Upcoming event at Michigan Heroes Museum

James Stewert will be signing copies of his novel, “The Penny,” Saturday, November 6th, from 1:00 PM until 3 PM.
Some may think a penny to be a worthless coin, discarded on a whim. To author Stewert James, a penny…The Penny is a priceless and magical token that brings together generations and weaves together a story unlike any other.
Based on real members of James’ family and actual events in history, The Penny centers around the lives of Elinor Louise “Penny” (McDonald), her husband, Frank McHenry, and their friends and family, and their quest for love, purpose, and legacy.
Penny and her friends – Marta, June, and Sharon (and their husbands, John, Jim, and Larry, respectively – who are also military friends of her own husband, Frank) are couples struggle to keep their lives and families together during repeated times of war, disease and the inevitable consequences of aging and death.
Traveling back and forth between modern-day and the past – as far back as the Civil War and the Andersonville military prison at Camp Sumter, the overlapping stories give poignant insight into the struggles brought to military families away from the front lines and the ongoing mental and emotional battles that veterans are subjected to. While addressing the weighty issues of depression, abandonment, alcoholism, and mortality, at heart, The Penny is ultimately a love story ripe with inspiration and determination.
This story within a story is brought to life by James and his own personal experiences and observations. He (as Parker Moore) is actually a character within his own tale, portraying himself as a Petoskey writer and boyfriend of Frank and Penny’s daughter, Sam. It is Parker who pulls together this serendipitous saga full of honesty, laughter, conversation, and, at times, harsh reality.
James takes readers down a series of rabbit holes that engage, entertain, and educate in his latest book. It will appeal to those who adore romantic novels and those interested in history, genealogy, and destiny. After reading The Penny, you’ll find a new appreciation for the power of a single coin and the possibilities that one cent can afford.
Stewert James is the author of Writing with Hemingway at City Park Grill: A Collection of Short Stories (a title credited to character Parker Moore in The Penny) and the bestselling SuperPac Trilogy (also featuring the autobiographical Parker Moore). He spent 42 years in healthcare as a practitioner, executive, and lobbyist. For six years before retirement, he worked with adults of the Greatest Generation and heard their stories of life, happiness, and survival. The Penny is his sixth book. He and his wife, Christine, reside in Petoskey in northern Michigan, a stone’s throw from the majestic waters of Little Traverse Bay.
The Penny book jacket reads:
Elinor Louise “Penny” MacDonald grows up in Kansas City, Missouri, during the Great Depression. She lives a quiet existence, longing for travel and adventure. Then, near the end of World War II, she meets Air Force bombardier and pilot Frank McHenry. They wed, and Penny’s quiet life changes dramatically.
They travel the United States and around the globe as Frank braves world conflicts and Penny battles loneliness. She meets Marta, June, and Sharon, and together they embark on a lifelong friendship calming one another’s quiet fears while their husbands fight overseas. Penny endures her own war with breast cancer. After she passes, her companions seize a penny placed near her ashes. Little do they know, this penny has a history connecting two families yet to meet. Through it all, Sam, Penny, and Frank’s lost daughter look for a life of tranquility and happiness after growing up surrounded by turmoil. The Penny is a masterful compilation of true stories involving the families of author Stewert James and his wife. This saga creates an epic generational journey from the Great Depression through World War II, Korea, the Cold War, and Vietnam.