Hello, From Massachusetts!!!

[BooksByAnthony]

I am a 27, born and raised in Massachusetts, where I still live today. I am an independent self-publishing author, born and raised in Billerica, while working a full-time, blue-collar job, and planning my wedding with my beautiful fiance.

I was taught the values of individualism, and self-reliance by my late grandfather Walter Arakelian, whom was a beacon of Integrity. He taught me how to be a man, and live with honor. I watched him care for my grandmother whom was confined to a wheelchair from MS, ever since I was about 2 years old (that is when she was permanately in a wheelchair)...she had MS for about 20 years prior to that though, and lived into her late 70s marking her as one of the longest surviving MS patients in history (over 40 years)! The way he stuck by her side all those years, despite the fact she couldn't feed, dress, or go to the bathroom by herself really stuck with me.

He was a successful entrepreneur, whom had owned and operated my businesses in his lifetime. He had all the reason in the world to move on, marry again, or just "have fun" as I have heard some people put it before. One day he was told by some old friends that he should just put her in a "home", and marry again, or at least date again...My grandfather politely asked them to leave his house and never return...He taught me alot, you could say.

This has influenced my life, and my writing in ways you could not begin to understand. I believe heavily in the rights of the individual, and wish to help spread the message of our founding fathers. You are special, unique, not because you are white, black, latin, asian, straight, gay, rich, or poor, but because your an individual, because you are you and no one else can be.

I LOVE reading, especially Non-Fiction. I think the best stories are those that happen in real life, past and present. I love political science, and reading and discussing different philosophical approaches to our lives, our liberties, our government, and our economies.

I am so happy I found a forum/website of fellow book lovers out there.

Thank you, and God Bless

Anthony Richard Passalaqua, Jr.

[Suzanne]

Hello and welcome BooksByAnthony!

Thank you for such a wonderful introduction. I hope you enjoy yourself here at BookTalk.

[writernubbin]

What an interesting family story. Welcome Anthony. I'm new here as well and still trying to get comfortable.

[Chris OConnor]

Welcome to BookTalk.org.

[DickZ]

Welcome, Anthony. Let's go, Red Sox!!

[lindad_amato]

Anthony and Writernubbin, welcome to BT.