MISSION HILLS, Calif., June 17, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Many books and movies explore the secret, smoky world of speakeasies from the Prohibition era, but not many address how these illegal establishments stocked their bars. In his collection of short stories, As I Remember: Commercial Fishing Bootlegging (now available through AuthorHouse), Kenneth H. Cutcher offers a fictionalized account of the fishermen who moonlighted as rumrunners.
As I Remember follows two old friends, Scott and Pappy, as they supplement their unpredictable fishermen's income with the lucrative payoff of smuggling liquor for the mob.
Each of the five stories finds these two salty dogs in a sea of adventure as they traverse the western end of Lake Erie to import their secret cargo from Canada. In the first story, "Another Lost Voyage," Scott and Pappy's nautical expertise proves lifesaving when they wisely reject an offer to man a boat overloaded with liquor. The story, "Who is Pursuing," navigates through suspense and fear as mysterious yachts chase their fishing boat through the dark waters.
In addition to the inherent danger of dealing with the mafia, Scott and Pappy must also brave the violent temper of the Great Lakes and avoid the vigilant Coast Guard and revenue agents. Their adventures set their lives on a direct course with several interesting characters.
Cutcher drew from stories he heard growing up, as well as actual people he knew as a commercial fisherman to craft these tales. A captivating collection of stories, As I Remember explores the excitement of the open waters and the many risks taken by the fishermen who helped undermine Prohibition's restrictions.
Cutcher was born in the middle of the Depression. Much of his family worked in the commercial fishing business and bootlegging stories were common. As a teenager, Cutcher followed tradition and worked in the same industry. He eventually ended his days as a fisherman and worked several occupations before landing a job as a studio driver for the motion picture industry. As I Remember is his first book.
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