Don Reid Knihy

PIANO DAYS is the story of three boys growing up in the late 1950s and early 1960s in a small town doing the things young boys do; playing softball for the local church team, discovering girls, going to the record hop at the National Guard Armory on Saturday nights, and learning to drive while learning a little bit about life along the way. The townspeople impact the boys in various ways during their childhood and influence who they become as young adults. Toby, Billy, The Twins, Lannie Mae, Sue Jane, the two Tinas, Admiral Dressell, the teachers, the merchants, are there through first kisses, Friday night football games, the county fair, school pranks, high school graduation, and beyond. Readers will be taken back to a time in history they may never have experienced themselves but everyone seems to think they remember.

Set in a small Virginia town before World War II, the story follows three boys—Cal, Harlan, and Buddy—who navigate the challenges of youth together. Their close bond leads them into various misadventures, earning them the nickname "the Mulligans" from a local restaurateur, "Uncle" Vic, who offers guidance and support. As they face family issues, romantic entanglements, and the looming specter of war, the boys discover the power of second chances and resilience in their journey toward adulthood.

The story follows J.D. Wickman, who faces multiple challenges, including a thief at his restaurant, a college-stressed daughter, and a mother in a nursing home. Amidst these struggles and his potential descent into madness, a car trouble during a peaceful drive leads him to unexpected revelations. This charming narrative explores the theme of divine intervention and the mysterious ways in which life unfolds.

Christmas, 1958: Elvis is on the radio, Ike is in the White House, the Lord is in his holy temple . but there is no peace in Mt. Jefferson. In a small town where everybody seems to know everybody, there are still a few secrets. Three families find they are connected in ways they never an angry teen, a dying man, a lonely wife, a daughter in trouble . just ordinary people, muddling their way through ordinary challenges. Illness. Marriage. Bad decisions. Friendship. Faith. Forgiveness. Spanning three generations, O Little Town is a tender tale of love and redemption . and a lonely gravesite where roses mysteriously appear every Christmas. It will touch your heart.