Robert Reynolds – författare

During the 1950s, country music merged with the new fad called "rock and roll" to form what would be known as "rockabilly." In short, rockabilly was fast paced, guitar driven ditties with thundering rhythms. The songs were often less than memorable made up with silly lyrics and phrases like "bop," "shake," "baby," and "go cat!" Cars, especially Cadillacs, and colors, pink and black, were prevalent in many of the songs. Songs like "Oobie Doobie,""Baby,Baby,""Be Boppin'' Baby," and "Rockin'' In the Congo" were common record chart contenders during those early years.Many young,up and coming country crooners would go on to achieve widespread acclaim as names like Presley, Holly and Orbison conquered radio station playlists. They became R&R legends. Others like Jack Scott, Boyd Bennett, Dale Hawkins, and Ray Sharpe found success to a lesser degree, but still made their mark in the new genre. It''s many of these "lesser knowns"that Hepcats & Rockabilly Boys explores. Here are some of their stories...

Bobby Goldsboro led an extraordinary life, getting his first break as a guitarist for the legendary Roy Orbison. His solo career spanned the sixties and seventies, having numerous hit records along the way--Honey; See the Funny Little Clown; Broomstick Cowboy; Watching Scotty Grow; Autumn of My Life; I''m a Drifter; Summer (the 1st Time)...to name but a few. British fans voted Summer (the 1st Time) the Best Summer Song of all time. Along with Orbison, he headlined with the likes of The Beatles and Rolling Stones. His hit record, "Honey," became one of 1968''s top records, scoring number one in almost all categories. During the late seventies, Bobby began a successful three-year run with his hit television music variety series, "The Bobby Goldsboro Show." In later years, he became a highly celebrated artist. His paintings are treasured by many. "The Music of Bobby Goldsboro"relates his story from small town kid to pop/country music legend, TV personality and artist. It''s a story you won''t want to miss.

Michigan’s historic Mackinac Island is considered a gem of the Great Lakes. Access is gained by way of passenger ferries. The island is graced with Victorian-style homes, old military forts, and natural limestone landmarks. It retains its turn-of-the-century appeal by banning all motorized vehicles. A state highway encircles the island although its only traffic is horse drawn carriages and bicycles. It''s a prime vacation destination for visitors throughout the Midwest. Story: Mackinac Drift: A treasure is lost as American colonial forces recapture the Island from British occupiers two hundred years earlier. A trio of ne’er-do-wells share a rundown house on the nearby mainland. Tourist season arrives and with it crowds of vacationers. Devious Josie invites Wayland and Diggs to come over to view 4th of July fireworks. While awaiting her arrival, the two men explore the island and happen upon a life altering discovery. Double crosses abound in this thrilling page turning island mystery… Mackinac Drift.

From Camp to Queer traces the history of a group of Australians in the 1970s who posed some radical questions. Who are we as homosexuals? Who might we become? How are we to act politically? In short, how are we to live? In lively prose, Reynolds looks at how these men and women undertook what is now a universal task: the re-invention of the self in an era of uncertainty and change, where old answers no longer suffice, and sexuality is a core preoccupation.

Rain-starved summers, merciless winters, demanding days working the fields, and the risks of savage wildlife present untold challenges for young pioneer couple Henry and Ella. As winter approaches and the couple needing money, Henry hires on as a lumberjack leaving Ella to tend to the farm. Lumber camp work is wrought with hazards--although hardly as perilous as Ella''s lonely life on the farm. The onset of spring provides hope for a new and prosperous season, but cruel winters do not surrender easily. No one can predict the outcome When the Crow Flies!

TROUBLE''S GARDEN is a heartwarming tale of a cat lost, then found by a caring family. April, the family''s young daughter takes a special liking to the old cat and they become inseparable. Throughout this family-friendly story April''s mother tends to her splendid flower garden, a spot in which Trouble has taken as her own. The affection between the cat and her humans grows as summer flowers blossom in beautiful hues. TROUBLE''S GARDEN is a poignant tale of a special bond between the gentle animal and young child, leaving the reader both happy and sad as April learns to cope with unexpected surprises.

ALONG THE QUAY presents five unique stories (fiction) that take place during the Vietnam War. A host of colorful characters, military and civilian, bring these stories to life along Da Nang''s gritty waterfront. In these unforgettable tales you''ll find love and heartbreak, poignancy and pathos, humor and hope. Ride along with Navy SPs as they encounter perilous wartime situations. Stroll the city''s grimy streets with U.S. civilians and visit off limits establishments where military personnel are prohibited. Enter innocent villages where tragedy has unexpectedly come. Visit quaint cafes and shops where money illegally passes hands. Watch life on the wide, busy river slip by. Experience sweltering Southeast Asian streets. Reynolds served 27 months in Da Nang, receiving the Navy Achievement Medal. He returned there to work as a civilian, which led to a career in retail loss prevention. He has written several books. He holds a Bachelor''s Degree from Cameron University.

In 1991 the Philippines’ Mt. Pinatubo near Clark Air Base awoke after 500 years dormancy. Base officials evacuated non-essential personnel to Subic Bay Navy Base. Soon, the first eruption sent ash and gas towering into the sky. A climactic explosion blew the top off the mountain. Day turned into midnight as thick ash blocked the sun and pumice and rock rained down. Aircraft hangars, warehouses and buildings collapsed. Earthquakes repeatedly rattled the area. Simultaneously, typhoon Yunya blew in causing muddy lahars to flood the countryside and sweep away bridges and homes. Volcanic ash buried parts of the base. Similar devastation occurred miles away at the Navy base. Military personnel and their families departed the devastated island via ships. However, some remained to conduct salvage operations before relinquishing the base. It was the 2nd largest volcanic eruption of the century. This is the exhilarating story leading up to this catastrophic event.

When trouble occurs in the hard luck Texas town of Sorrowful, young Wylie Fairchild is compelled to take up arms and begin chase of a murderous villain who flees across the Panhandle and takes refuge in the rugged Palo Duro Canyon. Chase the Devil is an old-time, rip-roaring western with cattle drives, good men and a scarred woman, murderous villains and a naive young Wylie who takes it upon himself to even the score.

A pair of U.S. Navy Security Police petty officers make their rounds checking guards within the city. An observation at the OK Hotel creates a dilemma over reporting this to Military Police authorities--one in favor, one opposed. The unexpected outcome results in more than they had planned. The story provides a unique view of Da Nang from so many years ago.

A young American returns to Da Nang where he served during the Vietnam war, intending to find work. He encounters a fetching young woman and a relationship begins. Although both have hopes for their being together, cultural differences and family commitments create tension as he prepares to leave for Saigon and neither wants to bring grief to the other. See Da Nang the way it was in 1970. This is a different kind of Vietnam story.

Set in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, this romantic mystery takes you from pristine beaches and homeless beach camps to homes of the wealthy and glittering Waikiki. A young woman''s body is found along a secluded beach. It''s up to HPD Detective Manny Piccolo to find out how and why she was there, all the while balancing his personal life with the lovely, but flawed, Daniela Puzon. Explore the island in Manny''s quest for justice in the exhilarating Orchids and Sand!