Alumni Bookshelf

Mark Allen Baker ’79

Battling Nelson, the Durable Dane

McFarland & Company Inc., 2016.

The incredible story of Oscar “Battling” Nelson is a rags to riches—back to rags—tale. As one of the toughest and most durable professional boxers to enter the ring, Battling Nelson held the world lightweight championship title from 1908 to 1910.

Sharon Fitzsimmons Wozny ’83

Jamie’s Journey: Cancer from the Voice of a Sibling 

Five Star Publications Inc., 2016.

Inspired by her years of volunteering for the Children’s Cancer Network, Wozny tells the story of 13-year-old Jamie, whose life is turned upside down when her younger sister is diagnosed with cancer. Over the course of her sister’s treatments, Jamie experiences a multitude of confusing emotions that she expresses in a journal. This book gives siblings of cancer a voice, including journal space to write about their own experiences.

Trisha Michael ’85 and Mike Russell

A Journey of Discovery through Intuition with Help from the Angels

Sacred Life Publishers, 2016.

The world we experience with our five senses is only the tip of the iceberg. By following the stairway to absolute love, you can heal your mind, connect with the world beyond and trust your intuition, no matter your belief system. This book of meditations, exercises and tidbits from the authors’ lives can help connect readers with themselves and others.

Brad Thomas Parsons ’91

Amaro: The Spirited World of Bittersweet, Herbal Liqueurs with Cocktails, Recipes and Formulas

Random House, 2016.

The European tradition of making bittersweet liqueurs—called amari in Italy has been around for centuries, but it is only recently that these herbaceous digestifs have moved from the dusty back of the bar to center stage in the United States and become a key ingredient on cocktail lists in the country’s best bars and restaurants. Parsons is an award-winning author of cocktail-inspired works that have appeared in Bon Appetit, Food & Wine, Travel + Leisure and other publications.

Rick McElroy M’94

Conquering Heroes

Page Publishing Inc., 2016

Conquering Heroes takes place mostly in the jungles of Laos and Cambodia during the Vietnam War. Main character Caveman develops into a killing machine, primarily working alone and in the darkness. If you have ever wondered about the Vietnam War and the covert missions that many brave men and women undertook, then this is the book for you.

Lou Paduano ’04

Sign of Portents: A Greystone Novel

Eleven Ten Publishing, 2016.

Portents is a city like no other—and one that detective Greg Loren can’t wait to escape. Since his wife’s death, he has looked forward to leaving; however, fate has another plan. Loren finds himself embroiled in murders that have shaken the city. Together with a young woman with unearthly powers, he must work to find the otherworldly being that is killing the citizens of Portents, even if it means traveling to worlds not his own.

We celebrate and share the success of Oswego alumni authors, illustrators and recording artists, who may ask their publisher/distributor to send a copy of the work to the Oswego alumni office to be considered for this column and our website, where cover photos of all works in this column will be displayed.