Books Published by Valpo Alumni
Enduring Shame
By Elke Zell Bowman ’68
“Valparaiso University allowed me to change my station in life. I am forever grateful to the professors under whom I studied and thankful for the generosity of Valparaiso University when I needed it most.”
One Woman’s Journey from Post-war Germany to the American Dream! Elke Zell Bowman was born in 1945, on the eve of Nazi Germany’s collapse. Enduring Shame tells her story — beginning at an orphanage where she was sent as an infant and continuing through the difficult years in post-war Germany to a life in the United States where she finally found a home and country. We follow Elke as she navigates the harsh conditions of the orphanage, her escapades as a rebellious young girl with a passion for poetry, and has a shocking reunion with her birth mother in the United States. Instead of finding love and salvation with her mother and half-sister, Elke is met with a loveless and merciless woman bent on shaming her daughter into subservience. Through her inner strength and commitment to survive, young Elke finds the care and nourishment she has yearned for in the love of another half-sister and in school under the mentorship of a school teacher — the profession Elke herself pursues when she leaves her mother and begins a new life in America. Elke is a retired high school teacher who taught English and German in Indiana for thirty-five years.
Bend with the Breeze
By John Martin Ford ’74
“I graduated with a double major in music and English. The music degree helped me to successfully teach piano for a full half-century to more than 1,000 students. The English major provided a wonderful context for me to write my novel, “Bend With the Breeze,” (pictured) which is currently available on Amazon.com. More specifically, all the classics of American and World literature I was exposed to at Valparaiso did much to shape my thoughts and my writing. Reading the complete works of Shakespeare didn’t hurt, either. I have always been grateful for the education I received at the University.”
The year is 1933 — Chicago’s West side — Sean Reilly is a teenager who believes he can solve all his problems with a left hook and a right uppercut. While lying on his deathbed, his father Timothy gives him some prescient advice. Still, the question remains: will Sean come to understand, accept — and most importantly — heed his father’s admonition before it is too late?
Across the Aisle: Why Bipartisanship Works for America
By: Jill Long ’74 Thompson
Jill published the book entitled, Across the Aisle: Why Bipartisanship Works for America – a collection of essays by highly respected Republicans and Democrats who persuasively argue that bipartisanship has proven integral to moving the nation forward.
Bipartisanship has been essential to America’s success throughout its history. Today, however, there seems to be waning interest by politicians in both parties to work together to address pressing issues and find solutions.
In Across the Aisle, highly respected Republicans and Democrats argue persuasively that, time and again, bipartisanship on the local, state, and national levels has proven integral to moving America forward. Citing numerous examples, the contributors convincingly demonstrate that in the past and even in the present, politicians have set aside their differences and achieved compromises that put their towns, states, and country first.
A compelling and inspirational reminder that a two-party system built on compromise and mutual respect is integral to a functioning democracy, Across the Aisle offers a lodestone for our divisive time.
That Beast Was Not Me
By: Jeffrey Smalldon ’75
That Beast Was Not Me chronicles five decades during which Smalldon consulted on nearly 300 death penalty cases in state and federal courts, engaging with infamous figures like Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, Donald Harvey, and John Wayne Gacy. At his professor’s suggestion, Smalldon began corresponding with Manson and other members of the Manson Family in 1975, during his senior year at Valpo.
After Lynette “Squeaky” Fromme’s 1975 assassination attempt on President Gerald Ford, the FBI found letters from Smalldon in her apartment. A decade later, the murders of two co-workers made his quest to understand killers deeply personal.
That Beast Was Not Me offers readers a chilling glimpse into the minds of notorious murderers through Smalldon’s letters, interviews, and prison visits, exploring the darkest aspects of human psychology.
Shame-Free Parenting: Building Resilient Families in Times of Hardship, Guns and Social Media
By Craig A. Knippenberg ’81, LCSW, M.Div.
Craig A. Knippenberg ’81, LCSW, M.Div. released his second parenting book. Shame-Free Parenting: Building Resilient Families in Times of Hardship, Guns and Social Media, helps parents relax and follow their “good enough” basic instincts.
In Shame-Free Parenting, author Craig Knippenberg takes on the trend of hypervigilant parenting and offers a compassionate guide to navigating the complexities of parenting with resilience and authenticity. With sections that address pivotal aspects of raising children, Knippenberg equips parents with practical strategies to forge strong connections while fostering independence.
From managing emotions to setting boundaries, this book encourages parents to embrace their own imperfections-it’s okay to lose it sometimes, even relax!-and work toward growth. Knippenberg delves into topics including gaming, TikTok, and school shootings, and underscores the importance of creating structure, valuing resources, and guiding children toward their purpose.
With a seasoned perspective, Knippenberg advocates for family adventures and volunteerism as tools for building lasting bonds and instilling values. Full of shame-free parenting tips and resources for parents, Shame-Free Parenting empowers them to cultivate resilient families that thrive in the face of adversity.
The Connecticut Municipal Property Tax: A Closer Look at the Historic and Evolving Landscape
Dan Smolnik ’86, J.D.
Dan Smolnik ’86, J.D. published an in-depth analysis of the econometric drivers behind Connecticut’s municipal real property tax in Volume 46, Issue 3 of the Western New England Law Review. Titled “The Connecticut Municipal Property Tax: A Closer Look at the Historic and Evolving Landscape,” the piece, while focused on Connecticut, offers a methodology applicable more broadly. Though the electronic version has not yet been released, hard copies are available upon request.
In July 2024, Smolnik contributed a blog post to the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ as part of an ongoing series on spiritual life, concluding with a tribute to his Valpo roots.
History in the Making
By Mary Lorenz Claus ’06
“I had such amazing professors who encouraged me in my writing. I just published my first novel on Amazon. It’s under the pen name Mary Claire and the title is History in the Making.”
One year ago, Colin’s father died, making him the Duke of Raecroft. Unfortunately, this means that every female in the British Isles is after him. And he is bored by them all—until he spies an anonymous young lady on the terrace at a ball. From the moment he lays eyes on her, he knows something is different, and he is determined to discover what about her makes his heart race.
Until she disappears without a trace.
Lottie seems to have a gift for being in the wrong place at the very right time. And she absolutely should not be flirting with the gentleman on the terrace at the ball she shouldn’t even be attending. But something about him calls to her, and she can’t figure out what.
But it doesn’t matter. She has a secret that must not be discovered, or much more than her heart could be broken.
Expanding the Music Theory Canon
By Paula Maust ’09
Paula Maust is pleased to share the release of her book Expanding the Music Theory Canon, a score anthology of 256 musical examples by 67 women and/or people of color active before 1900. The book also includes a biographical entry for each composer. Hailed by top scholars in the field as an “indispensable resource,” Maust’s book is the first print music theory anthology aimed at correcting the historical narrative of who contributed to the development of Western classical music. The book was inspired by the tremendous success of her website, which currently has more than 30,000 users in 61 countries.
