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In a tale of love and marriage looked down upon by early 20th century mores, Anna, a middle class English girl elopes with Charles, a Greek immigrant as they set off to build a life together. Making their way to Boston, their lives are pulled apart in 1913. Stricken with tuberculosis, Charles is sent off to a sanitarium, leaving Anna and their child to fend for themselves.Anna must face being ostracized from the Greek community and keeping herself alive, while Charles considers his predicament and his efforts to get back to Anna. Can they get get back together? Are they still a family, and is all they've sacrificed been worth it?"The Immigrant's Wife" is J.B. Harris' debut novel; her short ficton has appeared in the Boston Literary Journal, the Beacon Street Review and Puckerbrush Review. Harris was a finalist for the 2022 Hal Prize in Fiction and the WOW Spring 22 Flash Fiction Contest. She lives in Massachusetts with her family.

The sister of author Nathaniel Hawthorne drowns in 1852...but was it an accident?Hawthorne's cousin, John Stephens Dike has left Massachusetts for Ohio and is a successful businessman. A traumatic past long behind him is brought back in 1883, through a bequest from his cousin, Elizabeth Hawthorne.Within this, a collection of papers reveals a love affair between his father, the late John Dike and Hawthorne's younger sister, Louisa. They also raise disturbing questions surrounding Louisa's death by drowning in the 1852 Henry Clay  steamship disaster, all of which point to something more sinister.Dike's own recollections of Louisa, the woman's diaries, and letters to a clergyman detailing revenge send John Stephen on a quest to find out what happened, and to attain some justice. On the way, he must come to terms with his past, his wicked stepmother, and what more he may find in "The Hawthorne Inheritance."Kate Dike Blair goes into the history of her Hawthorne cousins and pays tribute in her new novel, which she discusses with Lawrence Knorr. A cousin by marriage to Nathaniel Hawthrone, she discovered her late father's reserach on their ancestors, which led to this novel.Kate grew up in Middlebury, Vermont. Her father was owner of the Vermont Book Shop (among his best customers was a fellow named Robert Frost), and she clerked there wil earning a Diploma in Theater Arts from the Wykeham Rise School, and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Boston University. She has also a certificate in Medical assisting, and helped found the consulting firm, Health Resarch Associates in 1983.An actor who has appeared in theater, film and television, Kate lives in Concord, Massachusetts.

The story of four brothers, bound for America from Sicily in the early 1900s is told through the eyes of one, and in a series of short stories, poetry and prose in "Final Touchstones."In her Sunbury Press debut, author Linda Romanowski tells of her maternal grandfather and his journey, from the age of three onward, about his experiences in the New World and the decision he took that would shape his life and that of his family. Those formative years are told in three parts, and dicuss what Italian (and other) immigrants faced as the 20th century began and that search for a better life.A graduate of the 2021 Rosemont College MFA Program with a Graduate in Creative Writing (Non-Fiction), Romanowski is also a winner of the college President's Medal and served a term aspresident of the institution's Alumni Board. She is a contributing feature writer for The City Key, sumibssion reader for Philadelphia Stories, and a former assistant editor of Rathalla. She lives in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Leo is a dog full of kindness, wisdom and helpful advice. "Letters from Leo" is a series of friendly letters between Leo and kids who are dealing with difficult situations, such as loss, divorce and the issues that are sometimes very hard for children to process. Leo's responses involve practical strategies to help children thrive and cope with the numerous challenges involved in growing up.Leo's work comes through his human, Author Holly Garner, who has worked as an educator for more than 30 years. Her work as a teacher, reading specialist and elementary school principal (not to mention the mother of three sons) all helped develop her desire to implement social-emotional learning in schools. She is the Director of the Grace B. Luhrs Elementary Lab School in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, as well as an Assistant Professor at Shippensburg University. Illustrator Steph Miller teaches 3rd grade at the Luhrs School; she has a degree in Elementary Education from "The Ship." "Letters from Leo" is published through the Speckled Egg imprint of Sunbury Press Books. Any teacher, counselor, administrator or family member looking to help kids through life's trials will find this book a meaningful and valuable resource.

A recent acquisition by our Milford House Press imprint, J.B. Manheim brings the murky past of old-time baseball to life in "The Federal Case," the latest release in The Deadball Files series.Over a century ago, Major League Baseball and the upstart Federal League were embroiled in a legal dispute. An ancient legal document falls into the hands of night-schooled lawyer Andy Dennum, which pits him against baseball's establishment, the firm that hired him, and a mystery out of his own past. At state is the viability of baseball's business model, and Andy's career. "You win some, you lose some. Some get rained out."Sunbury Press Books welcomes J.B. Manheim to the program, and Milford House will re-release his previous series of works, "This Never Happened," "Doubleday Doubletake," and "The Gamekeepers."Professor Emeritus at George Washington University, J.B. Manheim developed the world's first degree-granting program in Political Communication, and was founding director of the School of Media & Public Affairs. His love of baseball began watching Dizzy Dean on the Game of the Week, and watching games at Cleveland Municipal Stadium with his grandfather. Manheim is also a member of the Society for American Baseball Research, the Internet Baseball Writers Assocation of America and the Authors Guild.

The independent Peschel Press is the work of the husband-and-wife team Bill and Teresa Peschel, who provide familiar tales of mystery, updates, reviews and examinations of our most iconic mystery authors. Combining a love of mystery, editing and research skills, the Peschels offer annotated, researched and in-depth examinations of the works of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers. A further tack taken: "Agatha Christie, She Watched" covers more than 200 Christie films, reviewed by the Peschels, the good, the bad, and the terrible. When you see one pop up on TV, this book is a go-to resource.In addition, the most recognized detective in the world, Sherlock Holmes, as seen through the eyes of other authors. Fan fiction that doesn't always paint Holmes as the great detective comes to life in "Pastches," articles and short stories by fans (and detractors) of Arthur Conan Doyle. These tales are carefully collected, edited and translated for a series of works that grants Holmes fans something they may never have known about.Bill Peschel has also brought us "Writers Gone Wild," a chronicle of the real-life escapades of famous authors! Familiar names abound--what did Dashiell Hammett do to break up a relationship? Why did Sylvia Plath bite Ted Hughes' ear at their first meeting? What other japes, legal and otherwise took place?Under her pen name Odessa Moon, Teresa takes us to the Red Planet for the Steppes of Mars Series. The planet is not what it seems, and the series tracks life in the wasteland, those of privilege, and the decisions made that put our principals here.Meeting in the underground lair in Chocolatetown, PA, Tory Gates takes us on a fun, informative and personal look. Find out more at PeschelPress.com

Nancy Rhodes has served the Arts as an administrator, director, educator and writer. The founding director of Encompass New Opera Theatre, she has staged plays, musicals and operas across the US, Europe and Asia, with performances that include the world premiere of "Tartuffe" for San Francisco Opera, and Virgil Thomson's "Lord Byron" at Alice Tully Hall. Rhodes has also served as Vice President/US Delegate to the International Theatre Institute, and taught Acting for Singer at Manhattan School of Music.A trip to Ephesus led today's guest on the Sunbury Press Books Show into a metaphysical experience: the mother of Jesus is said to have lived in what is now Turkey after her son's death. While visiting Mary's home, Rhodes was asked by Mary to tell her story.Over a ten-year period, Mary told Rhodes her own story, of a lonely childhood, violence against her at the hands of her father, Joseph's devotion and how he saved his family. This interview with Lawrence Knorr discusses Rhodes' ongoing career, and the experience and process that led to the telling of "Mary's Story."

The Connor Stark novel series continues with "The Philippine Pact." Stark's private security firm is training elements of the Philippine Navy on a remote island, when terrorists take control to help China establish a foothold inth Western Pacific. Their only obstacle: Stark and his team.In a tale that reflects current events, Dr. Claude Berube brings his hero back for the third novel of the series, and discusses "The Philippine Pact" on the Sunbury Press Books Show. His work as a Naval historian informs the series. Berube has also written "On Wide Seas: The US Navy in the Jacksonian Era" and is the author of dozens of articles.Berube has held the rank of Commander in the Navy Reserve, worked at the Office of Naval Intelligence, the US Senate and served as an instructor at the US Naval Academy, where his courses included Naval History, American Government, Intelligence & National Security and Terrorism. In addition, Berube served as a LEGIS fellow with the Brookings Institution and a Maritime Security Studies fellow with the Heritage Foundation.

Novel Guys Brian Koscienski and Jeff Young, joined by Brian's wife, Christine Czachur gather at the hidden spot somewhere in Central Pennsylvania for the third installment of Random Randomness! In this episode the gang discuss "Nor Shapes of Men," a new release on the Hellbender Books imprint of Sunbury Press. The random number of 1,977 soon makes sense as Star Wars is recalled by the hosts. Then the tradition of Random Beer tasting continues as the critical taste test and review is offered of Safe Word Beer, a Triple IPA from Free Will Brewing (NOT a sponsor of this program, by the way). The reactions must be heard to be believed.We are introduced to Australia's contribution to the Random Animal segment: the Quokka is discussed, including its habits and behaviors, which undoubtedly will shock you. The debate of the efficacy of Artificial Intelligence is also examined, as the producer must decide whether the Random Haiku is human, or AI, along with a reading from "Mayhem Menagerie."The zaniest episode yet of Random Randomness is here, on the BookSpeak Network.

Sal Maggio brings his many years of service in law enforcement to life in his autobiography, "The Life of a New Jersey Road Trooper," on the Sunbury Press Books Show. Told in an understated yet forthright manner, Maggio discusses his 19 years as a Trooper and Road Sergeant with Lawrence Knorr, along with his years as a supervisor and manager. In this book, Maggio brings to life many of his experiences on the road, including a car chase, and a cross-border run into Pennsylvania to get back a stolen ring. Maggio also provides insight into how troopers approached their job, how to handle traffic stops, and when to use "discretion" in certain cases. He further informs us on the differences between being a law enforcement officer then and now. Equally interesting: certain speeding vehicles were not always captured on radar, and (whether fair or not) how some cars just stood out for troopers.Praised by peers as a "Trooper's Trooper," Sal Maggio dropped out of college to join the New Jersey Army National Guard. He later graduated from the NJ State Police Academy and rose to the rank of captain, commanding Troop B, in charge of eight stations and 350 troopers. He also worked for several years as a private investigator. Now retired, he still lives in New Jersey.