SBJ Staff Report
Last Updated on Friday, 14 May 2010 17:04 Friday, 14 May 2010 16:56
On Friday, June 4 at 6 p.m., Savannah’s own Chef Joe Randall and acclaimed author Jackson Taylor will discuss the contents of the praised novel, The Blue Orchard. In a special book signing and discussion, for the first time, two families will come together to discuss their rich family history, whiledelving into a controversial time in American history.The Blue Orchard is a novel based on the experiences of the author’s grandmother, Verna Krone. The story takes place during the great depression through the 1950s, at a time when Taylor’s grandmother took a job as a nurse for an African-American doctor, Dr. Charles Crampton, M.D. The novel describes the political influence and controversial medical practices of Dr. Crampton, as he participated in “illegal surgeries” in Harrisburg, Pa.
The novel ties in Randall’s father, a renowned African-American doctor in the Harrisburg community and a direct political rival of the controversial Dr. Charles Crampton, M.D. Dr. Randall’s life as a political power house undeniably unfolds within the pages of The Blue Orchard.
At Barnes and Noble on June 4th, Randall will participate in a rich discussion on the life of his father, Dr. Joseph Randall, M.D., a well known leader in Harrisburg, PA and now a character depicted in The Blue Orchard. “Finally in print, some acknowledge of my father, Dr. Joseph A. Randall, for his political savvy accomplishments to right wrongs in Harrisburg in the early 1950s,” said Randall.
Taylor will discuss with the Savannah community, the many trials his grandmother Verna Krone faced through her life and later work with Dr. Crampton. Taylor will unveil his research efforts to create what he thought would be a simplistic story, that soon unfolded into something greater, “I thought I had a very small story. I thought it was a story about a secret, a family secret," said Taylor. “As I began to research, I thought, ‘Oh, this is a bigger secret.’ This involves the whole city of Harrisburg, and then it became a story about Dauphin County, then the whole state of Pennsylvania and eventually I realized that this small group of people actually influenced national politics."
About Chef Joe RandallChef Joe Randall is the owner of a nationally acclaimed cooking school in Savannah, GA. Chef Randall is a 43 year veteran of the hospitality and food service industry. The depth and range of his experience and his dedication to professional excellence, has earned him the respect of professional chefs as well as restaurant managers and owners. He is noted for his capacity to teach, guide and advise others in the practical aspects of food quality and profitable food-service operations. His professional affiliations include the American Culinary Federation, and the American Academy of Chefs. Additionally, he is a founding board member of the Southern Food Alliance. Chef Randall has been featured on HGTV, the Food Network ("The Best of Ethnic Eateries" and Best of Prix Fixe), TurnerSouth (3-Day Weekend in Savannah), and many national and local television shows. He is also the author of the cookbook, A Taste of Heritage. For more information on Chef Joe Randall, visit www.chefjoerandall.com or call 912-303-0409.
About The Blue Orchard
Based on the life of the author’s own grandmother and written after almost 300 interviews with those involved in the real-life scandal, The Blue Orchard is as elegant and moving as it is exact and convincing. It is a dazzling portrayal of the changes America underwent in the first 50 years of the twentieth century. Readers will be swept into a time period that in many ways mirrors our own. Verna Krone’s story is ultimately a story of the indomitable nature of the human spirit—and a reminder that determination and self-education can defy the deforming pressures that keep women and other disenfranchised groups down. The Blue Orchard was published by Simon and Schuster in January 2010. For more information on The Blue Orchard, visit http://www.theblueorchard.com/
About Author Jackson TaylorFor more than 20 years Jackson Taylor has directed the Prison Writing Program at PEN American Center and recently has acted as an advisor to the Anne Frank Center USA’s Prison Diary Project. Jackson Taylor also helped found and is currently the Associate Director of the Graduate Writing Program at The New School in Greenwich Village, New York where he often teaches a popular class in narrative form and structure. He also teaches at Mediabistro, as well as The Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen. His poems have appeared in Sleeping Fish, Barrow Street, LIT, Witness and the anthology “What’s your exit?: A Literary Detour through New Jersey.” For three years he worked at The New York Times in the Culture, Arts and Leisure, and the National desks. He holds a B.A. from Columbia University and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. He resides in Manhattan and Greenport. Taylor’s debut novel, The Blue Orchard, was published by Simon and Schuster in January 2010.
