ROYALSTON—Author Allen Young of Royalston has released his 15th book, “From the Octagon/people•places•news•views,” a compilation of his previously published vignettes, accounts, and opinion pieces from Athol Daily News, the rag blog, the Christian Science Monitor, Uniquely Quabbin magazine, and more, according to Haley’s, the book’s publisher.
Young will discuss the book at an event beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 7 p.m. at Revival Wheeler Mansion, 75 East Main St., Orange. Another author event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. at Warwick Free Public Library. Autographed copies will be available.
Internationally known for his 1972 book “Out of the Closets • Voices of Gay Liberation with Karla Jay,” Young established the independent Millers River Publishing Company in the North Quabbin region during the 1980s. With others in the 1990s, he founded and co-facilitated the North Quabbin Diversity Awareness Group.
Yougn is the author of “North of Quabbin Revisited” and other books about local topics, as well as his autobiography, “Left, Gay & Green: A Writer’s Life.”
The octagon in the title of “From the Octagon” refers to Young’s eight-sided residence in a rural, common space on Butterworth Road in Royalston. Young does his writing in his home, which he helped build in the early 1970s after moving to the region with others from New York City.
Young spent years in the 1970s and 1980s as reporter at and assistant editor of the Athol Daily News. From 1989 to 1999, he served as director of community relations at Athol Memorial Hospital. By invitation, he wrote the history of Erving Paper Mills.
Young holds a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, New York City, and masters degrees from Stanford University in California and from Columbia. A Fulbright Scholar, he spent three years in South America.
He received the first Barbara Corey Award from the North Quabbin Community Coalition and the Writing and Society Award from the University of Massachusetts English Department.
“From the Octagon” is available from the author and online vendors.