Author, Adventurer, Businessman

WELL FOLKS, it's been awhile.

I wrote 8 books in 9 years, beginning in 2007. And then things just fell apart.

After selling the commercial printing business I owned and operated for 17 years, I had an idea for a book. I'd always been interested in the odd sibling rlationship between Virignia and West Virginia. Admiring the work of roving reporter Charles Kuralt, I went “kuralting” along the border of these two states and wrote about my travels in my first book, The Spine of the Virginias.

That led to my first work of fiction, a contemporary novel about an angry young man from Northern Virginia who finds himself as an accidental visitor to a small town in West Virginia where he learns about Civil War history and an ancestor whose recovery from injuries mirrors his own. I titled it, Union, WV.

I wrote another travelogue, following Virginia’s Music Heritage Trail, The Crooked Road. That book became Harmonic Highways.

I wrote another novel, Providence, VA, about a wealthy 17-year old Jewish girl from New Jersey who found herself stranded and orphaned in a village in Southwest Virginia by the collapse of the national power grid.

I followed that with my third novel, WAR, WV, about a disaster in the coal fields of Southern West Virginia and the survivors’ fight for justice.

In my only collaboration, I worked with my friend Leslie Roberts Gregg, an outstanding portrait artist, on a full-color, hardbound book featuring her portraits and my stories about a dozen local people who are keeping venerable Appalachian traditions alive. We titled it, Keepers of the Tradition.

I wrote my fourth novel, Orange, VA, about Virginia politics turned ugly.

Lastly, I wrote my third travelogue, Chasing the Powhatan Arrow, about the economic geography along the route from Norfolk through Roanoke to Cincinnati, following that famous N&W train line.

And then the well ran dry. Where with the completion of each book looming, I always had in mind my next book, after Chasing, I had no more ideas. And here we are, closing in on 10 years later, I still have no ideas for another book that would captivate my interest and hopefully draw in readers.

In this admission, while I’m a bit disappointed in myself, I’m resigned that I might be done. I’m still showing my books at various festivals and other events and I still do programs when invited. And I ask you to please keep reading and recommending my books. I know you’ll enjoy them as other readers have.

Thank you for your support! Michael

 PS, Here's some resources for Chasing the Powhatan Arrow:

Chasing the Powhatan Arrow is also now available on audio book! Featuring the narration of professional voice actor Dave Cruse from Florida, my new book is available Audible.com, purchased on Amazon.com. Please search for the book listing there to order yours.

Read more about it and order your copy this website's Chasing the Powhatan Arrow page.

The media has produced several stories and videos about the book. 

* This video is from my appearance on WSLS TV in Roanoke to advertise the book release.

* Robbie Harris is the New River Valley bureau chief at WVTF Public Radio. She did this radio interview for them. 

* This article along with my smiling mug appeared in the Suffolk News Herald.

* This nice article was written by my friend Joe Tennis, who writes for the Bristol Herald Courier.

* This article, along with a stunning photo of the N&W 611 locomotive appeared in the Roanoke Star.

* Here's a great review by the Appalachian Americans Facebook page administrator Dave Tabler about the book in which he calls me "the Studs Terkel of Appalachia." He wrote,

"If you’re at all familiar with the work of Studs Terkel, you’ll recognize a kindred spirit in the work of author Michael Abraham. Terkel was world renowned for his ability to draw out compelling oral histories, from both the mighty and the not so mighty, over his 45 year tenure as a radio talk show host on Chicago’s WFMT.

"Likewise Michael Abraham, in his recently published travelogue ‘Chasing the Powhatan Arrow,’ reveals an endless curiosity and enthusiasm in his interviews with railroad CEOs, railfan hobbyists, museum curators, city councilmen, and just about everyone else he encounters on this journey."

Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, I explore and write about our wonderful region of the central Appalachians. I love to ride bicycles, ride motorcycles, and hike. I've been known to make stained glass panels, watch birds, explore caves, cross-country ski, and fly kites. I love to travel (Who doesn't?) and have been to 43 states and 16 foreign countries.

 

I also write for Valley Business FRONT, Blue Ridge Motorcycling magazine, and Greenbrier Valley Quarterly magazine.

Here's my page on Books Radar.

Thank you for your interest in my books.  Please visit my blog, entitled "Weekly Journal" to the right.  Write me at <michael@mabrahamauthor.com>

 

Please "friend" me and become a fan at "Michael Abraham, Author" on Facebook.  And tell your friends about my books! I appreciate your support.