BookSpeak Network

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.

Brian George has drawn on his experiences (both in and out of body) for his poetry and essays. A collection of the latter form his book, Masks of Origin: Regression in the Service of Omnipotence, on Untimely Books. Stories, examinations of faith and spirituality, philosophy, and visual works show a unique take on our world. George discusses the pushing of boundaries, including time and space, and how our experiences, though perhaps negative or even traumatic, may well open doors to discovery.As part of his appearance on The Brown Posey Press Show, George reads selections of his works, drawing the listener (as it has the reader) into a deeper look at the author, and perhaps ourselves.Brian George grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a Massachusetts College of Art graduate and is an exhibitor and educator. George has published works of poetry and essays (with more to come) and is editor of the Metapsychosis Journal. He lives in Boston.

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 Holly Garner and Stephanie Miller team return to the Sunbury Press Books Show to discuss their new series of children's books, designed to help kids navigate difficult times. Best known for the engaging books "Letters to Leo" and "More Letters to Leo," they return with the Emotional Monster series on Speckled Egg Press.The first two of these, "Why is Frustrated so Frustrated?" and "Why is Sad so Sad?" are designed in words and pictures to help young people become aware of these emotions and how to deal with them. The pairing of Garner and Miller is natural, as they both work at the Grace B. Luhrs Elementary School in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Holly Garner has been an educator for over 30 years, the principal of Luhrs, a teacher and reading specialist. Stephanie Miller has more than 25 years of experience, teaches third grade at Luhrs, and has brought her artistic skills to the team.Another new release is Stuck! A hilarious tale of a hockey goalie stuck in his net, this tale teaches the value of teamwork.

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.

Murial Robertson is a rebellious woman of the late 19th century but has to keep a fair amount of that under wraps. Attached to the security detail of her Senator father, Murial longs to break from his grip, yet must also protect him. When her father is threatened by an unknown stalker known as "The Serpent," it is up to Murial to discover his identity. Aided by her cousin Walter and a lawman named Jack, Murial begins an odyssey of intrigue, action and self-discovery in the novella "The Serpent's Star."Author and artist Sarah Ickes has brought Murial to life, spurred by her interest in art, history, westerns, Steampunk and suspense. She discusses these and future works on the Brown Posey Press Show. A graduate of Harrisburg Area Community College, Ickes can be found at area events, on social media and at her website. Sarah lives in Newville, Pennsylvania.