Donald Gallinger
Encyclopedia
Donald Nelson Gallinger (born May 4, 1953) is an American writer. He is the author of several novels. His most recent work, The Master Planets (2008), which received strong reviews in Booklist
, Jewish Book World, and ForeWord Magazine
, tells the story of one Polish partisan fighter’s savagery during World War II
and its devastating effects on her American family years later. Centering on the fictional woman’s teenage son, a Rock & Roll wunderkind, the novel seeks to show how the unknown past can reach into the unwary present and alter it forever.
, Gallinger grew up hearing first-hand stories of World War II
partisan fighters from friends of his parents. These stories, absorbed during childhood, possibly inspired a more scholarly interest in the politics of resistance later captured in The Master Planets. Prior to writing the book, Gallinger studied source materials at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and from real-life accounts in books like The Bielski Brothers
, The Avengers, and A Partisan's Memoir: Woman of the Holocaust. His love of Rock & Roll also permeates The Master Planets. He watched the first live American television appearance of The Beatles
on The Ed Sullivan Show
, and is an extremely knowledgeable classic rock discographer.
from Connecticut College
, his MA (English) from Rowan University
, and his Doctorate (Education) from Rutgers University
. For 25 years he has taught high school English in Southern New Jersey. He is retiring this year. Don’s the recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities
, the Dodge Foundation, and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation (which funded his study of source materials at the U.S. Holocaust Museum). He lives in New Jersey
, with his wife. His first completed novel, Ain’t No Sin to Rock and Roll, was optioned for film by Miles Chapin
. His second, Tina’s ’68 Mustang, is under revision. The Master Planets is Don’s third completed novel.
Currently he is working on his next novel, Stupid School, and a collection of short stories.
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
, Jewish Book World, and ForeWord Magazine
ForeWord (magazine)
ForeWord is a trade journal published six times yearly with the tagline, “Reviews of Good Books Independently Published.” The magazine is distributed primarily to librarians and booksellers to familiarize them with upcoming books from small, independent, and university presses, as well as...
, tells the story of one Polish partisan fighter’s savagery during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and its devastating effects on her American family years later. Centering on the fictional woman’s teenage son, a Rock & Roll wunderkind, the novel seeks to show how the unknown past can reach into the unwary present and alter it forever.
Early life
Born and raised in Norwich, ConnecticutNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, Gallinger grew up hearing first-hand stories of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
partisan fighters from friends of his parents. These stories, absorbed during childhood, possibly inspired a more scholarly interest in the politics of resistance later captured in The Master Planets. Prior to writing the book, Gallinger studied source materials at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and from real-life accounts in books like The Bielski Brothers
The Bielski Brothers
The Bielski Brothers is a non-fiction book by Peter Duffy published in 2003. It tells the story of Tuvia Bielski, Alexander "Zus" Bielski, and Asael Bielski, three Jewish brothers who established a large partisan camp in the forests of Belarus during World War II, and so saved 1,200 Jews from the...
, The Avengers, and A Partisan's Memoir: Woman of the Holocaust. His love of Rock & Roll also permeates The Master Planets. He watched the first live American television appearance of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, and is an extremely knowledgeable classic rock discographer.
Education and adult life
Don received his BA EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
from Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
, his MA (English) from Rowan University
Rowan University
Rowan University is a public university in Glassboro, New Jersey, USA with a satellite campus in Camden, New Jersey. The school was founded in 1923 as Glassboro Normal School on a twenty-five acre tract of land donated by the town...
, and his Doctorate (Education) from Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
. For 25 years he has taught high school English in Southern New Jersey. He is retiring this year. Don’s the recipient of awards from the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
, the Dodge Foundation, and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation (which funded his study of source materials at the U.S. Holocaust Museum). He lives in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, with his wife. His first completed novel, Ain’t No Sin to Rock and Roll, was optioned for film by Miles Chapin
Miles Chapin
Miles Chapin is an American actor.Chapin was born in New York City, New York, the son of Betty , a descendant of Henry E. Steinway , and Schuyler Chapin, an author who was the General Manager of the Metropolitan Opera...
. His second, Tina’s ’68 Mustang, is under revision. The Master Planets is Don’s third completed novel.
Currently he is working on his next novel, Stupid School, and a collection of short stories.