New York Minute

Life passes us by in a New York Minute.Change, for better or worse, is happening with every moment that slips away.This revealing, intimate and thought-provoking memoir by actor and poet Laurence Overmire is told through a unique combination of poetry and prose, what the author calls a "diary in art."Coming from a small town in the Midwest, Overmire as a 24-year-old actor was determined to pursue a theatre career in the Big Apple. What happened in that New York minute educated and awakened him. His remarkable journey, both on and off Broadway, from Manhattan to Harlem to Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, brought him into contact with many talented and creative people who would later become stars of stage and screen.Yet, there were times when the lifestyle took its toll and he felt lucky to escape with his life.Through it all, the poet within him kept his eye on the greater truths that he was encountering, the ever-present dialogue of rich and poor, black and white, male and female, immigrant and dreamer, in a struggle to survive, thrive, succeed and be recognized in one of the world's greatest cities.As an historical snapshot in the time preceding and following 9/11, this is a book that will resonate for generations to come.Who are we as Americans and who will we become? This is the issue that Overmire challenges us to examine. His is an optimistic view, always choosing hope over fear and encouraging us to recognize how precious this life really is.INCLUDES photographs from the author's personal collection, as well as a Foreword by poet and author, Jean Sheldon.PRAISE FOR NEW YORK MINUTE: AN ACTOR'S MEMOIR"Brilliantly expresses the exhilaration, fear, heartache, joy, disappointment, laughter and, ultimately, the loss of innocence that actors undergo when moving to New York to embark on a life in the theatre."Dea Lawrence, CMO, Variety"This book, a memoir-in-poetry of his years as an actor in and out of New York, will be invaluable to aspiring actors looking forward, and actors emeritus, ready to look back. It's as if Overmire's personal history has dissolved into words, dissolved further into feeling, dissolved finally into truth."Margie Boulé, Actress/Writer/Journalist"My thanks to Laurence Overmire for writing this poetic guide for his fellow travelers. It is a helpful meditation for those with a New York minute in their past, their future, or who, like me, might be in the midst of one right now."The Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, Rector, Trinity Church Wall Street"Rediscover New York as never before, and let yourself be carried away by the wonderful poems of Laurence Overmire, who opens our minds and hearts to our humanity. Once you go through the doors of New York Minute, you will never be the same again."Jacques Macaire, Founder and Director, HUMANBE, Paris, France"Overmire crafts scenes as vivid as any painter. The individual poems are stirring views of real life as seen through the eyes and experiences of the poet. The collected works represent a journey anyone can relate to. Perfect reading while on a plane!"Paul T. Couch, VP, Gary Musick Productions, former Director of Entertainment, Dollywood