include "Thrall" and "Seeking to Devour." A practicioner of family medicine, he lives in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.   

Author Ronald T. Waldo returns to the Sunbury Press Books Show with the latest in a series of detailed looks back at the "Deadball Era" of baseball, in Days of Reckoning: Players Punching Their Ticket Out of Pittsburgh During the Barney Dreyfuss Era. The book focuses on the Pittsburgh Pirates and the years 1900 to 1932, during the ownership of Barney Dreyfuss. A powerhouse of the National League in the early 20th century, the Bucs were home to numerous players who would go on to the Baseball Hall of Fame, or at least became household names. Players such as Rube Waddell, "Happy Jack" Chesbro, Honus Wagner, "Rabbit" Maranville, Dick Bartell and many more are recalled in Waldo's work. Despite Dreyfuss being one of the more generous owners, many players found their way out of Pittsburgh, often due to issues with their boss. Waldo also talks about the early structure of Major League Baseball, and how the upstart American League made its own way to prominence. Waldo's first book, Fred Clarke: A Biography of the Baseball Hall of Fame Player/Manager was published in 2010. He also the author of Deadball Trailblazers: Single-Season Records of the Modern Era, which was a Modern Era finalist for the Larry Ritter Book Award. That work is talked about in length on a previous episode of this program.  Fans of baseball, history and especially the Pirates will most certainly enjoy Waldo's new book, available at Sunbury Press dot com. 

The life of Francis Kalnay is deconstructed by Katherine Fennelly in her new Sunbury Press work, "Family Declassified--Uncovering My Grandfather's Journey from Spy to Children's Book Author." Kalnay's tale sounds like something out of a John LeCarre or Ian Fleming novel--a Jewish Hungarian immigrant who arrived in the United States more than a century ago, he rose to become a top-level spy for the Allies during World War II. The charismatic, multilingual Kalnay led an elite espionage unit, had numerous affairs, and suffered the muder of his sister and nephew by Hungarian fascists (a matter he never spoke of). In 1954, Kalnay abandoned his family and fled to Mexico where he remade himself, as a designer of homes and an award-winning children's author. He is perhaps best known for the Newbery-Award-winning "Chucaro: Wild Pony of the Pampa" in 1959. The details of his secret life were buried in Office of Strategic Services (OSS) files, and unearthed by his granddaughter. Katherine Fennelly is Professor Emerita at the University of Minnesota. She has also served as dean of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, a faculty member and department head at Penn State University, and a faculty member of the Columbia University School of Public Health. Her research and outreach interests include the human rights of immigrants and refugees in the US, and the preparedness of communities and institutions to adapt to demographic changes. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Inspired by real events, author and educator Jon Volkmer takes readers back to his native Nebraska for his new novel, "Brave in Season." What happens when an African-American railroad crew is dropped off in a tiny, close-knit rural farm community? Will friction build up to an all-familiar tragedy, or will a game of baseball possibly inspire hope and understanding? On this episode of the Sunbury Press Books Show, Volkmer discusses his upbringing in Nebraska City, the changing of American railroads and the need to prepare them for the new diesel engines. He recounts how the small town of Julien was the backdrop for a fast-pitch softball game, and inspired his new work. Jon Volkmer is a professor of English at Ursinus College; his chance reading of Jack Kerouac sent him off on a hitch-hiking tour of the nation. He earned his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Colorado, an MA in Creative Writing from Denver University and his PhD in Literature from the University of Nebraska. His works include a Young Adult biography of baseball great Roberto Clemente, a collection of poetry involving grain elevators, and a travel work, "Eating Europe." His work has appeared in Commonweal, Cimarron Review, Maine Review and Prairie Schooner.  "Brave in Season" is available through Sunbury's Milford House Press imprint.  

The groundbreaking, and controversial work of educator Jane Elliott is one that continues to draw attention today. For more than five decades, Elliott put forth the question: What if, by eight years old, children could possess the mechanism to disrupt prejudicial tendencies? In "Shades of Brown: The Official Biography of Jane Elliott and the Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes Exercise," Todd Mealy examines the origins, use, and implications of her eye color exercise. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, Elliott set out to prove or disprove her case, first with elementary school students in her hometown of Riceville, Iowa, and later with adults in seminars of corporate, correctional, educational, and military personnel. The Blue Eyes, Brown Eyes role-playing concept was the way, Elliott discovered to mitigate inclinations of racism and prejudice and to teach the central lesson that we are one race. Todd Mealy is an adjunct professor of History at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and is also a teacher at McCaskey High School in Lancaster, PA. He has spent two decades teaching both History and Writing at schools in the Keystone State. He is also the founder and director of the National Institute for Customizing Education, and has written several books on education, race and history, including "Equity in the Classroom," "Legendary Locals of Harrisburg," and "Glenn Killinger, All-American." "Shades of Brown" is available through Sunbury's Oxford Southern Press imprint.

  "Life in Appalachia is like a kid standing in the center of a seesaw. It's a fragile balance, somewhere between the old world and the new, flat-broke or getting by, rooted in place or getting out. Sometimes, folks here lose footing, lean too far one way or another. If one end of the seesaw comes down hard, it knocks them right off. " This is a description of "In The Cut," Michael Lockett's new collection of tales released on Catamount Press. Stories of hardscrabble, everyday Appalachians are brought to life, as they struggle with rural life, its constrictions by place, religion, and a changing world. In this discussion with Lawrence Knorr, Lockett tells of the origins of these characters, sheds light on his Central Pennsylvania roots, and secures his spot as a storyteller from a unique section of the country. Michael Lockett graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Communication from Clarion University and has an MFA in Creative Writing from Carlow University. His stories have been published in the "Northern Appalachian Review," "Twisted Vine," "Matthew's Place" and "Quarter Press." He is also a 2022 nominee for the James Baldwin Literary Award. He lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Find out more about Michael at michaellockett-author.com  

One of the most talked about serial killers was the infamous Jack the Ripper, who terrorized the Whitechapel section of London from 1888 to 1891. At least eleven murders were attributed to the Ripper, who did not merely kill his victims, but mutilated and tortured them. The Ripper's identity has been the subject of speculation for over a century, and author Michael L. Hawley believes Scotland Yard had the suspect in their sights. Jack the Ripper Suspect Dr. Francis Tumblety is the result of Hawley's examination of more than 700 pages of never-before-seen sworn testimonies. The picture of Tumblety is one of an antisocial narcissist with a desire for exploitation, and within, evidence that he may well have been the killer. Michael L. Hawley is a retired aviator who achieved the rank of Commander in the US Navy. He holds a Masters degree in science from the State University of New York, College of Buffalo, a Bachelor's in geology and geophysics from Michigan State University and teaches secondary science education. His books include The Ripper's Haunts, Jack's Lantern and The Ripper's Hellbroth. He has appeared on the History Channel, the Travel Channel and NBC Radio's "House of Mystery" program.  

The coming of age of Annie Shea is documented in two novels by Caitlin Hicks. Set in 1963 California, "A Theory of Expanded Love" finds a young Annie, desperate for attention in a family of 13 kids, a military father and a strong Catholic faith. With the passing of Pope John XXIII, a family friend stands to be the first American to be his successor. Annie seizes the moment to create a web of lies, but then discovers a family's hidden secret, which they will keep at all costs. Annie's life takes a turn in "Kennedy Girl." Now seventeen, Annie stands to further break the mores of her family, through her crush with a black fellow student, Lucas Jones and her volunteering for the campaign of Robert F. Kennedy. The world comes crashing down for both Annie and Lucas with Kennedy's assassination--later joined by Annie's brother, the three head for the Canadian border, where the latter's own secrets are uncovered, and Annie must sort out a changing world and what it all means for her. An author and actress, Caitlin Hicks drew on her own upbringing for Annie and the cast of characters in these two works. First released in 2015, "A Theory..." won awards from the likes of Forward Indies and iTunes for Best New Fiction. Her writing has appeared in newspapers such as the Vancouver Sun, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle and Milwaukee Journal Sentiel, plus Atlantic Canada's International literary journal, The Fiddlehead. She lives in British Columbia.