Ruby Dee Philippa has led many lives and careers in one, and she is still creating. In this episode, Ruby discusses her three-volume series, Bag of Tricks: Mixed Stories of Life as a San Francisco Punk in the early 80s, on Earth Island Books.

Ruby's recollections of the Bay Area during the heyday of punk and hardcore, the music of Dead Kennedys, X, 7 Seconds, Intensified Chaos, Tragic Mulatto, and other bands reflected not only the angst and fury of the times, but also art, music, and storytelling.

The short stories in these three books are stark, sharply written, gritty, and uncompromising; for some, they will be disturbing. The characters, drawn from Ruby's past, are a mix of those she knew, with the rest made up. These stories shine a light on a time when many turned to the punk scene for an outlet, a home, a sense of belonging, but also acceptance.

Ruby Dee Philippa grew up in Northern California and West Texas. She attended San Diego State University at the age of 15, and during these formative years was drawn into the punk scene of San Francisco. Ruby also cofounded the Northern California Earth First! Chapter, was a restaurateur in Seattle, and is cofounder of the long-running Ruby & the Snake Handlers, a group with several recordings of rockabilly, roots, Americana, and country music. The audiobook of the first volume of Bag of Tricks is now available, and she will be contributing stories to the groundbreaking underground publication, "Wimmen's Comix."

Ronald Rand should be a person who requires no introduction. A US Cultural Ambassador, Rand has performed for 25 years as Harold Clurman in his solo play, Let It Be Art! in dozens of countries worldwide.

The Marsh in May features Rand's poetry and paintings on the Lucky Shoe Press imprint. The journey through these writings and artworks is described as transformative, with odes to Thomas Wolfe, Edwin Booth, Jean-Claude van Itallie, and places that include Kathmandu, Olympia, and Fez.

Rand discusses what inspired him to bring these pieces together while touring the world, and how one can keep their heart open, remain vulnerable, and appreciate every moment.

Ronald Rand studied at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, earned four Fulbright Awards as a Specialist Scholar/Visiting Guest Professor. He founded and published The Soul of the American Actor and is the author of Solo Transformation on Stage. He is also a screenwriter and the librettist of Ibsen, the first opera written about Henrik Ibsen. He has appeared in several off-Broadway plays and regional productions, plus more than a hundred films and TV shows. He lives in North Carolina. Find out more about his Sunbury Press releases here.

Statistics, numbers, figures, sports, and history have all been a part of Dr. Paul Semendinger's life. In this episode of "The History Stacks," Semendinger outlines the first of a three-volume series, West Point at Gettysburg.

Speaking with Dr. Lawrence Knorr, Semendinger discusses the ideas that sparked this series. The three volumes will, in alphabetical order, profile the 154 men who matriculated at West Point, only to stand beside (and opposite to) one another in the Battle of Gettysburg.

The officers will include names familiar to even casual readers of history, such as Robert E. Lee, George Armstrong Custer, and Abner Doubleday. The series will also shed light on those officers who distinguished themselves in battle and those who did their duty without attention.

Described as a lifetime educator, Dr. Paul Semendinger taught history and served as a principal for over three decades before becoming an adjunct college professor. The author of several books, these include examinations of the New York Yankees, such as Roy White: from Compton to the Bronx, The Least Among Them, a chronicle of obscure Yankee players, and the novel Scattering the Ashes.

Semendinger writes about the Yankees on his website, Start Spreading the News. To this day, Semendinger still plays competitive baseball; he has also run 27 marathons. You can find out more about him here.