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Trinkets of Love
is a story about honor and respect for others. The story was created on Thanksgiving Day after visiting with a grandfather.
He knew that I was quite interested in things of the past, so he invited me to the attic to visit memorabilia that was important
to his life. As I listened intently to his stories surrounding various objects, I discovered that he was often upset that
he could not locate a particular object in the story. He would sigh and say; “Oh well, I guess someone has moved that.”
However, I could see by the look in his kind eyes that he knew that someone had taken it from him to keep it for themselves.
On the long drive home, I could not refrain from wondering why members of a family would help themselves to things that did
not belong to them. Hours later, I realized that for the taker of such “things” it was just a piece of junk lying
around, while for the owner, it was a memory of their life. Thus, Trinkets of Love was born. Soon after the story was published
in a magazine, a few family members approached me privately and asked if they were one of the characters in the story. I found
it odd that they would ask such a thing. Therefore, my only reply was, “no”, however, if the shoes fits—then
wear it.
Mathilda’s Surprise was written for my grandmother, who believed even at my young age of ten that
I would be a writer. She loved to listen to the stories that I wrote, even though now, some forty-two-years later I look back
on those first attempts to write and laugh. I have learned a thing or two about writing since then. When I received the letter
of acceptance from a magazine for Mathilda’s Surprise—my first professional story, I rushed home to tell my grandmother
the good news. Previously, she had had a stroke and barely knew me any longer. She died one day before the publication was
released. Nonetheless, the first copy was discreetly tucked beneath her burial pillow.
Over the years, friends
and family have asked me to write a story for one of their young children. Valerie’s Magnificent Hat was written for
a neighbor named Valerie, whereas Watch the Little Birdie was written for a friend’s daughter named Whitni. However,
another story was written for an actress who I knew named Victoria. Victoria was fascinated by my work and as a special gift
to her, while she was on a two-day trip to Paris, I surprised her when she returned with this story. Hence the title, The
Thespian Princess.
The next four stories are somewhat strange and eerie. One is pure fiction, while the other
three are based on actual legend involving real people. Can you guess which is fiction? The Mysterious Leatherman, Stiffs
at the Graystone Place, The Ghost of the Chesapeake Frigate and The First American Love Story.
The Mysterious Leatherman
is about a 19th Century wanderer. He traveled a continuous thirty-three-year circuit in the Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts
area. Stiffs at the Graystone Place is a story in which childish dares places a young boy in danger when he is challenged
to call on the home of one Mr. Graystone. Rumor was that he killed some people with an axe. The Ghost of the Chesapeake Frigate
is an 18th Century story that takes place aboard an old wooden sailing vessel. The ghost was slain during a bloody battle
at sea and now has returned to square-the-score with our hero Andy Porter. Finally, The First American Love Story. In this
18th Century story, an Indian chief discovers a white boy named Marmaduke, next to his slain mother. The boy becomes an adopted
Indian and falls in love with the chef’s lovely daughter named Sylvia. If you guessed Stiffs at the Graystone Place
as being the fiction, you would be correct.
Other stories are purely fictional stories out of the mind of the
author— during my “early” years as a writer. Down for the Third Time is a story about two cousins, who have
a bold and daring adventure during the long, hot summer vacations on Beaver Creek. Pinch Runner is a cute, yet nerdy type
of a story that involves a klutzy young boy who plays baseball—well, let us put it this way; he is on the team. However,
as is often the way of life, by way of paying close attention to his coach and executing basic fundamentals, he makes an amazing
play. Then there is Hello, It’s Alvin. This is a story that I wrote in 1979. As I reviewed it for inclusion in this
book, I discovered that I had never finished it. Now, some twenty-five-years later, it is complete. I hope you like the strange
twist.
In the way of non-fiction, Terror in Point Pleasant, Captain Kidd—the Pirate—the Legend—the
Lie, and The Wasa that Wasn’t are each accounts of unique historical figures, things and events. Each will educate was
well as entertain.
Finally, a story that was one that I personally experienced and just had to put down on paper.
It is truly A Lesson I’ll Never Forget. For all of the dad’s out there: imagine yourself left alone to be mother
and father to a four-year-old, for thirty-plus days. I can assure you that it is far more hours for a father and son to be
together than nature ever intended. By the way, this story was written in 1985, two years before the movie Mr. Mom was released.
I enjoyed the movie very much—I felt his frustration!
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