by Beth Obermeyer
The Days of Song and Lilacs begins in the heat of spring, lilacs raging, 1954. Twelve-year-old Mary Beth dances almost every night, her beloved accompanist, Mabel, at her side. But when Mabel suffers a paralyzing stroke on the eve of the big day of the year, the North Iowa Band Festival, Mary Beth fears Mabel’s music has died, along with her own dance stills.
Mary Beth stays fast by Mabel, and heeds the resolve of Mabel’s former student, Meredith Willson, as he makes a difficult path from Iowa to Broadway. By the end of the journey, the Music Man and Mabel confirm for all: music never dies.
The book is a slice of Americana, an early peek at Mason City, the town that would become a Midwest destination. 1954 was pre-television for most, and the town served up live entertainment like dessert. With Vivian’s Bridal Shower, Farmers’ Round-Up, Stunt Night at the Parks, this is a fascinating primer for today’s performing arts kids.
BIOGRAPHY
Beth Obermeyer used her journalism/telecommunicative arts degree
and a lifetime of dance and music to start her own public
relations company. TA DA! Special Events produced and promoted many
showstoppers, ranging from six that went into the Guinness Book of World
Records—to directing statewide, the first Minnesota Festival of the
Book.
Beth has been profiled in US Magazine. Three events of her events have won her city’s Committee for Urban Environment award for improving the quality of life.
On the faculty of the Minnesota Dance Theatre, the largest center for dance in the Midwest, Beth appeared solo on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and opposite Christopher Plummer and Gregory Hines.
Beth has done seminars to business and professional groups, including Public Relations Society of America. Her journalism degree is from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. She has three books published with North Star Press of St. Cloud in the year 5/2011-5/2012.
Beth has been profiled in US Magazine. Three events of her events have won her city’s Committee for Urban Environment award for improving the quality of life.
On the faculty of the Minnesota Dance Theatre, the largest center for dance in the Midwest, Beth appeared solo on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor and opposite Christopher Plummer and Gregory Hines.
Beth has done seminars to business and professional groups, including Public Relations Society of America. Her journalism degree is from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. She has three books published with North Star Press of St. Cloud in the year 5/2011-5/2012.
WEBSITES
Author page: http://bethobermeyer.com
PURCHASE
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever books are sold.
OTHER WORKS
- Big! - Released September 2011
- The Biggest Dance - Released May 2011
North Star Press of St. Cloud
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