PRESS

2010  |  2009  |  2008  |  2007  |  2006  |  2005  |  2004

TELEVISION FEATURES

Breathtaking Bowhunts   
Blue Ridge Communications TV-13, Out in the Open, October 2008

Second Chance   
How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog
WFMZ-TV, May 14, 2008

RADIO FEATURES

PRINT MEDIA FEATURES

Marywood Magazine Winter 2008, Seen & Heard   

With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity
& A Different Kind of Hero
Colleen Gedrich '02
(Tribute Books)

Colleen Gedrich '02 recently illustrated two books for Tribute Books, including With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity, by Ellen Chaksil, and A Different Kind of Hero, by Leah Beth Evans. These are Ms. Gedrich first published book illustrations. She is a full-time program coordinator for the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) and also a freelance illustrator. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration from Marywood University in 2002, and recently won the 2008 T-shirt design for the Humane Society of Lackawanna County's Pet Walk.

The Scranton Times, December 14, 2008   

A goodbye for a mentor, writer, advocate and friend
by Cheryl Kashuba

Local history lost its strongest advocate and its dearest friend Dec. 5, when Alan Sweeney succumbed to cancer.

Among his many community involvements, Alan was president of the Lackawanna Historical Society, but I remember him best as a writer. As we worked on the book “Scranton” with fellow author Darlene Miller-Lanning, I learned about this man who lived and breathed local history and shared it with a big heart and great enthusiasm.

We shared a passion, but I was a beginner. Alan became my friend and my mentor.

I watched Alan Sweeney and I learned. I marveled at his ability to rattle off facts about the railroading and mining interests up and down our valley. The DL&W No. 307 was a 2-6-0 locomotive built by Danforth and Cooke and formerly numbered 45. Alan knew that.

More than names and places, he knew the big picture. He knew how and why the Lackawanna Valley came to take its unique place in history.

I remember the day he discovered an original certificate honoring nearly 50 years of service of Jacob Shaffer, engineer for the DL&W railroad. What a find! Alan paired it with a photo of Mr. Shaffer aboard the No. 307 locomotive and put them into the book to help tell the story of Scranton’s railroading history.

At his viewing, his daughter Rachael hugged me and said “He loved you guys so much.” His was an active love. He gave of himself.

He would walk into the historical society, hand me something hand-written or pull out his laptop, and say, “Cheryl, would you have a look at this?” Each time revealed a little bit more of his knowledge.

There was the time in the summer of 2005 when he came in with a short piece for the LHS newsletter about a marker honoring Civil War soldiers from Pennsylvania at the notorious Andersonville Prison, where former Scranton Mayor Ezra Ripple had been confined. Mr. Ripple recounted his experiences in a memoir, “Dancing Along the Deadline.” Civil War artist James E. Taylor made illustrations on glass slides that Mr. Ripple used when he presented public lectures.

That brief article told so much about Alan: his passion for history, his dedication to finding the local connection, his willingness to dig deep enough to find all the interesting facts and his commitment to sharing that knowledge.

Because of that piece, I was made aware of a remarkable bit of history that eventually found its way into this column.

Always on the lookout for interesting bits of history, he came into the LHS one day and announced that world-renowned psychologist B.F. Skinner had a local connection. Mr. Skinner had been raised in Susquehanna County, and Alan found him listed in the 1927 Scranton City Directory, a student living with his parents at the rear of 2100 North Washington Ave. That went into the LHS newsletter.

In the winter 2004 newsletter, he wrote a historical brief on Capt. Johnston Blakely, for whom the local borough is named. The next autumn’s newsletter contained another piece of the story — Midshipman David Geisinger, another local name, had served under Capt. Blakely, a fact Alan learned through the book, “Capt. Blakely and WASP,” which he described as “a great read, with an interesting connection to regional history.”

That statement says a lot about the man. Alan read, he listened, he learned. He had an insatiable thirst for local history, and he shared his knowledge without ego and with great heart.

After the funeral, Alan’s good friend Dom Keating put his arm around me and said, “You brought him joy every time you picked up a pen.” Alan showed us all how to care for our communities and their history. Since I began this column, he has been the presence behind it, the man I looked to to make sure I was doing it right. I will miss him terribly.

Cheryl A. Kashuba writes on behalf of the Lackawanna Historical Society. She is co-author of the book “Scranton.” Contact the writer at localhistory@timesshamrock.com.

The Scranton Times, December 11, 2008   

Living History

Alan Sweeney was a food salesman by trade, rather than a professional historian. He did not possess the academic degrees that usually go with that professional title.

What Mr. Sweeney did have, however, was intellectual curiosity, a love of history, a fascination for Northeastern Pennsylvania’s role in America’s development and a talent for civic advocacy.

Those attributes made Mr. Sweeney a walking encyclopedia of local history and, more important, an active instrument of history education. His death last week at 55 creates a substantial gap, in that regard, that local history lovers should try to fill.

Mr. Sweeney did not pursue his passion for his own satisfaction alone, but to bring the region’s history to the people. He wrote several books on local history and was a key figure in the Lackawanna Historical Society and in the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, which strives to tie together the many disparate aspects of local history.

Advocacy such as Mr. Sweeney’s is in the best tradition of civic engagement and citizenship.

The Scranton Times, December 10, 2008   

For Alan Sweeney, life was filled with whole lot of living
by Borys Krawczeniuk

Natalie Solfanelli visited Alan Sweeney at his Scranton home last week to deliver a holiday scarf for the annual Santa train ride last Saturday.The president and co-founder of the Lackawanna Historical Society was dying of kidney cancer, and she knew he probably couldn’t ride.

“Oh, the Santa train,” he told Mrs. Solfanelli when she dropped by. “Um, maybe I won’t make it this time.”

Mr. Sweeney, 55, died Friday.

“Every year he rode that train all day long from community to community,” said Mrs. Solfanelli, executive director of Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, of whose board Mr. Sweeney was chairman. Several close friends rode the train on his behalf Saturday, struggling with the loss the entire time. They attended his funeral Tuesday at a standing-room-only Mass at St. Paul’s Church in the Green Ridge section of Scranton. They had lost a dear friend, but retained memories of a modest, easy-going man who lived, breathed and spread local history through books and plays rooted in an insatiable curiosity.

Mr. Sweeney, a district sales manager for Schiff’s Food Service, joked that all he did was “sell french fries for a living.”

“He was local history’s biggest advocate,” said Cheryl Kashuba, a former assistant to the society director. “His loss is going to leave a tremendous hole.”

Society president is a voluntary role, but Mr. Sweeney was always around its headquarters, the Catlin House on Monroe Avenue in Scranton.

“We always said we knew he was coming because you could hear him whistling,” Ms. Kashuba said.

Saturdays, when the society is open for three hours, were like “club day at the Catlin House,” with Mr. Sweeney holding court. Inevitably, he would strike up a conversation with a researcher or visitor.

“He wanted to know what their interests were so he could know more about that topic,” society director Mary Ann Moran Savakinus said. “It was never about Alan. He was always more interested in everybody around him.”

There were substantive accomplishments, too. He taught local history to teachers for use in school curriculums, fought for funding for the Scranton Public Library, whose board he once led. He wrote books about Scranton, the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad and the Poconos, and a play titled “Witness at Appomattox,” a symbol of his love of Civil War history. He lobbied for a county-led restoration of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Courthouse Square.

Days before he died, he wrote Mrs. Savakinus a note seeking more information about the history of Schiff’s.

As he was dying, he was still living.

“He squeezed every second of life into it,” she said.

The Abington Journal, December 3, 2008   

Author clicks with photo book
by Thomas Krivak

CLARKS SUMMIT - Alyssa Amori of Clarks Summit was a finalist in USABookNews.com’s “National Best Books 2008” awards for her photography book titled Scranton: The Electric City. USABookNews.com is an online publication which covers books from both independent and mainstream publishers to the online community.

“I feel great,” said Amori. “I feel very proud. It’s the kind of thing that makes you ask ‘is this real?’ I never, in a hundred years, thought my book would win an award.”

Amori said she spent a countless number of hours taking pictures for her book. “I probably took about 5,000 pictures…it was a lot of work, but it was so much fun. If I could photograph forever, I would.”

Amori did not originally aspire to create a photo book. “It kind of started as a joke. A few years ago, Oprah Winfrey started a trip from LA to New York. They stopped in Berwick for a sandwich.” Oprah skipped over Scranton to continue her travels. “I figured, well, let me take a couple pictures of Scranton and let me send it to her…I didn’t expect to get any response.”

After sending the book to Oprah, Amori began taking a greater interest in photography.

When taking pictures, Amori said she tries to frame her shots. “I just like to let it happen,” she explained. “I don’t specifically set up a picture. I don’t pre-plan – I just go and look for the picture.”

Amori also has an idea for other future publication. “I would love to put together a photo book of the Abingtons, because there are a lot of beautiful buildings around here.”

Since her book was published, Amori said she had her own thoughts about the far-reaching scope she wished to attain. “From the very beginning I did this book…it kind of blossomed into something else for our soldiers.” Amori explained she saw a soldier watching his child being born on a computer. “Computers are great, but (the soldiers) have nothing tangible…nothing to hold on to. If they have my book, they can pull it out and say where they were from and where they’ll come back to. I’m not trying to be a savior; I’m just trying to do my part – do something decent for these kids. Maybe having an award means something, but helping these kids means a lot, too.”

Amori can be reached via e-mail at aamori@comcast.net for any soldier stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan or those who will be departing to receive a copy of her book.

Above: Alyssa Amori, left, and her daughter, Kara Amori.

Times Leader, November 9, 2008   

Author recognized for religious book

Helen Silvestri (pen name Ellen Chaksil) of Peckville, author of "With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity," received a certificate of recognition for her book from her publisher Nicole Langan of Tribute Books in Archbald. Silvestri was a finalist in the 2008 National Best Book Awards in the "Religion: Christian Inspiration" category. From left: Silvestri, Langan.

The Weekender, October 29, 2008   

The Write Stuff

Archbald's Tribute Books earned several honors in USABookNews.com's "National Best Book Awards" last week. "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957," by John R. Nordell of Old Forge, won in the "Sports: Autobiography/Biography/Memoirs" category. "Scranton: The Electric City," by Alyssa Amori of Clarks Summit, was a finalist in "Photography: General," "What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date," by Annie Earley of Moscow, was a finalist in "Humor" and "With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity," by Helen Silvestri (pen name Ellen Chaksil) of Peckville was a finalist in "Religion: Christian Inspiration."

Scranton Times-Tribune, October 26, 2008   

Tribute Books honors four

USABookNews.com, an online magazine and review Web site for mainstream and independent publishing houses, announced the winners and finalists of The National "Best Books" 2008 Awards. Tribute Books award highlights included: "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957" by John R. Nordell of Old Forge; "Scranton: The Electric City" by Alyssa Amori of Clarks Summit; "What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date" by Annie Earley of Moscow; and "With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity" by Helen Silvestri (pen name Ellen Chaksil) of Peckville.

National Best Book 2008 Awards, October 2008   

Winner - Sports: Autobiography/Biography/Memoirs
Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Pennant Drive, 1957
by John R. Nordell




Finalist - General: Photography
Scranton: The Electric City
by Alyssa Amori




Finalist - Humor
What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date
by Annie Earley




Finalist - Religion: Christian Inspiration
With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity
by Ellen Chaksil

Bethlehem Press, September 3, 2008   

Special bond sparks idea
by Kelly Mitch

Area author's book on special needs children adoption raises money for Humane Society

Autism can be difficult to discuss with children and others with learning difficulties. That is why Sandra J. Gerencher of Bethlehem decided to write her first book "Second Chance," which discusses how adoption as well as a shelter dog.

Gerencher was inspired by her own life - she adopted her son Terry, who is now 13 years old, five years ago. Terry has a genetic disorder called Fragile X Syndrome, which means he has autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation and depression.

When Gerencher adopted her first shelter dog Chance, she noticed a special "bond" between the two of them.

"He would talk to the dog," Gerencher said. "He would ask if they had a good day, and he would talk about his own day."

Gerencher, a special education teacher in the Bangor Area School District, has spent 25 years working with children and adults with special needs. She noticed during her search for ways to discuss disabilities that there are very few books for children and adults with disabilities who have childlike disabilites.

"Children like that are my inspiration," she said.

In "Second Chance," the dog Chance explains to the character Ryan about adoption.

"In it, a dog talks to a boy with autism and explains about the wonders of adoption," Gerencher said. "I wrote it simple so that a child could read it. It's geared toward children in fourth grade and up."

Terry is the inspiration for the character of Ryan in the book. The main character Chance, the adopted shelter dog, also came from real life, along with the other shelter dogs, which Gerencher has adopted along the way.

"Over the past 10 years, I've adopted about seven dogs," she said.

Gerencher said she feels so strongly about the bond between her son and the dogs that she plans to donate 5 percent of the book proceeds to the Humane Society.

"My goal is to not make money off these books," she said. "As an educator and mother, my goal was to help children understand that there are kids with special needs that need to be adopted."

The book, which is published by Tribute Books, is the first of three in a series Gerencher is writing. She said the second book, which will be on disabilities, would be out in October. The third book will be about death.

"There is nothing out there to explain death to a child or adult with a childlike capacity," she said.

Some of the proceeds from the second book will go to autism research.

Gerencher plans on attending many book signings this summer at book stores, as well as shelters. Her book is also available at www.barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.

For more information, visit ChanceTheShelterDog.com.

Historic Rail, Autumn 2008 Catalog   

James N.J. Henwood & John G. Muncie's Laurel Line featured on front cover

carp(e) libris reviews August 5, 2008   

Pegasus at the Plow by Patrick Walker - Review & Giveaway
by Diane

I swore I’d never do it. When I started carp(e) libris reviews, I swore I wouldn’t review a book that was self-published. After all, the risk is great. Sure, there are some award-winning self-published books out there, but it just seemed a gamble. So when I got an email from the wife of a poet, a woman who published her husband’s work because she so believed in it, curiosity got the best of me and I checked the author’s website. After reading a couple of his poems online, I thought, “What is carp(e) libris reviews for, anyway, if not to discover writers we might otherwise never hear of?” I wasn’t sorry. Patrick Walker is an excellent poet with over 35 years of poetry writing to share.

Pegasus at the Plow is a poetry collection with a truly unique voice. The style is most decidedly classical, and although you can somehow envision a dashing Robin Hood reciting them to his Maid Marian, the subject matter is often ironically modern. I really enjoyed the melding of old and new; how many poems of his did I read wondering how they’d be set to music? Yes, it would have to be to the sounds of a lute and a drum, methinks. (Oh, gosh. Did I just say “methinks”?) A wonderful feature of this book is the artwork, done by Patrick’s talented wife Virginia Cody, who he refers to as a force of nature. The sketches throughout complement the poetry, making the book as a whole a desirable addition to the poet-lover’s collection.

If you’re a poetry lover and you’d like to experience this book firsthand, I have an autographed copy that Patrick Walker was gracious enough to send along for one of you. Just follow the rules below.

3 Ways to Win:

1.) Leave a comment telling me if you usually read poetry, and if so, who are your favorites?

2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.

Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Friday, August 8, 2008, to enter.

The Weekender, July 23, 2008   

Paying Tribute to Chance
by Carlene Majorino

Tribute Books of Eynon will host an appearance on Saturday, July 26 at Borders in Dickson City by Sandra Gerencher for the signing of her new book, "Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog."

"Sandra adopted her son Terry when he was eight, and right now he is 13," says Nicole Langan, owner of Tribute Books. "He wasn't able to speak in complete sentences at first, but it really struck Sandra that he always had a connection with animals."

Gerencher of Bethlehem, discovered her son's special connection during her years saving dogs from high-kill animal shelters, which was a mission of hers for more than a decade. The book shows photos of various dogs adopted from 61 shelters and tells the amazing story of her son.

One day, when Terry discovered a dog named Chance and his autism became less apparent, Gerencher was driven to write about this phenomenon and looked to Tribute Books to publish it.

"He really formed a friendship with Chance," says Langan. In order to continue her legacy as a woman who loves and protects animals, a portion of all proceeds from Gerencher's signing will benefit the Humane Society.

The Abington Journal, July 16, 2008   

Shelter dog book shares many local ties
by Mathew Golden

DICKSON CITY- A good book "hits home" with its audience; that is to say that it tries to connect personally with its readers. But for Northeastern Pennsylvania, the book "Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism and His Shelter Dog" hits home in an alternate sense.

The author of the book, Sandra Gerencher, will be at the local Borders for a book signing of "Second Chance." Tying in with the book's themes, a portion of the book's price will be donated to the Humane Society of Lackawanna County.

The local significance of "Second Chance" also includes the fact that the cover artist, Virginia Cody, is from Factoryville. Cody is a portrait artist who deals specifically with animals. She owns multiple pets, all of which "have been adopted in one form or another."

Cody's other works include the cover art for "Pegasus at the Plow: A Poetry Collection," which is a collection of poems written by her husband, Patrick Walker, and was also published by Tribute Books. She strongly supports the Humane Society and its ideals. "I donate a lot of my money that I make for my pet portraits to the Humane Society," she responded when prompted about her personal feelings for the society. Cody is also a member of the Endless Mountains Art Council.

The production team for "Second Chance" has strong professional and emotional ties to the Humane Society. Nicole Langan, owner of Tribute Books (the company that published "Second Chance") and avid supporter of local art, recollects her past experience with the Humane Society in publicizing "Second Chance" at their annual pet walk.

"The staff and volunteers were most accommodating. They provided Sandra with a table free of charge and publicized her appearance at the Pet Walk in the local media." Langan also adopted her first dog, "an elderly Shih-Tzu named Gin-Gin whose owner had to give her up upon entering a nursing home," from the Humane Society when she was 10.

The book signing will be held at the Borders book store adjacent to the Viewmont Mall in Scranton on Saturday, July 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. Five percent of the book's retail price will be donated to the Humane Society of Lackawanna County. As of June 30, $250 has been raised. The donated money will be used directly for the animals in the form of food and care services according to Beverly Bright, who handles public relations for the Humane Society.

Want to go?

What: Book signing with Sandra Gerencher, author of "Second Chance: How Adoption Saved A Boy with Autism and His Shelter Dog," with a portion of all book proceeds benefits the Humane Society of Lackawanna County.

When: Saturday, July 26, 2 to 4 p.m.

Where: Borders, 100 Viewmont Mall, Scranton.

Info: 340-1044.

The Scranton Times-Tribune, July 13, 2008   

Book signing benefits local Humane Society
Staff Report

Author Sandra Gerencher will sign copies of her book, "Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism & His Shelter Dog," at Borders book store at the Viewmont Mall, Dickson City, between 2 and 4 p.m. on July 26.

The story is told from the perspective of a dog adopted from an animal shelter by a family with an autistic child. The book is 28 pages and written for children ages 9 to 12. Her goal is to make children more aware of the need to help other children.

The book was published recently by Tribute Books, Eynon. A percentage of profits from each book sold will be donated to the Humane Society of Lackawanna County.

The Opinion-Tribune, July 2, 2008   

Book relives Dodgers last year in Brooklyn

Baseball fans old enough to remember when the Braves played in Milwaukee and Dodgers played at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn will appreciate John R. Nordell, Jr.'s novel, Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957.

Nordell chronicles the 1957 pennant race in the National League and the Dodgers' mid-season surge during their final season in Brooklyn before making the cross-country move to Los Angeles.

Through newspaper accounts of the time and other sources, Nordell devotes much of his book to the daily ups and downs the Dodgers and their fans experienced in the second half of the 1957 season, both on and off the field.

The Dodgers, who had won six National League pennants from 1947 to 1956, were in the thick of the race again in 1957, but at the midway point of the season, speculation began to surface about the likely move of the Dodgers to Los Angeles, and the New York Giants, also a National League team, to San Francisco. When the season ended, after weeks of political turmoil and uncertainty involving the future of Brooklyn's baseball club, the Dodgers finished in third place, 11 games behind Milwaukee, and Dodger President Walter O'Malley was ready to finalize the move to L.A.

Nordell devotes a portion of his writing to his recollection of attending his first Dodger game at Ebbetts Field in July 1957.

Nordell's writing, less than 100 pages, is simple reading for baseball fans and historians of the game. If you are not a fan of baseball, the amount of time Nordell spends writing about the pennant race could make this a lackluster read.

The Morning Call, June 9, 2008   

Animal angels with a special task
by Kathy Lauer-Williams

Furry friends give autistic kids a link to the world around them

When Sandra Gerencher of Bethlehem adopted her son Terry five years ago, she was told the boy, who has been diagnosed with autism, would never speak in full sentences.

But a bouncy black shepherd-mix puppy named Chance changed that.

Within a year of adopting the dog from a shelter, Terry spoke his first complete sentence -- to the dog.

''I stood outside his room and heard him asking the dog 'Are you hungry? Do you want to play?''' Gerencher says.

Although she says Terry, now 13, still doesn't use complete sentences when talking to people, he continues to talk to the family dogs and even pretends to read to them from books.

''It's helped him to cope with some of the issues he's dealing with,'' Gerencher says. ''We don't know what's going on inside an autistic child's brain, but there's something different in his thought processes when it's the dog.''

For children with autism, a disorder characterized by impaired social interaction and communication abilities, families are finding a pet often can provide friendship, teach responsibility and serve as a tool to communicate.

There are many studies that have shown that animal-human interaction provides benefits to people, from lowering blood pressure to easing loneliness. But the use of animals with autistic children is a new area that shows ''a lot of promise,'' according to a Washington State University researcher.

In 1999, a two-year study by Dr. Francois Martin examined the effects of using dogs as therapy with autistic children ages 3-13. Martin says the children were more playful, more attentive, more likely to stay ''on-task'' and laughed more easily in the presence of a dog.

Gerencher is a former Lehigh University program specialist for adults with disabilities. She's now a special education teacher in the Bangor School District. She took Terry to a shelter to pick out a dog as soon as she adopted him because she knew having a pet would be good for him.

She says the boy and dog bonded immediately.

''He was more animated with the dog,'' Gerencher says. ''They played together constantly. I think animals can sense the good in people.''

She also discovered communicating ''through'' Chance helped her reach Terry when he had behavioral problems such as ripping posters or throwing toys.

She would tell him ''Chance is sad,'' when Terry misbehaved. Then she'd ask him, ''What would Chance want you to do?''

''He always wanted to make Chance happy,'' she says.

Gerencher says when she asks Terry a question directly, it might take him five minutes to respond. But ''when I put it in terms of the dog, he answers right away.''

Although the Gerenchers had to give up Chance to live on a farm, when the dog got too big for the family's twin home, Terry, now has bonded with Ramsey, a smaller mixed breed dog and is ''doing fantastic,'' says his mother.

Recently, California-based Canine Companions, which has offered assistance dogs for people with a wide range of disabilities since 1975, began pairing dogs with autistic children, said Kendra Bushong, marketing coordinator.

The group, which provides the dogs free of charge through private contributions, has placed nearly 100 dogs with autistic children out of its 1,300 nationwide. A New York City mother got a canine companion for her son in 2007, and reported that the boy, who had been nonverbal, said his first word -- ''fetch'' -- to the dog within the first week, Bushong says.

There are several organizations that offer trained dogs for autistic children, but most require the family to raise the $11,000 to $15,000 cost of training. Raising the money for a dog can be daunting for a family struggling with the needs of an autistic child.

Ellen Hunt, vice president of the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the Autism Society of America, doesn't know of any local families who have gotten trained companion dogs, although she has met families out-of-state who have.

''A lot have talked about it, but it's very expensive,'' she says.

The Lower Macungie mom says she has seen the positive effects of animals through her son Ty's pet cat.

''I felt a pet would be very beneficial,'' she says. ''These children don't like to socialize, and a pet can relate to them without speech.''

She says the black and white cat named Farley, Ty's Christmas present in 2006, has been ''wonderful for him.'' The cat lies in bed with Ty, 7, licking his toes or batting at his toy cars.

''They kind of have their own communication,'' Hunt says. ''Without saying anything, you can tell they're bonded. He wants her to be a part of his world.''

Pris Taylor, director of Autism Service Dogs of America, an Oregon group that she founded in 2002, wishes her organization were able to subsidize the cost of training the dogs.

Taylor draws no salary and has put her own money into it. She says the $13,500 ASDA asks a family to raise to get a dog doesn't cover the cost of two years of feeding, training, socialization and veterinary care, as well as trainers that work with the family.

AUTISM ASSISTANCE DOGS

Organizations that offer assistance dogs for autism

Canine Companions for Independence, P.O. Box 446, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.
1-800-572-2275 or http://www.cci.org

Autism Service Dogs of America, 4248 Galewood St., Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035
http://www.autismservicedogsofamerica.com

4 Paws For Ability, 253 Dayton Ave., Xenia, Ohio 45385
937-374-0385 or http://www.4pawsforability.org

ABOVE PHOTO: Terry Gerencher lounges with his dog Ramsey at his home in Bethlehem. Dogs have made a big difference for Terry, who has autism. (MICHAEL KUBEL, Allentown Morning Call / May 15, 2008)

The Register Citizen, June 6, 2008   

Buying a gift for the Dodgers-fan dad
by Viktoria Sundqvist

If you have a dad or father-in-law you need to get a Father's Day gift for, I suggest you check out some rare finds in the sports-related section at your local bookstore.

Pennsylvania-based Tribute Books in 2007 published "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957," and I first came across it at work last year. After books are read and reviewed, they usually end up at the corner of my office desk and are never thought of again. This book, however, stood out to me from the start.

"It would make a great Father's Day gift," I thought, thinking of all the fathers out there who admire this fabled former New York team.

In 1957, everything changed for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It was the year the team president, Walter O'Malley, announced he would move his team - treasured by so many New Yorkers - to Los Angeles.

Author John Nordell Jr. vividly describes games at Ebbets Field and tells a thrilling tale of following the Dodgers through a National League pennant race.

That summer was memorable for many baseball fans, as it signified the end of an era in baseball.

So, instead of getting that gift card to Home Depot or spending a fortune on a new grill, consider getting dad this book. "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957" is sold for $14.95 at major bookstore. If your dad is a sports fan like mine is, this Father's Day gift will be a welcome blast from the past.

The Express-Times, June 5, 2008   

A 'Second Chance'
Bethlehem author is inspired by the bond between her adopted child and an adopted dog.
by Jessica Hoogendoorn

"Never say never to me, I'm the daughter of a Marine."

Sandra Gerencher doesn't let anything stand in her way, especially when it comes to rescuing dogs.

This Bethlehem woman has somehow found time in her busy schedule of being a single, working mom to express her creativity and add a new chapter to her 10-year saga of helping misfit dogs.

Gerencher's children's book, "Second Chance: How Adoption Saved a Boy with Autism and His Shelter Dog," was published recently by Tribute Books of Eynon, Pa. Five percent of the profit from each $12.95 book will be donated to the national Humane Society, the author says, plus 5 percent of sales at Humane Society book signings will go directly to the local shelters hosting the events.

"(Sandra) is very passionate about saving animals from shelters," Nicole Langan, owner of Tribute Books says. "She thought it would be a great way to give back. She's very generous."

The Humane Society of Lackawanna County is one of the local shelters that will benefit from Gerencher's book. The shelter doesn't receive any state or federal funding and relies heavily on donations.

"We really appreciate her doing that for us because it is very hard to take care of all the animals entrusted to us," Beverly Bright, director of the shelter says. "We really have an over abundance of pets to take care of."

The money donated from Gerencher's book sales will go toward utilities, food and other essentials needed by animals in the shelter, said Bright.

Family ties

The characters in Gerencher's book are inspired by her family.

"It's real life, it's what goes on every day," Gerencher says. "And that's what inspires me, just my life, my son, the dogs and the kids at school."

It took Gerencher three years to publish her book and fulfill her goal of simplifying adoption so that a child could pick up a book and understand the process.

"She's a great person," Langan says. "She opened her home and life to her son and the animals she rescued. A lot of people can relate to her."

According to Langan, about 500 copies of the book already have been sold.

A dog's story

Gerencher's tale is told from the perspective of a dog adopted from an animal shelter by a family with an autistic child. The story is 28 pages long and written for children ages 9 to 12.

"Not only can a child pick this up, but also an adult with disabilities," Gerencher says. "That is why I geared it toward a child."

Gerencher lives with her adopted autistic son Terry, 13, and three rescued dogs named Shelby, P.J. and Ramsees.

Chance, the Rottweiler-German shepherd mix from the book, no longer lives with the family. He grew too large for Gerencher's house and is now in a new home. Gerencher said she was originally told he would only grow to be 70 pounds, but at a year old he was already 160 pounds and was going to get bigger.

Although Chance was with Gerencher for a short time, he had a very big impact. Terry's interaction with Chance is the basis for Gerencher's book.

"They told me (Terry) would never speak in full sentences," Gerencher says. "But he would speak to Chance in full sentences as if the dog could understand him."

Gerencher said she doesn't understand it, but Terry has always had a special bond with dogs.

More to come

The author plans to publish two more books. Her second, scheduled to be published in October, will be about disabilities, specifically autism. The third book will be about death and loss. All three of her books are intended to simplify and explain complicated subjects so children can understand them.

"(The book about disabilities) is to teach kids why others are different," Gerencher says. "Kids nowadays aren't exposed to (people with disabilities), but kids are naturally inquisitive."

Langan chose to publish Gerencher's work because she prefers authors who are off the beaten path and have new ideas and fresh perspectives. These are the authors that are often ignored by big-time publishers, according to Langan.

Never about getting rich

Gerencher will receive only 10 percent from each book sale, but that is fine with her.

"I never expected to make money," she says. "My whole goal with this book was to make children more aware, to help children. And if I've accomplished that goal with a child, then that more than satisfies me."

When she isn't writing books or rescuing dogs, Gerencher works as a special education teacher in the Bangor Area School District.

In fact, her class was the first group of children to hear the story. She wanted to test out the book on her students to make sure the book was enjoyable and understandable to her target audience.

It turned out to be a hit. Some students even asked if her dog really could talk.

Sandra Gerencher, and an occasional furry companion, will be promoting the author's recently published children's book at several locations.

Book signing, meet and greet with P.J. the Pomeranian:

Noon, June 21, at Anthology in Scranton.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 5, Barnes and Noble College Booksellers, Wilkes-Barre.

Book signing with Sandra:

Noon, July 12, Whitey's Annual Block Party, North and Linden streets, Bethlehem.

1 p.m. July 19, Waldenbooks in the Palmer Park Mall, Palmer Township.

2 p.m. to 4 p.m. July 26, Borders, Scranton.

International Homeless Animal's Day Event book signing:

Noon, Aug. 16, Lehigh County Humane Society, Allentown.

For more information, visit booktour.com and www.ChanceTheShelterDog.com.

Abington Journal, June 4, 2008   

Gedrich Walks Away with Win
by Christopher J. Hughes

THROOP - Given her background in the graphic arts and her work with the International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR), it seems the recent T-shirt design contest for the Humane Society of Lackawanna County's Pet Walk couldn't have been a better fit for Colleen Gedrich.

"Anytime I can combine animals and art is great for me," the Throop resident said in a recent phone interview. Gedrich was recently named the design contest winner for the Pet Walk held Sunday, June 1, at McDade Park.

The winning design incorporates a photo of Gedrich's domestic short-haired cat, Hardy, who was stretched in a Superman-like pose, as she described it. Hardy is shown holding a dog's leash in the playful piece."When I found the picture, the light bulb went off," she said. "It's not often that an idea comes like that in design work."

Gedrich earned a bachelor's degree of fine arts in illustration from Marywood University. Her published works include the children's book "A Different Kind of Hero" and the religious text "With God There Is Hope: Hope for Humanity." She serves as a freelance illustrator outside of her daily work with ISAR. The society is headquartered next to the Humane Society on Griffin Pond Road in Clarks Summit.

She was excited to win the design contest as a first-year entrant, but said she's happy to build awareness with the win. "The winning part wasn't something I was really after. The bigger picture, for me, is to get more people involved." Getting more people involved, she said, means educating pet owners on the importance of spaying and neutering animals to help control pet populations.

Gedrich encouraged residents to befriend their local Humane Society. She takes her free time to walk dogs at the local shelter. "It's a good feeling for people, but it's an even better feeling for the animals," she said. She also sends bulletins on the social networking Web site, www.myspace.com, featuring pictures of pets available for adoption.

For more information on the Humane Society of Lackawanna County, call 586-3700.

Scranton Times-Tribune, June 1, 2008   

Around the Towns - Peckville
by Charles Schillinger

Author Helen Silvestri said she has picked up a national publicist, is now giving national media interviews and may be doing speaking engagements for her book With God There Is Hope: Hope For Humanity.

A California-based literary publicist, Anita Halton, has signed on to help get the book exposure outside the Scranton area.

Mrs. Silvestri said she has already given several radio interviews and is looking forward to speaking about her book.

"The whole humanity praying when the world is in peril, that's what I want to get across to people," she said, describing a part of her book about her messages from God.

Scranton Times-Tribune May 26, 2008   

Talk of the Times
by Patrice Wilding

This week, staff writer Patrice Wilding talks with Kevin Young about the upcoming Pet Walk at McDade Park.

Q:What is special about this year's event?

A: Author Sandra J. Gerencher will be there selling and signing her book "Second Chance," with a portion of books sales going to local animal shelters.

If you go

What: Pet Walk

When: Sunday, registration at noon, walk begins at 1 p.m.

Where: McDade Park, follow the signs.

Details: Benefits the Humane Society of Lackawanna County.

Scranton Times-Tribune, May 25, 2008   

Around The Towns - Factoryville
by Josh Mrozinski

Patrick Walker has published a book of poems, "Pegasus at the Plow."

"With poetry, I enjoy the surprise in the process," Mr. Walker, 50, said. "I start with an idea and I never know where it will take me."

Mr. Walker's wife, Virginia Cody, had the book published on his birthday, April 9.

She is also the book's illustrator.

"I'm an idea guy; she's a force of nature," Mr. Walker said.

Mr. Walker, a Scranton native, also works as an editor and proofreader of educator materials for a correspondence college.

Barack Obama letter to Alyssa Amori,   
author of Scranton: The Electric City

newgreatbooks.blogspot.com, May 8, 2008   

The Individual Poet: 25 Years of Poetry Brought to Life
by Peter N. Jones

One of the processes that globalization and modernization have brought to the world is that of conformity. Conformity in the sense that because media networks, information portals, financial institutions, and the like have all become conglomerates of one another there is less and less diversity in our day-to-day lived world. We all drive cars. We all use cell phones. We all wear cloths made by the same few big companies. We all read the same news and hear the same stories. Homogenization is the technical term used to describe this process - everything conforms to the status quo and everyone toes the line. This may be fine for some, but for me it shows a world lacking individuality, diversity, and creativity.

Poetry, luckily, is one of the few things that has not fallen victim to this process. Because poetry expresses the human experience, it is nearly impossible to bring this art form under the power of the larger global processes. Lawrence Ferlinghetti and his book Poetry As Insurgent Art is an excellent example of how poetry can act as a light in the sea of homogenized ooze. In fact, all of the books published under the City Light Books label demonstrate the ability of poetry to bring one out and let them be an individual human again.

Pegasus at the Plow by Patrick Walker is another example in this thread of wholly human individuals who have been able to express the beauty and idiosyncrasy of the human experience through poetry. Bringing together over 25 years of poetry, Pegasus at the Plow is a book that captures the individual and brings them to light once again. Covering a wide range of styles, topics, and languages, Patrick Walker demonstrates the skill and breadth of his writing over the course of the last quarter century.

What is even more interesting about this poetry collection is that you can see the author as his style and skills change over time. Some of the poems are extremely personal, such as "Because You Are Like God" and "The End of the Affair." Others are fun and playful, some are in Spanish, and there are even a couple Haikus. All in all, it is because of people such as Patrick that we still have hope. There are still those individuals who are forging their own path, making their own decisions, and living the human experience. This collection combines the best of the last 25 years - I just can't wait until the next 25 years goes by and we are privileged with another collection.

Times Leader, May 6, 2008   

To Diya Das, it all adds up

Many students would do anything to avoid math class. Not Diya Das. The Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School senior not only relishes her scheduled math classes, but she voluntarily takes advanced classes through a distance learning program. Her willingness to challenge herself in this demanding discipline have won her many awards and made her Best & Brightest in the Mathematics category.

The path to becoming a math wizard began when Das was in fifth grade and entered the accelerated math program. In seventh grade, she tackled algebra II and geometry. By her sophomore year, she scored a perfect 5 on the advanced placement calculus exam. And as a senior, she is taking on discrete mathematics honor level, advanced placement statistics, and a distance course in multivariable differential calculus as well as multivariable integral calculus.

"I used to be one of those kids that hated math at first," Das admitted. "But when I started to figure out how it all goes together, I started to like it. I recall asking in middle school, "What are the applications for this?" Math can be put to so many uses. There's not an end to it and it can be built on. That's what I like."

Das said that's why she challenges herself with the advanced-level calculus courses, building on things she's learned earlier with each new lesson.

"Calculus is one of the first classes, where I've seen applications all over the place. Yes, you can see the applications of word problems," she said, "but calculus is where things start jumping out at you."

For instance, she said, calculus has very practical applications in electrical circuits.

"For most people, as long as the light comes on and off, it doesn't matter how it works," she said. For her, that crossover between the textbook study and the real world is intriguing.

Das used the ordered world of math and spreadsheets to enhance the Angel Tree program she coordinated recently. The program, she explained, uses cards with people's names and some suggested holiday gifts. Volunteers choose a card and purchase the gift. Das saw a way to make the process even easier.

"People don't have time to look through all the cards to choose," she said, so she laid out all the information in a spreadsheet. "People could skim the spreadsheet and pick what child they wanted to help. They were more likely to look at this than at all the cards."

She also enhanced the program to include e-mail solicitations and a cash collection that allowed people to contribute money rather than purchasing specific gifts. For all she gave, Das said, "I truly have gained as much as I have given in support of Angel Tree."

The success of the Angel Tree and her excellent grades aren't the only ways Das excels. She's student leader of the math club and led it in several competitions. And Das has tallied a few awards along the way, including the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute award for math and science, several awards in Marywood University math contests, and a scholarship to the Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Sciences, where she spent a month studying math and science courses. "Governor's School was really quite unexpected," she said. "I knew it would be a good five-week summer program, but I didn't know the level of involvement and how much I would learn."

Although she's a "numbers" person, Das is equally comfortable with the written word and has served as co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. She's also published a book about Indian American immigrants, which resulted from her Wyoming Seminary trimester-long historical research and writing project known as Odyssey. What makes all her accomplishments more amazing is that she did a bit of subtracting to get there. Das skipped her eighth grade year and was only 16 when she started her senior year.

She's had many accomplishments to be proud of, and Das relishes each as it comes.

"Whenever I accomplish something that I've worked hard for and wasn't sure of the outcome, I'm always most proud of that," she said, citing completion and publication of her Odyssey project and, more recently, her acceptance into Princeton University.

Das plans to study math and physics at what she said is her dream school. She would ultimately like to combine her varied talents to pursue a career in teaching, research or science journalism.

At top, Diya Das of Wyoming Seminary was recently accepted into Princeton University, which she calls "her dream school." There she plans to study mathematics and physics to help prepare herself to become a school teacher.

Scranton Times-Tribune May 4, 2008   

Around The Towns - Olyphant
by Charles Schillinger

The association that brought you a memorial to the borough's origins is now bringing you a book dedicated to that, as well.

Jay Luke, a project engineer with the Olyphant Coal Miners Memorial Association, said the book, which has taken about three to four years to write, is almost complete. The book will detail the coal mining days of Olyphant Borough, Mr. Luke said, and will include photographs of important landmarks in the borough.

"We were just sitting around and talking about how things from the coal mining days, they're disappearing," he said. "And younger kids, they don't really understand the history of the area."

The book is about 75 percent complete, Mr. Luke said, and they hope to have it out by summer.

Eynon-based Tribute Books is the publisher.

The Weekender, April 30, 2008   

Not Hallmark heartwarming

Patrick Walker has always walked to a decidedly offbeat drummer: for years, he scorned cars, work, cell phones, and computers.

And now, with "Pegasus at the Plow," this Factoryville poet has released a collection of his work through Tribute Books that depicts just what his walk on the road less traveled was about.

In honor of "Pegasus," Walker will host a book signing/reading at the Barnes & Noble in downtown Wilkes-Barre (7 S. Main St.) this Saturday, May 3 from 1-3 p.m. For more info, call 570.208.4700.

Scranton Times-Tribune, April 30, 2008   

Factoryville poet to read, sign books

Factoryville area poet Patrick Walker will be reading from his recently published book, "Pegasus at the Plow," Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, 7 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre.

The author also will be available to sign copies of his book then and on May 24 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Anthology Books, 515 Center St., Scranton.

Mr. Walker's works have been described as maverick poetry. His publisher, Tribute Books, says Mr. Walker has diverged from the current trend in poetry of setting up prose as verse. He leans to the classics, particularly the works of Yeats, but infuses them with a terse and witty edge.

The book is illustrated, as were poetry volumes of an earlier era.

Mr. Walker's partner in life and in art, Virginia Cody, provided the artwork and is the dedicatee of several of the poems.

Mr. Walker is a native of Scranton, a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and a University of Scranton Honors graduate. He lives in Factoryville with Ms. Cody and her daughter, Anna.

For more information on the upcoming reading, call Tribute Books at 876-2416 or visit the publisher's Web site at www.tribute-books.com.

Pennsylvania Magazine, March/April 2008   

History

Journey Along the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad

Alan Sweeney, 2007, Tribute Books (PO Box 95, Archbald, PA 18403). 978-0-9795045-0-1. 323 pp. $19.95

The author has collected postcards of inns, villas, resorts and farms that existed during the heyday of early tourism in the Poconos in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Trains allowed city dwellers to escape to the cool hills and verdant sceneries of our northeastern counties.

The D. L. & W. Railroad traveled from and to New York, Scranton, Binghamton, Syracuse and Oswego, with connections at Philadelphia and other cities, and provided travelers low-cost access to boarding homes, hotels and inns in the areas near the Delaware Water Gap to Tobyhanna. Readers see a journey through time when a family vacation was but a train ride away from the confines of city life.

The Abington Journal, April 16, 2008   

A well-versed life
by Aleksandra Djordjevic

FACTORYVILLE - Poet Patrick Walker is a well-versed kind of guy. And he happens to love what he does. "I'm a very personal poet - I tend to write in the first person. Various blends of my experience enter into everything I write."

Walker lives in Factoryville and has been educated at some of the area's schools that have influenced his poetry: Scranton Prep and the University of Scranton. Walker said, "I've been influenced in ways so deep, they're hard to identify. My exposure to classical mythology, Latin and Edith Hamilton have entered into my mind and resonated with my subconscious mind. I grew up Catholic, which will always be an influence. But I feel there's a basic truth in all religions."

Not only has Walker been impacted by his years at both schools, but certain poets, such as T.S. Eliot, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost have made it possible for Walker's own poetic voice to develop. "I'm very influenced by T.S. Eliot with his poetry and criticism. Also, W.B. Yeats, which is what some of my poems stylistically look like. He was from Ireland, and that's my heritage - I feel connected in that way."

Unique in his outlook of what he believes his poems should express, Walker said, "I stick to the basics, and I deal with the mysteries of life and death, that we can have faith but we don't know what's beyond this. The eternal subjects will never go out of style. Religious faith can be difficult for modern people; the use of love as a substitute religion is a background theme of my poetry."

Walker's theme of love in his poetry has also carried over into his own life. In fact, it is "the love of his life," as he called her, Ginger Cody, who published his collection of poems, "Pegasus at the Plow." "She went and published them as a surprise," Walker said, of artist Cody, "and she happens to be the book's illustrator." Walker lives in Factoryville, with artist Cody, her daughter Anna, and the family's two dogs, Lilly and Rosie.

Walker described his choice of the title for his poetry: "In an over-commercialized society, so many people do work not connected to human values, like love and compassion. Pegasus was a horse in Greek mythology who was able to fly, and who represented freedom and beauty. In a way, we feel like this magical horse chained to a plow."

Visionary in what he believes poetry should do, Walker expressed his feelings of what poetry is really about. Walker said, "Poetry is a concentrated, intense form of expression about human experience. It has tried to experience much in little. My own tries to reveal really significant moments of human experience and capture them in their essence. Poetry is related to song. By virtue of its sound, it takes us to a spiritual place. In my own poetry, if it doesn't sound really good and doesn't flow well, then it's failed."

Walker is convinced that poetry offers deeper truths and insights about people and their worlds. He said, "Poetry can give you a sense of real beauty, and, in turn, we learn something about the natural world. If we would take the trouble to live in relation to the world's truths, we could find its beauty."

For those interested in hearing Walker read his collection of poetry and getting copies of the book signed, he will be at Barnes and Noble in Wilkes-Barre on 7 South Main Street on May 3 from 1 to 3 p.m., and at the Anthology bookstore on 515 Center Street in downtown Scranton on May 24 from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 876-2416 or e-mail info@tribute-books.com

At left, top: Factoryville poet Patrick Walker recently published a collection of his poems, "Pegasus at the Plow," through Tribute Books.

Bottom: Patrick Walker, of Factoryville, left, and Ginger Cody provided poems and illustrations, respectively, for Walker's "Pegasus at the Plow," available now. Walker lives in Factoryville, with his artist Ginger Cody, her daughter Anna, and the family's two dogs, Lilly and Rosie.

The Scranton Times-Tribune, April 14, 2008   

Meet The Publishers

Nicole Langan, of Tribute Books, right, and Alyssa Amori, author of "Scranton: The Electric City," gather to discuss a "Meet the Publishers" event scheduled Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Periodicals Room at the Albright Memorial Library. To register, call 570-348-3000, ext. 3042.

The Pilot, March 23, 2008   

Small Presses Sometimes Bring Big Surprises
by Faye Dasen

Good books often come via small publishing houses. Here are a few that have recently come my way.

Brooklyn Dodgers
The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957
By John R. Nordell Jr.
Tribute Books, 2008, $14.95

True fans of the game of baseball will enjoy this look at the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957, the final year the team played at Ebbets Field. The author tells the story of the Dodgers' mid-season surge in the standings during that last year in Brooklyn. The book includes photographs and information from various sources as well as the author's personal remembrances of seeing a Dodgers' game.

Times Leader, March 20, 2008   

Names & Faces
Diya Das

Diya Das, a student at Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, Kingston, will be the recipient of a Student for Peace Award from the Peace & Justice Center, Wilkes-Barre, to be held April 14, at Genetti Hotel and Convention Center, Wilkes-Barre. Das maintains high honors while tutoring in a peer writing lab; and has served as the head of the Angel Tree project coordinated through the Salvation Army. She is also a member of the United Way Youth Allocations Committee and Wyoming Seminary Community Service Executive Committee. While still in high school, she has published two books, "In Mind" and "The Evolution of an Identity." Das has done a grant compilation for a three-year study, "Circles, a Peace and Justice" initiative that is designed to eliminate hatred and community splintering in Hazleton.

newgreatbooks.blogspot.com, March 2008   

Poetry That Talks to the Heart: A Book for the Modern Age
A Kinder Bright: Poems of Praise & Remembrance
by Peter N. Jones

As some of you may know, I'm a fan of poetry. If the poet is good at wordsmithing - which good poets are - then poetry is often the most powerful form of writing I know. The imagery, emotion, and raw power of a good poem are rarely unequaled. However, today poetry seems to be a slowly dying writing genre. I've noted this in other reviews on poetry - with the argument that perhaps in today's world of text messages, media blurbs, and email conversations poetry can once again return to its former glory.

To see what I mean - and how good poetry can change your outlook - one needs look no further then A Kinder Bright by Jerry Fagnani. In this nice little book writer and poet Jerry Fagnani demonstrates the beauty of the craft. Drawing on a lifetime spent in the Lackawanna area of Pennsylvania, the Lackawanna Collection shows how important ties to place and home really are. The poems "Fading Places", "Gently Falling", and "City of Days" carried me to the special, spiritual places Fagnani describes. This is what good poetry is about - the ability to evoke in the reader the very emotion and mind of the poet - and the Lackawanna Collection does just that.

The Elaine Collection - the last collection of poems in the book - is perhaps one of the most deep and emotionally moving series of poems that I have read in quite some time. Written in remembrance of his now deceased wife, this collection of poems will make your eyes water and your heart ache.

I took A Kinder Bright to one of the local poetry readings hosted at a local coffee shop and read "The Song of You" and "A Shelter of Joy" from the Elaine Collection. It just confirmed my opinion - the audience responded the same way I did to these poems - with interest and heart. I'm sure I would have sold a handful of copies if I had extra copies on hand. I'm just glad I discovered Jerry Fagnani's work and poetry - powerful stuff for a troublesome time. Thanks to Jerry for his ability to prove once again the power of poetry and its relevance in today's modern age.

Scranton Times-Tribune, March 16, 2008   

Out & About
at a book signing for former Mayor David Wenzel's "Scranton's Mayors"
at Anthology Books, Casey Laundry building
by Pamela Suchy


Former Scranton Mayor David Wenzel


Former Mayor Jim Connors


Current Mayor Chris Doherty


Former Mayor Gene Peters


Judge Tom Munley and Andrea Talarico


Organizer Joe Riccardo


Andrew & Dolores Gillow, of Old Forge

Harundale Presbyterian Church Newsletter, February 2008   

Call Me Sonya Grey
A Young Girl's Poems about Death, Life & Adolescence
Book Report
by Janet Lloyd

Martha Elliott is the one who usually brings you a book report from the Stephen Ministers, but I have asked her if I may do the report this month, and she has graciously allowed me to do so! I have a special reason for wanting to write about this author as she is my daughter-in-law!

Call Me Sonya Grey is a personal collection of poetic verse that is inspiring and challenging. With the loss of her mother at age nine, Sonya began collecting her thoughts in a diary, developing these thoughts into poetic form that spans the time from early childhood to her twenties. Sonya describes her daily battles of self-image and self-expression that she experienced growing up after the passing of one parent and the estrangement of another.

Here is a portion of the poem called "Mother Dear":

(Oh mother dear, I miss you like never before)

Where are your sweet smiles?
Have they dried and shriveled on your cold lips

Where are your funny jokes?
Have they turned to dust and lay at your feet

To whom will comfort me?
To whom will dry my tears?
To whom will I lay my head,
When no one else is near?

With her mother's death, Sonya lost a part of everything she had known. Two states away, she finds herself with a different family, school, friends, home and a new name. Sonya Tupone Lloyd currently lives in Glen Burnie, Maryland with her husband, Doug, her dog, Bailey, and her cat, Odie.

Check out these "heart-felt" poems in the Stephen Ministry section of the church library. This is Sonya's first volume of poetry, and we are so very proud of her!

The Weekender, February 27, 2008   

Cover Story
The Write Stuff
by Michael Lello

For aspiring authors, the numbers are not encouraging. Some experts say it's harder than ever to get published. And even if your work does see the light of the day, who's going to read it? According to a study released by the National Endowment for the Arts late last year, Americans today are reading less than ever.

But writers have never paid much attention to numbers.

The best advice for writers, it seems, is to keep writing.

"It's very frustrating and very difficult," National Book Award-nominated poet and author H.H. Hix says of the publishing process.

Hix, whose "God Bless: A Political/Poetic Discourse" will be published this fall by Etruscan Press, directs the creative writing masters of fine arts (MFA) program at the University of Wyoming. Hix, who has been recognized with the Grolier Prize, T.S. Eliot Prize, the Peregrine Smith Award and an NEA fellowship, tries to impress upon his students that they should concentrate on writing, not publishing, while they craft their pieces.

"The first thing I tell creative writing students is to focus on the work itself and not the publishing part," Hix says.

It's good advice, because thinking about finding an agent and a publisher can be maddening. For example, Etruscan, housed in the offices of the graduate creative writing program at Wilkes University, only publishes about 10 percent of the works submitted to it, says Etruscan Assistant Managing Editor Nicole DePolo.

"Rejection is definitely part of the process, and I've heard, 'Expect 25 rejections for every one acceptance,' whether you're submitting a novel or a short piece like a poem," DePolo says. "Rejection is part of the process, but it's also part of educating yourself on all the venues you have for submission. And it's also an important venue for feedback."

Feedback from fellow writers, especially those that have had work published, is key when you're preparing to shop your first manuscript. Hix suggests finding an individual with such experience or even hiring someone to give you feedback.

"Everyone I know does that with their manuscripts, no matter how many books they've published," says Hix.

Should you get an agent?
Most major publishing houses do not accept submissions not represented by agents. Novelists and major nonfiction writers, especially, are advised to hire agents, which shop writers' manuscripts to publishers. They're paid a percentage of sales they negotiate for their clients.

Hix recommends that first-time submitters, after some feedback from peers, get a sense that the piece is ready then work on finding an agent. If a writer has a colleague that has an agent, try to have the colleague recommend his or her work to that agent, and make sure any agent you consider has experience shopping your type of work, whether it's fiction, nonfiction, memoir, etc. (Hix notes that poets generally do not use agents due to the low commercial potential of most poetry books.)

Author Ginny Wiehardt, who also has experience in the publishing industry, reminds submitting authors to include a query letter, book synopsis and self-addressed, stamped envelope with any manuscript you send to a publisher. She also recommends picking up "Guide to Literary Agents," subscribing to the Publisher's Marketplace newsletter and finishing your book before shopping it. Writer's Digest magazine is another popular source.

Writers with published work under their belts, whether in literary journals or through collegiate publications, are more likely to get noticed, as are submitters with MFA degrees.

Another aspect to consider is which agents accept unsolicited manuscripts. Regardless, making sure you have a feel for your finished product is important before you become earnest about having it published.

"I think it's important for authors to get a sense of the community of other authors and publishers and try to make contact with that community directly instead of submitting straight mailings," DePolo says. "They make themselves aware of festivals and meet authors and publishers face to face."

Etruscan, according to its Web site, was founded in 2001 and is "a nonprofit cooperative of poets and writers working to produce and promote books that nurture the dialogue among genres, achieve a distinctive voice, and reshape the literary and cultural histories of which we are a part." It publishes books of poems, novels, short stories, creative nonfiction, criticism and anthologies. Two of its poetry collections have been National Book Award finalists, including Hix's "Chromatic." Etruscan books are distributed nationally by Small Press Distribution and Consortium Book Sales and Distribution.

Another alternative
More and more authors are choosing the alternative of self-publishing - that is, paying a publishing house to print their work rather than find a publisher that will pay them. One such publisher is Tribute Books, based in Eynon. For a fee, Tribute works with authors to design the cover and inside of the book, print the book and get onto the shelves of bookstores like Borders and Barnes and Noble as well as online at Amazon.com.

"There are writers that have been writing for decades that haven't had the opportunity," says Nicole Langan, Tribute's owner. "They have been turned down by the major publishing houses, by the Random Houses and the Simon & Schusters. They have had trouble obtaining an agent. We get the book on Amazon.com, and we focus on the regional area. Having a national type of audience buying books is pretty unlikely, but you do get a few."

Tribute, which launched in 2004, has had its biggest success to date with "Scranton's Mayors" by former Scranton Mayor David J. Wenzel. The book came out in 2006 and has already sold more than 1,000 copies, and it's still selling and the author is still doing book signings and events, Langan says. Another popular Tribute title, Langan notes, is "The Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957" by John R. Nordell Jr.

Tribute does the cover and book layout and secures the books with ISBN numbers, which register the work throughout the book world. The publisher offers other options, including copyright, marketing and publicity. Tribute is flexible in the amount of books it can have printed at any given time throughout a book's life; the minimum increment is 25 copies, and the printer can reel off 5,000 at a time if needed, Langan says.

Langan works with Partners Book Distributing, of Michigan, which fulfills bookstores' orders for Tribute releases. Again, local exposure is the top priority for Tribute books, most of which are written by Northeastern Pennsylvania authors about NEPA topics.

"To get into the bookstores locally, we do have relationships that we build with the store managers," Langan says. "The big ones are Borders in Scranton, the two Barnes and Nobles in Wilkes-Barre and Anthology in Scranton."

A changing landscape
Previously, there was a stigma attached to pay-to-publish authors.

Tribute explains this stigma and a changing attitude on its Web site, noting, "In the past, it was believed that authors should never have to pay to be published. But today's publishing world is changing at a rapid pace. Authors are finding it more difficult to get noticed than ever before. "Agents are frustrated that some of their most talented clients simply cannot land a publishing contract."

Langan acknowledges the stigma and echoes the Web site's sentiments regarding the changing publishing landscape.

"I think a lot of authors are learning that you can have more control over finished work working this way," she says.

Hix agrees, explaining that technological advances have allowed for all different types of author-controlled publishing.

"It really has changed in part because now the culture of reading is changing, for one thing," he says. "Things like blogs, they're really like self-published work, and people are used to the idea in general."

Furthermore, Tribute doesn't just accept and publish any work that comes down the pike.

"We do have quality control in terms of what we do accept," Langan says. "If it's not well written, if it's not grammatically correct, if it's anything in terms of pornography, we wouldn't accept it."

While it seems tougher - and more costly - than ever to get published, Hix advises aspiring authors to keep writing and stay abreast of an evolving industry.

"The market has changed in some respects; it's easier to get something out there in the sense that there's some ways you can control your own Web site," Hix says.

"And despite the questions and readership," he adds, alluding to the NEA study, "more books are published each year. There's a lot happening in the book world, so it's tough to get noticed. Less books are getting reviewed, for example. You just need to stay aware of it and work."

Electric City, February 21, 2008   



Seven Days
The Book on Mayors
by Randy Shemanski

David Wenzel knows a thing or 20 about being the mayor of Scranton. After all, he spent 1986-1990 as the city's mayor, getting the wheels turning on the Lackawanna Valley Historical Park and the flood projects for the Albright Avenue and Plot sections of the city. Now, he's a published author after penning Scranton's Mayors, a collection of mini-biographies on the 29 Scranton mayors, including the currrent mayor, Chris Doherty. With assistance from The Times-Tribune, which opened up its archives to Wenzel, and the Albright Memorial Library, the Lackawanna Historical Society, Wenzel brought to life each of the mayors through their political battles and their time in office. The book also serves as a history of Scranton, in some ways. Through the stories about each mayor, one gets a feel for how the city developed from its earliest days. Wenzel will discuss the book and sign copies at Anthology New and Used Books at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 23, 2008.

newgreatbooks.blogspot.com, February 2008   

The Sacred Nature of Hunting:
Stories that Reveal Our Humanness
by Peter N. Jones

One of the most famous writers in American history was Ernest Hemingway. He wrote stories about the American experience, and what it ment to be a living and breathing human. Some of Hemingway's most famous stories centered on hunting: "Certainly there is no hunting like the hunting of man and those who have hunted ... long enough and liked it, never really care for anything else thereafter" (from 'On the Blue Water' in Esquire, April 1936). I loved reading Hemingway - having read everything that he wrote - and have always kept my eyes open for someone else who could convey the spirit, excitement, and humanness of "the hunt."

Breathtaking Bowhunts by Mike Lamade turns out to be just that book. In this collection of bowhunting adventures the author brings the reader along on over 20 different hunts over a period of almost four decades. What sets these hunting stories apart - at least for me - is the fact that they were all done via bowhunting. I'm not a big fan of long-range rifle hunting, where the hunter is a half-mile away on some hill and the animal has no idea that they are being hunted. No, that does not seem like an adventure to me. However, these stories reveal what it is to be a human out in the wild - just you, a bow and arrow, and nature. No chance to shoot off your rifle if the bear suddenly turns and attacks! Or if the wildebeast that you have been tracking for a couple of days decides to turn and charge!

No, in Breathtaking Bowhunts Mike Lamade shares with the reader not only the hunt itself, but also the preparation, tracking, and care that goes into a successful hunt - one where you have to actually put your life on the line. For example, Lamade's hunt of a record Mule Deer on the eastern plains of Colorado in winter made my palms sweat. Fighting through a horrendous blizzard, I could feel the tension and fatigue Lamade was holding back as he stalked his prey. Similarly, when I was reading the story about Lamade's amazing hunts of the elusive African Kudu, my senses were heightened and my hands tingled.

I'm not a hunter. I've never killed anything so much as an ant. However, I've always had respect for those people who still maintain that sacred tie between man and beast. That sacred tie involves skill, determination, and respect for the animal on the part of the hunter, as well as some recognition on the part of the prey that they are being hunted. Native Americans talk about a bond between the hunter and the hunted - the animal has sacrificed themselves for the purpose of fulfilling the needs of the hunter and the hunter recognizes this and offers something in return. This is what most impressed me about Breathtaking Bowhunts - this understanding is clearly part of Mike Lamade's hunting practices.

The stories in this book demonstrate that not only is hunting ok, but if done with the right intentions, hunting can become a sacred act. I respect Mike Lamade and others who hunt in a similar fashion. They are preserving an important part of human heritage - one of our sacred bonds that we share with animals and the natural environment. This book will thrill any hunter. But more importantly, it will help others realize that not all hunting is bad. In some cases, it is sacred.

The Abington Journal, January 30, 2008   

A word on dating with author Annie Earley
by Melissa Kelly

"What Was I Thinking?! How Not to Date" author discusses her ups and downs in online dating.

A local author, Annie Earley, recently penned a book "What Was I Thinking? How Not to Date" about her experiences with online dating. Earley said that the book discusses the matter with humor, but also points out the dangers. She will appear at the Viewmont Mall Borders on Saturday, Feb. 2 for a book signing. The Abington Journal posed questions to the author.

Q: Why did you decide to join an online dating group?

A: I decided to join an online dating group because my close friend suggested it might be a good way to meet someone. She met her husband through an online dating service.

Q: What advice would you give to women thinking about online dating?

A: Try to meet someone through a friend or just try to meet someone out and about and in person. If they really want to try online dating I would advise them to be very careful. Set up some guidelines and rules for safety and stick to them. Unfortunately, you can't believe everything in a potential date's profile.

Q: Any story that sticks out in your mind as either the best or the worst date?

A: I think the story that sticks out in my mind the most is the story about "Peter Lorre." This story is an example of how you can think you've gotten to know someone through email and on the phone, and feel that you really connect, only to find that when you meet them in person you are frightened and fearing for your safety and feeling vulnerable. When things like this happen it does not do much for your self-esteem. I found myself feeling foolish.

Q: Are you still an active member of the online dating community? Or are you in a relationship/ seeing anyone special?

A: Actually, at the end of the book it tells how I met someone special through a friend and we got married six months later. I could add that although I stated in my book that I do not believe in "head over heels," I now know that there is such a thing as a soulmate I met him nine months after I decided to take a break from dating and had decided to just put it in God's hands, so there may be some truth to the philosophy that when you stop looking, that is when you will meet someone.

Q: Why did you decide to write the book?

A: I decided to write a book about my experiences because as I was telling these stories to my family and friends the response was always the same, "You should write a book!" So I did. I also hoped that in sharing my experiences I might give someone encouragement, or at least let some men and women who are dating and going through similar experiences know that they are not alone.

Q: Why do you feel people should buy your book and how could they get a copy?

A: I feel that someone should buy my book if they are interested in trying online dating or are dating at all. Each chapter tells a story about one of the men I met or dated and contains humorous cartoons depicting some of these meetings. Some of the stories are humorous and some are not so funny. I would like to think that anyone who likes to read about relationships would enjoy it.

My book is available through Tribute Books (Eynon, PA), Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Borders.

Q: Any final words of wisdom?

A: I don't know if these would be considered words of wisdom but I would say the following to anyone out there who is dating: Set standards for yourself relating to what you want in a relationship; especially how you want to be treated. Don't settle for less because you are afraid of being lonely. . If you are lonely, find things to do to fill your life. Have trust in yourself and put your trust in God.

newgreatbooks.blogspot.com, January 2008   

Ironies in the American life: new book rants about all
by Peter N. Jones

Radio personalities are a special breed. They have to think on their feet, keep the listener interested in what they are saying, and make sure their comments are relative. These skills, although they can transfer to writing, often don't. Often when one reads the same commentary instead of hearing it, things just don't seem to flow right. However, this is not always the case - there are some radio personalities that have made the crossover into writing successfully. Jim Rising, of The Mountain 102.3 in Pennsylvania is one such case - his radio rants have transferred perfectly to the written page.

Ranting every weekday from 10:00 - 11:00 am, Jim Rising gives us an honest look into the American life. Filled with sarcasm, wit, and the unique perspective of a radio personality who does not care what other people say (i.e., brutal honesty), The Book of Rants is a great way to wake up and take a fresh look at American society and culture.

Some of the highlights include:

Jim's rant on how banks screw us with the bounced check scam, "The check bouncing business is big business for your local friendly banker and they have even found a way to maximize their profits. It's something called high to low check processing and it works like this." (p. 13)

His prediction for what will happen when gas stays above $3 dollars a gallon, "Those big tanker trailers hold 12 thousand gallons of the juice as Mel Gibson called it in Mad Max. At $3, that's $36,000 rolling around waiting for someone with a notion and not much sense to run off with." (p. 73)

Why daylight savings throws people out of whack, "All of this changes the day we set the clocks back. I feel that I have been robbed and it throws my system out of whack completely." (p. 114)

How crazy it is for fast food joints to post the calories in their food, "I am guessing that to those folks who snarf down that kind of gut-busting chow, the calories don't mean a thing." (p. 178)

I could go on, but then I would be having my own rant. The Book of Rants is a great read for all of those looking to get a quick wake-up call. They are not offensive - often Jim makes more fun of himself then anyone else - but the rants provide one with a snapshot on American life: its ironies, conflicts, and idiosyncrasies. Toss this book in your car, keep it in your office, have it next to the phone - next time you feel like screaming at the world, let Jim do it for you. Or as Jim says, "then again I could be wrong."

The Daily Journal, January 19, 2008   

Dodgers memories
by Phil Angelo

No one waxes nostalgic for the St. Louis Browns.

The Boston Braves, too, are largely forgotten in baseball's faded past.

Write off, too, the Philadelphia A's, and in our own time, the Montreal Expos.

But, oh, the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Dodgers, will ever be "The Boys of Summer."

Tribute Books has a new book out on the Bums, "Brooklyn Dodgers: The Last Great Pennant Drive, 1957." The slim 90-page volume sells for $14.95. Author John R. Nordell Jr. brings both personal and professional credentials to the table. He holds a doctorate in history from Penn State and had previously written about a heavy subject - the battle of Dien Bien Phu. The catastrophic defeat in Indochina for the French helped set up our involvement in Vietnam and reverberates in American foreign policy to this day.

This is a lighter topic, though, and Nordell also brings the childhood delight of a fan to the book. He saw a game at Ebbets Field in the summer of '57, his first game. Pictures taken by his father at the game, including a rare view of famed Ringling Brothers clown Emmett Kelly as the Dodger "Bum," lend a very personal touch.

It's also a very intriguing topic for a book. The Dodgers won pennants in '52, '53, '55 and '56. 1955 is remembered as the year they finally won the World Series. 1956 is remembered for the Yankee's Don Larsen throwing a perfect game against the Dodgers in the series. 1954 is remembered as the year the Giants edged out the Dodgers on Bobby Thomson's home run.

But '57 was a fadeaway year. Several veteran Dodger stars were on the decline. Then, throughout the year, speculation built that the Dodgers would depart for Los Angeles.

Nordell, though, defines his book very narrowly. He focuses on a brief two-week period after the All-Star break when the Dodgers used a winning streak to pull within a game of the lead. For much of the summer, five teams out of an eight-team league, Milwaukee, the Reds, the Dodgers, Giants and Phillies, were close to the lead.

Ultimately, the Braves of a young Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn and Lew Burdette, would pull away, and win the pennant by eight games.

Nordell summarizes each of the daily games in the pennant races - about two or three paragraphs each - much in the same way you would read in the daily wrapups by the Associated Press. This rather spare method is fleshed out by anecdotes in footnotes at the end of the chapters. Almost all the research seems to be drawn from secondary sources. I do not know if many, or any, of the key Dodgers of that era are still alive, but interviews with a few would have added mightily.

The last chapter, the best, deals with the team's departure for the West Coast. Nordell is nostalgic and sentimental about the flight of the Dodgers, a theme that's been repeated over and over.

People in general remember the '50s as a sort of baseball golden age, as in the song, "Willie, Mickey and the Duke." The reality is that baseball attendance was sinking throughout much of the '50s, with teams trapped in aging stadiums in decaying neighborhoods. The Dodgers of '57 drew 1.03 million fans that year, fifth in an eight-team league. Today, that attendance would put them in last place in both leagues.

Think of it, the Dodgers of Roy Campanella, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Don Drysdale and Gil Hodges, selling 13,000 tickets a game. Folks' hearts may have been with the team, but not their wallets.