What Longfellow Heard

Jon Nappa is an author and screenwriter living with his wife and children on the coast of Maine. In addition to authoring the much acclaimed, What Longfellow Heard, his other historical fiction novels, Storm Warriors and Storm Survivors, resulted in the formation of an international organization producing media all over the world in support of humanitarian causes. He has also written teleplays for Hallmark (When Calls the Heart), INSP-TV (County Line and Hawkridge), and PBS. He wrote several motion picture properties for the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Motion Picture Company including We the People, Emerald Bay, and 813 Greenway. He is the original, writer, producer, director and co-creator of the award-winning Pappyland which aired on TLC and most PBS stations and was named by TV Guide as one of the Top Ten television series for children.

"Nappa’s first-person prose is earthy and rich, yet highly polished. The narrative voice is so authentic that the period-appropriate language does not distract from the book’s liveliness or humor. Dialogue is a particular strength, as Nappa’s fine ear brings animation and individuality to every character, including those with the smallest parts to play. Though based on the historical record of Longfellow’s life, the emotional depth of Nappa’s work makes it feel original and enlightening. Pitch-perfect in its voice and deeply sympathetic to its title character, the novel is an engaging and vivid portrait of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s journey from childhood to immortality."—The Booklife Prize, 2017

"The challenge: tell a convincing tale in the voice of one of America's most lauded wordsmiths. Talk about setting a high bar for yourself as a writer! But Nappa is more than up to the task. Writing with passion, compassion, wit, and erudition, Nappa delivers a compelling story laced with poetry and real insight into Longfellow's life and his art. Best of all, it inspired me to re-examine the poet's work, and with far greater depth and appreciation than before."—Roy Sekoff, founding editor of the Huffington Post