Writing -- fictional novels, short stories, feature newspaper articles, news articles -- is my life, and I enjoy a good book or movie that tells a good story. I also like to hike and camp, and enjoy traveling. And I have a nearly lifelong interest in American Indians and their culture.
For sports, my favorite teams are the Boston Red Sox, Michigan Wolverines (football, basketball, hockey), Boston Bruins, and Buffalo Bills.
I enjoy listening to a wide variety of music, both old and new. And, of course, a good, kick-back and let-it-all-out get-together with friends is always a great time too!
Music
Like it says up above, I enjoy a wide range of music, both old and new, so don't let the seemingly schizophrenic nature of this partial list worry you:
The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, America, Asia, Journey, Styx, Counting Crows, Smashing Pumpkins, AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, Motley Crue, Staind, Disturbed, Shinedown, Three Days Grace, Godsmack, Nickelback, Eninem, Santana, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Susan Angeletti, Heart, Robert Johnson, Simon and Garfunkel, John Denver, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, Fuel, Tool, Green Day, Matchbox 20, Janis Joplin, Jim Hendrix, Ozzy (Black Sabbath days and solo), Stone Temple Pilots, Iron Maiden, Dio, Judas Priest, Linkin Park, U2, Aerosmith, Boston, Humble Pie and Bloodrock, to name a few.
As you can see, I don't limit myself to a certain musical style. There's a lot of great music out there in all styles, you just have to be open to it. In short, if it sounds good and the lyrics and tune can reach me in some way, I'll listen to it.
Movies
A few of the great movies I've seen that I recommend (in no particular order):
"The Outsiders"
A classic!
(Both the original cut and The Complete Novel)
"Rebel Without A Cause"
"Stand By Me"
Freedom Writers; Rear Window; Citizen Kane; American Graffiti; The Good, The Bad and The Ugly; Scarface (with Pacino); Reservoir Dogs; The Poseidon Adventure (original); War of the Worlds (original); Bless the Beasts and Children; The Birds; Goodfellas; Dead Poet's Society; Gangs of New York; Titanic; Gladiator; Good Will Hunting; Smoke Signals; original Star Wars trilogy.
"Dances With Wolves"
Television
Currently: Sports, classic movies, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, History Channel, certain news programs (60 Minutes, Sunday Morning), TV Land.
There are few current series I follow regularly, with the exception of One Life To Live. (Yeah, I watch a soap. Great characters; excellent storylines. Don't give me a hard time until you check it out yourself first.) Oh, yeah, and I do watch Cold Case on occasion.
Classic/past series I've enjoyed: M*A*S*H, All in the Family, Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, Good Times, Seinfeld, Star Trek (original), Battlestar Galactica (original).
Books
Books I've published:
"American Odyssey"
(Sept. 2006, Outskirts Press)
Some books I've read and enjoyed:
The Catcher in the Rye; So Long, See You Tomorrow; Dances With Wolves; That Was Then, This Is Now; Fade; I Am The Cheese; Peace Like A River; On The Rez; Great Plains; Lord of the Flies; The Dharma Bums; Travels With Charley; Of Mice and Men; The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist-fight In Heaven; Bleeding Maize and Blue; Dark Rivers of the Heart; No One Here Gets Out Alive; The Hobbit; Bleachers.
"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton
Always a great read!
"School Shooter: In His Own Words" by Mark Frye
Check out what I have to say about "School Shooter" in my blog entry titled "A Book You've Got To Read". You'll find it in the Blog Archive.
Heroes
To me, a hero is a person who has the strength and courage to be true to himself, and his family and friends, and to go after what he truly wants in life.
A partial American Indian quote I believe is fitting here:
“…I seek strength not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy…myself…”
Fitchburg State College
Fitchburg, MA
Graduated: N/A
Degree: None
Major: English/Professional writing
Clubs: A side note: I am not currently attending, nor am I alumni. My enrollment was interrupted due to personal matters that needed to be addressed and I have yet to complete my Bachelor's.
Mount Wachusett Community College
Gardner, MA
Graduated: 1998
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Associate's Degree
Major: Liberal Arts/English concertration
Clubs: A side note: I attended nights, part-time while working full-time. My enrollment was also interrupted when I decided to head to California in 1995 to try my hand at living out that way.
1988 to 1998
Athol High
Athol, MA
Graduated: 1984
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
Clubs: School newspaper.
I'm a published author and reporter. I'm looking to further promote my recently published novel and future works. I'm interested in hearing from persons within the publishing & film industries, other writers & readers of my book & others' works.
Brian's Companies
Athol Daily News Athol, Massachusetts US News Reporter News Room
4/2003 to Present
Brian wonders how long the wait will be. view more
A published author and news reporter for a local daily newspaper, I currently live in the small Massachusetts town where I was born and raised. Instilled early on with a desire to write, my first success came in 1997, with the publication of a creative commentary piece in Worcester Magazine. In 2001, I won the Louis P. Shepherd Award in Creative Writing while a student at Fitchburg State College.
"American Odyssey" is my first published novel.
In brief, the book weaves an engaging tale of three less-than-fortunate teenage boys who run away from their troubled lives in a depressed New England factory town to seek what they feel is the justice in life they deserve after having experienced more than their fair share of hard knocks. A tumultuous cross-country journey ensues that affects each one in unexpected ways, forever changing their lives. It’s a straightforward story based on today’s countless headlines of teenagers either in emotional trouble, on the run or committing any number of crimes, and it should strike a chord with many of today’s younger generation. It's written to appeal to both adults and mature young adults, with the primary target audience being the latter.
It was published through Outskirts Press Inc. in Parker, Colo., and is currently available in paperback to readers on-line at, among others, Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Borders.com, target.com and the publisher's Web site at www.outskirtspress.com/AmericanOdyssey. An eBook edition is also available through the Outskirts Web site. The book is also available to distributors and retailers through wholesalers such as Ingram, and Baker & Taylor. Individual customers can also order it through traditional retailers by providing either of the following ISBN numbers: 1598007556 or 9781598007558. For those of you living in the Athol area, it is stocked at Bruce's Browser in uptown Athol.
For those readers who have had their interest peaked, further details can be found on the sites listed above.
-- WATCH THIS SPACE FOR NEWS AND UPDATES ABOUT AMERICAN ODYSSEY --
***** Nov. 18, 2008 -- As of this date, the film/television rights to American Odyssey have been optioned.
*****
"Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind." -- Rudyard Kipling, English author (1865-1936)
Who I'd like to meet:
Instead of who I'd like to meet, I'll list a few people I have met over the years: Novelist Robert Cormier, Sox players Mike Timlin and Tim Wakefield, former Bruins player Adam Oates, legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler and former Wolverines footballers Anthony Carter, John Wrangler and Jamie Morris. And I once played highway tag with Roger Clemens along Route 2 after a Red Sox game, when he still pitched for the hometown team -- no kidding.
In Memory of a Friend, Who Was Like A Brother, And Who Can't Be Here Now
Jason Keith Ball
Sept. 18, 1974
July 5, 1998
Twenty-three Years
BLAST FROM THE PAST – This is a picture of the old Pioneer Valley Drive-in Theater that used to stand in Orange, Massachusetts – a town near where I live. It was taken in 1986 or 1987, about a year after closing. My brother Marc is on the left; I’m on the right. (You gotta like the 1974 Ford Mustang II we're sitting on; that was my first car.) We went to that drive-in a lot with our parents when we were kids. When we were older, we went with friends and did all the things teenagers do at drive-ins. A fictional drive-in based, in part, on this one will play host to at least one scene in my second book, which I’m currently writing.
Check out Kassie DePaiva's CDs!
Kassie is an outstanding singer and actress, and currently stars as Blair Cramer on ABC's "One Life To Live."
To learn more about her music or to sample her songs, access her MySpace profile through my Top Friends listing below.
Hey Brian...saw you online and I figured I'd stop in and say hi. How are things going? Hope all is well and that the new book will be available in book stores soon! :)
"Unconventional is a wonderful story full of heart, humor, and what it means to truly be successful. An A+ novel for the keeper shelf. " - Gemma Halliday, award-winning author
Hi thanks so much for the add on your page...best wishes to you from Cork City Ireland...hope you get a chance to check out my new songs.. and maybe leave a comment ..my debut album will be out next couple of months...thanks again for the add.....Hope your well ... your friend patrick k
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