Photo By Broom
A Tale of Five Generations by Hal T. Horowitz
Meet The Characters
Photo by Broom is the story of the Broom family’s journey through famine, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the later years of social, political, racial, and religious upheaval. Meet Murray, Gregor, Thomas, Tommy, and Tom Wade Broom, each pursuing a life far different from his father’s, yet each of whose paths were influenced by those of their ancestors.
Murray Broom. A hard-drinking dockworker in 19th century Scotland, Murray is a mentally and physically abusive husband and father, who drove his wife, Kathleen, to walk the paths of the darkest depths of life and his son, Gregor, to abandon him.
Gregor Broom. Exploited for years of grueling physical child labor by his father, mentored at sea by a seasoned merchant marine, and nursed to recuperation from a brutal beating by a local barmaid, Lucy, determined to become his wife, Gregor was destined to sail with her to America – aboard the Titanic.
Thomas Broom. Focused on living his life according to a well-crafted plan, Thomas is tutored in adapting to life in the New World by his godfather, Sean Nolan. He is wounded in naval action during The Great War and losing his beloved Lizzy to the Spanish Flu he must now face life facing the prospect of raising his son, Tommy, through his tender years entirely on his own, until he meets a new neighbor, Bea Frank.
Tommy Broom. Bright, focused, and disciplined, Tommy is given the opportunity while attending a military high school to participate in an experimental college program designed to fast-track him into a role in military intelligence. Within months of his induction into the Marines, Tommy is assigned to the Pacific Fleet and sails to Pearl Harbor, leaving behind his pregnant widow, Margie, Bea Frank’s daughter whom he’s known since childhood.
Tom Wade Broom. Coming into adolescence during the changing times of the 1950s, Tom Wade’s tough-guy attitude and troubled temperament jeopardizes his future until, as a young teen, his penance for a bad decision puts him on a life-changing career path as a world-class photojournalist and delivers him in the middle of The Troubles at his great-grandfather’s Northern Ireland door.
2 Comments
Hi Hal and Mitzi,
This is Suze from Herbs La Casita in Grants Pass Oregon. I can say in all honesty that you are a fantastic writer. I started reading your book after work one night to wind down, and I did, 2 hours and 100 pages later. This book is very engaging. It really draws you in and keeps you interested. I am very impressed so far. I will let you know when I finish it. Again, your writing is very easy and enjoyable to read. You are truly a talented and gifted author. And I’m glad to have met you and Mitzi.
I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE that my novel, Photo by Broom, received an outstanding review from the Judge of the 33rd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Publishing Book Awards. I am happy to share a few of its excerpts.
“This book is exemplary…
• “… in its structure, organization, and pacing. The structure of the chapters/parts aid in a compelling organization of the story… The pacing is even throughout and matches the tone/genre of the book.
• “… in its choice of topic or theme of the story. It is unique but still has strong appeal… the book is well plotted… there is a cohesive theme or delivery of information.
• “…in its voice and writing style. It has a unique voice, and the writing style is consistent throughout.
• “… [in its…] characters are developed and have appealing or interesting aspects… main characters have appealing or interesting aspects”
In further comment, the Judge said, “The banter and camaraderie of the various groups of which Tom is a member (the Navy, his family as a young boy) feel authentic and warm. His friendship with Wade and his relationship with Margie as revealed through her letters were charming and genuine. The action scenes, especially the opening one, were fast-paced but expertly detailed and nothing felt rushed.”
Please feel free to share this review with your friends. If you’ve already enjoyed reading Photo by Broom, and are so inclined, I would appreciate it if you would write a review of your own on the Amazon site. If you’d like to learn more about the book, you can check out my website, http://www.halthorowitz.com, where you will find a link to Amazon for the book.