HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Although we didn't got to Palm Springs this year, this is still one of my favorite holiday photos. We have a white Christmas here in Chicago that is not to be sneezed at. But I do love the decorated palm. 

First Amazon review of A Sixties Story

I never realized how much it would mean to see my first review on Amazon: 


Toni Apicelli's memoir of an age, A Sixties Story, is a simple, direct and admirably modest recollection of her own life as seen against the times she lived in. It is full of remembered and researched detail covering more than half a century of post-war American life. Apicelli is an unflinching story teller who writes her story beautifully. Her account of being young in those times supplies a much-needed corrective to numerous unchallenged and ideologically motivated pejoratives about the times. A Sixties Story is ideally suited to be a primary source document for college history courses, generous in first person perceptions of cultural, social, political and economic history. If for no other reason, pick up a copy of A Sixties Story to find out how Toni and her friends reacted to the wide-spread panic of the Cuban Missile Crisis!

I decided to take a picture of the back yard and post it with some semi-profound words about the beauty and stillness of winter snow on the back yard, yadda, yadda. But when I turned to go in, the back door stuck. In a second, the beauty turned into a freezing cold early morning nightmare. There was no way this could have happened. We'd been in and out of it the day before. I yanked on it. It was stuck. How could this be? I yanked harder. It was stuck. I yanked more and considered my options. This was surreal but all too real. We don't have a key buried outside and my neighbor who has a key wasn't home. I didn't have my cell phone so I couldn't call Mark and tell him to come home and let me in. My gloveless fingers were getting really cold. My ears were wishing for their earmuffs. Oddly, my sandaled, sockless feet weren't cold. I found a metal basil nametag stuck in a pot and after some time and a lot of twisting and turning, I was able to force the screen out of the door. My fingers were really, really cold by the time I forced the inside window open and crawled through it to warmth and safety. The house never felt as welcoming as it did at that moment. The door is still stuck shut. 

A Sixties Story Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2010 – New Release Shares Author’s Memories of Tumultuous Times in American History

A Sixties Story

is released by Toni Apicelli

Toni Apicelli was raised in quiet north side Chicago neighborhood and was a popular high school cheerleader in the early 1960s. As the 1960s ushered in the civil rights movement, she found herself questioning the status quo around her and becoming more involved in the burgeoning protests. She, like many others of her time, felt betrayed by the dishonesty of the government and turned to the counterculture movement as a way to make the world a better place.

While Apicelli experimented with less addictive drugs, her younger sister Teri became addicted to heroin. Apicelli moved and traveled around the country, working for a short time with the newly formed VISTA in the deep south, protesting at the infamous 1968 Democratic National Convention, temping and living in Washington D.C, New York and Southern California. While Apicelli eventually landed on her feet, her younger sister was not as fortunate. 

A Sixties Story is a thoughtful portrayal of the confusion and craziness of the 1960s through the eyes of a young woman who wanted the world around her to make sense. It is beautifully written, and the author’s frustration and anger at the status quo come through loud and clear.  Toni Apicelli is a writer, editor and proofreader living in Chicago with her husband of ten years.  She earned her BA in California, and her MA in Writing from DePaul University in Chicago in 1998. 

----------

For further information contact: Ray Robinson at 317-228-3656, via email at RayR@DogEarPublishing.net,  or through the website at: www.dogearpublishing.net.

A Sixties Story

Toni Apicelli

Dog Ear Publishing

ISBN: 978-160844-564-6                    164 pages                                                                       US

Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere.

About Dog Ear Publishing, LLC Dog Ear Publishing offers completely customized self-publishing services for independent authors. We provide cost-effective, fast, and highly profitable services to publish and distribute independently published books. Our book publishing and distribution services reach worldwide. Dog Ear authors retain all rights and complete creative control throughout the entire self-publishing process. Self-publishing services are available globally at www.dogearpublishing.net and from our offices in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Dog Ear Publishing – self-publishing that actually makes sense!

what a night

It was quite a night at Katerina's for me. It turned out to be a great party. Even though I had to read out loud in front of everyone, at least everywhere I looked there was the smiling face of a friend. Photos and video follow when we can figure out what we're doing with them.

Stay and hear great jazz after A Sixties Story book signing

Just wanted all to know that at the book signing, I'll do a reading (for about 10-15 minutes) around 7:15pm. I'm hoping everyone will stay to hear our favorite jazz singer, Jeannie Lambert with Greg Fishman on saxaphone and guitarist Andy Brown. They are all great! Their set starts at 8:00pm. Katerina's has great food and drinks at reasonable prices (1920 W. Irving Park in Chicago). Hope to see you there on Monday.

You can see and hear Jeannie at:  jeannielambert.com and on YouTube.

Notes on A Sixties Story book launch and ordering signed copies

I've been a busy bee getting a book signing announcement in the Chicago Tribune, Sun-Times, Reader and maybe Time Out Chicago. 


We are going to record the Dec. 6 reading I do at the book launch at Katerina's (katerinas.com) from 6-8pm and post the reading on YouTube so the world can share in the experience. Yikes. The world. Weird feeling.

 And I set up ways for people to get inscribed or non-inscribed books if you don't want to order them from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

(1) For the people who plan to come to the book signing, I'd like to sign the books this week at home and bring them to Katerina's on Monday. If you'd like me to do that, email asixtiesstory@gmail.com (you can respond to this email) and be sure to let me know if there's anything special you'd like me inscribe. I'd like to do it that way because there'll be no waiting for you at the book signing (I'm being an optimist that there will actually be a line of people waiting) and I can have time to think about what I'm saying to you. We can handle payment at Katerina's. I'll have plenty of books there if you don't want me to sign it in advance. 

(2) For those who aren't coming to the book signing, to order inscribed or non-inscribed book(s), send a $14.99 check (it's $14.99 for each book) made out to me and be sure to include your address and anything special you want me to say. Send it to:

Toni Apicelli

PO Box 25029

Chicago, Illinois 60625

Amazon and Barnes & Noble can handle credit card purchases. I wish I could, but I don't want to be responsible for other people's credit card numbers. Identity theft issues are daunting.

So, I think that's about it. The first 50 books are sitting in my living room. Another 50 are on the way. And it's still surreal that this is actually happening at last. 

Hope I see or hear from you soon! Your support through it all has been so wonderful. I hope you enjoy the book!

Hugs, 

Toni

asixtiesstory@gmail.com