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133 ratings | 130 reviews | avg rating:4.60

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Austin Gisriel

Goodreads Author

Born

in Takoma Park, MD, The United States

Website

http://www.austingisriel.com

Twitter

AustinGisriel

Genre

Sports, Historical Fiction, Spirituality

Member Since

June 2012

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No matter what topic I may tackle, I often come back to the theme of connection, whether it’s on a personal or on a Universal level. It is fascinating to me that these connections can develop—or dissolve—in a moment.

This fascination partly explains my interest in World War II, especially my interest in the home front, when every day could be a “momentous” one for the entire nation, while at the same time, the next telegram could bring momentous news to a single loved one back home. My interest in the war grew further when I reached that age when I could picture my parents when they were young. It is one thing to read history, and another to feel what those kids—my parents—must have felt as they were asked to put their lives on hold in order No matter what topic I may tackle, I often come back to the theme of connection, whether it’s on a personal or on a Universal level. It is fascinating to me that these connections can develop—or dissolve—in a moment.

This fascination partly explains my interest in World War II, especially my interest in the home front, when every day could be a “momentous” one for the entire nation, while at the same time, the next telegram could bring momentous news to a single loved one back home. My interest in the war grew further when I reached that age when I could picture my parents when they were young. It is one thing to read history, and another to feel what those kids—my parents—must have felt as they were asked to put their lives on hold in order to save the world. The Secret of Their Midnight Tears series was born from those two thoughts.

Time Is A Pool, a 10-story collection of flash fiction focuses on moments that can change a life, even if it’s in a humorous vein such as “How No Pants Johnson Gets His Nickname.” Other characters who appear include a charlatan minister who is presented with the opportunity to perform a miracle, and “Benny,” whom we know better as Death.

My passion has always been baseball, perhaps because it is truly a game of inches, which is another way of saying, if the batter had swung 1/100th of a second earlier or later, then perhaps the game and the season and maybe an entire career might have turned out differently. I’ve written about a team, the New Market Rebels of the Valley Baseball League, and a person, Boots Poffenberger, who for a time was baseball’s most colorful character. I’ve written a few baseball short stories, and I’ve also written about why baseball is such a powerful passion for so many people. As the title perhaps implies, Fathers, Sons, & Holy Ghosts: Baseball as a Spiritual Experience, examines the connections to which baseball leads.

Regardless of the subject, I truly enjoy “talking” to readers, although I suppose it’s more accurate in this day and age to say “messaging” with readers. After all, books are really a conversation, just one in which the author goes first and does a great deal of talking initially, but only initially. I hope that anyone who reads my books or simply comes across this author page will feel free to join the conversation.

If you’re a baseball fan, please visit my Baseball Books page where you will find instructions on downloading Their Glorious Summer, the story of two collegiate summer league teams battling for the Valley Baseball League championship even as the Major League ballplayers were on strike in 1981. The download is free because I would like you to give my writing a try.

If you are interested in fiction, please visit my Fiction page to find instructions for downloading “The Bedford Girl.” This is also a free download. Someone had to be the first ashore on D-Day and the famous “Bedford Boys” from Bedford, Virginia happened was that company. Very few survived. Typically, this got me to thinking about what would it have been like for a Bedford girl back home once she received the terrible news?

Please visit my blog where you can read more about me if you like. Let the conversation begin!

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Austin Gisriel’s books

Average rating: 4.22 · 93 ratings · 19 reviews · 18 distinct works

	Their Glorious Summer 3.60 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fathers, Sons, & Holy Ghosts: Baseball as a Spiritual Experience 4.24 avg rating — 17 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Safe at Home: A Season in the Valley 4.33 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 2010 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ground Crew Confidential by Austin Gisriel (Goodreads Author), David Fisher (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator), Gary Caruso (Foreword) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 11 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Secret of Their Midnight Tears 4.50 avg rating — 8 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Boots Poffenberger: Hurler, Hero, Hell-Raiser 4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings — published 2014 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Boys We Knew (The Secret of Their Midnight Tears Book 2) 4.25 avg rating — 8 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Time Is A Pool it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	I'll Remember You All (The Secret of Their Midnight Tears Book 3) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	3 Tales From the Grand Old Game it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2011 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Austin Gisriel's Blog

Reflecting on New Year’s Eve

It is New Year’s Eve as I write this, and that is always a day of reflection whether you want to reflect or not. We’ve now pretty much run out of time to accomplish whatever is incomplete—or not even begun—on our to-do list for 2024.

Birthdays often spark reflection, too, but such reflection is usually limited to the birthday-ee, family, and perhaps a few friends. Our entire society, indeed, the en

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Austin Gisriel rated a book liked it Joe, you coulda made us proud by Joe Pepitone	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Joe Pepitone claimed that he wrote this book as something of a therapeutic exercise; to examine his life and see what went wrong. Published in 1975, Pepitone acknowledged his sins but, despite constant apologies and promises to sin no more, never ato ...more
Aug 27, 2026 11:18AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Joe, you coulda made us proud by Joe Pepitone. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Joe, you coulda made us proud by Joe Pepitone <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Austin Gisriel and 1 other person liked Brad Lyerla's review of Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud: "Joe Pepitone’s JOE, YOU COULDA MADE US PROUD is one of the insipid copycat books that followed Jim Bouton's brilliant BALL FOUR. Pepitone’s story is tragic in a wholly self-inflicted way. But the writing is manipulative and the execution lacks the or" Read more of this review »
Aug 25, 2026 03:50PM · see review
Austin Gisriel and 3 other people liked Aaron Lozano's review of Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud: "I would say that the critics were right in calling this an "honest" book. I just found myself liking Joe Pep less with each page, and waiting for the redeeming moment. it never came."
Aug 25, 2026 03:49PM · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud by Joe Pepitone. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud by Joe Pepitone <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Austin Gisriel rated a book it was amazing Groucho: The Life and Times of Julius Henry Marx by Stefan Kanfer	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A fascinating look at what is still America's premier comedy team from their childhood through Groucho's infirmities, death, and the lawsuits beyond. Deep insecurity, dissatisfaction, and depression is thought to inspire deep humor and Groucho had al ...more
Aug 03, 2026 05:33PM · 2 likes · like · see review
Austin Gisriel rated a book really liked it Trailed: One Woman's Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders by Kathryn Miles (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Kathryn Miles poured a tremendous amount of passion and research into Trailed: One Woman’s Quest to Solve the Shenandoah Murders. It is, however, disorganized and the passion crosses into the overly passionate. Hence, a grade of 4 stars rather than ...more
Jun 03, 2026 12:20PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Trailed by Kathryn Miles. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Trailed by Kathryn Miles <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Austin Gisriel rated a book it was amazing The Allies Strike Back, 1941–1943 (The War in the West Book 2) by James Holland	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
British author Holland has written an excellent book combining the perspective of combatants on the ground with the general strategy of World War II from 1941-1943. In fact, he goes one step above the strategic by documenting the logistical. We don't ...more
Apr 28, 2026 05:57AM · 1 like · like · see review
Austin Gisriel is on page 62 of The Allies Strike Back, 1941–1943 The Allies Strike Back, 1941–1943 (The War in the West Book 2) by James Holland	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 02, 2026 03:53PM · like · see status
Austin Gisriel is currently reading The Allies Strike Back, 1941–1943 (The War in the West Book 2) by James Holland	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 02, 2026 03:53PM · 1 like · like
Austin Gisriel rated a book it was amazing The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Once again, Eric Larson has turned his mountainous research into a very readable effort that moves down two, parallel tracks. On the one hand, he tells the story of the Columbian Exposition of 1893 and the monumental efforts undertaken by Chicago to ...more
Feb 25, 2026 11:13AM · 2 likes · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Austin Gisriel rated a book really liked it Nazis on the Potomac: The Top-Secret Intelligence Operation that Helped Win World War II by Robert K. Sutton (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
I learned quite a bit from this work beginning with the fact that there was a Fort Hunt, a.k.a. PO Box 1142 that was essentially a clearing house for interrogation of German prisoners, analyzing captured documents, and preparing "care packages" for A ...more
Feb 01, 2026 06:47AM · 1 like · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Nazis on the Potomac by Robert K. Sutton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Nazis on the Potomac by Robert K. Sutton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">

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Austin’s Quotes

“[A]ll of life, as we know it, moves in little, unavailing circles. More justly than to anything else, it can be likened to the game of baseball. Crack! we hit the ball, and away we go. If we earn a run (in life we call it success) we get back to the home plate and sit upon a bench. If we are thrown out, we walk back to the home plate -- and sit upon a bench.”
― O. Henry

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Austin’s Year In Books

Austin Gisriel’s Followers (7)

Austin’s Bookshelves

Austin’s Friends (59)

Austin Gisriel

Goodreads Author

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Ask the Author

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Combine Editions
Austin Gisriel’s books

326 posts
Austin Gisriel's Blog

Reflecting on New Year’s Eve

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Austin’s Recent Updates

See a Problem?

Preview — Joe, you coulda made us proud by Joe Pepitone

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Preview — Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud by Joe Pepitone

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Preview — Trailed by Kathryn Miles

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Preview — The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

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Austin Gisriel’s Followers (7)

Austin Gisriel

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See a Problem?

Preview — Joe, you coulda made us proud by Joe Pepitone

See a Problem?

Preview — Joe, You Coulda Made Us Proud by Joe Pepitone

See a Problem?

Preview — Trailed by Kathryn Miles

See a Problem?

Preview — The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

See a Problem?

Preview — Nazis on the Potomac by Robert K. Sutton

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