Blacksburg author Dr. William A. Allen (Bill) will discuss his book with an emphasis on Shadows of War at the Blacksburg Library, 200 Miller St., on Thursday, Oct. 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Shadows of War is a true story of growing up in Kissimmee, Fla., in a struggling family during the 1940 and 50’s. The author’s father honorably served his country in the Second World War and returned with what is now called PTSD. The life of the author, his father, and the members of his father’s two families would be forever changed by this time of war and peace, both foreign and domestic.
Allen’s novel, Mangrove Island, will also be available. Set in the early 1960s on a barrier island on the Southwest coast of Florida. Mangrove Island was largely inhabited by fishermen and working class people but that world was changing. “Come here’s” were moving in but the wild places were still there. A native son, Steve Swensen, returns to the island to start a nursery business and a young reporter, Ingrid Johnson, took a job working for the local newspaper. Together they would help solve a mystery.
Both books are available through Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library to check out, and are available on Amazon where they both have a 4.6 out of a 5.0 star rating. Books will be available to purchase and for signing by the author at the event.
Allen is a fifth-generation Floridian who grew up in Kissimmee who is now retired from Virginia Tech where he served in the Department of Entomology for fifteen years before moving into administration. He retired in 1995 as Director of Virginia Cooperative Extension and Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
Allen is an Emeritus Professor at Virginia Tech who has been recognized numerous times for his scientific and educational work on behalf of farmers and other citizens. He served as President of the Entomological Society of America in 1986.
Married to Dorothy Marie (Langeland) Allen, his wife of 60 years, they have two married sons, and four grandchildren. They have been a part of the community for 54 years
