| Local author J. Peter Yakel has released a hilarious | | | | endure. Her daddy, (who is also the town Parson), |
| fiction tale with roots to a number of localities and | | | | disapproves of the fledgling courtship and disallows it. |
| landmarks about New York's Capitaland area. Notable | | | | Saddled with heartache bigger'n the Heldebergs, Joe |
| places mentioned in the comedy adventure include the | | | | walks away from his brilliant music career, and joins |
| towns of Berne, Knox, Westerlo, Cambridge, Cobleskill | | | | the Federal Army. Shipped overseas, the young man |
| and Greenville, as well as Albany and Schoharie | | | | loses the relative safety of home and family for which |
| counties. In addition, the well-worn paths of Delaware | | | | he cares so much. Almost as quickly, Fate steps in |
| Turnpike and Route 85, the fine hunting grounds of | | | | and brings the music star-turned-soldier face-to-face |
| Partridge Run, and the prominent 'stone wall' of | | | | with the most powerful man on the planet. With his |
| Westerlo weave their way into the pages of the book | | | | superiors caught in a seemingly hopeless entertainment |
| as well. Says the author, "People write about what | | | | bind, Joe offers his juggin talents. In short order, he's |
| they know. My capital district roots are deep and they | | | | back in the spotlight, whoopin' it up for the |
| stretch back more than 150 years, so choosing to | | | | Commander-in-Chief. Afterward, a discussion between |
| include parts of our local geography in the story was a | | | | the straight talking country boy and his President has |
| natural extension of how I conceived the development | | | | the effect of altering the global balance of |
| of The Legend of Juggin Joe."The author describes his | | | | power!International reviews of the book have been |
| story as an over-the-top adventure with a special | | | | strong and positive, says Yakel. He adds, "I am |
| twist. Not only is it tied to Capitaland, but his | | | | particularly pleased with the review of Viviane Crystal |
| unconventional writing style gives the book its unique | | | | ( who said, '...this writer who has created a unique style |
| flair. "The entire story is written in my own brand of | | | | of "country speak" dialogue and storytelling that is |
| 'country-speak'. I've never seen or read a book written | | | | quaint and entertaining without the need for the raging |
| anything like it, which is part of the reason why I chose | | | | dysfunctional status besetting so much of |
| to create it. The great thing about the dialogue is that it | | | | contemporary fiction.' Her read of the book was |
| makes the adventure so much fun to read, and it | | | | spot-on. I hope more people enjoy the humor of Juggin |
| actually draws readers into the story."Yakel concedes | | | | Joe, especially my friends and neighbors around |
| that, for some readers, the Juggin Joe story may only | | | | Capitaland."The Legend of Juggin Joe (ISBN |
| be a lightweight outlet for laughter. He's fine with that - | | | | 1-4116-2588-9) is available for purchase on the |
| after all, it is a humor book...But the self-published author | | | | world-wide-web, by logging onto: or by visiting the |
| adds, "There's a lot bubbling just below the surface of | | | | following Capitaland NY stores: Borders of Colonie, |
| Westerlo's topsoil. Scratch the surface of this country | | | | Borders of Clifton Park; The Book House of |
| knee-slapper, and you'll quickly see what I mean."The | | | | Stuyvesant Plaza; or I Love Books, Inc. of Delmar.J. |
| book tells the story of how a mischievous boy, born | | | | Peter Yakel is a freelance writer and author of three |
| and bred in the close-knit town of Westerlo, acquires | | | | books. His articles have appeared in publications such |
| the musical gift of jug blowing, and quickly rockets to | | | | as Communications Technology, The Pipeline, and |
| international celebrity as "Juggin Joe". Unfortunately, his | | | | Army Reserve Magazine. Joe's works have also been |
| iconic rise to music stardom is stymied by the shared | | | | highlighted on USAWOA Online, USAR Online, and |
| sorrow he and his forbidden love interest, Florentine, | | | | other Internet websites. |