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The Side-Yard Superhero

Automythography
A work of nonfiction that looks reflectively at what we think we remember and how we think we remember it; an iridescent memory based upon truth and fact.     R.D.N.

With one late-night phone call, Rick Niece is transported back over forty years to cherished childhood memories of small town DeGraff, Ohio. His daily newspaper route, the sights and wonders of a traveling carnival, the sounds of Christmas caroling—the idyllic memories all circle back to one special relationship.

To Rickie, being friends with Bernie Jones was no different than being friends with any other boy in town. Bernie's physical world was confined to a wheelchair, but that didn't stop him from being an intrepid daydreamer, adventurer, and hero to Rickie. The unique friendship the boys forged defined an era in both their lives. When he left for college, Rickie promised Bernie they would meet again. Now, decades later, he is making the pilgrimage back to Ohio to fulfill that promise. Read more ...

This book is the perfect read for:

  • Boomers
  • Adolescents
  • Family and friends of people with disabilities, as well as those with disabilities
  • And all others who want to step back into a simpler time

More About the Book

The Side-Yard Superhero was a FINALIST for the Eric Hoffer Award.

The Side-Yard Superhero was a FINALIST in Regional Non-fiction of the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards.

The Side-Yard Superhero was the 2009 Book Expo of America New Title Showcase Buzz Book Bronze Recipient for Best Non-Illustrated Book.

The Side-Yard Superhero received Honorable Mention for the Autobiography Category in the New York Book Festival.

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    The Side-Yard Superhero by Rick D. Niece

    Rick D. Niece's true account of a man's journey home to reconnect with a childhood friend, and the memories that brought them together.
    Synergy Books, $17.95, March 2009, ISBN#: 9780981546209

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    The Reviews Are In!

    "The Side-Yard Superhero illustrates how we unexpectedly discover heroic qualities in our most ordinary daily acquaintances."
         Dale Bumpers
         U.S. Senator from Arkansas (1975?1999)
         Author of The Best Lawyer in a One Lawyer Town


    "You will laugh, you will cry, you will remember, and you will thank Rick Niece for re-opening a window to your childhood."
         E. Kearney Dietz
         President, Arkansas Independent Colleges and Universities

    About Rick Niece

    When he was four, Rick Niece's family moved to DeGraff , Ohio, a town of 900 citizens. Life in DeGraff was good, and the lessons learned from treasured friendships still inspire him today. As President of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, Dr. Niece and his wife, Sherée, are the proud parents of 675 students. Read more

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