Blog Archives
Kids Being Kids
Better Be Home When the Streetlights Come On: Remembering the Summer of 1963 follows three eleven-year-old boys as they spend their summer going on adventures and making memories. There was a lot of time spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
The three main characters and most of the supporting cast are loosely based on my childhood friends. Brain, the Jewish kid, was the smartest among us and Chief an African American kid was simply our friend – we didn’t care about race. The important traits are just ”kids being kids” and navigating the challenges and landscape of 1963.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I wanted to give the reader a sense of what it was like growing up in Braddock 1963. Beginning with a macro view of Braddock as a steel town shaped by Andrew Carnegie, steel-making technologies, and the environmental advantages of proximity to the Monongahela River and the rich coal seams. Next, I focused in closer on the neighborhood, stores, and the culture of the times. From then on through the rest of the book I follow the major events of their summer vacation. Another theme is the challenges of aging with the older versions of the friends as they reflect on the childhood memories.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am going to go in a completely different direction and write a non-fiction book. I had the honor and privilege to serve in Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) roles in several iconic organizations including but not limited to the Naval Nuclear Program, US House of Representatives, American Red Cross (from 9-11 to Hurricane Katrina), and AMTRAK. Over 40 years of experience, I will write about the evolution of the CISO vocation in the context of meteoric advancements in technology and the means to protect the organization against internal and external threats. As to when it will be available, TBD.
Author links: GoodReads | Facebook
Better Be Home When The Streetlights Come On
Better Be Home When the Streetlights Come On: Remembering the Summer of 1963 by Ron Baklarz provides an evocative journey into the lives of Jack and his teenage companions during the vibrant era of the 1960s. This narrative, which can best be described as a fictional biography, is rooted in the lively exploits of these young lads, all set against the backdrop of Braddock, Pennsylvania, following their academic year at St. Brendan Catholic School.
Caught in the tumultuous throes of adolescence, Jack, along with his inseparable friends Brain and Chief, grapple with their increasing curiosity. Whether it’s dodging the intimidating Buster or embarking on secret escapades their parents should remain oblivious to, their summer is nothing short of eventful. From spirited accounts of their Catholic school experiences to their eager anticipations of the Boy Scout camp, their tales encompass the universal thrills of teenage years – the intrigue surrounding girls, firearms, fireworks, and camping adventures.
Baklarz does an admirable job of immersing readers in the 1960s, interweaving the narrative with cultural and historical references pertinent to the era. Vivid episodes, such as a delightful picnic escapade with their mothers or a daring attempt at firearm smuggling, consistently engage the reader.
While the novel’s focus remains sharply on 1963, there are moments when I feel the pacing feels slightly rushed, making it a tad challenging to trace the connectivity between certain events. I think a deeper dive into the perspectives of the supporting cast would have further enriched the tapestry of this story. While the extensive detailing of historical events is informative, its relevance to the central narrative occasionally feels overstated.
Better Be Home When the Streetlights Come On promises a delightful read for those with an affinity for tales that blur the lines between fact and fiction and who relish a trip down memory lane.
Pages: 225 | ASIN : B0CG7KF43V
The Winds of Change: Making Peace with Asperger’s
There comes a period in every person’s life when things just fall into place– quite surprisingly. All the hard work and struggles culminate, resulting in nothing but pure life-changing events. And that’s what this novel is about. In Winds of Change: Making Peace with Aspergers, author Keiron Austwick creates an imaginary persona to reflect his own life story, narrating how one year significantly turned the direction of his life.
Written in a diary format, this novel is a beautiful read. The author documents each month of the year 2018, recording the important life events that took place during this time. As the reader progresses through the novel, they come to realize that the year has been nothing less than ‘revolutionary’ in Rhys’ life.
As someone living with Asperger’s, he has faced multiple challenges in life, which he managed to handle bravely. With every month unfolding before the reader’s eyes, it’s not difficult to realize that Rhys is slowly making peace with Asperger’s. He lands a new job, makes smart investments, and gets a new car– happily embracing the winds of change, or in other words, positive beginnings that are about to transform his life. The book brings along a feel-good ray of hope.
The language is straightforward, easy to read, and flows smoothly. The monthly records help the reader keep track of the series of incidents. Asperger’s is a condition that affects one out of a hundred people, and this book is a brilliant example that it’s possible to accept and overcome the hardships it brings with it and live a good life. This inspirational account compels readers to find the light at the end of the tunnel– something that’s perhaps going to come in their life like the refreshing winds of change.
Winds of Change: Making Peace with Aspergers is the fictional biography of the author. The story itself, the flow of language, and the message it carries are all simple yet vital to living a happy and fulfilled life, especially when you’re struggling with a condition such as Asperger’s.
Pages: 176 | ASIN : B08L6Y1536
Self-Fulfillment And Discovery
The Retirement Quilt follows a retiree and recent widow who seeks to make a quilt of his tie collection and meets interesting people along the way that teach him much about life. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When I decided to retire from full-time work, my colleagues joked about what I would do with all my ties. I had worn ties all my life and to part with them was like destroying a part of my history. I had my first tie from Brooks Brothers in Boston, ties given to me by friends and lovers, ties from my overseas trips to Paris and Rome and ties from Australia.
I discussed this with a dear friend, Maisie, who said I could turn the ties into a quilt, find a new use for them and still retain the memories. I contacted several senior citizen centers and offered to underwrite the costs, including a small payment to the quilters. This proved far more problematic than I thought.
I wanted the quilt to be made by men since a man wore the ties and their history was a man’s history. It then occurred to me that I could write a story about the quilt’s creation by four men.
At the same time, my personal trainer posed a challenge. Complete the book by your birthday, the 28th of July. So in March, I started and did complete the first printed draft in July.
The characters in your story were all varied and interesting. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
I wanted my main male characters to be strong individuals in various stages on the road to self-fulfillment and discovery. So I had identified each male character with an Australian actor – Geoffrey Rush as Geoffrey, Russell Crowe as Russell, Barry Otto as Barry and Bryan Brown as Bryan. The main female characters were also strong. Margaret, although dead, plays a role in the lives of all characters. I wanted my characters to experience all the normal emotions of middle-aged men and women and discover love.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The theme of resurrection dominates the interaction of the four men, and by the end of the book, each finds his path to fulfillment and happiness.
The role of Morton places an important role in the story, not only for its historical significance but for the support it provides all characters.
As Margaret and the Bigelow family demonstrates, the role of heritage and tradition colors the social setting. It is woven into the story as the quilt is being designed and executed.
Finally, the development of friendship and trust is woven into the fabric of the quilt.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am completing a book called “The Secrets of Ferncrest,” which traces four generations of a family, their role in Newport, Boston and New York society and the family’s Newport home.” Ferncrest. It is told through the diary entries of the principal characters as transcribed by the grandson and son of the main characters.
It reflects their life from 1900 to 1946 and touches on all the important social, intellectual and political events in the United States. For example, it reflects the reaction to the sinking of the Titanic, the passage of government acts that sought to redistribute wealth and increased the role of government in social welfare programs, the Women’s Suffrage and Settlement House movements, the financial panic of 1929, the Spanish Flu, and two world wars.
I expect to complete the book by the first quarter of 2022.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
However, it is the spirit and love of Margaret, Geoffrey‘s deceased wife, which affects everyone and leads Geoffrey to love and happiness.
This is a beautiful story of love and loss that is destined to enchant and inspire.
LITERARY TITAN 