A special "Black Friday" sale is going on now of a limited number of selected books on my Etsy site. The following paperback books will be half-price through Monday, November 30th.
Myths of the Modern Man
The Current Rate of Exchange
Beside the Still Waters
Meet Me in Nuthatch
All three of my mystery series:
Cadmium Yellow, Blood Red
Speak Out Before You Die
Dismount and Murder
And my book on the career of Ann Blyth - Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. will be ten dollars off - selling for this limited period at $15.
You may pay by credit card, PayPal, or check on the Etsy website. If you wish a signed copy, please leave instructions when you check out.
My Etsy site is called Lynch Twins Publishing - and you can find it at this link. Print books at only this site are eligible, and there is a very limited number being offered, so make your purchase early before they run out. Only a few copies are available.
Thanks, and Happy Holidays!
Friday, November 27, 2015
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Talk and book signing in Wilbraham, Massachusetts
On this Thursday, November 19th, I'll be speaking at the Wilbraham Senior Center, 45B Post Office Park, Wilbraham, Massachusetts at 1:30 p.m. on my book Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star. I'll bring some movie memorabilia from Ann's career, and will have books available for sale and signing. I'm looking forward to meeting all the Ann Blyth fans at the book club!
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Veteran's Day - Edward Borucki's battle stations - Holyoke, Massachusetts
About three weeks ago, one of New England's last remaining survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor died. We note Veteran's Day tomorrow by recalling the experience of one man, who spent the rest of his life representing the experience of many on that terrible day.
His name was Edward F. Borucki, and he grew up in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He had enlisted in the Navy in July 1940, and on December 7, 1941, the "day of infamy," he was stationed on the light cruiser USS Helena, moored in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, that Sunday morning. He was twenty-one years old. The week before he had sent his mother presents for Christmas.
Third Class Yeoman Borucki rose at 7:45 a.m., and was issuing passes for Sunday liberty, when ten minutes later the general alarm sounded the Japanese attack. He recalled for the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican, published December 6, 2013, his memory of what happened after the general alarm:
I dashed to my battle station, forward battle dressing and damage control on the first deck. I was knocked against a bulkhead as soon as I got there by the force of the aerial torpedo that hit the forward engine room. We shut the water-tight doors and valves while hearing the five-inch anti-aircraft guns, machine guns and bombs being dropped. I was saved by a mere 30 seconds.
We were below deck and could not see the action. After two hours, the "all clear" sounded and we proceeded to the area of the forward engine room where we saw the oil-stained, blackened bodies of the 33 shipmates killed plus many others wounded.
We proceeded to carry out the dead and injured up the ladders to the main deck and to the gang plank to shore and the waiting ambulances and vehicles to carry the dead and wounded to the hospitals."
His hometown paper, the Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram the next day, Monday, December 8th, published his photo, as you see here, with a short bio that reads like an obituary. For some families, it would be weeks before they knew if their loves ones stationed there were living or dead. The ambiguous last sentence begins, "Borucki will be remembered..."
Edward Borucki survived and returned home in February 1942. He spent the rest of his life remembering those who were killed and he attended many commemorations through several decades. He was 94 years old when he died in the Holyoke Soldiers Home.
His name was Edward F. Borucki, and he grew up in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He had enlisted in the Navy in July 1940, and on December 7, 1941, the "day of infamy," he was stationed on the light cruiser USS Helena, moored in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, that Sunday morning. He was twenty-one years old. The week before he had sent his mother presents for Christmas.
Third Class Yeoman Borucki rose at 7:45 a.m., and was issuing passes for Sunday liberty, when ten minutes later the general alarm sounded the Japanese attack. He recalled for the Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican, published December 6, 2013, his memory of what happened after the general alarm:
I dashed to my battle station, forward battle dressing and damage control on the first deck. I was knocked against a bulkhead as soon as I got there by the force of the aerial torpedo that hit the forward engine room. We shut the water-tight doors and valves while hearing the five-inch anti-aircraft guns, machine guns and bombs being dropped. I was saved by a mere 30 seconds.
We were below deck and could not see the action. After two hours, the "all clear" sounded and we proceeded to the area of the forward engine room where we saw the oil-stained, blackened bodies of the 33 shipmates killed plus many others wounded.
We proceeded to carry out the dead and injured up the ladders to the main deck and to the gang plank to shore and the waiting ambulances and vehicles to carry the dead and wounded to the hospitals."
His hometown paper, the Holyoke Daily Transcript and Telegram the next day, Monday, December 8th, published his photo, as you see here, with a short bio that reads like an obituary. For some families, it would be weeks before they knew if their loves ones stationed there were living or dead. The ambiguous last sentence begins, "Borucki will be remembered..."
Edward Borucki survived and returned home in February 1942. He spent the rest of his life remembering those who were killed and he attended many commemorations through several decades. He was 94 years old when he died in the Holyoke Soldiers Home.
Tuesday, November 3, 2015
WHITE CHRISTMAS on Stage in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The Ogunquit Playhouse is presenting a special Christmas show at the Musical Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
White Christmas, an old movie favorite, has now become a new stage yuletide tradition. From the press release:
Building on the great partnership with the Music Hall in Portsmouth, the Ogunquit Playhouse will once again produce a holiday show for the historic theatre. The Irving Berlin classic White Christmas will be presented just in time for the holidays from December 9 to 20. Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features seventeen Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. Veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis have a successful song-and-dance act after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow two beautiful singing sisters to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former army commander. The dazzling score features well-known standards including “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and the perennial favorite, “White Christmas.”Parental Guidelines: G - Suitable for all ages. (There is no official rating system for live theatre. We encourage you to use your judgment based on your child's age and maturity level.)
Buy tickets at the theater website, or call the Music Hall at (603) 436-2400 or in person at the Music Hall, 28 Chestnut St, Portsmouth, NH 03801
Show Dates and Times
December 9 - 20
| Wed, December 9 | 7:30 PM | |
| Thu, December 10 | 2:00 PM | |
| Thu, December 10 | 7:30 PM | |
| Fri, December 11 | 7:30 PM | |
| Sat, December 12 | 2:00 PM | |
| Sat, December 12 | 7:00 PM | |
| Sun, December 13 | 12:00 PM | |
| Sun, December 13 | 4:30 PM | |
| Tue, December 15 | 7:30 PM | |
| Wed, December 16 | 7:30 PM | |
| Thu, December 17 | 7:30 PM | |
| Fri, December 18 | 7:30 PM | |
| Sat, December 19 | 2:00 PM | |
| Sat, December 19 | 7:00 PM | |
| Sun, December 20 | 12:00 PM | |
| Sun, December 20 | 4:30 PM |