Sep 27, 2002 7 min read

MONESSEN – Mon Valley and regional authors and publishers will gather at the Monessen Civic Center on Donner Avenue in Monessen from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday to present their books and talk their talk to would-be authors, readers and fellow enthusiasts. The Greater Monessen Historical Society has put together a representative list of entertaining books for the public, and at a 10 percent discount from the retail price.

“The book fair is bigger this year, and it will be bigger next year,” said Susanna Swade, chairperson of the event. “We have found wonderful local authors on a variety of subjects, offering something for everyone.”

Paul Kennedy is the author of “The Pittsburgh Gamble,” a novel about a Pittsburgh gambler named Terry Reynolds who time travels to the 1960 Pirate-Yankee World Series. Kennedy is a native of Pittsburgh, who currently lives in Greensburg. He is a graduate of IUP and holds a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon.

Ben Moyer’s “Out Back: Reflections from the Appalachian Outdoors” is a collection of essays that outdoors lovers of every sort, including hunters, birders, hikers and anglers, will enjoy. Hailing from Farmington in Fayette County, Moyer has written for various wildlife and sportsman magazines.

Alan Natali brings two sports books to the book fair – “Woody’s Boys” and “Browns Town.” The first is about the Ohio State Hawkeyes and their long-time coach Wayne Woody Hayes. The second is about Paul Brown and his Cleveland Browns. Natali is an English professor at California University of Pennsylvania.

Steve Russell’s “Mid-Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame Biographical Journal” was a labor of love. It is a history of 131 men and women who have been inducted into the Mid Mon Valley All Sports Hall of Fame over the years. It is a testimonial to the incredible sports history of southwestern Pennsylvania. The heroes are all there from Joe Montana to Stan Musial to college superstars and high school coaches. They include Jimmy Russell, Steve’s father, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates for six of his 10 years in the majors (1942-51). Russell has a bachelor’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from Duquesne University.

Richard Easton’s book “A Real American” is published by Clarion Books. Easton has lived in Western Pennsylvania all of his life. The story he tells grew from family stories of the opening of the coal fields in this area. He is a professor of English at Washington and Jefferson College.

Jim Futrell’s “Amusement Parks of Pennsylvania” is a 212-page book, detailing the state’s 13 major and five minor amusement parks. The book features 100 photos including several vintage images.

Arthur Parker’s “The Monongahela: River Of Dreams, River of Sweat” is a book filled with stories, memories and photographs about the Monongahela River. The author, Arthur Parker, born in Pittsburgh, now lives in retirement in Elizabeth Township.

Buzz Storey is a well-known Uniontown writer who has delved into local history for many years. In his latest book, “Another Look at Uniontown and Fayette County,” he collects 14 years of his newspaper columns for the Herald-Standard newspaper with such topics as Coal Barons, Civil War, D Day, George C Marshall and more.

William J. Switala, a professor from Duquesne University and author of several textbooks on Pennsylvania history, returns for a second year at the book fair with a new book “The Lives of Famous Pennsylvanians.” It is a book written for elementary-school aged children with 30 biographies.

Cassandra Vivian’s latest book, “Monessen: A Typical Steel Country Town,” is a history of Monessen. The book tells the story of the three groups, who fought each other and themselves in order to find their way to a decent life in America. Yet, despite their differences, the people of Monessen battled together for decent pay, job protection, benefits and an eight-hour day. Vivian was born and raised in Monessen. She is the author of 14 books and numerous articles.

Edna B. McKenzie is noted for her devotion to bringing African-American history facts into the mainstream. “Freedom in the Midst of a Slave Society” and “Selected Essays on Contemporary African-American Issues” are the books she is bringing to the book fair. She is the recipient of the Carter G Woodson Scholars Medal and the George Polk Award in excellence in journalism.

Jay Anthony is the pen name of John A Sotomayor, who has written “The Children’s Country Trilogy,” inspired by stories told to the Kingwood Elementary School by members of the Somerset Garden Club.

Debbie Nunley and Karen Jane Elliott visited 116 inns, taverns, train stations, schoolhouses and roadside hotels in Pennsylvania, including a number of eateries in western Pennsylvania. Each experience became an entry in their book, “A Taste of Pennsylvania History.”

Helene Smith wears many hats. Among her children’s books at the book fair will be “The Cat that Came to Tea,” based on a story about Pearl Buck as a child. She is the author of 30 published historical works. She has worked for American Indian and African-American rights.

Patricia Harrison Easton has written a number of children’s books, which she will bring to the fair. Among them are “Summer’s Chance” and “Rebel’s Choice.” She is a two-time winner of grants in literature from Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Jim Greenwood is a valley poet. His most recently self-published works are “Volume Thirteen of Generic Poetry,” which includes poems written from Dec. 19, 1992, to March 23, 1993, and includes the poem “Jumonville Glen, May 28, 1754” and “Day of Infamy,” an historical study which challenges the accepted figure of forty as the number of men George Washington commanded. Jim is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania and University of Pittsburgh.

Thomas M. Kane wrote the book “Priests are People Too” because he wanted to portray a more human side of the priesthood, while at the same time, showing his readers just how special a role priests play in our lives. Tom and his book have received a great deal of national attention. Kane and his family are members of St. Bernadette Church in Monroeville. He is a columnist for his local paper and occasionally writes for a Pennsylvania magazine.

Local author Tara Manderino explores the world of the deaf in her recently released Regency era historical romance “Whisper My Name.” The book published by Awe-Struck E-books is available in a variety of e-book formats and in trade paperback, and is part of the publisher’s Ennobled Line of books that feature a main character with a disability. Manderino went into the world of the occult in her first book, “Soul Guardian.” Lucien Marquees, her main character, is a vampire. Manderino is from Monessen.

Patrick Picciarelli of Monessen spent his life in the crime business as a New York City Police officer and a private detective. Then he wrote about one of his colleagues. “Jimmy the Wags: Street Stories of a Private Eye” is a wild, wooly and hilarious street adventure of a real-life private eye. After 22 years as a New York cop, Jimmy the Wags thought he’s seen it all, but it wasn’t until he retired and set up as a private eye that his real education began. Also available will be Picciarelli’s book “Blood Shot Eyes,” yet another intriguing crime story. Picciarelli holds both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in criminal justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and an additional master’s degree in writing popular fiction from Seton Hill College in Greensburg. He has appeared often on national television and is currently preparing one of his books for Hollywood.

David Walton comes to the fair with his latest book, “Ride.” It is the story of an ex-college professor from Pittsburgh, who takes a job helping mentally handicapped adults. During the story, he tries to teach them how to ride the public transportation system of Pittsburgh. Walton lives in West Newton. He attended California University of Pennsylvania and is currently teaching at the University of Pittsburgh.