Intoxicated Indians dance for naturalist John Bartram

The Quill of Tacitus Book Blog

SUNBURY, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released John L. Moore’s Traders, Travelers, and Tomahawks, the second of eight volumes in the Frontier Pennsylvania series.

About the Book:
As he traveled across the Pennsylvania Frontier in 1743, naturalist John Bartram didn’t know what to expect when he accepted an invitation to spend the night in the cabin of a white man who traded goods for furs with the Indians. The cabin was near the native town of Shamokin (present-day Sunbury) along the Susquehanna River. “About midnight, the Indians came and called up him and his squaw,” Bartram wrote later. “She sold the Indians rum. … Being quickly intoxicated, men and women began first to sing and then dance round the fire.”

Bartram is one of many early Pennsylvanians that people this colorful non-fiction work. Others include Conrad Weiser, the Pennsylvania Colony’s Indian agent; William Penn, the colony’s visionary founder;Madame Montour…

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Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released Beth Lancione’s Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos. The book was illustrated by Kathy Haney.

About the Book:
In the second of Solomon Screech Owl’s stories, Sollie travels, with help from some whales, to the Galapagos Islands, where he meets birds that seem very different from himself. As he gets to know them better, he comes to understand that they all have more in common than he first thought.

About the Author & Illustrator:
Beth and Kathy, with their husbands Mel Lancione and Gary Haney, visited the Galapagos Islands in 2005 and saw, at very close range, all of the fascinating creatures that Sollie encounters in this book.

Beth says, “A fellow traveler once told me, ‘If you go only one place in your life, go to Galapagos.’ I agree. I’ve been to many other places, but Galapagos is my favorite. I definitely wanted to show Sollie, and all of our readers, the wonders of these special, unique islands.”

Kathy says, “The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the earth’s unique birds and animals. There are few places in the world where you can have an upclose and personal interaction with wild creatures.

The Blue-Footed Boobies captured our imaginations, along with the iguanas, tortoises, and many other birds. We want to share our love of Galapagos with you.”

Solomon Screech Owl Goes to the Galapagos
Authored by Beth Lancione, Illustrated by Kathy Haney
List Price: $19.95
8.5″ x 8.5″ Hardcover
Color on White paper
34 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620065211
BISAC: Childrens / Adventure

For more information, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Solomon-Screech-Owl-Goes…. 

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EXCLUSIVE : Shining the Spotlight on SUPERNATURAL’s Ruth Connell

From Seat 42F by TIFFANY VOGT ON NOVEMBER 25, 2014

While new to American audiences, Ruth Connell is about to cast a spell a whole new fan base as she makes her big debut on SUPERNATURAL this season.  Briefly introduced in the episode “Soul Survivor,” Ruth returns in the upcoming November 25th episode entitled, “Girls, Girls, Girls.”  So look for her to stir up some trouble for the Winchester boys while turning few heads and perhaps turn up the heat in more ways than one.

In an exclusive interview, Ruth talked about how much fun it is working on the long-running adventure series that explores the dark side of Heaven and Hell.

What can you share about your particularly bewitching character on SUPERNATURAL?
RUTH:  I play Rowena and I can definitely tell you that she is a witch, and I don’t know what else I can say.  There is such a sense of mystery about the show and I am under such strong warnings about spoilers!  I will say that Tuesday’s episode has a great surprise in it and you may be seeing more of me after that. So that is about as much as I can say.

So what drew you to the role?  What interested you in it?
RUTH:  My friend actually emailed me the breakdown of the character and it had everything I was looking for in a role.  It just sounded incredible.  Rowena is feisty and she’s definitely nobody’s doormat.  She is a woman who knows what she wants.  I wish I had some her balls!

For you, what has been so far the most fun working on the show?
RUTH:  (Laughs) Honestly, everything about this job has just been a dream — from the casting process to appearing in scenes and that includes the gentleman that picks you up at the airport in Vancouver to the guy in craft services, Mike Campbell who is also of Scottish descent.  Everything about the job has just been so wonderful.  People talk about the SPN family and it really does feel like I’ve landed in something just wonderful.  It’s my first American TV show and I am completely aware of how lucky I am to have landed in the SPN family.  It is everything people would think it would be.  It’s just wonderful.

SUPERNATURAL is also known to be a boys’ club and they like to have a little fun and they pull pranks on each other.  Are they pulling you into the prank world yet?
RUTH:  I think they have been quite gentle with me so far.  I have seen Jared, Jensen, Mark and Misha on set and they just bring such amazing energy.  It is incredible to think they all have been doing [the show]and how fresh they are and how much fun energy they do bring.  They bring such a sense of enjoyment and naughtiness, I think.  (Laughs)  And they’ve got a twinkle in their eye.  It’s great fun.

What was it like working on your first episode of the show?
RUTH:  For my first episode, Jensen directed it and he is just the loveliest man. He is so kind and so patient.  It was an amazing first experience working on SUPERNATURAL and it was great to be directed by him.  I had been watching as many episodes of SUPERNATURAL that I possibly could, and then when I got there, he is so boyish and so young in real life.  I was like, “Oh my goodness!  How am I supposed to do this show with him?!”  He is so youthful and looks so young!

They all clearly have so much fun on the show and that probably helps keep their youthfulness alive in them a bit.
RUTH: Yeah.  They are all great friends in real life.  Though I have to say, it comes from higher up than that.  Everyone I’ve met on the show has a real sense of enjoyment.  I was also lucky enough to be invited to the 200th episode party that they had in Vancouver and that was amazing.  I ended up dancing barefoot with Felicia Day.  I keep pinching myself.  I am so lucky to be in the show and to have the warm reception that I had from everyone.  It is amazing.

Working on a show like SUPERNATURAL, they have really outrageous characters and stories.  Does that kind of throw you for a loop or do you just kind of roll with it?
RUTH:  The second script I got, I was working with Bob Singer on set and I was like, “I can’t believe what I’ve got to say in the next episode!”  I felt like I had a good idea of what was the character, then they surprised me.  I have something quite outrageous to say in the episode coming up.  I was thrilled.  I’ve done a lot of theater and the more extreme the character, the better.  That’s where I’m most comfortable.  And I was shocked.  I can’t wait to see how the fans react to a couple of things that are said and done by my character.

Sounds like it is a dream come true for you to play a character that is so completely different than who you are.
RUTH:  Yeah, definitely.  Last year, I did a play in L.A.  with Noah Wyle and Daniel Henning.  I ended up playing Mrs. Darling and Captain Hook.  Captain Hook is the most outrageous character that there is and to be a woman playing that, it was another amazing experience.  I think playing that kind of role definitely prepared me for Rowena and the flavor and essence of SUPERNATURAL.  It is larger than life and epic and fun all at the same time.

Gosh, do you ever get worried when you get cast in this characters, “What do they see in me that is not really there?”
RUTH:  (Laughs) Yes!  What are they seeing?  Is it a diabolicalness? But I definitely think I have caches of fun that I bring and I think it is interesting to go to really dark places. So I think that suits SUPERNATURAL really well.  There is plenty of serious stuff, but they always keep their tongue in their cheek.  That really appeals to me.  Even the style of the show, I thought to myself, “This is so up my alley.”

So you hope to be playing Rowena for some time to come.  Sounds like a fun role for you.
RUTH:  I would happily go on and on and on if they would have me.  As an actor, I look to people like Tommy Flanagan — who is another Scottish actor  — and that’s kind of why I got into the business and what I dream to do in that style of movie and roles — to do something completely opposite, a real contrast.

If you could sit down with Rowena, what would you like to tell her?  What kind of advice would you give her?
RUTH:  You know what?  I think she’s pretty sorted.  I wish I had some of her confidence and her balls.  There is a saying in Scotland, “keep the heid.”  It’s like, “keep your head screwed on.”  That might be my one piece of advice to Rowena.

How would you generally describe what is coming up for Rowena on the show?
RUTH:  I would say quite a bit of surprise.  It was a surprise to me.  There’s definitely scope for Rowena to impact more than one of the main characters. Her actions definitely have a long range effect.

Is it even possible to think that she may have a romantic interest, or is that the farthest thing from her mind?
RUTH:  (Laughs) I’ve read some of the fan stuff.  The fans are amazingly perceptive, like the clips for the episode where I was introduced — all the stuff about the entity inside me and there was an orange rose in the vase — and I was like, “Wow!”  I had been so busy concentrating on not knocking my glass of whiskey over.  So they noticed more than I did and I was on the set!  So, you know, Rowena is a woman. She could be open. So she might be open to some male admiration.

Is SUPERNATURAL the only thing you are working on at the moment or is there something else you’re working on?
RUTH:  I just shot a DOGMA-style movie a couple of weeks ago, called “Hara-Kiri” with a friend of mine, Henry Alberto, who was in a play I did last year.  That is opposite in the spectrum.  No make-up, no lighting.  It’s got a serious subject matter.  It’s interesting because I discovered a bottle of vodka on set and you can use what the character would use and by the forth take the vodka was influencing my acting.  So that was a learning curve.  (Laughs)  And I did another film at the beginning of the year called “The Cursed Man,” from an occult novel (by Keith Rommel) and that is in post right now.  I also do quite a bit of voice-over work as well.  I can voice-match and I’m not allowed to say what individual characters I do, but there’s one character that is so full of life and she’s great fun to do.  That was my first really cool job in America.  It’s fun to be in America and be able to use my own voice, which is an unexpected treat.  It is so great that it happening more and more.

Sounds like you’ve had a busy year and hopefully we will see more of you this next year too.
RUTH:  Yeah, I’ve been working hard for a long time in the business and I’ve nearly been there to break-out a few times.  Like I was cast as a series regular in London before I came here and then the show didn’t go.  So I came here and I knew one person in L.A. and I’ve kind of done it from scratch.  So it hasn’t been too fast.  It’s been a couple years.  But I’ve been working hard.  I’ve actually  been on stage since I was 4 years old.  So now everything seems to be rolling out and I’m so ready for it — and so grateful for it and relishing it because I know the other side of it.  I know what is is like to be nearly there and it is not quite happening.  So to be in a show like SUPERNATURAL, with such an amazing following around the world, it is everything I could have hoped for.  I’m also going to my first SUPERNATURAL convention and so I’m going to meet the fans face-to-face next year.  I’m excited about that.  It will be fun.

To see just who Rowena may be tempting and torturing this week, be sure to tune for an all new episode of SUPERNATURAL on Tuesday, November 25th at 9:00 p.m. on the CW.

The Cursed Man

Authored by Keith Rommel

List Price: $14.95

5″ x 8″ (12.7 x 20.32 cm)
Black & White on White paper
222 pages

Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620063682
ISBN-10: 1620063689
BISAC: Fiction / Thrillers / General

For more information, please see:

http://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Cursed-Man-PAPERBACK-9781620063682.htm

 

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Solomon Screech Owl’s world tour begins with “First Flight”

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released Beth Lancione’sSolomon Screech Owl’s First Flight. The book was illustrated by Kathy Haney.

About the Book:
Soar with Solomon Screech Owl as he takes hisFirst Flight on a grand adventure. This inquisitive, feisty little bird is sure that there must be a big world beyond his tree branch, and he sets out, with the help of some other species, on a quest to see all that this world has to show him.

About the Author & Illustrator:

Beth Lancione, of Etters, PA, retired from a long career in public education and began what she hopes will be a long second career as an author of children’s books. The Solomon Screech Owl stories, conceived as an eight book series in which Sollie will visit the seven continents in his quest to see all that the world has to show him, was inspired by Beth’s love for her grandchildren, her enjoyment of adventurous travel, and her experiences working with owls as a volunteer at a rescue facility for injured birds of prey.

Kathy Haney, a retired high school art teacher, resides in Salem, Oregon. She is an active award-winning artist, creating drawings and watercolor paintings, designing posters, and illustrating books. An area of special interest for her is early childhood literacy, having taught young parents the value of reading to their infants, volunteering in Guatemala’s efforts to increase literacy in indigenous peoples, and proudly being the first person to read a book to her grandchildren. Kathy and her husband, Gary, love to travel, and much of her artwork reflects the peoples and cultures they encountered. She is excited to share the adventure of travel with Solomon’s readers.

Beth and Kathy have been friends since high school. The Solomon Screech Owl series is their first literary collaboration.

Solomon Screech Owl’s First Flight
Authored by Beth Lancione, Illustrated by Kathy Haney
List Price: $19.95
8.5″ x 8.5″ Hardcover
Color on White paper
26 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620065204
BISAC: Childrens / Adventure

For more information, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Solomon-Screech-Owls-Fir…

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Lee Harvey Oswald Innocent!

Dallas, TX — Since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, three theories have been forwaded as the involvement of Lee Harvey Oswald: that he was a lone assassin, as the Warren Commission claimed; that Oswald was a part of a vast, complex conspiracy to kill the sitting president, as those who reject the Warren report insist; and, finally, that Oswald was not involved, either singly or collectively, in what went down that day in Dallas. The greatest stumbling block to the latter has to do with hard, cold evidence: Not only was Oswald located on the sixth floor of the book depository that day; he absolutely carried a rifle with telescopic sight and fired it out the window. How could it be remotely possible, then, that Oswald was completely innocent as to JFK’s murder?

In his latest iconoclastic work, prolific writer DOUGLAS BRODE presents a detailed argument as to the theory of innocence, taking into account one of Oswald’s final statements–“I’m a Patsy!”–proceeding from there to trace this unique man’s entire life. Such materials are juxtaposed throughout the book with larger, greater world events that, when viewed from a contrarian perspective, may shed light on who actually wanted Kennedy dead and why. This non-fiction novel is written in the style of an imaginative work, yet events detailed here remain true to fact. As Brode reveals, we can precisely know what Oswald did and said that day, but what actually went on in his, or any person’s, mind can never be fully reclaimed from history, therefore reconstructed here in a freely creative manner to offer “a truth,” if not “the truth,” as to what may have actually happened fifty years ago, and why.

Excerpt from Douglas Brode’s book Patsy:

“I’m a patsy … A patsy!”

—Lee Harvey Oswald, November 24, 1963; 11:21 A.M.

As he returned, albeit briefly, to a state of semi-consciousness, Lee Harvey Oswald, age 24 and with less than ten minutes left to live, vaguely recalled saying those words into a TV camera. He couldn’t be certain as to when. Minutes ago? Perhaps. Years, maybe. A lifetime earlier or a split-second, if the concept called ‘time’ existed, something Lee had long since come to doubt.

Once those words were out, everything had suddenly gone dark, as if for a fade-out between a fifteen minute chapter on a television show and the commercials to follow. Funny, isn’t it? Lee thought, if thinking correctly describes what the swiftly dying man’s mind was capable of during those final moments. For now, thoughts and emotions could no longer be separated. The combination of the two tore through Lee’s tight frame and his human consciousness, or what remained of it. With end-game right around the corner, Lee Oswald attempted to understand his own self—however racked with pain—as well as the nightmare-world that had come to enclose him during his less-than-a-quarter-century on earth. Meanwhile, everything around him came in and out of focus whenever Lee managed to flicker his eyes. Bizarre shapes and odd shadows registered, if little else.

At this moment, life—or what Lee could in his agony still perceive of everyday existence—resembled an old black-and-white movie. That made sense, for nothing had ever meant as much to Lee as The Picture Show, as his mother Marguerite long ago had so quaintly referred to it: the one and only place where he had ever been able to set aside the ugliness of his daily reality and discover a few treasured hours of respite in a finer world.

Funny, all the same. For Lee Harvey Oswald had always, ever since he could remember, desired to be famous. Adored by the masses, those very people he had over the years come to hold in contempt. Bizarre how he needed, hungered for their attention, even admiration, perhaps adulation. And, in the early stages of the second-half of the 20th century, that he inhabited for at least a little longer, fame had come to mean television. Appear on TV and your life is fulfilled. The whole world is watching, even as you always believed they ought to be doing.

I was about to tell all … everything! … but as I recall only the first words were out … the prologue, so to speak … “I’m a patsy!” … then, before I could continue … Wham! … the noise, like thunder clapping … or a pistol firing . . yes, that must have been it … I do know the sound of a pistol … rifles, too … no, no, I can’t let myself laugh. Hurts too much … so let’s try to remain calm, concentrate … alright, I had spit those words out … and repeated the last two, just so all would be sure to hear me, loud and clear … and then I … inflated … like a little kid’s balloon some mean man pops with his cigarette while passing by on the carnival midway … no good reason to do so … just to be mean … oh, wait a minute, there was a reason … they had to silence me … of course! … ‘they’ … them! … all of them working together.

Patsy: The Life and Times of Lee Harvey Oswald

Authored by Douglas Brode

List Price: $19.95

6″ x 9″ (15.24 x 22.86 cm)
Black & White on White paper
350 pages

Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620061909
ISBN-10: 1620061902
BISAC: Fiction / Historical

Also available on Kindle

For more information, please see: http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Patsy-The-Life-and-Times-of-Lee-Harvey-Oswald-9781620061909.htm

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Navigating a SleuthFest

by Shelly Frome

How do you assess what’s being offered at a sunny Florida SleuthFest, especially if you may be receiving some mixed messages?

For example, in SleuthFest 2014 there were three keynote speakers: Laura Lippman, Ace Atkins and Hank Phillippi Ryan. Let’s start with the renowned Laura Lippman who, in her inspiring talk, declared that crime writers don’t occupy a formulaic niche as Isabel Allende claimed but have created some of the most enduring works of literature.

Segue to a small panel discussion where three out of four “successful” authors tell how much fun they’re having. One lady, in fact, disclosed that her heroine is a much younger, beautiful, intrepid version of herself, able to embark on all the hair-raising adventures the author herself wished she could still have and survive without a scratch.

Best-selling writer Hank Phillippi Ryan exhorts everyone to take their time and concentrate solely on the quality of the work till it’s fully polished and receives a stamp of professional approval. At the same time, at another small panel focused on cross-promotion, the objective seems to be a continual flow of material while garnering enough followers so that a group will let you in on their joint commercial venture.

There’s no problem with Ace Atkins advice on the dais and around the pool. As long as you accept his theory that former crime reporters have an edge. That is, they know the value of a great hook up front, appreciate writers like Robert B. Parker (Atkins was selected by Parker’s estate to continue the adventures of P.I. Spencer) and are perfectly willing to toss out passages and chapters that don’t work and slow up the action.

Back to the panelists. On one devoted to editors’ demands, a publisher blatantly put down what he called M.F.A. writing because it smacks of a love of words and no clue what it takes to write a good story. At the same time, around a table at lunch, a pleasant lady from San Francisco was happy with her M.F.A. from Goddard. She also disclosed she was doing quite well as a crime novelist at Minotaur.

On the other hand, there was a panel devoted to plot springboards, especially geared to those writing a series about an amateur detective. Here you could find tips if you find yourself stuck for ideas and/or want to avoid the same old, same old motivation ploys.

Skipping now to the auctions. A duo of auctioneers claim if you win the bidding on, say, a thirty-page manuscript critique by Lee Child, you’re well on your way to climbing the proverbial ladder. But, then again, after plunking down some 600 to 1,000 dollars, this former British advertising executive may be the last person whose advice a writer should follow. He’s on record insisting his Jack Reacher character can’t evolve or even have a humanizing back story because that would ruin the brand.

Moreover, haven’t we heard over and over that any story, be it crime fiction or what-have-you, deals with at least one flawed character forced to change due to pressure and provocative unforeseen circumstances?

In short, maybe like everything else, it takes a critical eye to know exactly what you’re doing. So that you have a sense that whatever notes you’ve taken during your stay may help take you where you want to go.

Shelly Frome

Crime fiction author at Sunbury Press

Mystery Writers America

Playwriting and screenwriting feature writer for Southern Writers Magazine

Shellyfrome.com

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“Silver Moon” is a lavishly illustrated traditional Chinese fairytale

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released Joanne L. S. Risso’sSilver Moon. The book was illustrated by Christiane Künzel.

About the Book:
Silver Moon is a Chinese fairytale, and the name of a beautiful princess with a strange illness. Two magic blue gnomes from the Moon, named Pik and Pok, try to cure her of her illness with help from the Man in the Moon, a pair of moon swans, and a dashing young prince from India.

About the Author & Illustrator:
Joanne L.S. Risso was born and raised in Gippsland, Australia. Her mother used to read the story of Silver Moon to her when she was a little girl. She believes that princes, princesses, and palaces; maidens, mermaids, and magic; dragons, fairies, witches and castles should all be kept alive through stories and play. She lives with her husband and four children in Central Pennsylvania, where they often search for fairies in their garden, put on family plays with vampire-mermaids and pirates, and have sword fights in their tree-fort.

 

Christiane Künzel was born in 1978 in Osnabrück, Germany. Having a great love for stories, she started illustrating them early on. She then began turning her passion into her work by studying arts and English at the University of Osnabrück. She currently teaches children from age 10 to 18 at a German ‘Gymnasium’ in Arts, English and Dance. She lives in Hamburg with her two children and her husband, who enjoy seeing the stories they read turn into vivid images.

 

Silver Moon – A Chinese Fairytale
Authored by Joanne L. S. Risso, Illustrated by Christiane Künzel
List Price: $24.95
8.5″ x 11″ Hardcover
Color on White paper
36 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620064726
BISAC: Childrens / Fairytales / International

For more information, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Silver-Moon-HARD-COVER-9…

For more information about the author, please see:
http://www.joannerisso.com

 

In the Field

Other books by the author:
Over the Sea, Joanne L.S. Risso and Kathy Connelly (illustrator),  Sunbury Press Inc., 2011.

In the Field, Joanne L.S. Risso and Missi Allen (illustrator), Sunbury Press Inc., 2013.

My Mom is an Alien, Joanne L.S. Risso and Dylan Matukaitis (illustrator), Sunbury Press Inc., 2014.

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A lot of balls! “Keystone Tombstone Sports” features famous sportsmen buried in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released Joe Farrell’s and Joe Farley’s Keystone Tombstones Sports. The book is a compilation of biographies about famous sportsmen buried in Pennsylvania.

About the Book:
Pennsylvania’s contributions to the sporting world are captured in this special edition of the Keystone Tombstones series focused on those persons interred in Pennsylvania who played interesting roles in sports. Farrell and Farley have combed the Keystone State to bring you the most entertaining tales about interesting sports figures buried in Pennsylvania. Included in this volume:

Alan AMECHE “The Horse”
William Law ANDERSON
Paul ARIZIN “Pitchin’ Paul”
Richie ASHBURN “His Whiteness”
Bert BELL “Modern Football’s Founding Father”
Billy CONN “The Pittsburgh Kid”
Jake DAUBERT “Why the Hall Not?”
Nellie FOX and Billy COX “Fox and Cox”
Joe William FRAZIER “Smokin’ Joe”
Josh GIBSON “The Black Babe Ruth”
Tom GOLA “A Philly Legend”
Harry GREB “The Human Windmill”
Jim CROWLEY and Harry STUHLDREHER “Half the Horsemen”
Eddie PLANK and Christy MATHEWSON “Hall of Fame Hurlers”
Harry KALAS “That Ball’s Outta Here!”
Connie MACK “The Tall Tactician”
John MCDERMOTT “Golf’s Unknown Champion”
Danny MURTAUGH “The Whistling Irishman”
Chuck NOLL “The Emperor”
Joe PATERNO “JoePa”
Bob PRINCE and Myron COPE “The Voices of Pittsburgh”
Art ROONEY “The Chief”
Maurice STOKES “The Unknown NBA Superstar”
Carl Edwin STOTZ “Little League’s Founding Father”
Jock SUTHERLAND “Jock”
Jim THORPE “The Greatest Athlete of the 20^th Century”
Willie THROWER “Football’s Jackie Robinson”
Bill TILDEN “Big Bill”
Honus WAGNER and Pie TRAYNOR “Pirates’ Pride”
Harry WRIGHT “The Father of Professional Baseball”
Others of Note

Book Release Event:
The Joes will be at the Sunbury Press Store (50 W Main St. Mechanicsburg, OA 17055) on Saturday December 20, 2014, from 1 PM to 4 PM. Their presentation will cover interesting persons and situations from Keystone Tombstones Sports and Keystone Tombstones Volume 3.

Keystone Tombstones Sports: Famous People Buried in Pennsylvania
Authored by Joe Farrell, Authored by Joe Farley
List Price: $19.95
8″ x 10″ (20.32 x 25.4 cm)
Black & White on White paper
218 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1620064917
ISBN-10: 162006491X
BISAC: Biography & Autobiography / Sports

For more information, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Keystone-Tombstones-Spor…

For more information about the Joes, Farrell and Farley, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/Joe-Farrell-Joe-Farley_c…

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Carrie Wissler-Thomas recounts the history of the Art Association of Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released Carrie Wissler Thomas’s As the Paint Dries: The History of the Art Association of Harrisburg. The author is the association’s president.

About the Book:
This history of the Art Association of Harrisburg is both a factual accounting of the story of the region’s most venerable fine arts organization, and also an often-amusing romp through the personal reminiscences of author Carrie Wissler-Thomas. The Art Association was founded by cultured civic leaders who were passionate about the visual arts, and it has continued to survive and prosper throughout eight decades due to the dedication and support of both artists and committed patrons. The history of The Art Association in many ways mirrors the history of Harrisburg, reflecting the vicissitudes of the City’s economy and development, the Renaissance of the 1980s and ‘90s, the construction of the Hilton and other prominent downtown buildings, the re-development of Reservoir Park, and the emergence of Restaurant Row. The Art Association was founded during the heyday of The City Beautiful Movement, and like The Harrisburg Symphony and Theatre Harrisburg, the organization continues to provide cultural enjoyment and opportunities for art-lovers and practitioners of all ilks.

As the Paint Dries is a phrase coined by the author’s husband Scott Thomas as the humourous title of the on-going AAH daily soap-opera. The Art Association of Harrisburg is a family, a reality show, a visual feast and a very human comedy. The AAH story is a rich tapestry, filled with serious episodes  punctuated by incredible-but-true anecdotes. Most of all, the AAH story is the story of the people who have made it what it is today, and who continue to guide it into the future.

Excerpt:
(From the chapter AAH Exhibitions Through the Early Years: 1926-1954) … As has been noted in the section of this book on the early origins of The Art Association of Harrisburg, Homer St.Gaudens, director of the Carnegie Institute of Pittsburgh, was instrumental in the creation of the organization. Even after the charter had been accepted and the Articles of Incorporation finalized, Mr. St. Gaudens retained his abiding interest in the wellbeing of AAH. It was he in February of 1926 who arranged for a major show of paintings by Sir John Lavery, R.A., of England, as the first exhibition to be presented under the AAH auspices.

According to an article in The Patriot dated February 15, 1926, Harrisburg was chosen instead of Palm Beach as one of the few cities for exhibition of Lavery’s paintings. Apparently, the AAH exhibition committee, chaired by Mrs. Lyman Gilbert of 203 N. Front St. had met to discuss the exhibition, with Homer St. Gaudens planning to arrive the next day to confer with the committee on the location for the show. St. Gaudens had planned the exhibition’s circuit, with it originally including only Boston, New York, Pittsburgh and Palm Beach. It seems that the “difficulty of transportation has made it impossible to take the collection of paintings to Palm Beach, and Harrisburg was chosen instead.”

The article explained that Sir John and Lady Lavery had been spending time in America, traveling with the collection of 46 portraits, interiors, and landscapes selected by the artist himself. An Evening Newsarticle from February 11 had called the paintings one of “the most unusual one-man collections ever exhibited in America.” Sir John Lavery was a member of the Royal Academies of London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Rome, Milan and Stockholm; of the Society of French Artists, Beaux Arts Society of Paris, Society of Spanish Artists in Madrid and of the Secessions of Berlin, Vienna and Munich. The article extolled the fact that Lavery had been knighted by the King of England, by the King of Italy and by the King of the Belgians, and had been awarded the degree of doctor of laws by Queen’s University, Belfast. At that time, Lavery was represented by paintings in the permanent collections of 38 public galleries and museums throughout the world. Obviously, having this collection come to Harrisburg as the premier exhibition of the new Art Association was a real coup, and a testament to the value Homer St. Gaudens placed on the organization he had worked so diligently to create.

The Patriot and The Evening News enthused over the exhibition, running excited articles as the paintings began to arrive. On February 25, 1926, The Patriot announced the arrival of two additional paintings and stated that the Lavery exhibit would open at the Civic Club at 11 AM on February 26 for a ten-day run. The two paintings that arrived were “The Silver Dress,” a portrait of Lady Curzon, and “The Red Hammock,” a portrait of Lady Hazel Lavery reclining in a hammock. The article explained that for each day of the ten days of the exhibition there would be a hostess on duty at the Civic Club to answer questions. The hours each day would be 11 AM to 1 PM, and 2 PM to 10 PM during the week, and 2 PM to 10 PM on Sunday. One hundred and fifty people were expected to attend the pre-showing, with “each trustee of the Art Association given the privilege of inviting 5 guests.”

It was noted that the club’s lecture room had been transformed into a “real art gallery,” with electric light reflectors installed over each painting to “give just the proper amount of light to bring out the rich colourings of the pictures.”

On February 26, The Patriot noted that Dr. C. Valentine Kirby described Lavery as “primarily a portrait painter” when he spoke about the collection at the show’s preview the evening before. The collection of paintings was valued at $100,000, an astonishing sum for 1926. Dr. Kirby explained, “The paintings of Sir John Lavery have something in them that shows he paints for the love of painting and not because he had to. Dr. Valentine was the director of art in the State Department of Education, and had been invited to give his informed comments to the elite group assembled at the Civic Club for the show’s “pre-showing.” Dr. Valentine further said that in Lavery’s interiors and outdoor scenes, the artist almost always included a figure “which seems to fit into the surroundings exactly and belong there.”

Book Release Event:
The Art Association of Harrisburg will be hosting an event to celebrate the release of As the Paint Dries on Friday December 5, 2014, from 5 pm to 8 pm at the association’s headquarters at 21 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101.

As the Paint Dries: The History of the Art Association of Harrisburg
Authored by Carrie Wissler-Thomas with Michael Barton
List Price: $29.95
ISBN: 978-1-62006-501-3
B&W 6 x 9 in Cloth w/Jacket
196 pages
Sunbury Press, Inc.
BISAC: Art History / USA / Pennsylvania

For more information, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/As-the-Paint-Dries-9781620065013.htm

For more information about the Art Assocation of Harrisburg, please see:

http://www.artassocofhbg.com/index2.htm

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“The Chair” out sells all Sunbury Press books for the month of October 2014

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. — Sunbury Press has released the bestsellers list for October, 2014. Jim Campbell’s memoir of his career as a pastor The Chair was #1.

About The Chair
Sometimes, one needs a special mentor to find life and its wonder. Sometimes, that mentor is a chair.

“The Chair is Pastor James Campbell’s spiritual odyssey that leads us through the night of emptiness and then emerges into the light of compassion, intervention, and redemption.  Through his renovation of a simple chair, reverence for worn out sewing needles in the Japanese celebration of Hari-Kuyo, and reflection upon how stress to the Diamond Willows of Alaska produces works of art, this parable describes Campbell’s own epiphanies during the course of his life travels ministering to the forgotten and broken.

“For members of the helping profession, caregivers, or those looking for meaning in meaningless times, Campbell is a valuable read.   He will guide you, literally and figuratively, out of the ruins of the great dust bowl to a peaceful Colorado valley.  And he will show you how all these things remain part of your soul.”

Steve Schoenmakers, M.S., Superintendent, Retired, Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo.

SUNBURY PRESS – Bestsellers for October, 2014 (by Revenue)
Rank	Last Month	Title	Author	Category
1	NEW	The Chair	James Campbell	Spiritual Memoir
2	6	The Piano Bed	Anne Marie Drew	YA Fiction
3	NEW	Poor Will’s Almanack 2015	Bill Felker	Almanac
4	2	Dead of Autumn	Sherry Knowlton	Thriller Fiction
5	7	The Complete Story of the Worldwide Invasion of the Orange Orbs	Terry Ray	Paranormal
6	NEW	Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleys	Steve Troutman	Earth Science
7	NEW	Head Over Wheels	Ken Mercurio	Sports Memoir
8	11	Dying for Vengeance	J . M. West	Thriller Fiction
9	1	Visions of Teaoga	Jim Remsen	YA Fiction
10	–	Great Lakes	Kirckof & Butler	HIstorical Fiction
11	NEW	Born Fire Dragon	Susan Kiskis	Spiritual Memoir
12	NEW	Modern Realism According to Fritz	Lawrence Knorr	Art History
13	17	Winter of the Metal People	Dennis Herrick	HIstorical Fiction
14	15	Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last	Mike Campbell	History
15	–	Going Home	Sharon Marchisello	Thriller Fiction
16	–	Shadows in the Shining City	John Cressler	HIstorical Fiction
17	9	The Closer	Alan Mindell	Sports Fiction
18	–	Emeralds of the Alhambra	John Cressler	HIstorical Fiction
19	16	The Bronze Dagger	Marie Sontag	YA Fiction
20	14	Pit Bulls	Anthony Julian	History

Sunbury Press closed out its best month of the year and 2nd best month ever. For the month, sales were up 61% as compared to the same month last year. Year-to-date, sales are up nearly 16% overall. The company remains on track to have its best year ever. Trade paperback sales in 2014 have already exceeded sales of all of 2013. Hardcover sales since June have nearly equalled eBook sales, which were down 22% from last month and are down 17% for the year.

Jim Campbell’s The Chair led the way thanks to the chair’s (accompanied by Jim) tour of the Midwest. Anne Marie Drew’s The Piano Bed surged thanks to a large order from the Cleveland school district. Bill Felker’s Poor Will’s Almanack 2015 was boosted by sales from the author’s annual buyers. Sherry Knowlton’s Dead of Autumn held at #4 thanks to her author event at the Sunbury Press store. Terry Ray’s The Complete Story of the Worldwide Invasion of the Orange Orbs moved up to #5 thanks to being posted in MUFON’s store. Steve Troutman’s Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo, and Lykens Valleys debuted and #6 due to author activities. Head Over Wheels, Ken Mercurio’s cycling memoir debuted at #7 because of interest from cycling enthusiasts.  J. M. West’s Dying for Vengeance moved up the chart due to her author event at the Sunbury Press store. Jim Remsen’sVisions of Teaga slipped to #9 after leading for two consecutive months despite selling nearly as many of books. Great Lakes, by Kirckof and Butler, was helped by author activities. Susan Kiskis’s Born Fire Dragon debuted at #11 thanks to anticipation for her author event at Sunbury Press. Modern Realism According to Fritz, by Lawrence von Knorr, grabbed the 12th spot thanks to artist Fritz VonderHeiden’s book release party and exhibition at 2nd Floor Gallery in Mechanicsburg. Dennis Herrick’s Winter of the Metal People was lucky #13 as it awaits the results of the 2014 New Mexico-Colorado Book Awards. Mike Campbell’s Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last held at #14 due to national media attention for the search for the aviatrix’s plane. Going Home, by Sharon Marchisello, took #15 thanks to author events. John Cressler’s Shadows in the Shining City and Emeralds of the Alhambra were #16 & #18 respectively due to author activities. Alan Mindell’s The Closer stayed on the chart thanks to sales in the San Diego area. The Bronze Dagger by Marie Sontag held on the list thanks to signing events at schools. Anthony Julian’s Pit Bulls I continued to draw interest among dog enthusiasts.

The company released eleven new titles during the month of October:

SUNBURY PRESS – New Releases for October, 2014
A Brother’s Cold Case	Dennis Herrick	Thriller Fiction
Dot & Scribble Fall Into Adventure	Ricky Bruce	Middle Grade
Bows, Bullets, and Bears	John Moore	History
Geology of the Mahanoy, Mahantongo and Lykens Valleys	Steve Troutman	Earth Science
Indian Villages and Place Names in Pennsylvania	George Donehoo	History
Poor Will’s Almanack 2015	Bill Felker	Almanac
You Killed my Brother	Keith Rommel	Thriller Fiction
Born Fire Dragon	Susan Kiskis	Spiritual Memoir
The Chair	James Campbell	Spiritual Memoir
Modern Realism According to Fritz	Lawrence Knorr	Art History
Head Over Wheels	Ken Mercurio	Sports Memoir

For a list of Sunbury’s best-sellers, please see the Sunbury Press web site:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/BESTSELLERS_c3.htm
For a complete list of recent and upcoming releases, please see:
http://www.sunburypressstore.com/COMING-SOON_c47.ht
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