Eight local boys help bring to life a Civil War historic fiction co-created by Narvon author J. Arthur Moore’s 11-year-old great-grandson Bryson Brodzinski.
The book will be featured at the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association conference book exhibit with the Moms’ Choice Awards books, at the Hershey Lodge and Conference Center, April 30 to May 2. Look for the Combined Books booth.
“Blake’s Story, Revenge and Forgiveness” was conceived when then 10-year-old Bryson Brodzinski, from Fort Mills, South Carolina, asked his great-grandfather, local author J. Arthur Moore, to write a story that he could be in and could help to create.
Bryson created the plot line, wrote the opening letter and some introductory material, then left it to his great-grandfather to do the research and write the story. His character picture was taken the day he made the original request, April 3, 2013. A year later, on the weekend of his 11th birthday, the two sat down together at his grandparent’s home in King’s Mountain, North Carolina, and Bryson created the plot along with the opening letter. A photo shoot was done at Historic Brattonsville plantation in McConnells, South Carolina. The material initially written when the story idea was born and the material from the following year’s visit, were used to guide the writing of the story. It had to be historically accurate and much research went into the writing of the story. Moore’s 18-year-old neighbor was photographed for Matthew Mills, the primary character in the story besides Bryson’s character, Blake Bradford.
Blake’s Story was first published in April of 2014, and reviewed earning the Moms’ Choice Award for excellence in young adult historic fiction and the 5-star Readers’ Favorites award. The book was featured with the Moms’ Choice Awards exhibit at Book Expo America in New York City at the end of May and attended by Bryson, his mother, his grandfather, and his great-grandfather, as he and his great-grandfather did a book co-signing.
But the book wasn’t finished. The first release of Blake’s Story was determined by Bryson’s need to have it before the school year ended and he left for middle school, and his wish to have a copy put in his school library.
Work began in July to complete the photography of the significant characters in the story. It was also decided, with the help of Moore’s publishing representative at a new publisher, to pursue the publication of a second edition in full color with the total line up of characters, additional photography, a research reference section, and rewritten text as development needed. The new publisher, LitFire Publishing, offered full color at the same cost as the previous publisher had offered for black and white.
Seven months later, the photography was completed along with the gathering of additional material, to include two full pages of comments and reviews, and rewrites of chapters five and six, resulting from developments from the photographs. Three pairs of brothers and three individual boys, including Bryson, represent the nine characters featured in the story.
All photography is by the author, J. Arthur Moore.
Blake Bradford is represented by J. Arthur Moore’s 10/11-year-old great-grandson, Bryson Blake Brodzinski, who helped to create and co-author the story.
Matthew Mills is represented by Andrew Wilkins, the author’s 18-year-old neighbor.
Tyler Chase is represented by Andrew’s brother Jonathan Wilkins, a drummer in the Pequea Valley High School’s marching and concert band.
Aiden Larken is represented by Andrew Sellman, a volunteer period character at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site.
Todd Johnson is represented by Isaac Sassa, grandson of a board member of the Friends of Hopewell Furnace.
Christopher Jamison is represented by Austin Nedrow, a drummer in the Field Music, 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Corps.
Beverly McDonald is represented by Ethan Blazek, a junior member of the model railroad club to which the author belongs.
Timothy Sanderson is represented by Austin’s brother Ryan Nedrow, a fifer/bugler in the Field Music, 1st Pennsylvania Volunteer Corps.
Jimmy Dickson is represented by Connor Blazek, Ethan’s brother.
Settings for the photography include the author’s back yard, Historic Brattonsville, a southern plantation at McConnells, South Carolina and Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site near Elverson.
The second edition of Blake’s Story, Revenge and Forgiveness has just been released and gone live on its website, www.acrossthevalleytodarkness.com/blakes-story/.
The site introduces the nine boys by way of a slide show, shares a summary of the story, links to an excerpt and video trailer and option to buy the book, and shares excerpts from four of the many reviews and comments. Independent book stores such as Aaron’s Books in Lititz, Irvin’s Books in York, and Town Book Center and Cafe in Collegeville can also help interested buyers to order a copy. As soon as the initial release of the book arrives, these book stores will have copies for purchase. Other outlets for the book, which will be receiving copies, include Landis Valley Farm Museum store, Brandywine Flag in Downingtown, Silver Bell Antiques barn on Route 322 near Glenmore, the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester, and the West Chester University student book store. Many local libraries in the Lancaster and Chester County systems carry the author’s books and will also receive this latest edition for their collections.
The author, J. Arthur Moore, retired after 42 years as a teacher, the final 17 in Philadelphia, is also available for presentations about the real boys of the Civil War and conversations about his works, the history contained within, readings from his work, and the process of writing researched historic fiction. Moore can be contacted through the book’s website.
