Thomas J. Morrow, originally from Iowa, has resided in Oceanside for the past 22 years. During this time, he established a personal connection with the city.
He was amply given the moniker “Mr. Oceanside,” due to his strong involvement in the creation of cultural programs.
For Morrow, Oceanside has been and always will remain a gem; one that he has helped refine, aiding in its lucid sparkle.
Morrow is a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to community involvement and influence.
He received his degree in Journalism from Arizona State University and had an expansive career with the North County Times.
He currently manages and conducts the Oceanside Society Orchestra that churns out music spanning from the 1920s to the 1960s.
For the past 15 years, Morrow has also produced his own television show entitled, “Living Legacies,” which airs on KOCT-TV twice a day and features local residents that have achieved greatness.
Morrow has recently re-released his first novel, “Nebraska Doppelganger.” This publication varies from any other World War II piece that I had previously encountered.
The subject matter is intensely unique, as it discusses individuals inadvertently fighting on both sides of the war.
The hero, John Krauss, gives a face to the many American born soldiers that ended up fighting for German forces, due to their parent’s heritage, which in turn, created mass conflict on many levels.
The novel replaces blood and gore, with an ephemeral love affair spawned in the midst of chaos.
All the while, Krauss is retelling the story to his granddaughter, who, like the reader, is captivated by the shock value of the incidents described.
By the end of the tale, not only has the reader been supplied with an extensive history lesson, but they have also realized that often, many of the most important events, start to fade, even against the will of others.
Krauss’s wife, who is struggling with the onset of dementia, illuminates this sentiment throughout the piece. In many ways, her character parallels society’s disassociation with the past.
His wife rarely recognizes their granddaughter throughout the span of the novel, let alone the stories that he is candidly sharing, due to the degradation of her faculties.
Her lapse in memory in not created on her own accord, just as many individuals accidentally disconnect themselves from events that still hold great importance, merely because stories of yesterday are commonly told in an intimidating fashion.
Perhaps one of Morrow’s greatest talents is giving life to these events and his ability to do so, is centered around the fact that he creates relatable characters that are inviting and can engage a history buff, as well as a reader with very little knowledge on the subject.
A book signing will be held for Morrow at the Oceanside Barnes & Noble off of Vista Way, from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 3. “Nebraska Doppelganger” is available for purchase at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide, as well as online. Three of Morrow’s other novels are soon to be re-released as well: “The Secret at Beckham Manor,” “The Beacon on Kill Devil Hill,” and “Haunted Bones.”
