Tom Ratliff Stories
25 Broad Street
Plainville, CT 06062
860-747-1577 or 860-874-4169
Upper Elementary and Middle School Curriculum Materials
for Newspaper Programs and Classroom Teachers
(Drawn by Miranda Norris)
History Pages
Written to your specifications and locale
Coming Pages:
The Brooklyn Bridge
The Origins of American Football
Historical Fiction
TomOnyms features original unpublished historical fiction written by author Tom Ratliff. Tom is a teacher by training, and is the co-author of the Matty Trescott novels—a six-book series set in the Civil War era. He has written non-fiction books for Scholastic Books, the National Geographic Society, and Salariya Books in London. His serialized stories have been published in Newspapers in Education Program in the Hartford Courant and the New London Day. Each story is set against the backdrop of an event or historical era, and each provides a blend of historical fact, social history, and strong characters. Stories include teacher's guides, illustrations, and historical background and maps as needed.
|
"Artemis: Huntress of the Seas" is a whaling adventure story. Young Becky Meade stows away on a whaling ship hoping to get to California to find her brother Tom. Set in the 1850s "golden age" of American whaling, the story relates a realistic picture of what life was like on a whaling vessel, and illustrates the dangers of this important, but little known era of American history. Twelve Chapters: Released January 2008 |
"The Drinking Gourd" is an action story of the Underground Railroad, set in the Canal Era of pre-Civil War Connecticut. Young Jeremiah Cady lives with his aunt and uncle, who operate a lock on the Farmington Canal. When Jeremiah discovers intruders one hot June evening, he is faced with some difficult decisions. Fifteen chapters: Currently Available |
|
Fair Wind of Liberty: The British Attack on New London and Groton "Fair Wind of Liberty" tells the story of the British attack on New London, Connecticut, in September of 1781. Told through the eyes of several members of the Cutler family, this fictionalized account of one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War describes the value of family and friendship, and the sacrifices made by American patriots. Sixteen chapters. Currently Available |
It is April of 1860 and Kansas is in the grip of a terrible drought. Young Henry Trescott leaves home to ride for the Pony Express, hoping to earn enough money to save his family's farm. He intends to stay away for a month or two, but his adventures take him a thousand miles from home and he is gone for several months. Fifteen chapters. Released March 2008 |
Coming Soon:
The Colt Fire - a fictionalized account of the fire that destroyed the Colt Armory in Hartford in February, 1864.
Blizzard - the story of the Blizzard of 1888 as seen through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old girl and her family.
Moving West - adventure story of a families struggles to move to Wisconsin Territory in the 1840s.
Contact Tom at tomOnyms@comcast.net for rates and a sample contract
© 2006 by Tom Ratliff
TomOnyms®
Return to Tom's Page.
Return to Matty Trescott Home Page.
Last Updated on 06/20/08