Talks and signings in West Chester, Chadds Ford and Phoenixville
Author Bruce Mowday talks at Coatesville schools
September 9, 2019
Author Bruce E. Mowday has events scheduled
in Chadds Ford, Phoenixville and West Chester
New book Stealing Wyeth featured plus talk in Coatesville schools
Author Bruce Mowday has scheduled five events in Chester County this month, including three talks in connection with his new book, Stealing Wyeth.
“My new book has received great interest,” Mowday said. “So much attention that the first printing was sold out at the time of the official release in August. Publisher Barricade Books has authorized a second printing, to be delivered this week.”
After a private event at the Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, on Friday, September 13, Mowday will be signing books on Sunday, September 15 from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Chadds Ford Days at the Chadds Ford Historical Society.
Chadds Ford Days is held on the battlefield of the Revolutionary War engagement at Brandywine. Mowday will have his book September 11, 1777: Washington’s Defeat at Brandywine Dooms Philadelphia – the first in-depth book on the battle – available for purchase.
On Monday, September 16, Mowday will talk before several classes of students at Coatesville Intermediate High School before giving a talk on Stealing Wyeth at 7:00 p.m. at Phoenixville Library.
The Chester County Historical Society, West Chester, is hosting a talk by Mowday on Stealing Wyeth on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m.
The theft of 15 paintings, worth millions of dollars, from the estate of world famous artist Andrew Wyeth is the subject of a true crime book, Stealing Wyeth. The book has connections to Mowday’s first true crime book, Jailing the Johnston Gang: Bringing Serial Murderers to Justice, also published by Barricade Books. “The Johnston book is now being reprinted,” Mowday noted. Both hard-bound editions of the Johnston book have sold out as has numerous reprinting of the paperback version.
“Stealing Wyeth is a drama on several levels, a page-turning true crime story,” according to former Assistant U. S. Attorney Walter ‘Terry’ Batty, who prosecuted the case. Former FBI agent David Richter added, “Stealing Wyeth proves it doesn’t get any better for the public when law enforcement agencies work together.”
Mowday said, “Andrew and Jamie Wyeth are two of the best-known American painters of all time. I’m not surprised that thieves and forgers have targeted their wonderful artistic creations over the years. I’m also not surprised that readers, those who know the Wyeth paintings and those who enjoy true crime books, are interested in the book.”
Mowday, who has authored 20 books on true crime, history, business and sports, was a newspaper reporter and covered the case. Thieves, including master cat burglar William Porter who admitted committing 1,500 crimes, broke into the Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania estate of Andrew Wyeth in the hopes of stealing a Wyeth painting for their retirement fund. The thieves took 15 paintings, seven by Andrew Wyeth, six by Jamie Wyeth and two other artists.
The book details the journey of the paintings throughout the United States, international intrigue, vicious criminals and the law enforcement team that tracked down the paintings and the crooks.
Wyeth family paintings are collected throughout the world, including the famous Helga series. Andrew is the son of N. C. Wyeth and the father of Jamie Wyeth. Recently Andrew Wyeth was featured on American Masters by PBS.
New in 2024!
Lafayette Bicentennial Celebration
The bicentennial celebration of Lafayette's 12-month tour as America's Guest begins in August 2024. Author Bruce E. Mowday is giving a number of talks on his books Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero and Lafayette: America’s Young Hero and Guest. Contact Bruce at mowday@mowday.com to schedule one of his presentations.