Bookshelf

(Cayuga Lake Books, 2024).

This volume of poems represents the 16th collection in a writing career spanning five decades. As a fellow poet noted, “Here is a sure, durable and unsentimental chorus of poems to love and landscape. When Lewandowski describes the hills of the Finger Lakes region of New York, ‘there are/ hills upon hills walking/ the day away in the woods’ he may be describing himself. Take this book by the hand.”

(Palmetto Publishing, 2025).

In this inspiring novel, the author shares the story of a young boy coping in the aftermath of domestic violence, loss, abandonment, and bullying. Just as his path seems headed toward one of self-destruction, he meets an elderly neighbor — a man who offers compassion and guidance all the while dealing with demons of his own. The two form an unlikely friendship that transcends generations and racial differences, ultimately changing both of their lives for the better.

(Conquering Books, 2005).

According to its published description, this book “delves into the enduring impact of slavery on African Americans. It argues that post traumatic slavery disorder is akin to post traumatic stress disorder, and profoundly affects the African American community, manifesting in issues such as substance abuse, broken families, crime, and low educational attainment. By tracing the roots of contemporary dysfunctional behaviors to the era of slavery, the authors shed light on the persistent psychological scars inherited by descendants of slaves. The book emphasizes the urgent need to understand and address these historical traumas to foster healing and empowerment within the Black community.”

(Wheatmark, 2021)

The author acknowledges that he draws on all his experiences when he writes — including his time at Hamilton. As the publisher notes: “Set in the year 2000, yet nostalgically focused on a simpler time of all-male student bodies and simpler rules of conduct, The River Quickens is a witty and charming romp through the peccadilloes, egos, and shenanigans of life in a small college town in upstate New York. As the 21st century encroaches on Talcot College, whether through virtual education, the hacking of admissions records, or even a secret lottery bonanza, the denizens of Talcot College and its surrounding village fumble and bumble to a Wagnerian and almost triumphant resolution of differences.”

(Birdwatch Publishing, 2023).

Global environmental issues can leave us feeling powerless — how can one person make a real difference? With the subtitle “a sustainability story to help you start your own eco-friendly journey,” this book is designed to inspire and empower readers to take action toward creating a better world.

(Archway Publishing, 2024)

Back in 1978, Charles Thacher’s wife gave him a fly-fishing outfit. Funny thing was, he wasn’t much of a fisherman. But proving that woman’s intuition is not to be underestimated, that gift would mark the start of a passion that would take him around the world — and to Argentina’s northern lakes country 20 times.

(Salt Water Media, 2023)

The publisher describes the book like this: “From watching a first-grade classmate drop into the ‘fires of hell’ to battling trolls, Brussels sprouts, and 50 miles of toilet paper, George Radcliffe remembers and reflects on a remarkable and lovingly spirited family growing up in the 1950s. As the lone survivor of that family of six, he recounts their often-hilarious exploits in a series of stories that will make you laugh and cry but leave you with memories of a unique and close family.”

(Beacon Press, 2025)

Join a high school science teacher as he leads readers on excursions that go beyond books and lectures to reimagine teaching and learning. “Through a blend of real-life examples and practical commentary, readers will see how Fox created localized learning opportunities for his students out of canoeing on the Bronx River, hiking in the Catskill Mountains, and other unconventional approaches,” the publisher notes.

(Bloomsbury, 2025)

It’s the turn of the 20th century, and young Vivian Lesperance has one goal — to get far away from her hometown of Utica, N.Y. Smart, intuitive, and determined, she heads to New York City where she inserts herself into the world of the post-Gilded Age elite. Before long she forms a plan that includes marrying Oscar Schmidt, a middle manager at a soap company, who, like Vivian, carries the residual scars from a less-than-happy childhood. In the mild-mannered Oscar, she finds a partner she can influence to build the life she wants — made easier by the fact that her husband is more interested in men and will leave Vivian to tend to her own romances with women.

(Salt Water Media, 2024)

A continuation of Growing Up in Oz, the author shares more humorous, sometimes poignant, coming-of-age stories that illustrate the importance of family. Included in the tales of growing up in Baltimore in the 1950s and 1960s are “being lost in the Big Apple as a young child, the summer bells that sent all children running, spending a night in the House on Haunted Hill, encountering Big Foot at his school, the worst college interview imaginable, buying a complete college wardrobe for $10, his dog that became a movie star, the disappearing Thanksgiving dinner, and the promise that got him through basic training,” according to the publisher.