Standing Room Only Crowd Packed Tom North’s Book Launch Event in Carmel to Celebrate the Book Release on July 15, 2013
Carmel, CA (PRWEB) July 15, 2013 -- On Friday, July 12, 2013, the Carmel Art Association and Pilgrim’s Way Book Store hosted Tom North’s event for the launch of his new book, True North – The Shocking Truth about “Yours, Mine and Ours,” an inspirational story of survival and hope. More than 150 people from as far away as San Jose and Big Sur, California, attended the standing room only event to hear Tom North discuss his new book.
The event was held in Carmel, California, the city where the Beardsleys, the family made famous in the movie, "Yours, Mine and Ours" starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda, actually lived. In the words of a recent Monterey County Weekly cover story featuring Tom North: "Before the Brady Bunch, there was the Beardsley bunch. Instead of six kids stuffing a house in a Los Angeles suburb, it was 20 in Carmel. And it was a true story." Well, sort of.
The Story of the Movie, "Yours, Mine and Ours"
Tom is the 11th child in the combined Beardsley family of 20 children. When Tom's mother, Helen North, who had eight children, married Frank Beardsley, who had ten children, the story of the huge family made national news. (After they were married they had two more children.)
Lucille Ball got wind of the story and encouraged Helen North-Beardsley to write a book about it. Tom says that his mother's book, "Who Gets The Drumstick", is largely fiction. He tells how Lucy visited the family in Carmel, and how she developed the movie which became a box office hit.
The True Story
However, the Beardsley family wasn't one big happy family as the movie depicted. The stepfather’s violence, abuse, and even sexual abuse created a life of intimidation, confusion, turmoil, fear and depression for the North children. All hope seemed lost as Tom realized that he was caught in a prison and there was no way out.
Tom North remarked, “My book is not just about child abuse and domestic violence. It’s about what we can do about it. Having survived that very difficult childhood, the question was, ‘What am I going to do about it?’ The rest of the story is what I did about it.”
Tom North's Story Touched the Audience, and Brought Some to Tears
Pilgrim’s Way Book Store co-owner, Cynthia Fernandes, introduced the author and remarked, “Tom North’s book, True North - The Shocking Truth about 'Yours, Mine and Ours', reads like an exposé filled with vulnerability, courage and a commitment to healing, truth and hope."
Throughout his life, author Tom North has found refuge and healing in nature, and inner peace by practicing transcendental meditation; so it was fitting that he began his presentation by leading the audience in a short meditation. He then shared stories about his book and what it was like to live in the real-life family. He read a few excerpts from his book and answered questions from the audience.
Though there was laughter, there were also tears - many people were shocked and moved as they listened to Tom tell what it was really like to be part of “that big wonderful family”, the family everyone had grown to love and admire. North remarks, “Along with suffering from the abuse and the shame, my siblings and I also had to carry the extra burden of secrecy because we were famous. There was no one to turn to. Who would believe this perfect family was so far from perfect?”
Immediately following the presentation, Pilgrim’s Way Book Store held a book signing across the street in The Secret Garden where people lined up to meet Tom North in person and get their books signed. After the event, Fernandes reported, “According to the myriad of accolades we received after his event, Tom North's presentation was genuine and from the heart, with an authenticity that was truly impactful!”
A woman from Carmel, who knew the Beardsley family way back when, attended the event and thanked North: “Thank you for being a magnificent and dedicated voice for the voiceless, and shining the brightest light possible on the heinous reality of child abuse and domestic violence. After everything you have experienced, you could have said no, but you've got the heart, strength and courage to say yes.”
As he noted the irony of an art show next door in the Beardsley Gallery (no relation) titled, "All in the Family," North said, “I am beyond grateful for the overflow attendance and the interest and support I felt from the people in the audience. In addition to telling my true story, I am committed to bringing awareness to the issues of child abuse and neglect, and domestic violence, and I am moved by how much people really do care.”
Tom North's Book Tour continues with events scheduled in the San Francisco area, San Jose, Santa Barbara and West Hollywood, California. He is appearing on radio and television programs, and is featured in newspapers and magazines. His is a national, even international story, and interview requests are coming in from around the world.
Tom North is blogging at http://www.TrueNorthbyTomNorth.com.
True North – The Shocking Truth about “Yours, Mine and Ours” by Tom North is published by True North Productions, LLC, and is being released in July 2013. The book has been recognized as a "Best Newly Released Book" by Independent Publisher Magazine, and is "Recommended Summer Reading" by the Washington Times. The book is distributed by Bookmasters, Inc. and is available wherever books are sold.
The Carmel Art Association was founded in 1927 and is one of the oldest operating non-profit artist cooperatives in the United States.
The Pilgrim’s Way Book Store, managed by the husband and wife team, Paul Fridlund and Cynthia Fernandes, has been locally owned and operated since it opened in 1969.
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