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July 27, 2009

One small step for local author

APP.COM

By BOB VOSSELLER • Staff Writer • July 23, 2009

WARETOWN — Nan Marino, who works at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library, recently released a book for middle school-aged children, titled "Neil Armstrong is My Uncle and Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me."

A podcast will be available from Friday to July 24 on the Toms River branch's Web site, www.oceancountylibrary.org.

The podcast will include stories from area residents about their experiences and an interview with Marino who incorporated the moon landing in her first novel.

"My book came out on May 12 and it is enjoying great reviews. Most recently, it received its second starred review from the School Library Journal," Marino said.

Marino grew up in Massapequa, N.Y. She has degrees in library science and educational technology. Her book was published by Roaring Brook Press of New York.

"The entire story takes place during the summer of the first moon walk and how that one moment changed the lives of three people," Marino said.

"I think it provides a great way for those who weren't there to get to know what it felt like to watch those first steps, and for those who were lucky enough to witness the event, to reminisce about that time," Marino said.

"In 1969, everyone watched while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin took those first steps," she said.

"I didn't realize it then, but that event had a major impact on my childhood and I suspect on my entire generation. In school we were told that we would one day live on the moon or on Mars. We grew up thinking that our futures would include four-day work weeks, hovercraft and space exploration.

"The moon landing worked itself into almost every part of our lives and into popular culture of that time," she said. "We watched TV shows like "Star Trek" and "The Jetsons", drank Tangbecause that's what they drank in outer space, and almost every child in my elementary school wanted to be an astronaut."

She added that while the 1960s was a turbulent decade, "that single event helped fill our generation with optimism. When you're very young and you get to watch something remarkable happen, it fills you with hope." Marino said she borrowed quite a few childhood memories and incorporated them into the story.

"When I was around nine, there was a boy who challenged a group of us to a game of kickball — all of us against him. Of course, we beat him. In real life, the game probably lasted about 10 minutes. I remember thinking that taking on the entire block was really dumb and really gutsy," the author said.

"When I was working on the story, I heard a television personality describe the Long Island neighborhood where he grew up as a "hardscrabble environment." Even though I never thought that about Massapequa Park, which is my home town, I wondered what would happen if my main character felt that way too. It helped me find Tamara's spunky voice," she said.

She also recalled a miniature golf game during which a friend's daughter protested that her little sister's do-over was "not fair."

"The town of Massapequa Park, Long Island, is real. I hope the book captures what it felt like to live there in the late '60s. Each block was a like a little micro-community. I suspect that's the way suburbia was like here in New Jersey too."

Though the town is real, she said all of the characters in the story are made up.

"I did borrow some names from people I know," she said. "The character, Janie Lee, is named after my older sister."

Marino said that she has been busy writing for more than a decade.

"I've been writing middle grade and young adult stories. I wrote, read, sent out stories and got many rejection letters. And after all those years of trying, it felt surreal to hold my first book. They've been wonderful here at the Ocean County Library. They even gave me a surprise book launch party."

It has been three years since Marino moved from Long Island to Waretown with her husband and what she describes as "a very quirky dog."

Posted by tumulty at July 27, 2009 10:39 AM

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