NWHerald.com • Sunday, February 21, 2016
| Style |
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Style is published each Sunday by Shaw Media, P.O. Box 250, Crystal Lake, IL 60039-0250. Periodicals and postage paid at Crystal Lake, IL 60014.
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CELEBRATIONS
Births, engagements, weddings and anniversaries are printed every Sunday in the Style section in the Northwest Herald. Engagement announcements must be received no later than three weeks before the wedding date. Wedding announcements are accepted up to six months after the wedding date. We will accept one color photo for weddings and engagements. We will accept two color photos – wedding and current – for anniversaries. Photos not accompanied with a self-addressed, stamped envelope will not be returned. They may be picked up at the Crystal Lake office after publication. To complete a form online, visit NWHerald.com/forms or email celebrations@nwherald. com. Call 877-264-2527 for information. Butter is a 9-year-old golden retriever with the Lutheran Church Charities’ K-9 Comfort Dogs program. Photo by Matthew Apgar – mapgar@ shawmedia.com
Author Spotlight DENNIS LEE HAGUE Latest Book: “The Eyes of the Comet: An American Slave Odyssey” Publisher: Rawhide Publishing, Lake Geneva, through Amber Books of Phoenix Release Date: September 2015 Where can we find it? The book is available everywhere books are sold, at The DuSable Museum in Chicago and www. theeyesofthecomet.net. What’s it about? The main characters in my novel, Anastasia and Reggie, have suffered through the holocaust of slavery in the south and escaped to the north, seeking a better way of life away from the daily indignities of slaves and the senseless cruelties. The story begins during the antebellum period of American history with the appearance of Halley’s Comet in 1835 and ends in 1843, when the Great Comet illuminates the skies. Where did the idea come from? I have a fascination for this period in our history and a strong interest in the equality of man. Also, few novelists and so few novels have offered accurate historical fiction about the subjects I’ve covered, with the notable exceptions of “Huckleberry Finn” and “Gone with the Wind.” Also, when I was very young, riding my bicycle through the historical areas in and adjacent to my hometown, my education, four decades of teaching history, reading, my travels and experiences and my imagination led and inspired me to write “The Eyes of the Comet.” What genre is your book, and why were you drawn to it? The genre is historical fiction, and, quite simply, I’ve tried to reconstruct
Dennis Lee Hague the past and a specific timeframe in our history, incorporating actual past events and many people of that day into a fictitious manuscript. The historic details and heart of the story are authentic. Who is the intended audience? I hope this book appeals to young and old alike. Additionally, the target is also the reader with an interest in American history and those seeking a fascinating novel. How long did it take you to write? What was your process? This took more than 10 years to write, and I first wrote a theatrical script. A friend and associate with entertainment contacts drew interest to “The Eyes of the Comet” from the man who produced “Hair” on Broadway, Jed Bernstein, and the producer of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Hidalgo,” Chris Salvaterra. Another filmmaker and producer, Fred Baker, said the original, unedited script was “brilliant – much too important for a filmmaker such as myself who paints on a much smaller canvas. It will one day be brought to the screen by a Ron Howard, Oprah Winfrey or a Kevin Costner.” My friend/associate pushed me to convert my script into a book format, which I did. Like “Roots,” he sensed that “The Eyes of the Comet” is, quite simply, fine, informative and powerful entertainment, and I hope readers agree.
What is your education/background? James Whitcomb Riley High School, South Bend, Indiana; Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana; United States Marines, intelligence in Vietnam; Ball State University, teacher and assistant while completing my master’s degree; Wheeling High School, Wheeling, Illinois, 32 years, teaching history and future studies; Wisconsin schools, substitute teacher, 10 years
strong, special and moving. 2. The news each day, especially recently.
How/why did you decide to write a book? There are so are many reasons, some presented already. However, at the top of my list would be: 1. The speech of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, delivered Aug. 28, 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. Each and every one of his words –
Pick one: Ebooks or hard/paperbacks? Hard/paperbacks
Who are your favorite authors? Mark Twain and James Hilton Pick one: Danielle Steel or John Grisham? John Grisham Pick one: Stephen King or Nicholas Sparks? Stephen King
What’s next for you? I have an outline for my next novel about the University of Notre Dame, the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame and a seriously ill young boy.
Get your book featured in Style: Fill out the form at NWHerald.com/forms/authorspotlight.
EnvironmentTip Remember why environment is worth fighting for
Every day, do things that make you stop in your tracks, such as taking a walk to discover why it’s important to fight so hard for a healthy environment.
Make a day of shopping for your food or goods at a market or shop that practices sustainability. Appreciate the efforts of those around you that make positive impacts towards a healthy planet. Say thank you to yourself and to others
who are working hard for public policy that respects our natural resources. Go ahead. It’s simple. Celebrate your friendships with the land, air and water.
Source: Environmental Defenders of McHenry County