“BLANDTRAP CHRONICLES: Letters to the Editor of the Tiskilwa Bureau Valley Chief” by Harry Grafton is now available for purchase

“BLANDTRAP CHRONICLES: Letters to the Editor of the Tiskilwa Bureau Valley Chief” by Harry Grafton was proudly published by Citi of Books. This offers a humorous and poignant glimpse into the life of a small Midwest village, Blandtrap. This book is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retail sites.

Harry Grafton has written short stories, poetry, and lyrics for his amusement and for that of family and friends for more than forty years. Professionally, he is a retired environmental scientist who worked in the field of indoor air quality, performing field investigations, and teaching aspiring technicians entering the field. Courses have taken Harry across the country and abroad.

Two things he has discovered: large cities, although each has a few unique characteristics, are very much the same; and small towns, whether in Illinois, Mississippi, New Jersey, Switzerland, or Slovenia, are also similar.

Creating characters rich with unique personalities, Harry writes stories of people he has met, folks he has observed, and phantoms he has created from his fertile mind. What appear to be the most contrived situations actually occurred, and the mundane is conjured from the mind of a man who has spent too much time alone and traveling.

Small town life has formed the foundation of who Harry Grafton is. It is his essence. The warmth of familiar (if at times too-intrusive) neighbors and friends provides necessary comfort to those who live in villages. Love and compassion flow over the everyday irritation and hatred we suffer to soothe the wanderlust to which so many of us have surrendered.

Harry Ellis Grafton now lived a few decades in a large Midwestern city. Since he left small-town life and longed to return. Recently he and his lovely wife moved to a rural community in the south. His heart had returned long ago. He prefers a simpler life over the bustling, insane life of the city. It is a softer, more understanding society.

“BLANDTRAP CHRONICLES: Letters to the Editor of the Tiskilwa Bureau Valley Chief” centers around Harry Ellis, a resident who channels his frustrations about being overlooked by larger nearby towns into a series of witty letters to the local newspaper.

Through Harry’s correspondence, readers are introduced to a cast of quirky and relatable characters, each embodying the unique charm and challenges of small-town life. The letters capture the close-knit community’s spirit, showcasing their camaraderie and the little joys that come with village living, while also revealing a collective chip on their shoulders regarding the indifference of the bigger towns.

Overall, as Harry and his neighbors navigate their everyday lives, the letters paint a vivid picture of Blandtrap’s social dynamics, quirks, and sense of belonging. By the end, readers feel a deep connection to the village and its residents, leaving them with a nostalgic yearning to revisit the warmth of small-town life.