Whitley Strieber and my dad

[Celebration]

Okay, my claim to fame is that Whitley Strieber grew up around the corner from me, though I don't specifically remember him--just a group of neighborhood boys. But when I read one of his books about his childhood, there were just tons of people in it that I remember. So it made for a great read by me. Additionally I remember that at one point he stated that the ETs loved things like leather or things from animals, and that they would take (steal) them. So, once I emailed him to tell him a story about something like that which mysteriously disappeared from my house once, with no explanantion. It was then that I found out that he actually knew my family pretty well, and he really liked my dad.

So, last night I was googling things just to see if there was any new geneology info posted on the web (not really into that, but I do check occasionally) and the first thing that pops up is an excerpt of a novel by Whitley. My dad is a character in the book, apparently!! I couldn't tell that much about it. He used the name, but otherwise nothing was similar. It didn't look like he was a main character, but he did seem like he was one of the good guys.

Guess I'm going to have to order the book! Fortunately there are some used ones with deep discount. I think most of Whitley's books now are designed to be movies eventually so I am not so sure that it will be one of my faves. I do admit to being a really big fan of his when he writes about ETs.

Anyway, I just thought I would "out" myself as a former neighbor of Whitley.

Oh, yeah, I do think there may have been something "in the air" around there.
:rofl:

Some friends of my parents were in the news once for a pretty big UFO sighting. This was back when the news reported such things.

[JanusAscending]

1. COOL !!!!

It's amazing how as I get older, the world is shrinking. Seems like the degree's of separation are getting smaller as well!

[NJCher]

2. would that have been "The Secret School?"

I just finished that one a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it because it was so rich with detail about his childhood. I'm thinking no, though, because most of the adult portraits were of women. I particularly liked the ones he drew of his mother and of the neighborhoood woman who had the astronomy class and who let the children look through her 'scope to the stars.

How interesting and intriguing, Celebration. So glad you shared that with us. I love Whitley's writing. He is an incredibly gifted man.

Cher

[Celebration]

3. well..........

The one my dad's (unusual) name is in is "Critical Mass", a very recent book. He isn't in character or anything. It was just a name that he used for a fictional character, who was I think a good guy. It's not ordinarily something I would care about reading, but I'm sort of a cat about curiousity, so I will order it.

The one that had lots of connections to my childhood is.............(I forget), but not "The Secret School", I don't think. Maybe it was "Return to Communion." Honestly, I don't remember, it has been decades since I read it. Prior to reading it I had not made the connection between Whitley and the neighborhood "gang". He really caught the flavor of the place, though. Oh, man, I thought, he was riding his bicycle to the park and then getting abducted?? All at the same time and place I was also riding my bicycle? He kept saying that neighborhood kids were all at the ET gatherings at night. I mean, it was a real trip reading about it all. And no, I do not remember any "missing time."

Maybe I need to check out "The Secret School." Whitley's stuff about the secret school-- I don't know. One thing I do know is that he tells the truth as he knows it.

[NJCher]

4. Whitley

Oh, that's so interesting. I have not yet read Critical Mass but it goes straight to the top of my reading list.

I, too, believe that Whitley tells the truth as he knows it. He has gained credibility with me by being able to say "I don't know" when he doesn't know. He tells us things that are personally embarassing to him and for which he receives a great deal of ridicule. To my mind, no one would do this unless they are sincerely interested in getting the truth out.

Cher