The Manhattan Circle Line & Authors of Entertainment Books


How does the Manhattan Circle Line cruise relate to authors of

entertainment books?

I’m glad you asked. I first experienced this wonder full trip with my mom in 1970 long before I thought of writing a book of any kind. The second time was in October 2015 with a newfound friend from my distant past. We were both, by then, authors of entertainment books. That’s how we met.

In a recent post I extolled the value of Facebook in reigniting and expanding dormant friendships. Today I extoll the value of the internet in general and its ability to connect people. A fresh, flowering, fraternal friendship has flourished between me and a guy I had never actually met until three weeks before this writing. We went to Hollywood high school together but did not know each other. Thanks to the power and reach of the world wide web we do now.

As part of my book marketing plan I searched for websites that were associated in any way with my past, found the Hollywood high alumni site and began to post my blog pieces there. Weeks then months went by with zero response but I kept at it. After about six months, on May 3rd 2014, I got this email:

Saw your website. Enjoyed you singing (Carousel), I went to HHS. Knew Bruce and Glenn. (Signed) Jess Waid.

The singing he referred to was a video I’d linked in one of my posts on that alumni site. Bruce (Belland) and Glen (Larson) were guys from the HHS choir who, with my friend and accompanist, piano prodigy Lincoln Mayorga, had formed The 4 Preps in the late 1950s.

This email was the first in an ensuing flood. Over the next few months I learned a lot about Mr. Waid, the most intriguing fact being that after retiring from the LAPD as a homicide detective Jess had written five extraordinary novels based on his career as a decorated cop.

Authors Ben Bryant & Jess Waid

Authors Ben Bryant  &  Jess Waid

I devoured all of his (terrific) books as he did mine. We began exchanging two or three emails a week and sharing a lot on Facebook, in short; getting to know each other – internet style.

Jess and his wife Barbara live in Ajijic, a town on Lake Chapala in Mexico. Not an easy place to drop in for a visit even though Elizabeth and I were invited. However this summer (2015) he announced that in October they were coming to NYC!

We were both excited about the prospect of meeting in person after sixty-two (62!) years. I don’t know about Jess but as eager as I was for this meeting there was a modicum of disquiet. What if in person he was an asshole – or worse – what if he thought I was an asshole? Given our months of correspondence this didn’t seem likely yet there was this minuscule reservation in the back of my mind.

Well, fuggedaboutit! Within two minutes after the Waids had walked through our front door all reservations were forgotten and Jess and I, not to mention Barbara and Elizabeth, were fast friends. We lingered long over a fine dinner at Henry’s, our favorite upper west side eatery and felt as though we could have talked all night.

After Jess and Barbara’s New England fall foliage tour they returned to the City for another dinner, a brunch and a coffee klatch interrupted by the aforementioned cruise around my beloved island home.

One of the main features of the cruise is the guy who narrates it, describing all sorts of historical data about the myriad points of interest. Jess and I heard none of it. We were on the outside deck continuing the conversation that had started the week before.

Thank you to all the geniuses who created, expanded and made available this extraordinary communication device called the internet.

PS: If you like authentic, riveting cop tales buy Jess’ Books.

Here’s where you’ll find my Books.

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