A Little About Richard Epstein's Writings
of witness and discovery:
Richard Epstein has been a featured reader at the U.S. Navy Memorial, the Vietnam Woman’s Memorial, the Memorial Day Writers Project, Kensington Day of the Book, the Philadelphia Ethical Society, the Silver Spring Civic Center and Sojourn With Words.
He is the editor of two veteran anthologies and his poetry has appeared in U.S. Army Military Review;
War, Literature & the Arts; Poetica; The Line; Canyon Voices; The Ravens Perch; Wrath Bearing Tree;
O-Dark-Thirty; DEROS; Incoming; Beltway Quarterly;
Schuylkill Valley Journal and others.
For twenty-nine years Richard has hosted an open mic venue on the National Mall adjacent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and more recently via Zoom. His books of prose poetry describe growing up in coal country in the 1950’s; his religious upbringing with its East European culture and traditions; and the daily life of a soldier in preparation and support of war.
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He has also gathered and produced a 293-page book
of poetry written from 1928 to 2018; a dictionary of sporting terms applied to every-day conversation; and poems about the natural environment for his adopted grandfather: 95-year-old Dr. Paul Grayson. A recent interview on Prince Georges' County cable TV is provided below:
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By04TvU0YDY
Richard also developed the websites shown below:
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https://memorialdaywritersproject.com/
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Richard Epstein
the author
96 Pgs.
101 Pgs.
37 Pgs.
92 Pgs.
53 Pgs.
63 Pgs.
40 Pgs.
Listen to a sample from each book. Click Buy Now to further review additional details and to purchase through Amazon.com. Most of the books sell for $10 to $13 and make a ngreat gift.
72 Pgs.
50 Pgs.
78 Pgs.
293 Pgs.
293 Pgs.
What a fantastic collection!
Thank You For Your Service: While writing
and reading with "Brothers & Sisters Like These," part of NC Veterans Writing Alliance Foundation, I got to know
the author and hear him read in his weekly writings iclass. When he mentioned he had just published a book of his writings,
I immediately purchased a copy through Amazon. The poems and prose inspired by Dick's service were so "spot on" that I began to read them out loud to my wife of 41 years. Bravo Dick Epstein!
Carl Z. call sign Minuteman 27 - 176th Assault Helicopter Company 1970 - 71
I Corps Vietnam”
Thank You For Your Service: This was a really emotional read in several cases. Clearly, this work is from someone "who was there" and experienced the full range
of emotions that we all did in country. The work is really well done, it is inspirational
to me and will be to my family. I am also passing my copy on to Dr. Shawn Crouch
to use as source material for his "War Letters" project. He is composing a 25-minute oratorio for choir, soloist, and orchestra.
Bill Shurgart, Viet Nam Veteran and Docent U.S. National Park Service.
Historical, Entertaining and Healing!
Another Time - Another Place: The perfect description for a time and place far from
the United States, a place and people not very well known by Americans. The photos included in the book are poignant and brilliantly depict not only the Vietnamese people, culture and food, but also their humanity. Like the author, I left my heart in Asia; and could return to live there in a moment's notice! This book of prose poetry clearly demonstrates a keen familiarity and empathy for the Vietnamese people. Thank you for writing this.
Kyra Winthrop-St. Gery, Military Liaison, Vientiene, Laos.
"Thank You for Your Service” by Richard Epstein brings to life a time in history that
many have forgotten. It gives life to those
who gave all for us as well as the many other people and places that encompassed the Viet Nam Era. The Wall is a tremendous monument to the soldiers who fought and die during the Viet Nam War and this collection helps us understand what The Wall represents and why it exists."
Maritza Rivera, US Army Intelligence”
I Remember: Couldn’t put this down!
I read this book in one sitting. It’s a great read: meaningful and realistic. This book will help any reader understand what a soldier in Vietnam worried about and confronted every day. I recommend the book for anyone who wants to learn about the Vietnam War or the land of Viet Nam.
Ron Fink, Staff Sgt, 5th Special Forces,
Nha Trang 1971.
Thank You for Your Service: As a combat medic, I am no stranger to the chaos of a fire fight and life in the field. I shared this 80-page book with many of my veteran buddies from the 4th Infantry Division. The author put so many of my own feelings into print that one cannot find words to describe how I feel. I am thankful that the author shared his memories and observations. His talent is admirable. A great job, well done. Looking forward to meeting him so we can chat.
Doc Shyab, Combat Medic, C/1/22, 4th Infantry Division,1968. Survivor of the Battle for Chu Moor Mountain.
Another Time__Another Place: “Richard Epstein's book of visceral poems is written from personal experience during the Viet Nam Conflict, bringing us with him as he writes. His talent embodies Ernest Hemmingway's quote: "There is nothing to write about. All you do is sit down at your typewriter and bleed." Epstein writes from
the marrow, carrying you with him in every piece. Thank you, Mr. Epstein, for helping
us to understand more than ever what it was really like, and what you can't see of someone's truth from the outside.”
Noonie Fortin, Army Veteran, author
of five books.
Looking Back: “This is an exquisite collection of poetry that warms the heart with tradition, history, and customs. Richard Epstein brings back joyful childhood memories as skillfully as diving off a cliff above Lake Scranton Dam. Poems dedicated to his children and those of us who "who know nothing about Passover" warms and breaks our hearts at the same time. I welcome you to celebrate Richard's work as you relish drinking "four cups of wine" in honor of "Growing Up Jewish.
"Maritza Riveria, author of “A Mother’s War” and “Baker’s Dozen;” creator of “Blackjack Poetry Playing Cards” and Poetry Instructor at the Bethesda Writer’s Center.”
Thank You For Your Service: These poems are awesome but for me having been to Qui Nhon with the Navy "I Survived" hit
the nail on the head. I was there on the USS Gunston Hall LSD 5 and went ashore to work as a Navy Corpsman. I also spent time at NSA Da Nang and the poem "Hill 621" blew me away especially the view of Monkey Mt. I returned in 2003 and helped start a clinic in the name of Sharon Lane the first nurse in RVN to be KIA. Again I got to Da Nang, Vung Tau and Hue. Reading about Lang Vei i thought of my friend BIll Phillips whose cousin SpR Daniel R. Phillips was MIA on 7 Feb 1968 from that battle.
also like the poem about Lima Site 85 which a PJ named Mike Gallagher told me about and the people that served there. These poems are amazing and full of both your emotions and the heart and minds of those times. Thank you again.
Ken Harbert
Another Time - Another Place: Chillingly beautiful and painfully healing. A touchstone and a Memorial—Epstein plants those torn fragments deep within the rich soil of Vietnam and Thailand so they can grow and repair. One poem questions “Why am I here?” We answer, clearly, to write this, to save what you can, to let us look hard through the glass of another country with your eyes. Each poem moves us between love and despair and lets us know, once and for all, that the poet was not The Enemy.
Grace Cavalieri, Maryland’s tenth Poet laureate, founder/producer “The Poet and the Poem” from the Library of Congress.
Narrated by Richard Epstein.
276 pgs
8 Hrs 7 min Listening Time
281 pgs
9 Hrs 22 min
Listening Time
In this earthy war/peace novel, comedy frames grim pictures of war. Morris weaves combat, a love affair, and military satire—acted out by grunts, hookers, Vietcong soldiers, spies, heroes, and inane officers—into a story that is terrifying, gruesome, and comic. Cologne No. 10 for Men is a book to make us fear, weep, laugh, and remember.
A suspenseful and deeply moving novel about a 1907 lynching which took place not far from Annapolis, Maryland.
The victim's great-grandson and his family moved east from California and went on a quest to find out what really happened and why.
253 pgs
8 Hrs 7 min Listening Time
In the summer of 1960, before his senior year in high school Jeff convinces two friends, Randy and Lori, to join him in canoeing every lake and stream around Cleveland Ohio. Dynamics between the teens change as they battle rapids and waters poisoned by pollution. Though initially the boys assume the lead, Lori's daring and determination win her admiration and an equal place on the team. As Jeff and Lori become interested in each other, their conversations lead them to investigate racial segregation in their neighborhood.
Words Have The Power To Heal.
Writing is cathartic. Whether you write about family, your day's activities, letters to the editor, poetry, flash fiction, short stories, memoir, fiction or non-fiction, I think you will find the creative process can help you reduce stress and turmoil.
We all have a story to tell. It's never ending and it's never too late to start. I participate in several local writing groups and workshops. You can look for them on the Internet, your local library or senior citizens center. I enjoy sharing my work and hearing the work of others. .
