Three Ringling Circus
Sarasota would not be what it is today without the influence of the Ringling family, particularly John and Mable Ringling and John’s brother Charles. Unlike some rivals of the era, the Ringling family saw their enterprise as a business and as a way of enteratining the masses through good, clean fun. Along with a lively history of Sarasota, Three Ringling Circus focuses on the story of this family and brings to life (and light) their past and present impact on Sarasota’s unique artistic, historical, and cultural scene, a rarity in a state where nuch of the economy is driven by tourism and the retirement industry.
The book covers everything from the early days of the natives, Blacks, and settlers to the origins of the Ringling family and ahead-of-their-time ways of developing their circus to the massive amounts of finagling that went into the creation of the Art Museaum and Ca d’Zan. The book bears witness to the Ringlings’ fabulous lifestyle, their behind-the-scenes heartbreak and triumph and the often Machiavellian grab for wealth and power that surrounded their high-powered circus.
The Pipe Dreamers
A freshman on another Ohio campus during the shootings at Kent State, Sandra Gurvis spent nearly 25 years researching the reasons behind the turmoil during the Vietnam era. In her quest for answers, she wrote two books, the first of which was THE PIPE DREAMERS (Olmstead, 2001, reissued by Hydra, 2019).
Set mostly at fictional Hayes University, a state college in the small town of Hampton, Ohio, it encompasses the student unrest regarding Vietnam, the sexual revolution, the rejection of parental values, and the recreational use of drugs. The main character is Julia Brandon, an innocent sorority girl who gets into trouble when she tries to bail her radical roommate out of jail and becomes increasingly involved with the protest movement, which erupts in violence, death, and destruction.
Julia falls irrevocably in love with handsome, carefree, soon-to-be-drafted Win. Fifteen years later, trapped in an arid life, Julia glimpses a man whom she believes to be Win. She embarks upon a journey that leads her to the brink of devastation. Can she accept the truth about what happened so long ago without destroying herself and those she loves? Also available as an audiobook and on Kindle!
111 Places in Columbus That You Must Not Miss
From “Cowtown” to the biggest town in Ohio, Columbus has always been an incubator for new ideas and products. As the home of The Ohio State University (yes, the “The” is capitalized) it is a college football crazy city with an intellectual flair and a test market for everything from brews (Starbucks) to burgers (McDonald’s, White Castle headquarters) to beer (BrewDog) to ice cream (Jeni’s, founded here).The intellectual firepower of some 50 colleges and universities combined with research powerhouses such as Battelle and Chemical Abstracts draw great minds from all over the world.
Myths and Mysteries of Ohio
Why would the people of Sabina embalm the corpse of a random black man and put him on display for the entire world to see? What was the real story behind Johnny Appleseed’s fascination with teenage girls? And what was it about Marietta, Athens/Ohio University, and the Golden Lamb in Lebanon that made these places such as ghost magnets? And where are the dead aliens at Wright Patterson AFB? MYTHS AND MYSTERIES OF OHIO explore these and other urban and perhaps not-so-much legends. Consisting of thirteen extensively researched chapters, this book combines ghost stories, unsolved crime tales, and haunted places into a “myth busters” of popular history with the author’s trademark twist on the bizarre.
Here’s one unsolicited Amazon review: “This is an absolute masterpiece. There are stories you have heard before like Hell Town but then there are things happening that you have no ideal about like the Golf coarse, Mound controversy and a theater that reminds you of Phantom of the Opera you can tell hundreds of hours of work went into this book too many books like this is just someone searching the internet it feels good when you know actual work went into the book. And the map is a nice touch many books like this you wind up needing a map just to get your bearings. Highly recommended.”
Country Club Wives
“Not many women can say they’ve
been left for season tickets to seats on the 50-yard-line at Ohio State football games.” Thus begins COUNTRY CLUB WIVES, a contemporary parable about
women, money, and homeless animals set in the affluent suburb of “New Wellington,”
Ohio.
Although the plot centers around
the fate of four self-proclaimed “drama queens,” the heart of the book belongs
to its first-person narrator, Tish McLean, who has been left high and dry, both financially and emotionally, by her husband of over 20 years. Brian is about to marry Susan, another drama queen, a wealthy widow whose spouse unexpectedly died of a heart attack, and Tish’s one close unattached friend.
There’s sex, drama, and murder, not to mention lots of reveals about the cubic-zirconium studded underbelly of a fiefdom developed by a local billionaire. This book was optioned for as a TV series by Insight Productions of Toronto, Canada. Audiobook Coming Soon!
Where Have All The Flower Children Gone?
Whatever happened to the Vietnam protesters? “Where are they now?” The answers to these and many other questions can be found in the interviews, narratives, and photos of WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER CHILDREN GONE?
Chapters examine such aspects as the origins of the student protest movement and the conservative backlash as well the fates of draft evaders, expatriates, and conscientious objectors. Other topics are covered as well: the conflict between the various generations over Vietnam, Iraq, and other issues; what happened to the “average” child of the ‘60s and how they reconcile their pasts with the present; and communes and alternative lifestyles that continue to thrive today.
So whether readers vaguely remember the ’60s, claim to have forgotten them entirely, or never even lived through them, WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWER CHILDREN GONE? brings to life a colorful, complicated era that made a huge impact on our collective memory and culture.
Ohio Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities & Other Offbeat Stuff, 2nd Edition
Your round-trip ticket to the wildest, wackiest, most outrageous people, places, and things the Buckeye State has to offer! Whether you’re a born-and-raised Ohioan, a recent transplant, or just passing through, Ohio Curiosities will have you laughing out loud. Walk among 109 human-size ears of corn, through a collection of some 1,000 autographed hot dog buns; and over perfectly good subway tunnels that have never been used. Belly up at the Beer Barrel Saloon of Put-in-Bay, where the 405-foot bar is the world’s longest. Meet Juno, the transparent, talking woman. See Pretty Boy Floyd’s fate immortalized in a death mask, and examine three pickled and preserved fingers.
Stated one Amazon reviewer: “If you will be visiting Ohio and love oddball things and minutia, this book is for you. This book is categorized by areas and by town location so you can check to see if any oddities that interest you will be on your way or in close proximity to the towns you will be visiting. If have almost read it cover to cover and found it quite interesting. We live next door in Pennsylvania and I was looking for some interesting day trips. You will certainly enjoy the history of the places mentioned in this book as well as the author’s humorous comments.”
Confessions of A Crazy Cat Lady
Essays, footnotes, and pictures on everything from hair-straightening to hairballs! This is the go-to handbook for anybody who has ever wanted to know how my mind works … a scary thought indeed! Seriously though, periodically people ask me for copies of my essays, many of which originally appeared in Columbus Monthly, blogs, and various small magazines and anthologies. And I am happily willing to oblige!
The title essay, CONFESSIONS OF A CRAZY CAT LADY, is original and provides a detailed history of my relationship with pets from my parents’ dog Duke (or “Puke” as we lovingly called him because of his colitis) to my team of feline bosses, Sasha and Savannah. In between, there’s a rock-swallowing goldfish, a suicidal grow-a-frog, and a potentially rabid hamster. Not all ends badly.
Careers for Non-Conformists: A Practical Guide to Finding and Developing a Career Outside the Mainstream
Occupations that require individualism, creativity, and even eccentricity are much more common than most people realize. For people who have never fit the corporate mold and want to go their own route, Careers for Nonconformists is an essential handbook. Sandra Gurvis reviews the nuts and bolts of being one’s own boss. She showcases 75 jobs and touches on dozens more within 15 areas of interest, from animals and the outdoors to entertainment and arts and crafts. She covers what it takes to break into a field, what to expect, and what people will need to do to thrive. The book includes complete reference information on professional associations, Web sites, trade magazines, and other useful resources, as well as 30 profiles of real people who have succeeded in unusual endeavors. Selection of the Quality Paperback Book Club.
Managing the Telecommuting Employee
Supervising the telecommuting employee poses many unique challenges for the modern manager, from motivating and communicating effectively to building schedules and enforcing deadlines. In Managing the Telecommuting Employee—the first book to deal with the management of telecommuters—the authors provide answers to the most complex and important challenges that managers face, such as:
- Conducting meetings and conferences efficiently with off-site employees.
- Monitoring productivity.
- Determining if the program is a success.
- Deciding when the arrangement isn’t working.
- Using expert advice, case studies, checklists, and sample forms and charts.
- Managing the Telecommuting Employee teaches managers how to make telecommuting enjoyable and profitable for themselves, their employees, and their company.