Connecticut Author, Eric Berlin

Eric Berlin is the author of the Winston Breen series of mysteries for children: The Puzzling World of Winston Breen, The Potato Chip Puzzles, and The Puzzler’s Mansion, which together have been nominated for over a dozen state reading awards. He has talked about the joy of puzzles and creative thinking in his school visits across the country.

Eric has had dozens of crosswords and other puzzles published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, and many other places. He has created live puzzle events for the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament, the Connecticut Library Association, the Trivia Championships of North America, and New York City’s Museum of Mathematics. In 2015, Eric founded Puzzle Your Kids, which provides a weekly pencil puzzle to thousands of students around the world. In 2019, Puzzle Your Kids was rebranded as Puzzlesnacks, and a collection of his puzzles was published by Simon & Schuster.

https://www.ericberlin.com/

Visit https://ctstatelibrary.org/ for information on more Connecticut talent.

(All Info Downloaded from Eric Berlin website)

Oh My! I Think I Love This Place in Connecticut: RJ Julia Bookseller: Madison, CT

Here’s what I took from RJ Julia Bookseller Website and I’ve got to go.  This story in itself makes me love the place.  It’ll be on my list of things to see in Connecticut for sure. 

Dear Reader,

Over the years, many many people have asked me why the store is named RJ Julia. The short answer is that it is named after my father’s mother. But this year, I’m going to tell you the long story, because this is the year my beloved, exuberant, wise, hard-working, curious, complicated, loving father died.

My father was born and lived in Hungary. As World War II approached, my grandmother-recently widowed-resolved that her song would finish high school. This was not easy at that place and time for a Jewish family without resources. But my grandmother was determined. She made the humbling decision to ask for help- to accept charity for my dad to finish school. Her commitment to my dad’s education, and her respect and awe for books and learning were her motivations.

She accomplished her dream. My dad finished high school in 1942, despite the odds. His life-long love of books and insatiable desire to read were launched. But within a year he was imprisoned in a labor camp and was a minesweeper for the Germans. My grandmother was deported to Bergen-Belsen and killed. My dad’s life was shaped by her love, and by her loss.

Thanks to her fierce love and resilience, he survived and made his way to America, had six kids, opened a string of bakeries and realized his version of the American dream. I’ve always wished that I’d had the chance to meet my grandmother, and to tell her that her son-my dad- had achieved so much. I think I was always looking for a way to honor her accomplishments, her strength and her indomitable spirit.

So when the time came to find a name for a building filled with books, I had no doubt where to look. The small gift I could give my dad was to name the store after my grandmother Juliska- Julia in English- to honor her dedication to learning and love, and to symbolize the enormous power of books and how they can change lives.  

                     

Sometimes you look back on the past, and feel amazed at how your experiences seem as though they were designed to lead to a specific goal- even if your weren’t aware of it at the time. For me, the publication of The Book That Changed My Life feels like the inevitable objective of my years as a bookseller. In recognition of the power of books to literally change lives- my father’s being a dramatic illustration- we asked 71 authors who have visited the store over the years to write about the books that changed their lives. The result is this beautiful collection of essays that my friend, Joy Johannessen, and I edited.

And to complete the circle, the royalties from The Book That Changed My Life will go to Read to Grow, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing books and the power of early literacy to all of our children and their families- because everyone should have the opportunity to find the book that will change their life.

With love and thanks to my grandmother Julia and my father Emerich- who changed my life.

https://www.rjjulia.com/

(All info downloaded from website https://www.rjjulia.com/)

On a personal note:  Tomorrow I'm giving up additional sugar for a month in support of my awesome Italian exchange daughter--she's basically tricked me with her awesomeness to go without added sugar and this bakery looks delicious.  

Leave a comment with a form of contact this week on this post to be eligible for the End of the Month Grand Prize! 

Barbara Edwards Presents Connecticut’s Lighthouses

Connecticut was the hub for whaling ships for a hundred years, providing whale oil for lamps and soap, baline for corset stays and the basis for perfume. Every part of the whale was used. Ports sent out ships that might be away for two or three years, filling their holds. At the mouth of each harbor was a lighthouse.

I’ve wanted to tour those lighthouses for years and this summer I took the Long Island Ferry tour.  It left the New London waterfront for a two hour tour. Unlike Gilligan we had fine weather as the ferry cruised the rock Connecticut shoreline. 

It quickly became apparent why the lighthouses are needed. The shoreline is rough with tiny beaches tucked in here and there. 

In the days before electicity, the ships couldn’t find the entrance to a harbor without a signal. Each lighthouse showed the way.

A keeper kept the kerosene lights lit. He’d carry a two gallon can up the stairs every few hours to feed the light. Imagine climbing anywhere from a hundred to two hundred steps no matter what was happening outside.

The Coast Guard has taken over most of the lights in the United States and electrified them. 

I love lighthouses. The mystic of the lonely tender appeals to my romantic imagination. Can you picture yourself there? 

Barbara Edwards is a native New Englander. 

She writes poetry for herself and novels when she needs to tell a longer tale. Barbara is fascinated by the past so naturally that turned to writing historical romance. The dark stories evolve from nightmares. The romance comes from her belief in people’s basic goodness and longing for love. 

She is married to a retired Police Sergeant. They share an interest in target shooting and camping. An avid Civil War re-enactor, Barbara travels the eastern states to participate in events. She loves visiting museums, galleries and battle sites, gathering information for her stories.

She taught Romance Writing at Manchester Community college for three years.

She is fond of gardening and is growing antique roses with limited success. 

Most of her exercise is when her Belgian Shepherd demands a walk. 

Barbara offers an EBook of Ancient Awakenings to one lucky person who comments.

Here’s where to find Barbara Edwards:

Blog http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter  https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A

GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/496095.Barbara_Edwards

(all info provided by authors)

Rebuilding Connecticut by Barbara Edwards

Connecticut was once known as the industrial center of the Northeast. Every

town had manufacturing jobs and factories. Huge brick buildings up to four

stories in height towered over the streets. Unless one of your parents worked at

one, you wouldn’t know how they were built. Thick brick walls, windows large

enough to admit daylight to work by, thick steel girders to hold up the weight of

machines. 

The machines often ran twenty-four/seven.

Connecticut was famous for hundreds, maybe thousands of products. Thread

from Willimantic went worldwide. Manchester made silk. Coventry made flannel

and wool during the Civil and First World Wars. 

Waterbury brass mills made ball

bearings, buttons, fasteners.

So what happens when a mill shuts down?

The windows are covered until some vandal breaks the glass. Some of the

buildings were burned when homeless people tried to build fires on the oilsoaked

floors.

The buildings became an eye-sore.

Then that old Yankee spirit rose. How does that old saying go? Wear it out, use it

up?

Well a few entrepreneurs bought a few buildings. Using government grants and

private funds they rehabbed the structures into housing.

the effort has changed entire neighborhoods around. Condos with playgrounds

replaced weeds.

I’ve included pictures of the Ameribelle project in Rockville. Since I couldn’t get

too close because of the construction fences the pictures are from the other side.

Ameribelle made fabric sold around the world and went out of business last year.

The factory stands at the end of the town center. They’ve removed the asphalt

parking lot, uncovered the river that runs beneath one building. That waterfall

powered electricity to the machines in the 1880s and beyond.

The rehabilitation is less than half done but the area looks terrific. They removed

the newer structures, leaving the original ones.

 

I drive by daily and am fascinated by the changes. They are already landscaping

the banks of the newly exposed river. They had built an underground waterway to

allow more buildings.

This project is the third here to make housing out of unused property.

Please leave a comment with your contact information for a chance to win my

historical romance, Another Love, set in New England in 1892.

http://www.books-by-wings-epress.com/another-love

Some promises are made to be broken.

Caught in a web of political intrigue, graft and threats to a beloved child,

Add caption

Meg Warren and Drew Larkin hunt the men threatening the downfall of President

Cleveland and the economic fabric of America. From a poor farm to the

ostentatious world of New York’s elite, they sift lies, discover trust and an

attraction they cannot resist. The last thing they expect to find is a love worth

more than gold.

"Quote." – Pat Potter, award winning author calls Another Love…“A real page turner

with wonderful characters and a unique plot. You can’t miss with this one.”

Review from Romantic Times Magazine **** 1/2 (four and one-half stars)

Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear

from my readers.

Blog http://

barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/

Website http://barbaraedwards.net

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/

BarbaraEdwards.Author

Twitter https://www.twitter.com/Barb_ed

Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/

B003F6ZK1A

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496095.Barbara_Edwards

I’m giving away an ebook copy of one of my books.   Leave contact link in your comment for your chance to win.