BookSpeak Network

As Alzheimer's Disease robs Elizabeth Bodien's brother Pete of his ability to speak, she finds she can still communicate with him, even after he has passed on. How is this possible? Elizabeth Bodien appears on the Sunbury Press Books Show to discuss her relationship with her brother, which travels beyond the physical plane in "Bigger Pete: Conversations Between Life and Afterlife," released on the Ars Metaphysica imprint. She talks of how her brother dealt with Down Syndrome and did not allow this to dictate his life. In his later years as his health failed, Elizabeth was able to communicate with Pete while he slept through a process known as "automatic writing." Bigger Pete became his higher self, and these talks continued for another eight years after he passed. Their story resonates with those who have family that suffered from Alzheimer's, and especially caregivers in the final years of life. Elizabeth grew up in the "burned-over" district of Western New York. Her education and travels took her around the world with the International School of America, and she earned a degree in cultural anthropology from the University of California. Her graduate work brought degrees in consciousness studies from John F. Kennedy University and phenomenology of religion from the Graduate Theological Union. She also taught English in Japan, was a childbirth instructor in West Africa, an organic farmer in Oregon, and a Montessori teacher. Post-retirement, she earned an MFA in poetry from Western Colorado State. Elizabeth is also the author of two books of poetry, "Blood, Metal, Fiber, Rock" and "Oblique Music: A Book of Hours" plus other works. She lives near Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania.

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.

Conventions, large and small bring together creatives and fans like nothing else. Returning to Aurora, Ohio after a two-year absence due to the pandemic, Cleveland Concoction, aka CleCon, assembled authors, creators, cosplayers, gamers, and performers that crossed all boundaries and provided three days of entertainment, education, and fun. BPP Show host Tory Gates made his second appearance at CleCon, and while promoting his books, including all three volumes of the Sweet Dreams Series, was able to speak with many of his fellows about their work, their influences and inspirations, and just why they do it. These brief, shoot-style interviews include former guests such as Olivia Berrier, Jason Lady and Marcus Cook. We also hear from Vik K. Walker, Weston Kincade, Marcus Calvert, and musical guests Camille and Kennerly, also known as The Harp Twins. The purpose of this program is to take you inside the convention, give you an idea of the activity, and also show that no matter what an artist practices, the ways and means are different for each person. We hope you will find a new friend to read or listen to through this program, and as we all hope, you come along on our journey. Check out www.clevelandconcoction.org for updates, and what's coming in 2024! *This program is dedicated to the memory of Dan R. Arman, who left us on May 19, 2023. I got to speak with Dan and his widow Mary at CleCon. They were a delight to speak with, and we remember a great talent and a fine man. TG

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.

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.