Author Talk at Bank Square Books: Nicholas Checker (The Saga of Marathon)

Bank Square Books presents an author talk and Q&A with Nicholas Checker for his new book The Saga of Marathon. Nick will be joined by special guests Amby Burfoot, and musician Rick Spencer. Light refreshments will also be offered.

This event is free, but registration is requested.

About the Book
The teenage son of a hetaera (woman of pleasure), Pheidippides and his beautiful young mother are not recognized as citizens of ancient Athens. Yet he is enchanted with the essence of the grand city-state and all the promise it holds. His short daily runs are on mere delivery errands, but he aspires to one day be among the elite foot couriers who run up to fifty miles on vital missions of state. When an impending invasion from faraway Persia, the world’s most powerful empire–led by a temperamental tyrant bent on destroying democracy–threatens Athens and the entire land of squabbling Greek city-states, Pheidippides must undertake a grueling solitary trek to outrun enemy ships heading for his beloved city. Chased by assassins over a distance more than four times his usual runs, can he save Athens and its fledgling democratic ideals…and at what cost?

About Nicholas Checker
Nicholas Checker has two more published novels through another traditional publication company: Scratch and Druids, Oak Tree Press, CA; a stream of short stories that includes Shenandoah Magazine at Washington & Lee University; and an impressive number of independent films including the award winning short, The Curse of Micah Rood, starring former sitcom star, Ron Palillo from the old Welcome Back Kotter TV series; and stage plays Elegy for an Icon — regarding the controversial John Mason Statue and the Pequot War — first performed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater; and his musical stage play, Run to Elysia (music by Rick Spencer), also first performed at the Eugene O’Neill Theater … the very work from which Checker adapted The Saga of Marathon.

Special guest speaker will be Mystic’s own Amby Burfoot — former Boston Marathon winner (protege of Mystic’s Johnny Kelley, Boston Marathon winner and whose statue graces downtown Mystic); Amby has also gone to Greece and run the very same Marathon course as the legendary Pheidippides; and is the retired executive editor of Runner’s World Magazine; Amby is now a freelance writer with several books out and is still running.

Also included at the event will be songwriter & musician, Rick Spencer who wrote the music & lyrics for the stage play written by Nicholas Checker, Run to Elysia which premiered some years ago at the Eugene O’Neill Theater in Waterford. Checker adapted The Saga of Marathon novel from this play. Spencer will play and sing songs from Run to Elysia as the crowd files into the book store and is getting seated … and will also provide a soft instrumental backdrop to portions of Checker’s dramatic readings from his book. For further information on Rick Spencer, visit: http://www.catfeather.com/