BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
The written works of Michael A. Cicalese have been published in numerous forms, including a volume of short stories, a volume of essays selected from articles and columns printed in New England publications, and custom posters designed for individuals based on his works.
BOOKS
New England’s Lifesaver: Coast Guard Legend, Master Chief Jack Downey
The storied Coast Guard career of Master Chief John E. “Jack” Downey who is credited with rescuing 700 people, mentoring many others from seaman to admirals, and changing the internal workings of the Coast Guard by “leading from the front”, always adhering to the highest standard, including writing new safety policies and prototyping new equipment. (Soon to be released by the History Press in 2025.)
SOULS ADRIFT: Love, Loss, Hope and the Sea
Riveting short stories on testing the limits of human nature, courage, and desire.
Excerpts from SOULS ADRIFT:
Now and Then
After a short walk traversing several antiseptic smelling hallways with brightly painted light-green walls and polished linoleum floors, they entered a small rectangular room. In soft lighting, a white sheet covered Luca up to his chin, with his arms draped over the top of it, as if he was holding the sheet down from blowing away. Antonio walked over directly, took a good look at Luca, made the sign of the cross and began to pray. Maria walked around to the other side of the gurney, stood for a moment, then slowly took the closer of Luca’s two hands. Even though his eyes were closed and there was nothing really drawing her to him, she looked at him for a long time. She saw a handsome man; someone she hadn’t seen before. Amidst her tears, she didn’t feel so alone or lonely anymore. Suddenly, her heart felt as does the eastern sky when the sun finally rises on the first clear day after a storm.
Oh Danny Boy
Some people hated Danny Boy, but Mary had loved him since grade school. Long after he was dead, and long after the people that killed him had gone back to their houses, made love to their wives, and watched their kids sing in the school choir, Mary would still love him. She sat there, not saying a word. She never looked up, just kept playing “Oh, Danny Boy” on her accordion. Her face remained ashen under a worn black hat. Tufts of auburn hair peeked out, while her blue eyes seemed grayer these days. A dark plaid shawl covered her chest and shoulders. Her hands wore woolen gloves whose tops were cut away, exposing her red and cracked fingertips to the cold and damp wind of the train platform’s entrance. The music flowed and spread the pain from her broken heart to whomever walked her way. No words were needed, it was obvious. There was something missing from her life, something gone, something that could not return and could never be forgotten.
The Lighthouse Keeper
Pearly knew he shouldn’t have drunk that last Manhattan, but he just couldn’t help himself. People had been calling him an old drunk for such a long time, he just didn’t want to disappoint any of those wife-beating, teetotaling hypocrites. He always thought that if someone had called him a young drunk fifty years ago, he might have stopped drinking then. That’s when he had a fighting chance, and possibly would have never been engulfed with this kind of trouble. Now, there wasn’t anything anyone could say to make him feel bad enough to stop.
Reader Reviews for SOULS ADRIFT: Love, Loss, Hope, and the Sea
“I loved it, good descriptors, puts you right there. I could feel it. The Indianapolis!
It’s great.”
- Joseph K. Loughlin, Maine, retired, deputy police chief, author of Finding Amy and Shot Fired
“Beautiful. Hit me in the chest. Lovely descriptive language, masterfully guiding the reader. Aces. Spot on.”
- John C., Maryland, chief financial officer
“This is fantastic! So well done, movie quality. Excellent. A gifted writer.”
- Sharon S., Massachusetts, principal, building management company
“The author is a thoughtful and creative observer of the human condition. As his characters get caught in the net of life’s dreams and demands, he steers them and the reader through storms toward calmer seas.”
- Robert B., Massachusetts, retiree
“I enjoyed it very much. Poignant tales with realistic endings, symbology, and nostalgia. Outstanding!”
- Brett V., North Carolina, retiree, Coast Guard Master Chief
“As the author paints a vivid picture of the injustices in this world for different groups, stories build with a thrilling twist. His water and landscape descriptions are vivid and hold the reader’s attention.”
- Brett M., Texas, retiree, Coast Guard Captain
SPINDRIFT
A collection of short, thought-provoking essays chosen by readers as their favorites from over 250 originally published columns. Essays explore life at sea, death, holiday celebrations, nature, management, being in uniform, violence in society, and privacy and politics.
Excerpts from SPINDRIFT:
Divine Will
The hospital rooftop is hidden by decorative shades of tropic seascapes, drawn to a shielded position, day and night. The scenes look so real that one is tempted to wade in and float on a tranquil blue sea to a palm-tree atoll on the distant horizon. Behind the shades, a flat roof is covered by a field of grey gravel and cluttered with metal mushrooms. They reach skyward, converting hot, humid air to a sacred chill that seems to cradle the hospice patients as sympathetically as the doses of morphine that arrive regularly. In the rooms, patients lie quietly, partially hidden behind trays of half-eaten food, while bunched-up pillows raise their torsos and tousled sheets with thin white cotton blankets camouflage their frail bodies beneath.
Jimmy the Barber
As a young adult, I could not understand why Jimmy was such a popular barber. He didn’t have any hair, except for a bright red ring that circled his milk-white chubby Irish face like a halo. But with his clean white smock and red leather chairs, against a spotless linoleum tile floor, he certainly looked the part. He ran a friendly shop, with the pay phone always ringing, Jimmy would place his scissors aside to jot down some numbers, and robotically return to take up exactly where he left off, on a neighbor’s crown. And while men waited for a trim, they flowed to-and-fro the back room, smoking cigarettes and sometimes cursing under their breath, while others emerged laughing and counting loose bills before stuffing them in their pants pocket.
Has Anyone Seen My Old Friend
On the 20th of January 1961, at his inaugural address President Kennedy, our 35th president, challenged the people of the United States with these words: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country.” He also reached out to America’s young people, by specifically asking them to help the undeveloped world by establishing the Peace Corps. Five decades later, as if the green people who live on the moon had landed on earth, versus the other way around, we could not be any further from President Kennedy’s ideas and ideals. Led by our so-called leaders, we now only ask what our country can do for us; we plant physical and emotion land-mines instead of trust; good will has become good riddance; and a capacity for self-help has become help yourself.
Reader Reviews for SPINDRIFT:
“The writer addresses a variety of topics with an eloquent voice and philosophy that we can all learn from.”
- Laurie M., California