by J. Dennis Robinson '73,
Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2007.

This beautiful, painstakingly researched volume is actually three books in one: 400 years of Portsmouth history, the story of Strawbery Banke from its founding in 1957 to the present, and a compelling visual narrative with 375 photographs and illustrations.

Alice Fogel '85G,
Harbor Mountain Press, 2007.

In her third, breathtaking collection, Fogel holds emptiness in her hands and examines its many natural dimensions: a shed snakeskin, the spinning of seagulls as they rearrange themselves on the ice, a decomposing leaf.

by Todd Balf '83,
Crown Publishers, 2008.

In the late 19th Century, track-based bicycle racing was as popular as NASCAR is today. Balf's engaging book is a study of the sport, the politics surrounding it, and a sensitive portrayal of Marshall "Major" Taylor, an amazing black athlete who transcended the limitations of his time.

William McGee '59

I've recently published a book, "Men of Granite: True Stories of New Hampshire's Fighting Men" with Peter E. Randall Publisher in Portsmouth, NH. The book contains 49 profiles of New Hampshire soldiers, ranging from the years 1755-1991, from the French & Indian War to Desert Storm. In a sense, I've been writing this book for 30 years. In high school, I learned about Daniel Webster, Horace Greeley and Franklin Pierce, but I never knew about, for example, Colonel Edward E. Cross, who commanded an infantry brigade during the Civil War, or Henry Dearborn who had been the Commanding General of the entire United States Army during the War of 1812, or Corporal Rene Gagnon from Manchester, NH who helped raise the flag over Iwo Jima in World War II. Throughout my life, whenever I've learned about a NH soldier who contributed something significant to his country, I've made a mental note of it, and I knew that I wanted to write about them someday.

I've written the book for the average high school student who isn't necessarily a scholar, and isn't particularly interested in history. I wanted to make his or her state's history interesting and easy to read and understand. Then, in going from biography to biography, it seemed to make sense to include recaps of wars that would provide a context for what these soldiers did, and would contribute a bit of national and world history. And in my research, I found a lot of little-known facts that I think will make this a valuable book for adults interested in the topic, too.

What I expect will happen after the book's release in April is that I'll receive letters from some UNH grads who were helicopter pilots in Vietnam and were decorated for amazing deeds and feel they should have been included. If enough people send in their stories, perhaps I'll have to publish a revised edition!

Bernard Balser '63

I've recently published a fictional account of my life growing up in the 40s and 50s in Danvers, Massachusetts, entitled "Off Hillcrest Road." It is a story that I've always wanted to tell as the process of telling it has enabled me to come out of my shell. A young boy, Ben Robblee, grows up in a small New England town with the wishes to do well in the classroom and play with his buddies both in the neighborhood and at school. But his father has other ideas, indeed. Scott Robblee demands that his three sons all play football, something that leads to Ben's downfall. Throughout the book, we see how a boy is forced to do something which is completely against his nature. He has premonitions that a terrible thing will befall him -- and it does. Ben is injured critically in a football game his senior year and must change his life's agenda forever. It is the first book of a planned trilogy!

Maurice "Moe" Quirin '72

I'm a January 1972 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts, a former general manager of WUNH-FM and have been a freelance anchor/editor for The Wall Street Journal Radio Network for five years. As a native of Manchester and a broadcaster used to writing short scripts under tight deadlines, I wanted to take the time for in-depth research and write a book. So, I had an idea about eight years ago for a book on the history of the airport in my home town.

As a boy, I remember my parents taking me to Grenier Air Force Base in the 1950s to watch military and a few commercial and civilian planes take off and land. It turns out that many other New Hampshire children did (and still do) the same. One of them was Alan B. Shepard Jr. Dreams of flight floated in Shepard's head as a teen riding his bicycle from Derry to Manchester in the 1930s to clean hangars in exchange for flying lessons.

After nearly six years of research and oral history interviews by co-author Edward W. Brouder Jr., contributors Barbara Miles and Christopher Van Veen, and myself, "Manchester's Airport: Flying Through Time" was published by New Hampshire's UBT Press in October 2006. America's first astronaut is one of many stories of foresight, perseverance and even personal sacrifice that fill our 432-page history of aviation in Manchester since the first balloon flight in 1856 through the 21st century success of Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

The book's first printing was helped by a generous financial contribution from the New Hampshire Aviation Historical Society, which operates the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Manchester's restored, 1937 passenger terminal. Now in its third printing, there's more information on "Manchester's Airport: Flying Through Time" at our website http://www.mhtbook.com. The website also includes unsolicited testimonials from readers, authors' information, ordering and other information and web links. We hope you have as much fun reading our book as we did writing it.

Ron LeBlond '58

I've recently published "Civil War Soldiers of Somersworth NH," which focuses on the two New Hampshire Infantry regiments containing the greatest number of men from that town (my hometown), and follows them through the four years of war. For each of the major battles, the positions, actions and losses of the Somersworth soldiers are recounted. Casualties among these men are reported by name, rank and date.

Also documented is the impact of the war on Somersworth, a typical NH cotton-mill town. When the mills closed for lack of raw cotton in late 1861, some 1,700 of the community's 5000 residents had lost not only their income but their Company housing as well, yet there was nowhere else they could go. Nor was the rest of the town much better off; loss of its economic engine nearly caused every business to close down. The community's struggles to survive, and the factors that helped or hindered this fight, are described for each of the four years of war.

The book includes numerous contemporary engravings, plus maps of the major battles and the troop movements in between. An index of names is provided. The Appendix includes, among other old records, a listing of every Somersworth man who served in a NH military unit in the Civil War, and shows his military service record as well.

by Julie Hardy '99,
World Culture Music, 2007.

Hardy was the featured vocalist at the Clark Terry Jazz Festival this past March, and is also on the faculty of the New School Jazz Program. Her lovely second CD, which she also produced, is an interesting compilation of original compositions, jazz standards like "All or Nothing at All," and covers of pop tunes like Lennon & McCartney's, "I'm Looking Through You."

by Jean Mary Flahive '69,
Islandport Press, 2007.

This well-researched and engaging young adult novel about the Civil War is based on a real person and a true event. Billy Laird is a 20-year-old mentally challenged person from Berwick, Maine, who enlists in the Union Army. Unsuited and ill-prepared for battle, Billy deserts the army and meets a runaway slave named Elijah, and together, they make their way north. The novel, Flahive's first, provides a wealth of information about the role Mainers played in the Civil War, and would be of interest to Civil War buffs of all ages.

by Peter Michel,
AuthorHouse, 2007.

Michel is the baseball coach for UNH's club team and this pleasing memoir is an account of his life as a coach and educator, his challenges in dealing with clinical depression, and his passion for baseball.

by Sandra J. Philipson '70,
Cleveland Clinic Press, 2007.

Here is the latest book in Philipson's charming children's book series about Springer spaniels Max, Annie and Trini. It also includes valuable reading and writing curriculum suggestions for teachers.

by Louise Rogers '88
RILO Records, 2007.

Louise Rogers' singing style has been compared to such refined jazz vocalists as Rosemary Clooney and Anita O'Day, and her new CD is a refreshingly original mix of songs written or inspired by artists as diverse as the poet, Nikki Giovanni, the tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, and the composer Gottfried Stoger. Roger's parents were both professors in the Music Department at UNH, and the proceeds of this CD will go to a piano scholarship that has been set up in Rogers' mother's name.

• Kendahl Ferguson '03 will be joining the Danzare Internationale Dance Company for their 2008-09 Season
• Elizabeth (Libby) Stevens '05 is currently performing in the new musical "13" at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. This production will move on to Broadway next year
• Michael Graziadei '01 appeared in the April 30th episode of CBS's "Criminal Minds"
• Veronica DiPerna '05 will be performing in "The Producers" at the Ogunquit Playhouse in July and August 2008
• Greg Kalafatas '03 will be playing the role of the "Big Bopper" in "The Buddy Holly Story" at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, June 17-July 27th
• Sean Quinn '05 is scheduled to appear in "42nd Street" at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City. After that, he will be part of the Asian tour of "Cinderella" starring Lea Salonga, which will open in the Philippines and tour China, Japan and Korea
• Laura Halzack '03 is currently performing with the Paul Taylor Dance Company
• Husband and wife team Ian Hanna '03 and Sara Desmarais '01 have founded a touring theatre group entitled NEET (New England Educational Tours) -- several THDA graduates are involved with this group
• Megan Reilly '00 and Travis Bedard '99 have recently mounted Megan's original series of design-driven performance arts pieces called "Transformations," inspired by the poetry of Anne Sexton at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre in Austin, TX. For this project, Megan contacted artists from all over the United States, including Mark and Trish Vaillancourt '98 and Kim Bird '02
• Liam Billingham '05 is currently assistant directing "King John" with the Actor's Shakespeare Project in Boston