Dirk Q. Allen Releases NOTES FOR A BOOK

Writing takes many forms and can capture the imagination of both the writer and the reader. A longtime writer - and former newspaper editor - shares his writing in this new collection of essays, fiction, columns and observations. Author Dirk Q. Allen explores the mysterious death of a young Army sergeant, offers three novel excerpts, observations, a lecture on journalism and commentary on a variety of subjects, including Santa Claus.

"Notes for a Book" features the true story of Laura Cecere, 26, a former high school athlete and Army sergeant who disappeared from Fort Campbell in 1996 and hasn't been found since; her jawbone was mailed to a television station the next summer but the case remains unsolved. Allen showcases his imaginative side with a few chapters of fictional stories set in Providence, R.I.; Moscow; and New York City. His commentary features subjects that run the gamut, although most loosely connect to politics. Columns on U.S. involvement in the Middle East, Abraham Lincoln's legacy as a president, the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay and the War on Terror and the economic embargo of Cuba mingle with a farewell to his newspaper career, singer Dusty Springfield's death and a family wedding.

Aspiring journalists got a taste of his work with an overview lecture about a profession that requires writers to be the eyes and ears of a community and presenting "news you can use," as he writes. Whether making thoughtful observations about hiring American workers, pithy comments about pasta or writing about a family tragedy, Allen's writing, steeped in his years of experience as a communicator, commands attention.
Author Dirk Q. Allen, an award-winning writer, grew up in Lakewood, Ohio (suburban Cleveland) and Cincinnati and earned a degree at Brown University in Providence, R.I., serving as sports writer and sports editor at the Brown Daily Herald. Allen spent more than 20 years in the newspaper business. He was an adjunct professor for four years at Miami (Ohio) University and is director of admissions and media relations for Badin High School, a Catholic high school in Hamilton, Ohio. Allen's first book, "Good Tears," describes the 10-year run of Badin's girls' basketball program to the 1998 Ohio Division II state championship.

For additional information, please visit http://www.dirkqallen.com.

Notes for a Book
Dirk Q. Allen
Dog Ear Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-4575-2387-8 192 pages $14.95 US

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

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