Book One:
Smile On Your Brother - A Family Still Hears The Echoes of Vietnam tells the story of Timothy Fitzmaurice, a 20 -year old Marine who was killed in Vietnam on May 9, 1968, and how his death continues to affect his family and friends more than 50 years later. It is a saga of love, loss, and remembrance, as Tim's family conveys memories of their brother and how their lives were irrevocably changed the tragic day a Marine officer came to their family doorstep to utter the words "The Commandant of the Marine Corps regrets to inform you...".
Through personal accounts from family, friends, and Tim Fitzmaurice's fellow Marines, Smile On Your Brother takes the reader on an emotional journey of tales of what might have been; of youth lost forever; and new realities of lives lived with grief silently and constantly endured.
In the vein of Jill Hunting's Finding Pete - Rediscovering the Brother I Lost in Vietnam, and Glenda Carter's Sacred Shadow, Sacred Ground - A Vietnam War Widow's Journey Through Unresolved Grief, Smile On Your Brother chronicles the lives of Tim Fitzmaurice's loved ones as they reflect on their Vietnam wartime experiences, and the legacy that the conflict left behind, not only for those who bore the devastation of loss, but also for a nation who sacrificed 58,267 of its cherished souls on the bloodied fields of Vietnam.
Book Two:
In many ways the 1970’s was a forgotten era, as America took time to breathe a sigh of relief from the previous decade of war, assassination, and rebellion.
For a child growing up in Chicago, however, the '70's were paramount in shaping and polishing a journey from boyhood to adulthood. Central to this development were the sports heroes and events that captivated and enthralled a young mind and, in the process, formed a man.
Minutes To Memories: Growing Up With Sports In The 1970’s is a memoir telling the story of how sports icons like Muhammad Ali, Reggie Jackson, Adrian Dantley, and many others, left indelible marks on a child who idolized their feats and longed to imitate their greatness.
In the vein of Steve Rushin’s Sting-Ray Afternoons, and Derek Tait’s A 1970’s Childhood: From Glam Rock To Happy Days, Minutes To Memories takes the reader on an emotional journey of a young boy’s fascination with a decade of sports figures and legends who became steadfast and inspirational companions. Filled with personal stories and remembrances of Chicago life in the 1970’s, Minutes To Memories returns us to a simpler time when children could be left on their own to dream.
Book 3:
Expecting To Fly: A Life Journey Through Music: by Nicholl, Austin J.: 9798891454385:
All books available at Amazon.com:
Music speaks to each of us in a highly personal way. Our relationship to it can define us more completely than any other art form. Music has the power to remind us of who we were, who we are, and who we can become.
Expecting to Fly: A Life Journey Through Music is a memoir detailing the author's awakening to the dynamic influence of music. With a particular focus on the live concert scene that captivated a young mind in the transformative decade of the 1980's, Expecting to Fly tells the tale of youthful experimentation with the different musical genres that played out in iconic venues in and around the city of Chicago.
In the vein of "This Is What it Sounds Like" by Susan Rogers, and "The Mix Tape of My Life" by Robert K. Elder, Expecting to Fly takes the reader on a nostalgic and emotional ride through a life of sights, sounds, and experiences that were eminently enhanced by a magnificent and essential soundtrack.
Publisher : Wintergreen Street Press (March 21, 2025)
Language : English
Paperback : 289 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8891454385
About The Author:
Austin Nicholl is a writer and musician. A lifelong Chicago resident, and an Irish citizen, Austin is a graduate of Loyola University's Undergraduate School of Business. His books can be found on Amazon, Goodreads, and thriftbooks.com
