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’m excited and honored that I’ve been invited by the prestigious The Lincoln Forum to speak at their November conference at Gettysburg (one of my favorite historical places.)
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.
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 on “Lincoln and Congress.” The conference usually draws upwards of 300 attendees.
Consider this a “tease” for now – within the next month or so, The Lincoln Forum will be releasing much more information on the conference, including a dedicated section on its website and other materials. I’ll share those with you in my next newsletter!
In the meantime, my thanks to The Lincoln Forum and to you for your ongoing support of The Great Abolitionist, and my work in general.
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!
- I also had a great time with the team from GBH News’ (Boston Public radio/television/digital platform) “The Curiosity Desk,” which is preparing a show on The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. I met these great pros on a cold morning at the molasses flood site in Boston’s North End, which is now marked with a beautiful new interpretative plaque befitting the event. I’m shown in the group shot with (from left): producer Marta Franco, camera operator Howard G Powell, host Edgar B. Herwick III, and camera operator Lance Douglas. I appreciated the professionalism and attention to facts and details that the team exhibited. I don’t have an exact date yet as to when the show will be aired on GBH’s digital news channel – and perhaps other outlets (possibly in April) – but I will keep you posted as soon as I know! My thanks to the team at The Curiosity Desk!
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.
My Work on Book Nine Continues
As I mentioned last issue, I’m thrilled that I’ve signed my contract for my ninth book! It’s still early to reveal the topic, but I can say I’m excited about the story and happy once again to work with St. Martin’s Press, which has done a great job publishing my previous three books, including The Great Abolitionist. I’m well into the writing of the upcoming book; 2025 has been thus far and will continue to be a big writing year! Thanks as always for your interest and constant support!
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.
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!
