Blandtrap by Harry Ellis

About the Book

    Blandtrap is a small village in the Midwest, but could be located anywhere. Existing in the shadow of larger towns, a closeness of residents develops that is unfamiliar to inhabitants of most cities. The lack of attention villages receive from city residents manifests itself as a chip on the shoulder of villagers when dealing with the larger population.

     In the form of letters to the editor of a small town newspaper, you will get to know the residents of an even smaller village. Tired of the snub by its larger nearby settlements, Harry Ellis protests vigorously to the editor of the Tiskilwa Bureau County Chief.  You will follow Harry as he, with friends and neighbors; enjoy the comfortable confines a small village provides. Through these missives, you will be captured by the array of characters, each unique and memorable.  By book’s end, you will believe you have actually been there – and you’ll want to go back!

About the Author

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 an environmental scientist working 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.

Small town life has formed the foundation of who Harry Ellis 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 lives in a large Midwestern city. Since he left small town life he has longed to return. His heart returned long ago. It is his sincere hope to move from the bustling, insane life of the city to a softer, more understanding society.