Having served over thirty years in fire departments across three states, Gary R. Ryman brings a unique perspective to the firefighting experience. The son and father of firefighters, Ryman ignites the fire, smoke, blood and fear spanning three generations of the "family business." He recounts his early days in upstate New York learning from his father, the department fire chief. He describes the blazes he battled with a career and volunteer crew in the crowded suburbs of Washington, D.C. He examines the mentoring relationship established with his son as they respond to the calls of a volunteer department in rural Pennsylvania. Overall, Ryman shares both the personal and professional turning points that define a firefighting career.
"This guy caught a lot of fire. Fire Men is a must-read around the firehouse. Gary Ryman is a master storyteller."- Tiger Schmittendorf, RunToTheCurb.com
"As someone who also comes from a multi-generation fire service family, I appreciate how well Gary Ryman captures his family’s dedication and commitment to their fire department and community. Fire service families everywhere will relate to Gary’s stories."- Gary Keith, Vice President of Field Operations, National Fire Protection Association
"From the first page, Ryman hits the nail on the head. He provides a riveting look at the fire service as a whole, and the evolution of the business over the last three decades. Every fire fighter should read this. Old ones to reminisce, young ones to appreciate where we came from."- Fred Bales, CFPS, CFI,
Pennsylvania Senior Fire and Public Safety Instructor & Past Chief, Greenfield Fire Company, Greenfield, PA
"I absolutely loved this book! It's full of adventure and suspense and family and friends and wrapping it all up with a great big bow is the complete dedication these fire fighters have. They truly are a breed apart and this book gives us a look into their extraordinary lives. What a terrific read!"- Hildy Morgan, Executive Director, Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater, Endless Mountains Writers' Group
ISBN:9780982256596
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
280 pp
2011
Children learn to protect the environment and respect nature through recycling, home energy conservation and neighborhood clean-ups. Through accompanying Bible verses, they are encouraged to be responsible stewards of God's creation.
"Christy Balwin's Care for Creation is a charming story that teaches children how to care for our environment in a fun and loving way. The colorful illustrations and inspiring verses from the Bible will delight both children and adults. The book is a powerful tool for families that shows how living responsibly can make a difference in our world!"- Tony Townsley, inspiration for Three Cups
"Care for Creation by Christy Baldwin backs up the modern theme of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with the Biblical messages passed down from our Creator. From the time of Adam and Eve, men and women have been called to care for the Lord’s creations. In this meaningful and inspiring book, children learn how easy and important it is to do their part."- Cheryl C. Malandrinos, author of Little Shepherd
ISBN:9780982256565
5.5" x 8.5", hardcover
32 pp
2010
Peace Saved thought she was a girl like any other. She had great friends. She went to school. She daydreamed. But never in her wildest dreams did she think that she would be able to control water.
Peace discovers that she is the Light Master, as well as a Godsend of water. To learn more about her powers, she starts attending a school in heaven called "Peaceful Harmony." Peace meets Joy, who becomes one of her best friends. Joy makes Peace a rare rainbow phoenix named Flare.
When Peace thinks things can't get any weirder, Grace, a fellow student, loses the Godlove spirit that dwelled in her family for generations. It's up to Peace to save the spirit and fulfill her destiny.
ISBN:9780976507246
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
60 pp
2006
Nine great things happen when the sun sets for the evening. Each page includes a statement about what is happening and then some fun facts and information about that event.
Written from a Christian perspective, the story describes how God made things when He created the Earth.
While the story was written specifically for ages 3-8, children of all ages will enjoy this book. Even adults can admire the beautiful watercolor artwork done by illustrator, Sarah Barnes.
ISBN:9780976507215
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
24 pp
2005
The journey of adoption is beautifully depicted with the comforting imagery of a poppy flower who is welcomed into a garden family. It is a charming story of "seeds" being planted in the perfect place - exactly where they belong. Children and adults will enjoy this simple yet meaningful story and homespun illustrations. The book's loving approach helps children to understand adoption. Andrea Nepa has captured the essence of adoption and family, and has illustrated it beautifully with images and poetry that even a small child can comprehend and enjoy.
“What a charming story of ‘seeds’ being planted in the perfect place, exactly where they belong.”- LeAnn Thieman,
co-author of Chicken Soup for the Adopted Soul
"An adoption journey is beautifully depicted with comforting imagery of a poppy flower that is welcomed in a garden family. Children and adults will enjoy the simple yet meaningful story and homespun illustrations." - Stacy Dori, regional director of foster care & adoption services, Friendship House, Scranton, Pennsylvania
“A charming and loving approach to help all children understand adoption. Andrea Nepa has captured the essence of adoption and family, and has illustrated it beautifully with images and poetry that even a small child can comprehend and enjoy. I highly recommend this book for children to share with their parents.” - Steven G. Dubin, Esquire, Adoption Attorney, myownchild.com
“I read this book and really liked it. We personally have eight adopted children and will help about 175 families to adopt children this year.” - Vicki Dalia, safehomesforchildren.org & director of A Birthmother's Choice
ISBN:9780981461991
8.5" x 11", paperback
28 pp
2008
A young boy likes to read about his great grandmother. Throughout the story he learns about his mother and grandmother and learns to love his great grandmother even though he wasn't old enough to remember her.
This children's picture book captures the value of love through generations. It encourages families to think about their own heritage and members. At the end of the book is space to write your own family tree information.
The story and adorable pictures are suitable for children of all ages.
ISBN:9780976507208
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
22 pp
2004
Over the past 10 years, author Sandra Gerencher has been on a mission to save dogs from high-kill animal shelters. Her first rescue was P.J., the black and white Pomeranian in the story. She also adopted the orange Pomeranians Shelby and Lil Rascal, and of course, Chance, the big black Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix.
All characters in the story are based on Sandra's real life family. The book is filled with softly blended watercolor photos of her loved ones.
Her most significant adoption was her son, Terry. He was considered a special needs child because he was born with a genetic disorder known as Fragile X Syndrome. The disorder can cause many cognitive disorders, such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, mental retardation and depression.
"Read along as this adopted dog adjusts to his new home and the boy with autism who befriends him." – Warren Reed, executive director, Griffin Pond Animal Shelter
"What a marvelous story! I enjoyed it thoroughly." – Vince Sweeney, executive director, SPCA of Luzerne County
“This is a delightful story about belonging and love from the viewpoint of the underdog in all of us ... a great treat!” – Chris Remick, M.A., B.C.B.A., clinical director of autism services, Friendship House
"Second Chance touches on the companionship of a boy and his new pet dog and the importance of stability and PERMANENCY in their lives." – Kathy Roach, director of permanency, Diakon Adoption & Foster Care
ISBN:9780981461922
8.5" x 11", paperback
28 pp
2008
Willie Wiggles hates his slippery feet. He just slips, slides and spins all over the place. But what he hates even more are the special shoes that have been made for him that will help him to walk just like all the other kids. Willie thinks that they are the "stupidest, ugliest shoes in the whole world."
Discover how sometimes we worry about things about ourselves when actually there is nothing to worry about in the first place.
Meet a young seagull named Stanley. Follow him as he wanders far from home and tries to find his way back. Join Stanley on his journey as he learns how humans affect the balance of nature.
"Stanley Seagull has everything he needs and loves his life but then he gets greedy and wants more. The author does a beautiful job of teaching kids that sometimes wanting more when you already have all that you need may ultimately bring you much less."- Larry Peterson, author of Slippery Willie's Stupid, Ugly Shoes
"Children will enjoy following Stanley as he discovers fun, adventure, and the beauty of home."- Cheryl Malandrinos, author of Little Shepherd
"In Northeastern Pennsylvania, more than a hundred miles from the ocean, there are lots of seagulls. This charming tale puts a face, a voice and a heart on the sea birds that seem so far from their homes. The problem solving is wonderful and is believable. It is a great story to tell and it answers the questions so many adults and children ask, ‘how did the seagulls get here?’ It is a great read aloud and a story I look forward to sharing with my students."- Sue Piorkowski, librarian, Pocono Mountain School District, Coolbaugh Elementary Center
ISBN:9780983741800 (paperback)
ISBN:9780983741817 (hardcover)
5.5" x 8.5"
32 pp
2011
This is the story of the Scranton, Dunmore, Moosic Lake Railroad. From narrow and standard gauge steam railroading to the electric trolley, readers will ride the pages of this interesting segment (1902-1926) of Northeastern Pennsylvania history. The authors tell the story of the dream of two Irish immigrants to find a place that would allow for recreation and serve as an escape after a strenuous work week.
ISBN:9780976507222
8.5" x 11", paperback
94 pp
2005
The way - to Hollywood, Broadway, Carnegie Hall, the Met - went through Scranton, PA.
If You Can Play Scranton is a theatrical history of America as seen through the famous performers who came to Scranton, Pennsylvania. It discusses performances by the best known actors and actresses of the tragic and comic stage, ethnic performers, vaudevillians, musical comedy, concert, orchestra and band performers from 1871-2010. At the turn of the 20th century, Scranton was one of the most famous try-out towns for legitimate stage productions. The sophisticated taste of its audience, created by extensive exposure to world renown talent, continues to this day.
"From mining's glory days to 'That Championship Season,' who would have known that Scranton was such a national hot-bed for performance and that its stages hosted so many giants? Thanks to Nancy McDonald, we all will! Packed with information, yet always an enjoyable and fascinating read."- Alan Baker, The Choral Society of Northeast Pennsylvania
"Jack Benny and Mae West, vaudeville and big bands, stage plays and movie stars – to open this treasure of a book is to relive Scranton's entertainment scene from its heyday right up to modern times. With juicy details and magnificent photographs, Nancy McDonald captures a beloved aspect of the city's history."- Cheryl A. Kashuba, local historian & Scranton Times-Tribune columnist
"With incredible detail and occasional whimsy, Nancy McDonald brilliantly chronicles the range and high caliber of artists subjected to the unyielding scrutiny of the unique culture that was – and is – Scranton. Nancy demonstrates, with great pride, how Scranton is a footnote in the history of America’s performing arts."- Dr. Paulette Merchel, retired theater program director, Marywood University
"'If You Can Play Scranton' is a work that anyone who is interested in Scranton's entertainment history MUST read. Nancy McDonald has dedicated a lifetime to researching the topic and her work provides an excellent document of the amazing talent that has appeared here."- Mary Ann Moran Savakinus, director, Lackawanna Historical Society
"I found 'If You Can Play Scranton' to be very informative and interesting. It's a great read for anyone with Pennsylvania roots."- Karl Wegforth, president, Dunmore Historical Society
ISBN:9780983741824 (paperback)
5.5" x 8.5"
298 pp
2011
During the nineteenth century, Scranton was the face of a rising industrial America, and the city that forged the world views that defined the future of the country.
During the nineteenth century, Scranton was the face of innovation, immigration, industrialization, and a rising America. Scranton was “the electric city” when electricity was the most exciting invention in the world, and a hub of technology and innovation—between 1840 and 1902, the city of Scranton changed from a lazy backwoods community to a modern industrial society with 100,000 residents. During this time, Scranton’s citizens desperately tried to adapt their thinking to keep up with the overwhelming changes around them, and in the process forged the world views that would define the twentieth century. As globalization, technology and immigration transform the United States today, this book revisits how the people the forefront of the industrial revolution moved from chaos to a new order, and how they found meaning within a rapidly changing world.
"My hometown of Scranton, Pennsylvania was a cauldron of change and conflict during the period from 1840 to 1900. Patrick Brown's excellent book sheds new light on Scranton's transformation from wilderness to industrial center and the development of our country's earliest labor movements. Perhaps more importantly, it introduces us to the people who drove this process and helps us understand how they thought about their changing world and about themselves."- Robert P. Casey, Jr., U.S. Senator
"As a history buff this is a tremendous read, but as President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO this is an important addition to the literature of the labor industry. If a union leader wants to understand the development of America and our labor movement, this should be required reading. In the microcosm that is Scranton, Pennsylvania, you have the development of America from agricultural village to industrial powerhouse and the turmoil it engendered from the immigrant experience to the growing disparities in income between workers and owners. If you want to see where we've been to understand where we're going, this is a must read." - Rick Bloomingdale, President, Pennsylvania, AFL-CIO
ISBN:9780982256558 (hardcover)
5.5" x 8.5", hardcover
142 pp
2010
Postcard images capture the transformation of the Pocono Mountains from secluded wilderness to vacation destination.
With the arrival of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, numerous stations throughout the Pocono region served those temporarily fleeing the confines of city life. A multitude of boarding homes, hotels, inns and resorts provided travelers with a wide variety of accommodations and activities.
This work is a representation of the author’s 10 year endeavor to collect postcards depicting the Pocono Mountains. The images illustrate how the area’s tourism industry developed.
Readers are destined to enjoy a journey through time while rediscovering treasured memories from a bygone era.
The dawn of the 20th century saw a new form of transportation evolve in the United States: the interurban electric railway. These enterprises were natural offshoots of the original, short urban trolley lines that quickly replaced the horse car in the 1890s.
Most trolley lines lived in relative obscurity and enjoyed a few years of prosperity, followed by decline and abandonment in the face of bus and automotive competition. A relative handful managed to survive until the post-World War II years and thus have attracted greater attention.
Among them was the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad. The Laurel Line, as it was most commonly known, was unusual in several respects: It was built to higher-than-normal standards for electric short line railroads; it operated mostly with a third rail power system; it ran exclusively on private rights-of-way; and it served a geographically narrow region whose economy was heavily dependent on one industry - coal.
The Laurel Line's corporate records survived, and authors Henwood and Muncie made the most of this historical treasure. In the book, the railroad emerges in human terms of strife, struggle, victory and defeat. The reader learns not only what happened, but why, and who made it happen.
All railroads are interesting if properly researched - the Laurel Line as portrayed in this work is profoundly fascinating. Life in Pennsylvania's anthracite region is detailed when the Lackawanna and Wyoming Valley Railroad was fighting the good fight.
ISBN:9780976507239
8.5" x 11", paperback
214 pp
2005
Former Scranton Mayor, David Wenzel, is now a published author. His debut work, Scranton's Mayors, is a collection of 29 mini biographies devoted to the men who have guided the city from 1866 to the present day. Wenzel first conceived the idea for the book three years ago when he was asked to give a talk on the Mayors of Scranton for the Mall at Steamtown's History Month. Wenzel was particularly interested in providing a written record of recent events from the past 40 years.
The terms of Mayor James Walsh, Mayor Eugene Peters, Mayor Eugene Hickey, Mayor James McNulty, Mayor Wenzel, Mayor Jim Connors and current Mayor Chris Doherty are highlighted. Wenzel thoroughly researched the career of each mayor. The Scranton Times opened up its archives and the Albright Memorial Library and the Lackawanna Historical Society provided assistance. Personal interviews with former mayors and their families give the work a human touch, while memorabilia from past campaigns bring long ago election battles to life.
ISBN:9780976507260
8.5" x 11", paperback
188 pp
2006
Published by the Olyphant Coal Miners Memorial Association
A Look into a Small Town's Past
Journey into the history of what was once called the "Jewel of the Mid Valley" — Olyphant, Pennsylvania, "The Queen City." This journey takes the reader through the earliest days of the township and notable events of the past. Included are some famous residents and visitors who passed through over the years, and of course the storied Anthracite Empire that built the town. Check out a wealth of photographic documentation as well as many interesting facts about Olyphant, such as:
A mine disaster occurred at the location of Olyphant’s mining memorial statue in 1903 that swallowed an entire hotel into the ground below.
The first woman ever enlisted in the U.S. Navy was from Olyphant.
Patricia Crowley of Olyphant once graced a Life magazine cover in the 1950s.
Nestor Chylak of Olyphant is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame for his work in the major leagues as an umpire.
President Theodore Roosevelt came to Olyphant to try to find a solution to mining relations in 1910.
"There can be no better tribute to a people than to keep their stories alive. With exceptional detail and a wonderful sense of time and place, When Coal Was Queen captures the history and the stories of the Queen City and its mining heritage. A wonderful book for those who call Olyphant home — and for anyone who loves history." - Cheryl A. Kashuba, co-author of Scranton & Scranton Times-Tribune local history columnist
"It is wonderful to see the valley's coal mining history promoted through this project. The support shown to the monument fund drive from the local community truly demonstrated the pride we all share in our industrial heritage." - Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, Executive Director, Lackawanna Historical Society
ISBN:9780982256527 (paperback)
8.25" x 11"
152 pp
2009
Fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty risks job, family, and eventually her very life to rescue a lifelong friend. Disguised as a draft resister, Katie infiltrates a secret Irish organization to prevent bloodshed. Tragedies challenge her strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can Katie balance her sense of justice with the law?
Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story’s rich context and drama.
"The writing style employed in the book entertains, educates and communicates to the reader a general understanding of the hardships of life in the anthracite coal fields of northeast Pennsylvania in the nineteenth century and Irish-American history." - Bill Strassner, Museum Educator, Eckley Miners’ Village
"Call Me Kate absorbs the reader into a tightly woven narrative of tumultuous times in the anthracite region. Through Kate, the reader becomes a participant in that story." - Ruth Cummings, Museum Educator, Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum
"The Lackawanna Historical Society is always pleased to see new and creative ways to promote an interest in our local history. A young adult historical fiction like Call Me Kate is a wonderful example of this! We are delighted to know that local authors are using their heritage to develop new publications." - Mary Ann Moran-Savakinus, Executive Director, Lackawanna Historical Society
ISBN:9780981461939 (paperback)
ISBN:9780981461953 (hardcover)
5.5" x 8.5"
168 pp
2008
They are known as the turbaned tide. Novelist DIYA DAS explores the journey made by Indian immigrants from the subcontinent to America’s shores. Weaving the narrative as historical fiction, the novel focuses on a young girl who uncovers the American roots of her Indian family tree.
The story unfolds in three venues. The protagonist discovers a Californian ancestor, a scholar-turned-farmworker who participated in the 1917-18 Ghadr movement to gain Indian independence from Great Britain. She then follows the voyage of a doctor aunt who immigrated to Chicago in the 1970s and was also a newspaper columnist. Finally, the narrator explores how to merge her Indian and American identities as she attends a Hindu festival in New York City.
The novel is filled with rich cultural details, solid historical references and fitting literary allusions. Diya's research ended up taking her on a personal journey. The narrator’s odyssey mirrored that of the author. Where facts and imagination did not create a coherent story, Diya employed elements of her own life as a first generation Indian American immigrant.
ISBN:9780979504563
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
92 pp
2007
Gee ... I always wanted to write a book. I never thought I would but then again I could be wrong. Here is a collection of some of the past few years rants as broadcast on WDMT 102.3 The Mountain as part of my show Rising at Ten.
Topics include:
So the biggest news according to a local newspaper is that there will be beer to drink in Kirby Park during the Fourth of July holiday.
It's a rare motorist in northeast Pennsylvania who hasn't had an encounter with a deer.
Parking lots shouldn't cause your blood pressure to rise.
Sometimes you have to wonder about the thought processes that go on in our rulers' minds.
We knew were in trouble when the two truckloads of huskies passed us.
Whoever said that a man's home is his castle hasn't been in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania lately.
Why is it that some guys insist on calling you nicknames?
With all due apologies to the hundreds of restaurants in the area that serve buffets - I can't stomach it.
Although my physique doesn't show it I have spent much of my adult life in one gym or another.
I know more about the guy, sitting across from me at lunch the other day, then I want to.
ISBN:9780979504570
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
228 pp
2007
Photographer ALYSSA AMORI, a resident of Scranton, Pennsylvania illustrates her love for her hometown through her camera lens. Over a six-month period in 2007, Alyssa captured the essence of the city from its historic architecture to its parks and festivals.
Over 100 images include: Roger Clemens’ appearance with the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Yankees, Nay Aug Park, Scranton Cultural Center, Lackawanna County Courthouse, Everhart Museum, Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel, Steamtown National Historic Site, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, The Mall at Steamtown and Lake Scranton.
Alyssa’s ultimate hope is to get the book into the hands of as many Scranton service men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as possible. The book is designed to provide the troops with a much welcome glimpse of home. Amori is looking for individuals or groups willing to either provide addresses or donations to finance the printing and mailing of the books to the troops. To offer assistance, please email Alyssa at alyssa@tribute-books.com
ISBN:9780979504532
8.5" x 11", paperback
60 pp
2007
This personal collection of poetic verse is at once inspiring and challenging. Beginning with the loss of her mother at age nine, Sonya began collecting her thoughts in 40 poems in a diary from early childhood through her twenties. She describes the daily battles of self-image and self-expression she experienced growing up after the passing of one parent and the estrangement of another. With the death of her mother, Sonya lost a part of everything she had known. Two states away, she finds herself with a different family, school, friends, home and a new name. The verses written during this time are one woman s exploration of her raw, emotional responses to dramatic life changes. This is Sonya's story.
ISBN:9780976507277
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
94 pp
2006
I want to write / Something that you will believe / Something that’s more than these words
And does she ever. Poet DIYA DAS illuminates six years of adolescence through her introspective verse. Diya’s first artistic musings are young and playful. As her inner landscape develops, themes become more complex as she ponders the contradictory nature of life.
I spend my life on the fence / Between who you think I am and who I always was
Lines like these crystallize the transformation of young girl into mature woman. As Diya begins to shape the foundation of her character, she takes an active role choosing what she will retain from childhood and what she will discard. With each poetic endeavor, her creativity is sharpened through the increased depth of her day-to-day experiences.
I’ll see you tomorrow / And again and again / Sometime in eternity / I don’t know when / But that’s where you’ll find me / When tomorrow comes again
The portrait of Diya as an artist comes into focus as she grasps the transcendent power inherent in the written word. Her teenage self eternally resides in these pages.
ISBN:9780979504556
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
104 pp
2007
In this volume, Jerry Fagnani turns to poetry. He has selected poems reflecting the great love that has influenced his life. All of this is most evident in The Elaine Collection. The Lackawanna Collection is a masterful work about the valley and county he embraces. This collection speaks to its rich texture and defines a perspective, often unseen by many, which shows how its seams of beauty infuse our very spirit. Finally, the whole work reveals to us an image of fierce loyalty and passion. Jerry has an unlimited commitment to his family with a love that is admirable.
ISBN:9780976507253
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
104 pp
2006
Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania on April 9, 1958, Patrick Joseph Walker has always been a seeker of truth in all things. His earliest perceptions of life were colored by familial devotion to Irish clan and the Catholic Church. An early scholar, he attended Scranton Preparatory School and was later accepted into the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program at the University of Scranton. During a hiatus from formal education, he worked as a staff writer for the Legislature in Saipan. When he returned to the United States, he was awarded a Philosophy Fellowship at Fordham University. Today, he "works" as an editor and proofreader of educational materials for a local correspondence college. His "real" work, however, involves studying the works of Blaise Pascal and Friedrich Hayek. He lives in Factoryville, Pennsylania, with his artist POSSLQ, Ginger Cody, her daughter Anna, and the family's two dogs, Lilly and Rosie.
ISBN:9780981461908 & 9780981461915
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
60 pp
2008
The Heritage Press Catalog & Checklist lists most of the books issued by the Heritage Club and the Heritage Press. This publication lists the Heritage Press books in series format. The Heritage Club started issuing books from the First Series issued in November 1935 to Series 47 June 1982-1983. It includes Bussacco's Heritage Press Catalog number, copyright date, title, comments and price.
The checklist lists prices for the Heritage Press books in excellent condition with the slipcase and the accompanying Sandglass pamphlet. It also includes chapters featuring questions & answers, fine art prints, collotypes, reference material and Heritage Press Ephemera.
ISBN:9780981461946
8.5" x 11", paperback
176 pp
2008
Heritage Press Sandglass Companion Book
1937-1959 & 1960-1983
Recapture the excitement of receiving a monthly explanation of a volume of classic literature.
Get the inside scoop on the world's greatest novels
Every month for its members, the Heritage Press would publish an illustrated, hard cover edition of a title from classic literature. A pamphlet would accompany each title detailing the book's time period, the author's biography, the illustrator's design philosophy, etc. The pamphlet was called The Sandglass. The Heritage Press Sandglass Companion Book is a compilation of The Sandglass from 1937-1959 and 1960-1983.
With over 1,000 Heritage Press books, Michael C. Bussacco has one of the largest and most complete collections in the United States. In Heritage Press: Annotative Bibliography (in three volumes), collectors learn what books were issued by the Heritage Press, their descriptions, when they were issued, and whether they are first editions or reprints. This bibliography is the standard reference work for Heritage Press books.
The high quality of the books published by the Heritage Press make them valuable collectables. The books were illustrated by some of the finest painters, engravers, and artists in the world. Many illustrations were hand colored and are striking examples of museum quality prints. Each book in the Heritage Press series was printed on specially made paper and individually designed by masters of printing, binding, and typography.
Volume 1
ISBN:9780981461977
6" x 9", paperback
340 pp
2008
Volume 2
ISBN:9780981461960
6" x 9", paperback
212 pp
2008
Volume 3
ISBN:9780981461984
6" x 9", paperback
184 pp
2008
Fully illustrated collection of an American literary master
On July 4, 1845, when Henry David Thoreau moved into his cabin on the shores of Walden Pond, he was probably unaware that his abode in the woods, and the impact and influence of that endeavor, would forever echo through time.
Thoreau was an uncompromising idealist; an ardent maverick who criticized his fellow man. He urged that men and women ought to live more simply, and more deliberately. "The mass of men," he famously wrote, "lead lives of quite desperation."
Yet the scope of Thoreau’s message is much wider than social criticism. He speaks of spiritual transcendence in Nature and the unbounded potential of the individual. Thoreau is a dreamer and he speaks to dreamers. In aword, shun dogmatism and demagoguery; see beyond the immediate conventional religious explanations to reap a higher understanding.
In our commodified contemporary American society, with the rise of religious intolerance and fundamentalism, materialism and mass consumerism, Thoreau’s message is needed now more than ever.
Author Kenny Luck has thumbed through Thoreau’s voluminous journals, correspondences and other publications to make this the most comprehensive collection of Thoreau aphorisms available.
Illustrators Jay Luke and Ren Adams lend their talents to artistically interpret Thoreau's vision. Each quote is accompanied by an original drawing.
A collaboration of three individuals breathes new life into the immortal words of Henry David Thoreau.
"As a historian who has made the study of Henry Thoreau my main interest for almost 15 years, I have always found his writings to be very "modern." This book of Thoreau's quotations, all of which were written 150 years ago, are indeed very timely for today's modern, over-worked, overstressed and over-materialistic world. Thoreau's ideas about the search for a simpler way of life ring truer now then they did in the nineteenth century!" - Richard Smith, The Thoreau Society, Historian, Concord, MA, MeetHenryDavidThoreau.com
"Provides a convenient and attractively formatted focus on the influential thoughts of the quotable Thoreau." - Brent Harold, Cape Cod Times columnist, author of upcoming Thoreau inspired novel, Life as a House, BrentHarold.com
"Henry Thoreau's remarkable lyrical grace and riveting moral force shine through in these carefully selected quotations. This book is an inspiring reminder that a very few words, if finely crafted, can contain tremendous intellectual, aesthetic, and ethical power." - Michael P. Branch, editor of Reading the Roots: American Nature Writing before Walden
"This attractively illustrated book presents a rich collection of Thoreau’s thoughts on topics such as society, spirituality and nature. The editor has distilled the essence of Thoreau’s thoughts into a compact, well-edited collection drawn from a wide range of Thoreau’s writings." - Richard Dillman, editor of professor of American literature, St. Cloud State University, Minnesota
ISBN:9780982256541 (hardcover)
6.14" x 9.21"
320 pp
2010
I want you to think, feel, eat, sleep and live the dating experiences I had over the course of a year.
As you meet Sponge Tom, “Skip-To-My-Lou” Stew and Lame Joke Jim, I hope you recognize my determination to maintain my self respect and high standards in a relationship as well as the ability to find humor in any situation.
The men I dated are all nice enough guys, I just took the opportunity to make light of their idiosyncrasies and things that happened in my relationships with them.
With the help of my “advisory committee” I learn that physical appearance goes hand in hand with what’s inside.
Join me as I learn the ins and outs of online dating.
ISBN:9780979504587 & 9780979504594
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
120 pp
2007
Spotlighting 10 Catholic churches recently closed in the Diocese of Scranton.
Framing Faith tells the story of the faith of immigrants and their descendants, spotlighting ten Catholic churches in the Diocese of Scranton that were closed due to restructuring. The churches, SACRED HEART, MAYFIELD; ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA, SCRANTON; ST. JOSEPH, SCRANTON; HOLY FAMILY, SCRANTON; ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST, SCRANTON; ST. MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION, SCRANTON; ST. MARY CZESTOCHOWA, SCRANTON; ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, TAYLOR; IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, TAYLOR; AND ST. MICHAEL, OLD FORGE have rich ethnic heritages. They are Polish, Slovak, Italian, German, and Lithuanian parishes with long traditions and deep roots. Each church was founded by immigrant groups who came to the coal fields of the Lackawanna Valley with little more than their faith in God. Their churches served as the center of the community and touchstones of the Old Country. Framing Faith traces their histories from small beginnings through baptisms, weddings and funerals to their final celebrations. Throughout the text are images from each church, visual reminders of what was for many an important part of their lives.
"A well researched and outstandingly illustrated work by author Sarah Piccini and photographer Ivana Pavelka and her students. It is a must for anyone interested in the religious, cultural, and ethnic history of Northeastern Pennsylvania."- Michael D. De Michele, Professor of History, The University of Scranton
"The Anthracite Heritage Museum extends congratulations on the book Framing Faith. The museum, as part of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, is participating in the 2011 History Theme: Penn’s Legacy: Religious and Spiritual Diversity. The theme recognizes Pennsylvania’s rich history of religious freedom and spiritual expression. As part of the theme goals we are happy to engage our partners, and historical organizations such as the Lackawanna Historical Society, by encouraging exhibits, book talks and program. Thank you for your good local history work on this important theme.." - Chester Kulesa, Site Administrator, Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum
"Framing Faith was an amazing project for the ARTS Engage! students to participate in. ARTS Engage! is a program whose mission is to build social skills through the arts by allowing students to create work and work with professional artists. This project allowed students to develop photography skills by working with a high caliber artist such as Ivana Pavelka and the documentation of ethnic churches offered a unique place-based learning experience about our cultural history." - Maureen McGuigan, Deputy Director of Arts and Culture, Lackawanna County
"Beauty and light converge on the pages within. The spectacular churches of Northeastern Pennsylvania reflect the importance that immigrants placed, and continue to place, on the worship of God. Framing Faith captures the profound emphasis of a people and their often intimate conversation with their environment in a new land." - Dan Perry, Chief Operating Officer, Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority
"As a native son and priest of the Diocese of Scranton, I know full well the centrality and vibrancy of the extraordinary faith of the Catholics whose courageous and dedicated stories are told and preserved in this timely and important commentary. The magnificent edifices they built over the course of the last one hundred years are but further testimony to the faith they lived so well, shared so fully and in which they anchored and launched their noteworthy lives. May we never forget them or their rock solid values of faith, hope and love." - Msgr. Joseph G. Quinn, J.D., J.C.L., Vice President, Fordham University
ISBN:9780982256589
8.5" x 11", paperback
96 pp
2011
Learn how to strengthen your relationship with God by seeing His presence in your daily life.
Many times one sees Roman Catholicism explained using either closely reasoned theology or an appeal to ancient writers of the Church. While both are legitimate approaches, the average reader looking to explore the faith is often left cold. In their collaboration, Why God Matters, Deacon Steven Lumbert and his daughter, Karina Lumbert Fabian, delineate the Catholic Faith as experienced by a pair of average, everyday people like the great majority who make up the 24 percent of Americans who share this religion.
In the stories of this pair, one see both ways people come to Catholicism, by birth (“cradle Catholics”) and by conversion. Their descriptions of their separate paths thankfully lack the religiosity of the all too common "and then a miracle takes place" school of religious experience. Rather than blasts of light, fiery swords, spiritual fistfights, and angelic choirs, theirs is the long religious slog of the everyday. The effort that one must put out each day in the long trek to Heaven.
What is Catholicism really like? One would be hard-put to find a better verbal painting of the faith so many call their own.
"Each chapter gives an open-minded reader a dose of faith as an active element of a normal Christian's life anecdotes that pose real-life challenges recognizable as something you might discuss with a friend or pastor at your church over coffee and doughnuts. Call it comfortable theology."- Elizabeth Rackover, Catholic News Service
"By seeing the ongoing process of becoming holy in ordinary circumstances touched by God, readers are encouraged to be more aware of their faith journey and the ways God speaks to them. The best way to use this book would be on a retreat, coupled with journaling and prayer, taking one chapter a day."- Mary Lynne Rapien, St. Anthony Messenger (AmericanCatholic.org)
ISBN:9780982256534 (hardcover)
5.5" x 8.5", hardcover
114 pp
2010
Ellen Chaksil began receiving messages from God after her initiation into a Catholic Charismatic prayer group. Nearly 30 years ago, the words, "When they are threatened with the loss of all this, only then will they turn to Me," sprang into Ellen's consciousness. She had a vision of chaos surrounding the steps of the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica. She felt instinctively that humanity was threatened and she needed to share what she experienced with church officials.
Her quest led her from her home in Peckville, Pennsylvania to the Vatican. After numerous attempts, she was able to make contact. In 1992, she met Pope John Paul II and in 1996 she received official recognition that he had read her letter detailing the prophecy.
Seeking a way to prevent a future disaster, Ellen contacted Boguslaw Lipinski, Ph.D of Harvard Medical School. He provided hypothetical proof that when people gather to pray, energy is emitted. Armed with this scientific evidence, Ellen views her book as an instrument to educate people on the power of prayer. Only when the world is united in prayer can a power be generated great enough to forestall catastrophe and enable humanity's continued existence.
ISBN:9780979504518
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
472 pp
2007
Mike Lamade experienced this collection of bowhunting adventures over a period of almost four decades. Mike will take you along as he stalks a huge bull moose in the Yukon and fights through a blizzard for a record book muley on the Colorado plains. Pope & Young whitetails will fall in Kansas, Illinois and Wyoming, and you'll wait with Mike in a ground blind in South Africa for elusive kudu, gemsbok, and wildebeest. In his 40 years of pursuing big game with his bow, Mike has hunted most of the United States and Canada and traveled to Africa eight times. Most of the stories in this collection have appeared in Bowhunter magazine.
Join Mike on over 20 action-packed bowhunts for whitetail, mule deer, bear, moose, pronghorn, alligator and a wide range of African plains game. It will take your breath away.
ISBN:9780976507284
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
172 pp
2006
"No baseball summer is as memorable for me as that July when the Dodgers began a winning streak in a suddenly torrid, topsy-turvy National League pennant race."
Fifty years after they played their last baseball game, the Brooklyn Dodgers are still remembered by millions of people. From 1947 to 1956 the Dodgers captured six out of ten National League pennants and they defeated the mighty New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series. The year 1957, however, is recalled mainly for the decision by Dodger president Walter O'Malley to move his team to Los Angeles the following year.
Author John Nordell tells the story of the Dodgers' mid-season surge in the standings during that last year in Brooklyn. Using research from a variety of sources, Nordell recreates the excitement of following the Dodgers and their National League rivals in the daily drama of a five-team pennant race. The author also draws on his own youthful memories of that year and describes the unforgettable thrill of seeing a game at Ebbets Field. The book includes numerous photographs and a concluding chapter that discusses the outcome of the 1957 pennant race, the major factors and personalities involved in the Dodger move west, and the end of an era in baseball.
ISBN:9780976507291 & ISBN:9780979504549
5.5" x 8.5", paperback
120 pp
2007
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