DOVER, Pa., June 4, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- When one recalls a life of fond memories, the thoughts usually come into consciousness as nuggets of wonderful thoughts, smells, tastes and emotions. Author Ed Starkey has compiled those memories into short pieces in his new book, Memoirs of Blackberry Road (now available through 1stBooks), making the reader feel as if they were tagging along with the two young main characters.
Set in the Depression era of the late 1930s and early 1940s, the book chronicles the adventures of Jordy and Buck, two delightful, energetic juveniles whose life goals at the time were finding adventure and a little money to secure sweets, movie tickets and other priceless gems of youth. Primarily based on the author's life, this book tells the roaring stories of stealing fruit off neighbors trees, planting a failed garden and tricking Dad by picking and hustling the neighbors' vegetables instead.
Jordy risks life and limb by breathing the air of the dead, peeking into windows to see the sensuous neighbor's Friday night strip poker games, joining with buddies to take revenge on the neighborhood bully by giving him a blackberry bath and outrunning a railroad cop, only to be confronted with an oncoming train car and subsequent leap from the track into the deep water. The reader will see Jordy's bout with amnesia after being confronted with an angry bar owner about an undelivered punch board prize and watch him suffer through an unrequited romance with his homeroom teacher in seventh grade.
Writer's Digest praised Memoirs of Blackberry Road: "The stories in this book are witty and enjoyable: good entertainment. It's a nice casual read that has appeal for a wide range of audiences. Technically the book has been well edited and the writing is error free. What a wonderful record of the past for the author to leave behind. He is to be commended on a very worthy product that hopefully will last many years and give enjoyment to many people."
Starkey is a prolific writer, having completed 36 books of poetry and eight novels. He joined the Merchant Marines at 15 and served on a U.S. Army hospital ship in the Pacific theater of operations at 16. He has been district manager of an insurance company in the Pittsburgh area, was president of his local Underwriter's Association, owned an auto dealership in York, Pa., and was vice president of the Pennsylvania Independent Auto Dealer's Association. Starkey is a founder of York Poets. A widower with three children and five grandchildren, he lives in Dover, Pa.
ABOUT 1STBOOKS
The oldest and most successful print-on-demand and eBook publishing company of its kind, 1stBooks was founded in 1997 and has helped more than 13,000 people worldwide realize their dreams of becoming published authors. For more information, visit www.1stBooks.com.