THREE ANGELS PUBLISHING

                                             FROM THE AUTHOR

Hi, I’m Tony Baggz. The “big guy” who runs Three Angels Publishing asked me to tell you a little about myself, my book, A Bridge to Nowhere, and why I wrote it. So, I agreed … mainly because I don’t want to get on his bad side. I mean when I say this guy’s big, I mean big … like his knuckles drag when he walks, he has that Cro-Magnon look down pat, and I think he eats furniture for breakfast. “Scary big”… if you know what I mean….

…Anyway … my story … I grew up in a small town, Ridgewood, New Jersey. It’s where I met my friend Joey.  We went through high school and college together ... had a lot of great times, met a lot of great people, and ... a few forgettable ones too. Two stewardesses and one “miss cute and bubbly” come to mind. Those three ladies are still looking for us, so Joey and I keep a low profile ... if you know what I mean.

So, why A Bridge to Nowhere? Well, the two of us went to college near Pittsburgh and, at that time, there was a bridge spanning the river downtown that went three quarters of the way across the water and stopped. It came to be known as "the bridge to nowhere" ... a perfect metaphor for Joey’s story…

…You see, Joey used to be what you’d call a ladies man. Sure he fell drop dead in love with his first girlfriend, but when she jilted him Joey started chasing every skirt in town. So much so that he passed up the one great love of his life … and never found that great love again. You could say that Joey wasted twenty five years trying to cross his own personal bridge to nowhere.

Well, we’re both grown up now … settled, respectable and respected … except for maybe those two stewardesses and “miss cute and bubbly.” Anyway, our story finds Joey in the best nightclub in town. It’s owned by a college friend, "Mike the Russian” and tonight, Joey’s twin nephews are meeting him for dinner. He’s their favorite uncle and they're the sons he never had. The boys' dad died when they were little and Joey tried to step in and fill that hole in their lives. Given the direction he was headed at the time, his efforts were dubious at best. But the boys love him and Joey's straightened himself up, so tonight he wants a chance to impart a last bit of "fatherly" wisdom.  He wants to matter ... maybe one last time.

So, that's the jist of the story. Mike’s is a comfortable night spot; good food, terrific music, a great dance floor, and killer carrot cake. Come on in for the evening. Should be good for some laughs and some hard won wisdom from a man who graduated summa cum laude from the College of Hard Knocks.

Oh, and why did I write Joey’s story? Well, a friend of mine, a single mom, once asked my advice on what to say to her teenage son about girls and dating. Since Dad wasn't around, she wanted a man's perspective. After talking with her it occurred to me that a story like Joey’s might be of value. Since the advice seemed to work, I decided to tell his story. And so, I offer you … A Bridge to Nowhere.

                                                                                             "Tony"

** NOTE FROM “THE BIG GUY” **

Hi. I’m the ‘big guy’ at Three Angels Publishing and I’d like to clarify a couple of “Tony’s” remarks. First off, please understand that Joey’s story, along with Tony, "Mike the Russian,” Mike’s Place, their friends and all their exploits are just that, a story … although I have to admit that a number of their exploits have an oddly familiar ring.

And yes, I admit that I am a big guy. However, I resent that Cro-Magnon remark. I like to think I have a Nordic, sort of Viking, visage ... my knuckles don’t drag on the floor ... and I don’t eat furniture for breakfast, (actually, I’m a milk and cereal kind of guy).

And when I get a hold of that Tony Baggz again, I’m gonna wring….

THREE ANGELS PUBLISHING

Home

Tony's Town