For decades Paul Harvey entertained and informed Americans over the radio. He offered his wit, humor and warmth through the good and difficult times in American history. In Good Day! The Paul Harvey Story Paul Batura introduces you to the man behind the voice. Get to know the young Harvey who got in on the ground floor of radio and went on to charm and encourage generations of Americans. An inspiring read!

Paul J. Batura is an author and researcher who serves as a special aide to National Radio Hall of Fame host and bestselling author Dr. James C. Dobson of Focus on the Family. A native of New York, Batura has worked at Long Island’s Newsday and legendary talk radio station WOR. A student of radio and a veteran of 60 marathons, he now lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife Julie and their son Riley Hamilton.

Whenever our country has faced adversity, Americans have turned to an upbeat voice to remind them that the future is not as bad as it seems. For 60 years, that voice of optimism was Paul Harvey's.

In Good Day!: The Paul Harvey Story, author Paul J. Batura follows the remarkable life of one of the founding fathers of the news media. Paul Harvey started his career during the Great Depression and narrated America's story day by day, through wars and peace, the threat of communism and the crumbling of old colonial powers, consumer booms and eventual busts.

Whether he was covering racial tensions, terrorist attacks, or which vitamins to take, Paul Harvey articulated the American experience for average people making their way in a world too large for quick comprehension. Harvey brought them that world "in dime store words," with a deep sense of optimism, faith, and patriotism.

So what would Paul Harvey say today to calm Americans during these tough times?

* In times like these, it's important to remember there have always been times like these.

* The only people who get hurt on a roller coaster are the ones who jump off.

* Like Mark Twain reportedly said about the music of Richard Wagner, "It's not nearly as bad as it sounds."

* Be careful…when a government is mocked by its own citizens, that laughter is often the death rattle with which empires die.

* It's okay to be worried—that means there is still hope! Let's just worry about the right and important things.

* In the history of the world, God often chooses the simple ones to confound the wise.

Featuring a foreword by Mike Huckabee, Good Day! is the only biography of its kind; Good Day! is Harvey's story, the rest of the story, as he would tell it himself.

http://www.christianbook.com/good-day-the-paul-harvey-story/paul-batura/9781596981010/pd/981016

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product_review

__USERID__

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/ask_and_answer

Author: Paul J. Batura
Located in: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Submitted: May 14, 2009

    Tell us a little about yourself.  I'm a writer and senior aide to National Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster and founder of Focus on the Family, Dr. James Dobson. Prior to these last 12 years, I worked at Newsday and legendary talk radio station WOR in New York City. My world revolves around my devotion to Christ, my beloved wife Julie and our dear son, Riley Hamilton in addition to our extended family. I'm an avid reader and runner, having completed 60 marathons including the last ten Pikes Peak Marathons.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  I've listened to Paul Harvey my entire life. My goal from the beginning has been to craft a good story that honors this great man. I was fortunate to get to know Paul, spend time with him and cultivate strong and meaningful relationships with his ABC cohorts. Back in 2000, I set out to write, "Good Day! The Gospel According to Paul Harvey." In time, it became clear that writing about Paul Harvey's entire life was akin to writing about his faith. Our initial plan was to publish on Sept 4, 2009 -- Paul's 91st birthday. Paul's death on February 28th turned the project on its head. The story of Paul Harvey is the story of America. Even in death, his long and layered life has lessons for all of us. The Paul Harvey Story is an encouraging and inspirational reminder that anyone "whose willing to stay on their toes can reach for the stars." It's the perfect story for troubled times.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  All of my writings are motivated by a desire to encourage and inspire people to either begin or deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. I'm eager for readers to learn about the incredibly fascinating and remarkable life of America's radio legend. His My prayer is that it will rekindle or flame their love of the Lord and the miracle of America.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  Throughout this entire project, I felt that the Lord guided and directed my steps. Writing a biography is a bit like putting together the pieces of a gigantic jigsaw puzzle. A brief story: Shortly before Christmas, I took a one-night trip to Tulsa, Harvey's boyhood hometown. I went with the intent of spending an entire day in the special collections section of the library. When I arrived, I was told the library was closing in 2 hours because of icy roads. My heart sunk. All this way for nothing? I hustled my way through microfilm and dusty state records and decided to just walk the city streets to get a feel for the town. I was bundled up against the icy cold and remembered Paul's first church was First Presbyterian. I looked up and there it was on the corner of Boston Street. But it was deserted and locked. I peered in an office door and suddenly a voice from behind me said, "Are you looking for someone?" I spun around to see a near 80 year old man. I told him who I was and what I was there for. He said, "Well, how about that. I'm the church historian and archivist." I said, "Can we talk?" He said, "Why not? I guess that's why I came here -- up till now, I wasn't sure." I interviewed him for several hours and obtained countless nuggets and leads that became the basis and substance of the first few chapters. The entire city was practically shut down and here the one man I needed to see -- but didn't know -- showed up. I was reminded in that instant that the best stories aren't created but instead, they're revealed.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  For the past 12 years, I've worked for Dr. James Dobson and been blessed by his gift of story telling and inspired writing. My wife, Julie, has a knack and deft touch for all things creative. She is a musician and gifted writer, not to mention the world's greatest mother. She is my inspiration. My other favorite writers include Peggy Noonan, Dr. Tim Keller and the Gospel writer Luke.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  I'm humbled when any reader considers investing precious free time on anything I've written. I appreciate their consideration and look forward to dialoging with them on email: Paul@PaulBatura.com

• Books >> Biography >> General Biography
• Books >> Biography >> Modern-Day Biography
• Start A New Christianbook.com Search