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In Service to Their Country

By Captain Alexander G. Monroe, USN (Ret.)

“ . . . This story will have resonance for its similarity to the hundreds of other preparatory schools whose students
have also done their duty for God and Country.”     
—William S. Dudley, Director of Naval History, 1995–2004

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About the Book
On a Virginia hillside overlooking the Rappahannock River, at Christchurch School, sits a simple granite monument. It was placed there to honor the school’s faculty, staff, and alumni who have served in the American uniformed services. From its early years, and continuing still today, Christchurch has been home to men and women of diligence, accountability, and humble valor, often taking in struggling youths and cultivating in them the virtues and life skills they’ll need to make their way in the world. The path many graduates have chosen is one of service to country.
Together with the hillside monument, this book exists in tribute to those members of the Christchurch family who have dedicated years of their lives—often their best years, and sometimes their last—to the protection of the United States of America.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Pleasant Living Books is a imprint of Pleasant Living, a magazine for Virginia’s River Country.  PL Books publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry by Virginia writers.  Visit us at www.pleasantlivingmagazine.com/books.

ORDERING INFORMATION
This fall, order direct from the publisher at www.pleasantlivingmagazine.com/books, or call 804.644.3090.
Also available at amazon.com, bn.com and from your local bookseller. $15.95 plus shipping/handling.

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A Long View from
Sandy Hooks Pine Grove

Ruby Lee Norris

“Ruby Lee Norris is a writer, poet, and gardener whose writings in Pleasant Living magazine have enriched the lives of those who have read them. Anything she writes is well worth reading.”

— Larry S. Chowning, author of Barcat Skipper: Tales of a Tangier Island Waterman,  Chesapeake Bay Buyboats and other titles

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ABOUT THE BOOK
Virginia’s River Country is a region where life moves a little slower and the simple pleasures are king. It’s a land of daffodils and farming families, fishermen and local legend, artisans and community pride—a place where the trees tell stories and a flat tire draws good Samaritans like flies to honey. And nobody captures the unique flavor of the region like Ruby Lee Norris, a lifelong resident who memorialized the towns, people and traditions of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula in the pages of Pleasant Living magazine for twenty years. Peppered with down-home humor and folk wisdom, this collection of forty-five essays represents a range of her contributions, including historical accounts, community profiles, gardening tips, recipes and poems. From her birthplace in Hartfield, Virginia, to her home at Sandy Hook’s Pine Grove in the town of Topping, Ruby Lee enjoyed a full life, a rich heritage and a long, priceless view of the Land of Pleasant Living.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruby Lee Norris was born and raised in Middlesex County in Virginia’s scenic Northern Neck. She attended Mary Washington College in the 1930s, did graduate work at the College of William and Mary and received a master of humanities from the University of Richmond. She enjoyed a thirty-seven-year career in education that spanned school districts in Middlesex County, Philadelphia and Richmond. She was an active alumnus, serving on several boards at Mary Washington and receiving awards for her service and accomplishments. As a writer, she contributed to multiple magazines, including Pleasant Living, Bay Splash, Chesapeake Style, Virginia Gardener, and Poet’s Domain. She was married to Vernon W. Norris, Sr. and together they had one son, two grandsons and two great-grandsons.
ORDERING INFORMATION
Order direct from the publisher at www.pleasantlivingmagazine.com; 804.644.3090 or write 5 South First Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Also available at amazon.com and bn.com. $15.95 plus shipping/handling.


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My Life in the Woods

By Neil Greene
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ABOUT THE BOOK

Have you ever felt the thrill of trying to fool a Tom turkey in the spring, figured out how to ambush a big buck in the fall, or hunted copperheads?  Do you really know what it means to be an avid fisherman or what the sign “Watch for Falling Rocks” actually means? From hunting rabbits in the snow and escaping from a renegade bear, to the challenges of hunting the ruffed grouse, veteran outdoorsman Neal Greene shares stories handed down from his father, grandparents, aunts and uncles and takes you on a journey through his natural world that you won’t soon forget.  Join Neal on a memorable and fun expedition through his family’s great hunting and fishing traditions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Neal Greene grew up in Duncan Gap, Virginia, near the town of Wise, where he attended school in a two-room schoolhouse. As a young man, he spent a lot of time tramping through the woods and listening to his dad, uncles, and aunt tell hunting and fishing stories that had been passed down to them. Ever since he received his first popgun, Neal has been a hard-core hunter, tracker, fisherman and outdoorsman, and has lived the woodsman’s life.  He soon began writing about his outdoor adventures during the 2008 spring turkey season, and he hasn’t stopped writing since.  Among his other skills, you will discover that he is also a storyteller.  This is his first collection.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Pleasant Living Books is a publishing imprint of Pleasant Living, a magazine for Virginia’s River Country.  PL Books publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry by Virginia writers.  Visit us at www.pleasantlivingmagazine.com/books.

ORDERING INFORMATION
Order direct from the publisher at www.pleasantlivingmagazine.com; 804.644.3090 or write 5 South First Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219. Also available at amazon.com and bn.com. $15.00 plus shipping/handling.

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PORTRAIT OF A TOWN

By Patricia Joyce Parsons

“In Portrait of a Town, Pat Parsons reflects with warm nostalgia on her experiences growing up in a lovely and proud Victorian bayside village on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Her delightful portrayal of daily life during WWII, and of Cape Charles’s struggle to survive the changing times, provides valuable insight into the history of the area.”
         — John M. Barber, Fellow, American Society of Marine Artists
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ABOUT THE BOOK
Situated on Virginia’s Eastern Shore, Cape Charles was once a vibrant railroad town, serving as a vital hub for troop movements between the northern and southern states during World War II. Its placement on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay, along with its fleet of ferries and fishing boats and its position among the farming communities of the Eastern Shore, made it a town of plenty in the lean times of rationing that occurred during the war—and a perfect place for a child to grow up
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After growing up in the small but vibrant community, Pat left Cape Charles when it began to dwindle in the post-war period, only to return years later. Upon this arrival, she realized that she had a story to share.  Portrait of a Town became a reality through current residents in Cape Charles, and her vivid memories depicting the daily life of Cape Charles from her fresh perspective.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Pleasant Living Books is a imprint of Pleasant Living, a magazine for Virginia’s River Country.  PL Books publishes fiction, non-fiction and poetry by Virginia writers.  Visit us at www.pleasantlivingmagazine.com • 804-644-3090 • 235 N. Main St. Kilmarnock, VA 22482, Richmond, VA 23219
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