Area writers present an array of new books
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Dec. 16—Welcome to our occasional compendium of books written by local authors. Here are titles spanning fiction and nonfiction that have been written and published over the course of the pandemic.
Shard
Ranger Publications ($15.99 paper, $6.99 Kindle)
Benn is the multi-nominated author of the Billy Boyle World War II mysteries. In this stand-alone novel, he turns his attention to the Korean War — often called America's "forgotten war." Private Ethan Shard is a black market profiteer with the U.S. Army during the 1950 Occupation in Japan. When North Koreans invade South Korea, though, Shard is sent to war and is soon captured by North Korean forces — and his resilience and strength in the face of sheer brutality is a portrait of captivity, betrayal, and endurance. Also available at Bank Square Books in Mystic, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.
We're Really All Just the Same — A Children's Book
Rod Cornish with illustrations by Autumn Wilson
Leaning Rock Press ($19.95 hardcover, $12.95 paper)
When he was 4 years old, Roen Hendrix Cornish, whose mom is Lithuanian and father is African American, wondered aloud why his father's skin was darker than his own. Before Cornish the elder could respond, Roen said, "It's OK, we're really the same."
That insight and innate optimism inspired dad to write a children's book reflecting that theme. It's called "We're Really All the Same," and Cornish will sign copies from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at his popular Hot Rod Café in New London. It's more than timely; the event precedes the restaurant's 16th anniversary party. Note: get to the signing early; a limited number of copies also signed by Roen. Also available at amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
Elephant Island
Todd A. Gipstein
Gipstein Multi-Media ($20)
Presumably, there are times when Gipstein sits on a chair or couch and relaxes. But maybe not. For many years, the New London-based renaissance man was an executive producer and photographer at National Geographic. He's also a magician, a filmmaker and a lecturer — and has also written four novels ranging from historical to paranormal and more.
His latest title, "Elephant Island," is anchored in events that happened in 1916, when Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men were marooned on the titular island in Antarctica. A century later, Diana, a meteorite hunter for the Museum of Natural History following a trail leading back to inventor Nikola Tesla and iridium, ends up on Elephant Island on a life and death quest. The book is also available at amazon.com.
Can't Sing in Jail!
Greg Gilmartin
Self-published ($15.95 paper)
As per Gipstein above, Gilmartin is similarly talented and multifaceted. The Mystic resident has been a Russian linguist for the U.S. Air Force, the PA announcer for the Hartford Whalers, a regional race officer for U.S. Sailing, a TV producer/director/videographer and a "car wash specialist." He's also a novelist, and "Can't Sing in Jail!" is his latest effort.
Set in the waters between Mystic and Jamaica, and with a cast of characters you might find drinking with John D. McDonald, Tim Dorsey and Jimmy Buffett, "Can't Sing in Jail!" is fueled by the camaraderie, fun, adrenaline and profit of drug smuggling — and what happens when folks representing both legal and illegal factions decide they want in on the action. Available at Bank Square Books in Mystic, Island Bound Books on Block Island, and amazon.com.
Plague Poems: 2020 Vision
Pandemie, New and Selected Poems
Richard Harteis
Poets' Choice ($20 paper "Plague Poems: 2020 Vision," $40 "Pandemie")
Back-to-back volumes by Harteis demonstrate the range of emotion and resilience that have arisen during our sudden experiences with a global pandemic. Using dark humor, honesty and spontaneous reaction to try to make some sense of our New Reality, Harteis's pieces range from speculations on Camus and the liturgical calendar to scoffing at political "leaders." "Pandemie" is also available in a bilingual edition with Dutch translations by Tom Veys and artwork by Veys, Rita Dawley and Juner Patnode. This edition won the 2021 Valentin Krustev Award for Translation. Also available at amazon.com
Notions from a Time of Peril
Glenn Alan Cheney
New London Librarium ($12.95, signed paperback)
Publisher/writer Cheney is a frequent contributor to The Day and its weekly Times subsidiaries, and this volume is a collection of his essays therein. The author's observations are the sort that can only come from a life well-lived, and they blend wit, philosophy and simple wonder. Cheney's work tends to reflect epiphany through the prism of everyday (and oft-overlooked) experiences such as hiccupping, penmanship, roadside litter and more. Also available from amazon.com ($15.95).
Hidden History of Mystic & Stonington
Gail B. MacDonald
The History Press ($31.99 hardcover, $21.99 paper, $12.99 kindle)
Visitors — and even residents! — might be surprised to know the diverse and at times hardscrabble origins of two towns on our quaint coastline that are typically associated with brightly colored tourist brochures and as destination spots. MacDonald, a New London resident, a member of the journalism faculty at the University of Connecticut at Storrs and a former reporter for The Day, writes fluidly and with affection and scholarship about the hidden layers of this intriguing part of southern New England. Also available at amazon.com.
Bars for Days
Mic Nickels
Self-published ($24.99 hardback, $17.99 paper, $7.99 Kindle)
A once time local resident who attended New London Middle School, Nickels, whose real name is Michael Winick, is a New York City-based rapper. This memoir coincides with a newly released album of the same title (the latter including a collaboration with Method Man from the Wu Tang Clan).
In the book, Nickels's travels take him to Egypt, Peru, Cuba, and Japan and detail chance interactions with folks like Dave Chappelle, Tracy Morgan and O.J. Simpson. Nickels says he thinks of the book as a work of ethnography representing a specific generation that "grew up alongside the hip hop revolution and into the Information Age." Readers will be able to access the music from a QR code embedded in the title page. Available on amazon.com.
