Black Dad/White Dad: Part One - The Fathers

After the deaths of his parents in 1909, Martin A. Bernot leaves Meade, Kansas. His tour of duty with the Merchant Marines leads him to Pennsylvania. Timothy L. Blanche grows up in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, and raises his family during The Depression working as a train engineer at a steel mill. His eldest son Francis meets Martin's daughter, Camille, in high school. While in the Coast Guard, Franny receives the Navy Silver Cross for valor, marries Camille, becomes a father of twins, but he is soon a widower. His journey through two more marriages is laced with the internal struggles of his families. He faces their problems with addiction, psychosis, illness, adoption, and religion. His tests of faith are often, but his endurance, courage, and honor buoy him through the uncertainties. This is the success story of a dysfunctional family. It is also the story of a short life, but one full of small and large miracles. Bernard F. Blanche began writing in 1961 while in college at Villanova University. Initially interested in short stories, his stint in the Peace Corps motivated some journal and diary writing. A retired high school English teacher, he has penned newspaper and magazine articles, as well as written and presented motivational and informative speeches. His previous books include Iracema's Footprint and Bonefish Bob, A Tribute. He and Dorothy, his wife of forty-seven years, have four children. Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/BernardFBlanche