Riehl’s poem “TREASURE CHEST” from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” tells father’s life of service…in the service [World War II] and back home

Janet Grace Riehl and Erwin A. Thompson, father-daughter writing team TREASURE CHEST by Janet Grace Riehl from “Sightlines: A Poet’s Diary” He labors in the grove of service. Remembers flat tires, repaired. Loans proffered for crises. Then his somber face glows with the light of a thousand-watt angel. Memories of good turns returned is a…

“Veterans Voices Series”: Erwin A. Thompson’s Night Patrol story…transcript from Telegraph video

To read my father’s poem “Night Patrol” click here to access the Riehlife March 18th 2007 entry. To see Erwin A. Thompson tellling this story of bravery in action…matter of factly and with gentle humor…go to www.thetelegraph.com. Tip: To avoid problems in streaming this video, you may wish to press the pause button on the…

World War II: Gripping Story of Erwin A. Thompson’s “Down to the Wire” Night Patrol story told by Laura Griffith in The Telgraph…article and video

“Even with his body ravaged by shrapnel, Erwin Thompson managed to drag one of his men back to safety. He didn’t know it, but th man was about to return the favor. “Thompson, now 92 and living in Jersey County, remembers a time during World War II when he was put in charge of a…

Nobel Prize-winner Soyinka Comes to Southern Illinois and St. Louis

Wole Soyinka defies categories and boundaries: Scholar, poet, playwright, actor, human rights activist, Nobel Prize winner, former political prisoner. Born in 1934 in western Nigeria. He studied at Government College in Ibadan. In 1973, he earned a doctorate from the University of Leeds. Dramaturgist at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1958 to 1959….

“Hungry,” by Alethea Eason reviewed by 13-year old Emily Robbins on Reader Views Kids

Here are two links to learn more about the wierd and wonderful world of my friend Alethea Eason’s book “Hungry”. HUNGRY by Alethea Eason 1) Click here to read a review of HUNGRY by Alethea Eason on Reader Views by 13-year-old Emily Robbins. This review was just picked up by Reuters. Way to go, Alethea!…

“A Reason for Dying,” by Wilfred Bereswill, debuts Spring 2008, published by Hilliard & Harris

I met Wilfred Bereswill at a St. Louis Writers Guild talk featuring Qui XiaoLong, an author whose work I’m just coming to know and and admire. Qui spoke on Perspective and Distance, such as in his “Case of Two Cities” book (an Inspector Chen Cao book) Qui possesses that rare mix of charm, erudition, humor,…

Wilfred Bereswill on “China’s Spring Festival—Guo Nian—(Chinese New Year)”

Wilfred Bereswill is an environmental engineer and author whose international travels take him regularly to China. His first novel, A REASON FOR DYING, a biological thriller, is due to be released by Hilliard & Harris on April 1st, 2008. Learn more about Wilfred Bereswill’s writing on his website and blog by clicking here. Wilfred wrote…

40th Wedding Anniversary Hawaiian Tour for Gary & Patty Thompson (my brother & sister-in-law)

Gary & Patty Thompson on Hawaiian Second Honeymoon Tour Forty years ago today (February 17, 1968, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois) my brother Gary Thompson and Patricia (Patty) Murrary wed to become Gary and Patty Thompson. They’ve stayed that way for 40 years. That’s no small feat in today’s fast-dissolving-of-everything world. They’ve founded a family of…

Erwin A. Thompson’s 1936 song “Girl in the Little Blue Hat” coquettes again Valentine’s week 2008

In 1936, when my father was 21, he wrote a song for Sherman Bowen’s younger sister, Lucille, that came to be titled “The Girl in the Little Blue Hat.” Lucille was sixteen when he composed the song, but had been perhaps eight-years-old when my father started dancing square dances with her at Ben Hill’s dances…