Arrow Moon follows four young men as they encounter drama, marijuana, assassinations, and the anti Vietnam War movement while trying to live and enjoy their lives as college students during the turbulent 1960's. When a focused go-to-guy, a frequently stoned hippie wanna-be, and an insecure Texas boy join forces with a charismatic hot shot, and sell joint rolling papers and pot in the 1960's, what results is an entirely entertaining story replete with insight about growing up during a very difficult time. From the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, to the assassination of his brother, Presidential candidate Senator Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, Arrow Moon speaks of the events that made the sixties a unique era of political, social, and cultural changes. It explores the Vietnam War and antiwar protests, the burgeoning use of marijuana, and the start of the hippie movement as seen through the eyes of the average male trying to live life as a college student and avoid being sucked into war. As their individual stories unfold, Arrow Moon carries readers past all the drama and drugs and shows how a whirlwind of change, ambition, and government control touched the lives of these young men and changed them in completely unexpected ways. It is the mid-1960's and the United States of America has not seen as much political, social, and cultural change since World War Two. Political Leaders are being assassinated; able bodied men are being sucked into the undeclared war in Vietnam; folks are smoking marijuana left and right; and hippies are talking about "peace, love, and equality, man." What's happening will change the face of the United States forever - but Matt Santorri and his new friends don't know that yet. The four college students are more concerned with growing up, finding themselves, meeting women, and making a little money along the way. A compelling coming of age saga that follows four very different college students as they evolve into four very different men, Arrow Moon paints a colorful picture of what life was like for many typical American young adult males during the 1960's. Both humorous and deep, it is a highly entertaining story that also speaks to greater political and social themes.
About the Author: James Ventresco graduated from UMass Boston/Boston State College in 1968 at the peak of an era of intense political, social, and cultural change in the United States. As a college student, he experienced firsthand the upheaval surrounding 1960's events like the Kennedy assassinations, the Vietnam War, the antiwar movement, the burgeoning use of marijuana, and the birth of the hippie scene. During a time when the US government dictated the fate of its young men, Ventresco enlisted in the US Army to avoid the draft and was ultimately sent to Vietnam where he served with the 25th Infantry Division for one year, earning a Bronze Star, an Army Commendation Medal, and a Combat Infantry Badge. He has over thirty years of professional experience in the communications field. A proud father of two and grandfather of five, Ventresco resides with his wife Joanne in a suburb north of Boston.