Search Our Authors & Books

On August 13, 1944, Joe Moser set off on his forty-fourth combat mission over occupied France. Soon, he would join almost 170 other Allied airmen as prisoners in Buchenwald, one of the most notorious and deadly of Nazi concentration camps. Tom Clavin's Lightning Down tells this largely untold and riveting true story.

Moser was just twenty-two years old, a farm boy from Washington State who fell in love with flying. During the War he realized his dream of piloting a P-38 Lightning, one of the most effective weapons the Army Air Corps had against the powerful German Luftwaffe. But on that hot August morning he had to bail out of his damaged, burning plane. Captured immediately, Moser's journey into hell began.

Moser and his courageous comrades from England, Canada, New Zealand, and elsewhere endured the most horrific conditions during their imprisonment... until the day the orders were issued by Hitler himself to execute them. Only a most desperate plan would save them.

The page-turning momentum of Lightning Down is like that of a thriller, but the stories of imprisoned and brutalized airmen are true and told in unforgettable detail, led by the distinctly American voice of Joe Moser, who prays every day to be reunited with his family.

Lightning Down is a can't-put-it-down inspiring saga of brave men confronting great evil and great odds against survival.

Published November 2021.

Empty nest, retired husband... after thirty-three years of making beds and cooking dinners, Lily Gold has had it and decides to look for a job. Her husband Leon, however, doesn't like not having her at his beck and call and puts the kibosh on her chance of opening her own antique store by emptying out their bank account. This is marriage? This is war! Follow Lily as she turns the status quo into quid pro quo and gives her husband a run for the money.

An engaging and entertaining novel, Lily Gold's journey is the journey of every woman who wants love, respect and something of her very own. Penumbra Publishing, May 2012

PRAISE FOR LILY STEPS OUT:

~Joyce Carol Oates.~
"...engagingly written. The voice is shrewd, sharp, funny and yet tender."

~Dan's Papers~
"Oh that Lily Gold. Such a mouth... and mind... and heart. A smartass in dialogue, even more so in italicized interior thoughts, which can be hilarious. A diverse small group who serve as Lily's new friends have stories of their own which are well integrated into the plot. What fun and what a sophisticated spin on the familiar subject of a middle-aged woman who is bored with her life."

~Big Al's Book & Pals~
"Lots of humor (both from some idiosyncratic secondary characters and Lily herself), some soul searching, and plenty of conflict, all combine into a story that is both entertaining and enlightening."

They say (whoever "they" may be) that everything happening in our lives is in divine order. In other words, each choice we make, each event that takes place, every occurrence, etc., brings us to where we should be, with some purpose.

I'm starting to believe that's true while having the privilege and opportunity of looking back at the unfolding of the last years and months. Although I would never have chosen many of the experiences that I have endured, I can see the good that's evolved from them. My most recently published book, "It's Not Fair!" was released days before my dear son Paul passed away in November 2018.

In writing, "It's Not Fair!" I intended to bring solace, inspiration, and hope to all my readers. While accepting and acknowledging that life is not fair many times , we don't need to go around feeling bitter and angry. Instead, we can most benefit by being grateful for what we do have while turning frustrations into meaningful accomplishments. All of this was fresh in my mind when Paul died and would ultimately serve as a roadmap for me in moving forward in my grief. What do they say about practicing what you preach? Weird, isn't it? Or, maybe not. Why THIS book, THIS time?

Believe me, following my own words wasn't easy, and there are days it still isn't. Losing a child is a lifelong commitment to staying the path.

Paul was so excited about that upcoming book because he was planning to give 50 books to his friends' children at Christmas, as he did for all my other books. He was to arrive in California on what would be the day after he died with a list of all the names I would sign in each book while he was here for Thanksgiving. He would then put them in the extra empty suitcase to go back to Atlanta. None of that ever happened.

Instead, at his funeral, I asked for a list of all the children from his friends, and I made sure I sent those books out just as Paul wanted. It's not fair he couldn't give those books himself. It's not fair that someone so healthy, so kind, so generous, so happy should die. He went for his annual checkup days before and was offered a flu shot. He had only one shot in his lifetime, but because he was traveling to California, he would accept it. He became ill that night and never recovered.

The second of my four sons was gone, and I would never be the same. I've always been very close to all my boys—the typical Italian mom about her sons. The grief was unimaginable, and I knew I needed a project. A project that I hoped would have positive effects on anyone needing them, for whatever reason. I also needed Paul's story told. He had an extremely full life in his 43 years. There's no way I could recount all that he did and experienced, but I tried.

The main idea I wanted readers to be left with is that he lived a life of love and giving; hence, the title "LIVE LIKE PAUL."

Ultimately that mantra would adorn t-shirts, sweatshirts, and bracelets. There would be festivals, concerts, hikes, poker parties, pool parties, etc. in his honor, while those attending would wear the Live Like Paul attire.

My book, "Live Like Paul," also addresses past and current ideologies and circumstances that are contrary to living our best life and how perhaps we can change them. As seen by the legacy Paul left in all his friendships, how he positively affected so many, we can only come away with the realization that it's not the years in our life that matter, but it's the kind of life we lead in those years. And, that life should be filled with giving, love, and acceptance of all those who may not be just like us. There isn't another way to enjoy a fruitful and content life. In "Live like Paul," one will hopefully come to the same conclusion.

Published October, 2020.

Living a Happier Life—At Every Age! is a book for everyone who desires more happiness in their lives. It considers many different aspects of life where a better understanding and a different attitude will help lead to a happier life.

Do you find yourself worrying too much? Are life's challenges and hurts piling up on you? Do you sometimes feel worthless? Have you ever wondered why there is so much suffering in the world? These are just some of the questions this book seeks to answer.

Living a Happier Life also looks at how you might make a positive difference with your life. Prayer and forgiveness are presented as vehicles to a happier life. As you grow older, you are shown how to do this with grace. Then, as you step from this life into eternity, you will learn how to do this with both peaceful acceptance and joy.

Pure happiness awaits you in the presence of God. You are heaven bound through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. The happiest time in your life still awaits you.

Published by CreateSpace, 2017.

Long Island Living is a collection of Paul DiSclafani's favorite stories from his Award-Winning column, Long Island Living. The Press Club of Long Island (PCLI) awarded Long Island Living with First Place in the Narrative-Column category in 2021.

If you enjoy reading stories about everyday life by writers like Long Island's Ed Lowe or Dave Barry, this is the book for you.

Each story for this collection has been chosen by the author and includes an introduction to give you a little more insight. His stories are simple, quick reads that will entertain you from beginning to end.

His unique writing style has thrilled readers since 2017 with his storytelling ability, ranging from humorous tales to more serious subjects. This collection will take you back to less complicated times, bringing you the sights, sounds, and smells inside his grandmother's kitchen for an Italian Thanksgiving.

Inside this collection, you'll find stories of appliances plotting against him and his never-ending battle with mosquitos and Cave Crickets. Learn about how his father is dating a redhead in heaven or how he lives in a "stupid" house.

Learn about why women married for a long time will never marry again or spend a few hours with him inside the Department of Motor Vehicles. Then, read his letter from the future to his 14-year-old self, or how he will be a multi-millionaire after helping a Nigerian Prince.

Paul's not afraid to share his feelings with his readers. Feel the sadness of losing a relative to the Corona Virus or how viewing a simple photograph of his father brought him to tears.

His columns also tell stories. Read about his Uncle Sammy, a Silver Star recipient and a true hero in World War II. You'll also learn why we should respect the flag and learn about the sacrifices of our veterans. Then, feel the power of Super Storm Sandy as he chronicles the dramatic story of a family's struggle to survive as their home collapsed around them and the streets turned to rivers.

The stories are paced like you would read them in his weekly column. When you turn the page, you never know what you will get.

You'll laugh, you'll cry, and who knows, you might just learn something!

One thing is guaranteed, you will enjoy this journey through the mind of a newspaper columnist…