News and information from Steve’s author and writing life
I’m Honored to be Speaking in Gettysburg This Fall at
The Lincoln Forum Conference!
I announced that I had been invited by the prestigious The Lincoln Forum to speak at their November conference at Gettysburg (one of my favorite historical places). I now have a little more information to share with you.
The Lincoln Forum is an assembly of people who share a deep interest in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era. Through a roster of activities including symposia, tours, student essay competitions, teacher scholarships, a newsletter, and annual awards to recognize special contributions to the field of Lincoln studies, the Forum endeavors to enhance the understanding and preserve the memory of Abraham Lincoln. The conference usually draws upwards of 300 attendees.
Because of my book, The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union, the organizers have asked me to be part of a panel called “The Voice of the People: Lincoln and Congress.” My panel will be held on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, and I’ll be joined by prestigious authors and academics Jeffrey Boutwell, Fergus Bordewich, Cecily Zander, and moderator Michelle Krowl. I’m very much looking forward to it. You can find out more about the overall conference and the panel here. My thanks to The Lincoln Forum for this exciting opportunity and to you for your ongoing support of The Great Abolitionist, and my work in general. 
News About Podcasts and Broadcasts
I really enjoy being a guest on podcasts, especially those that are well done. I like the informal, conversational style, and I’m always pleased when a host has spent the time to know the subject well. During the summer, I had the pleasure to be a guest on two podcasts with great hosts.
A big thank you to Mike Allen, who runs the very fine “Amazing Tales About History” podcast, for interviewing me about the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, which I write about in my book, Dark Tide. It’s about 20 minutes long, and Mike does a great job with the flow, pace, and the narration. You can listen here. It was fun being his guest – and I appreciate his kind comments at the end about Dark Tide and my other books! Enjoy and let me know what you think.
I also want to thank host Lee Stabert for inviting me to appear on her fine podcast, “Explain Boston to Me,“ to talk about my most recent book, The Great Abolitionist: Charles Sumner and the Fight for a More Perfect Union. Lee is a transplant from Philadelphia who – as her podcast title suggests – is trying to learn as much about Boston as possible. And she’s doing a great job! Lee’s breezy, conversational style made this a fun experience for me. It’s about 50 minutes long (Lee introduces a few other items, too). You can listen here.
I was honored to be a guest on the History Channel’s “History This Week” podcast to discuss the caning of Charles Sumner, based on my books The Caning and The Great Abolitionist. The podcast dropped on May 22, the 169th anniversary of the event, which shocked the nation, left Charles Sumner seriously injured, and put the country inexorably on the road to Civil War. The podcast is about 42 minutes long, so it’s perfect to listen to on a drive, a walk, or a run! I think the History Channel team did an excellent job producing this, complete with music, sound effects, and a really strong narration by Sally Helm. My thanks also to executive producer Ben Dickstein for his thorough interview and many contributions! The link here is to YouTube, and the episode is also posted on Spotify and Apple, which you can find with a simple Google search. Enjoy!
This past winter I met with the crew of “The Curiosity Desk” of GBH News in Boston – the city’s public radio/television/digital platform – to shoot an episode on the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 (my book, Dark Tide, tells the full story). We met at the site of the flood in Boston’s North End, which is now marked with a beautiful new interpretative plaque befitting the event. Well – it took awhile, but the episode launched on June 23 on GBH2 (live channel) and the GBH News YouTube channel. GBH tells me it’s almost 30 minutes long, and they explore the history of the North End, how the Great Molasses Flood occurred, and “whether it is truly possible to still smell the molasses more than 100 years later.” (spoiler alert – it isn’t – but I’m sure the episode will be great).
I was also interviewed about Dark Tide and the molasses flood by host James Gardner on the “Your History, Your Story” podcast. James did a great job setting the stage and asking insightful questions about the book and the writing process. The episode is about 50 minutes long. You can listen on: YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.
Congratulations to Pam Donnaruma, Publisher and Editor of Boston’s North End Post-Gazette Newspaper!
Some 20 years ago, I walked into the Boston North End office of the Post Gazette and introduced myself to Pam Donnaruma, publisher and editor of the premier newspaper in the city’s iconic Italian-American neighborhood.
I mentioned to Pam that I was working on my book, The Boston Italians (ultimately published in 2007), and hoped to feature her grandfather, James Donnaruma, as one of the book’s main real-life characters. James, who founded the paper for Italian immigrants in 1895 as La Gazzetta del Massachusetts, was an important and influential champion of Italian-Americans throughout his life, and often used his paper to highlight issues that affected them (James is shown at the far right in the offices of La Gazzetta del Massachusetts in 1913).
I was so grateful that – without having any idea of who I was – Pam immediately agreed and was immensely helpful as I moved forward with my research. Pam and I have been friends since! Recently, Pam was honored with an official proclamation in recognition of the 130th anniversary of the paper’s publication by State Representative Aaron Michlewitz (see photo), as well as for her steadfast and unwavering support of the Italian-American community and residents of the North End. Pam has done a remarkable job advancing the mission of the paper – the longest continuously published ethnic newspaper in the United States – and fulfilling a true legacy of love. A paper first published in Italian over a century ago by her grandfather, James, the Post-Gazette became an English-language paper and was operated by Pam’s father, Caesar, and mother, Phyllis. When Pam took over the business, she dedicated herself to upholding and further promoting the Italian-American culture, ideals, and traditions articulated more than a century ago by her grandfather – hard work, love of family, commitment to community. She is proud of her family legacy and its perseverance even in tough times. The Post-Gazette has never once missed a weekly publication in its 130-year history!
Any honor Pam receives is so well-deserved. She has been recognized nationally for her work and philanthropic activities, and been the subject of numerous media stories – but she has never forgotten her roots. There is not enough space here for me to enumerate Pam’s countless contributions to the North End community, nor the number of times she has helped people who have stopped by her door at the Post-Gazette office on Little Prince Street. I’m just so honored and grateful that she extended a helping hand to this author two decades ago! Thanks, and congratulations, Pam!
It’s Always a Treat to Lead Tours (Large or Small) in the Historic Neighborhood of Boston’s North End
If you’ve been following me here, you know that I often give tours of Boston’s historic North End. These are usually associated with book clubs or community groups, or sometimes just private tours that people request. Here’s a recap of two tours — one large and part of a community group, and one small and private. Both were enormously gratifying — it’s an honor to share the vibrancy and history of the North End neighborhood with people who enjoy and respect history!
Thanks to the Southborough (MA) Trail Blazers…
Many thanks to the nearly 40 members of the Southborough (MA) Trail Blazers Club for sponsoring a tour of Boston’s North End! I appreciated the efficiency with which this large group moved through the narrow streets of this busy neighborhood, as well as their excellent questions and kind comments afterward. Thanks to Hal Kiess for being my main contact as we planned the event. A really fun day!
…and to Billy McCarty and Elaine Little
I was thrilled to conduct a private tour of Boston’s North End for Elaine Little and Billy McCarty of Phenix City, Alabama (located across the river from Columbus, Georgia on the AL-GA state line) on their first visit to Boston! Billy and Elaine are retired, love to travel, and are huge history buffs. Billy was a Battalion Chief for many years with the Columbus, GA Fire Department. So in addition to the historical portion of the tour, we stopped into the Hanover Street fire station to say hello. Many thanks to the firefighters from Engine 8 and Ladder 1, who made Billy feel right at home, and presented him with a BFD jersey! “The chief is in the House,” exclaimed one BFD firefighter when he learned of Billy’s background. After my tour (and lunch in the Italian North End, of course), Billy and Elaine were heading to nearby Charlestown for a tour of the USS Constitution. Welcome to Boston, Billy and Elaine!
World War II Ended 80 Years Ago – A Visit to a Cape Cod Museum Reminds Us of Homefront Contributions
On September 2, 1945, after six years of brutal fighting, World War II, the most destructive and consequential war in history, came to an end when the Japanese surrendered to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. U.S. General Douglas MacArthur (shown in the surrender photo below), Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in the Southwest Pacific, presided over the surrender.
It seemed fitting, then, during a summer weekend on Cape Cod, my wife Kate and I, along with some dear friends, visited the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center, including the Marconi/RCA-Wireless Museum, which tells the story of Chatham’s contributions during WWII’s Battle of the Atlantic. Dubbed the “World’s Greatest Coastal Station,” the museum building was once home to the largest ship-to-shore radiotelegraph station in the United States. It was established in 1921 by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) — seven years after Guglielmo Marconi constructed the site — and was known to mariners worldwide as Chatham Radio, WCC. During WWII, Navy personnel monitored messages from German U-boats prowling the Atlantic. They intercepted Morse code signals, encrypted by the German Enigma machine, and relayed them to Washington D.C., where they were decrypted at the Navy’s secret sub-tracking room (related note: see my book recommendations below, where I summarize Phantom Fleet, which tells the story of the search for German U-boats). This museum is a bit of a hidden gem on Cape Cod! I found it interesting and informative in the way it depicted an important slice of WWII history. Thanks to our friend, Ed Stratton, for bringing it to our attention and organizing the outing! PS – If you visit the museum, I suggest you top off your day of history with an evening that features a Cape Cod sunset, as Kate and I enjoyed!
Thanks to the Latest Group of Readers Who Have Commented on My Books!
As I’ve mentioned before, if there is anything better than having loyal readers, it’s that they feel comfortable — even enthusiastic — about writing to me to offer their opinions. I cherish this interaction, and to pay tribute to such thoughtful readers, I wanted to share my most recent correspondence here. You can find more reader comments by visiting the What Readers are Saying section of my website. Read on and enjoy!
Summer reading is the best reading, and there’s nothing more gratifying on a summer day than getting an email from a reader who has enjoyed one of my books — especially one he has enjoyed poolside! Say hello to Commander Thomas J. O’Malley, Jr., U.S. Navy (retired), who wrote to me from Tampa, Florida to say how much he enjoyed A City So Grand. “I treasure my copy absolutely,” he said. “The book itself is an awesome work…I believe it should be required reading for all students in Boston. Thank you for your work.” Tom is a native of South Boston, a graduate of UMass-Boston (my alma mater!), and served in numerous posts in the Navy and the Naval Reserve. While on active duty, he served on the USS Capricorn, the USS Guam, and the USS Basilone, and served as a combat advisor to the Vietnamese Navy. After serving in the Reserve, he was recalled to active duty and was deployed to the Persian Gulf for anti-terrorism operations. His civilian career was in the airline industry, where he worked for TWA, American, and PanAm airlines. Grateful thanks to Tom for his service to our country and his kind words about my book!
Book 9 Update: A Busy Summer (and Fall) of Writing!
My summer included a very busy writing schedule (and the fall will be the same) as I make the turn into the home-stretch on Book 9 writing (topic will be revealed soon). I’m working to make the narrative of this remarkable story as compelling as possible and I think you’ll enjoy it! As always, I thank you for your constant support and words of encouragement.
Looking Forward to a Busy and Fun Fall Speaking Season!
I’m preparing for an exciting and busy speaking season this fall, both public and private appearances. Remember, my schedule is subject to change – you can always find up-to-date details on the Events page on my website.
Here’s a quick preview:
October 13 – I’ll be delivering the Columbus Day Breakfast keynote address for the Massachusetts Italian Heritage Month Committee (IHMC)
October 15 – Presentation on The Great Abolitionist hosted by the Sherborn (MA) History Center and Museum, venue is the Sherborn Public Library, 4 Sanger St., Sherborn. 7:00 p.m.
October 23 – Presentation on The Great Abolitionist at the Walpole (MA) Public Library, 143 School St. Walpole, 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by the Friends of the Walpole Public Library.
November 6 – A Dark Tide presentation at the luxurious Hub50House apartments, 50 Causeway St., Boston (private event).
November 13 – A presentation on The Great Abolitionist at The Village at Duxbury (MA) (private event).
November 15 – I’ll be delivering the keynote speech at the Bellingham (MA) Local Author Expo at the Bellingham Public Library, 100 Blackstone St., Bellingham, MA (daylong event).
Some Interesting Items and Events in Winter 2025 Related to Dark Tide and the Great Boston Molasses Flood!
Dark Tide was first published in 2003, but 22 years later, I’m humbled by the book’s continued popularity, and with the interest about the Great Boston Molasses Flood from so many different places. This winter was no exception! Here are a few interesting Dark Tide/molasses flood items from the winter.
- As part of the lead-up to the anniversary, I was interviewed by Food & Wine magazine about the flood – the history and the folklore. It was so interesting to me that this publication chose to do a story on the flood, and I think it turned out well! You can read the interview here.
- I enjoyed the way Beacon Press, which published Dark Tide, commemorated the flood this year. Beacon featured Dark Tide in the newsletter it sends to independent bookstores. I’ve included some of the graphics here. Beacon also inserted a clip of actress Ayo Edebiri talking about the molasses flood on a television interview show. You can see the clip and read the Beacon publication here.
- On the January 15 anniversary of the flood (the 106th!) I enjoyed a fantastic evening at the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation. I was honored to talk about Dark Tide to more than 90 enthusiastic attendees – which included some dear family members and friends, and representatives from the Italian Consulate in Boston! It was fun to speak in front of the museum’s 19th-century steam fire engine, and to get a chance to see some of the machinery work at one of the world’s most innovative locations during the industrial age. My thanks to Stephen Guerriero, Director of Education, and the entire museum staff for organizing this memorable evening!
A New Interpretative Plaque Marks the American Humanitarian Mission to Ireland During The Great Famine, a Story Told in My Book,
Voyage of Mercy
I’m excited that the Friends of the Boston Harborwalk have installed a new and beautiful interpretative plaque to commemorate the massive American assistance effort to Ireland during the Great Famine of 1846-47, a story I told for the first time in my book, Voyage of Mercy.
I was honored to edit the copy and captions for this sign, and my book and name are mentioned in the caption describing the USS Jamestown, which left from the Charlestown Navy Yard in March 1847 with food for the starving Irish. The Jamestown was the first of more than 150 ships that provided food to Ireland in 1847 and 1848, as the American people participated in the world’s first humanitarian mission!
The plaque is located directly opposite Pier 1 at the Navy Yard, which is where the USS Constitution is docked. Shout-outs to Steve Landrigan of the Friends sign team for creating the content; and to Jamestown Urban Management (whose name is totally coincidental), which leases the property from MassPort, for covering the cost of design, manufacture, and installation of the plaque, and expressed great enthusiasm about adding interpretive signage!
If you live in the Boston area, or are planning to visit, I hope you can make your way to the area and check out this great new addition to the history of Boston and the history of the United States!
Saying “So Long” to a Dear Friend: RIP Mike Rosenberg – A Man Who Taught Me Much About How to Write and How to Get it Right
I hope you’ll indulge me as I pay tribute to my dear friend, Mike Rosenberg, who passed away recently – and much too soon. It’s hard to list all of Mike’s contributions, accomplishments, and amazing virtues – and if you’d like, you can read his full obituary here.
What I’d like to share with you were his enormous talents as a mentor, news reporter, boss, and friend. Mike was my first executive editor in the newspaper business, back when we worked together on the staff of the Lexington Minuteman in the late 1970s and into early 1980. I learned so much from him – about writing, about storytelling, about getting the story right (much more important than getting it first), about explaining how the news affected everyday people, and about paying attention to the small stuff as well as the big picture.
A perfect example of Mike’s philosophy on the latter item: he often emphasized how important it was to make sure obituaries were written properly. No, you would never win awards because you wrote great obits – and it was often the low-reporter-on-the-totem-pole who was assigned to them – but you could really upset and hurt a grieving family if you made mistakes in a relative’s obit. So if you’re in doubt about the spelling of a person’s name, or where the deceased worked, or whether the person was 85 or 86-years-old, check with the funeral director – or even respectfully check with the family. I probably wrote 1,000 obituaries during my newspaper career, and I never forgot Mike’s advice.
And his “obit rule” was just one small example. Mike followed that basic approach with every news story he edited. “Are you certain about the date?” he would ask. Or: “I’m not sure what you’re trying to say in this paragraph – give it another try.” His vocabulary was extensive (“I don’t think this is the word you’re looking for here”); and his knowledge – especially about the towns he covered – was encyclopedic (“This can’t be right – the Board of Appeals changed that zoning two years ago – check it again”).
It would be wrong to call Mike a taskmaster, because the word sounds too pedestrian and too harsh. He was a true teacher and a true professional – and to him, getting it right was a prerequisite to calling yourself a true journalist. He did it all with an amazing sense of humor, and even with the pressure of deadlines, I will always cherish the numerous laughs when we shared at work – he had a contagious laugh that you could hear across the newsroom. His wry smile always started with the twinkle in his eyes. Like many news reporters, his humor was irreverent – but unlike many, he was never, ever cruel. I can’t think of anyone who didn’t like Mike Rosenberg.
And I should mention that I never once witnessed Mike let his political points of view (and he had strong ones!) influence the way he covered, wrote, or edited the stories we published – his integrity was unparalleled and worthy of emulation. Mike could talk about anything – history, current events, politics, religion, and his beloved Boston sports teams. His devoutness to his Jewish faith and his inexhaustible leadership in the Jewish community were – next to his love of family – most important to him, and one of his most admirable qualities.
Just as important, as a friend AND a boss, Mike always had your back. I count him among the top three bosses I had in my entire career. And as a friend, he was always there – compassionate, concerned, supportive, interested. He was an usher in our wedding and Kate and I were honored that he was. We loved Mike and his beautiful wife, Dawn (they were married 10 years before us, but we shared the same anniversary date!).
Like the great teacher he was, Mike beamed when one of his proteges (I count myself among the many he had) achieved a measure of success. He never used the words “I’m proud of you” as I progressed in my author career – that wasn’t his style – but I knew he was proud by his constant encouragement and the many discussions we had about my books. Then again, I regret that I never explicitly said to him: “I doubt I’d ever be an author if it weren’t for your incredible influence on my writing.” I can only hope he knew that. RIP Mike. You left us too soon – and damn, I miss you already.
An Inspiring Writing Workshop for “The Room To Write”
I’ve taught many writing workshops during my career as an author, and I was especially excited to conduct a workshop for participants who belong to “The Room To Write,” an organization north of Boston that serves anyone who’s interested in writing, but focuses especially on seniors and veterans.
This group was terrific! We had a spirited discussion about writing, including the value of personal stories and numerous ways to improve the writing craft, and I was especially gratified with the number of great questions.
I’m shown below with Colleen Getty (left), founder of The Room to Write, and Linda Malcolm, coordinator of Senior and Veteran Programming; and with those who won door prizes – copies of my books! Thanks so much to TRTW for a warm welcome and an enriching writing experience!
At Portland Head Light in Maine, a new plaque to commemorate the crew of the USS Eagle-56, the subject of my book,
Due to Enemy Action
I was thrilled this Spring to visit Portland Head Lighthouse in Portland, Maine, and see a new monument plaque erected in honor of the crew of the USS Eagle-56, the last American warship to be sunk by a German u-boat in Atlantic waters during World War II (on April 23, 1945).
The sinking, the stories of the crew members (including the 49 killed and the “Lucky Thirteen” who survived), the Navy cover-up of the sinking, and the eventual (sixty years later) reversal of the incorrect record – which brought a measure of peace and justice to the men who survived and their families – is the subject of my book, Due To Enemy Action (published in 2005). The Eagle-56, which was docked at Portland Harbor, was sunk just four miles out to sea.
Naval historian and attorney Paul Lawton, who was instrumental in convincing the Navy to change its official record, provided me with rich and valuable research that made this book possible. The previous plaque (left in the picture below) outlined the story of the event. The plaque I’m behind lists every crew member – those who died and those who survived. It is a fitting tribute to these brave heroes! You can read about this amazing story and the book here.
It was a profound honor to meet, become friends with, and tell the stories of these good and honorable men.
A Wonderful North End Tour
There’s nothing like a summertime tour of Boston’s historic North End! I was thrilled to conduct a tour for the Board of Directors of the University Consortium of Executive Education (UNICON), who were in town for a meeting at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management. UNICON is a global consortium of business-school-based executive education organizations with 120 members worldwide.
We had a great tour, and it was wonderful to meet members representing MIT, Stanford, Babson College, and others! My thanks to Eric Bergemann, UNICON board member and Senior Director of Executive Programs at the Sloan School, for organizing the event. I’m also happy to report that the group enjoyed a great Italian meal after the tour! Thanks to my friend, Erin Leone (www.erinleonephotography.com ) for the wonderful photos, including the group shot at the site of the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 (the full story is told in my book, Dark Tide)!
Two Great March 2024 Events on Boston’s North and South Shores!
I want to thank the communities and readers of Abington (MA) and Middleton (MA) for two great events in March. The Town of Abington selected my book, The Caning, as its community-wide read for 2024, and we had an outstanding discussion on March 14. I’m shown here with Library Director Deb Grimmett, who organized the event. I’ve spoken in Abington several times and have always been treated with “welcoming warmth” by residents. “Your comments about the research and writing process were insightful, and I know that the audience thoroughly enjoyed the question-and-answer session,” Deb wrote to me afterwards.
On St. Patrick’s Day, I visited the beautiful Flint Library in Middleton MA (complete with its historic and spectacular stained glass window) to discuss my book, Voyage of Mercy, an appropriate topic for the day! The event was co-sponsored by the library and the North Shore chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). I’m shown here with Lou Hills, who presented me with a print of the USS Jamestown as it departed Boston for its mission to Ireland! This group engaged in an excellent discussion and asked some amazing questions – a terrific way to spend a St. Patrick’s Day afternoon.
For a listing of my future events, click here.
I Enjoyed my Appearance on “The Morning Show” (Newburyport, MA) to Discuss Dark Tide and the Great Boston Molasses Flood…
I had a great time recently appearing on “The Morning Show,” an interview format show in Greater Newburyport, MA, to talk about Dark Tide and the Great Boston Molasses Flood. My thanks to host Mary Jacobsen for asking great questions during the 30-minute Zoom interview, and for offering me a chance at the end to talk about The Great Abolitionist! “The Morning Show” airs locally on WJPB (96.3 FM), Channel 9, and on their YouTube channel on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. You can listen to the interview here or watch it here (about 25 minutes long).
A Special Thanks to One of My Most Loyal Readers, World War II Navy Veteran Frank DiPietro
I’m so grateful for all of my readers, but I must admit I have a special place in my heart for veterans who enjoy my books. That’s especially true for the remaining World War II veterans who are still with us! For instance, I’d like you to meet 96-year-old WWII Navy veteran Frank DiPietro, who has been kind enough to have read several of my books and said he is looking forward to my upcoming (eighth) book, The Great Abolitionist.
Frank grew up in Cambridge, MA and raised his family in my hometown of Burlington, MA. Frank recently visited Washington, D.C. as part of the amazing Honor Flight program, and enjoyed several events and celebrations of his service. He is shown below at the U.S. Navy Memorial, posing along the famous “sailor with duffle bag” statue; at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall; and receiving a warm reception from an Honor Flight Navy representative. Frank served his country as a USN gunnery mate in the Pacific from 1942-1946. I could not be more honored (and humbled) by his support, and I thank him profoundly for his service!
