From the Cockpit to the Global Stage
Worldly wisdom with a kick
After 3,000 hours in the air and a lifetime under the spotlight, Mel Calvert brings you memoirs that are as bold as they are breathtaking.
Books by Mel
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Mel's books have received very positive write-ups from Kirkus Reviews, the gold standard of book reviews. They provide their reviews to the publishing industry, booksellers, librarians, book clubs, and the general reading public. Their reviews are given here.
50 FAMOUS PEOPLE I HAVE KNOWN WELL Or Been Close Enough To Throw A Shoe At
Review of “50 Famous People I Have Known Well or Been Close Enough to Throw a Shoe At”
If Mel Calvert were not so busy living a one-in-a-million exciting life and writing books, he could teach a lot of wannabe writers how to reach people through poignant anecdotes, ribtickling humor, and plain old-fashioned riveting stories.
This is exactly what he has done in his latest opus, “50 Famous People I Have Known Well (Or been close enough to throw a shoe at), his fascinating walk down a Memory Lane in which most of us would have loved to be the proverbial fly on the wall.
Calvert draws on his lifetime career as an entertainer—humorist, raconteur, dancer, and singer (with his wife, Sunny)—to take us, the lucky readers, with him as he and his girlfriend in high school go on a double date with a girl named Franny, who in short order became Debby Reynolds!
Calvert describes rubbing elbows with some elite politicians and even having a heart-to-heart with Lyndon Baines Johnson before LBJ became President of the United States. “He was so impressive and believable,” the author said, “that if I were an Eskimo, I would have bought ice from him!”
The stories Calvert tells about his close encounters with crooner Mel Torme, war hero and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy, and his own performances in Las Vegas, make you think that Calvert is really triplets, or maybe quadruplets, so impossible does it seem for one person to have lived so rich a life.
Here is a book that needs no interpretation … it is just pure fun and a great read!
Joan Swirsky is a New York-based journalist and author (www.joanswirsky.com)
June 26, 2022
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Variants: : $9.95
BERTHA'S BATTLE A Story of Faith and Survival
A memoir of one woman’s battle with cancer and her reliance on faith from debut author Kreinhop, with occasional commentary by author Calvert (How I Quit Smoking and Lived to Tell About It, 2014).
After having a tumor discovered in her chest, the author first experienced shock—“I was numb all over”—followed by tears, prayer and, eventually, a kind of spiritual acceptance. (“God had a plan. If I were part of that plan for the future, I would be in it. If not, I wouldn’t. So be it!”) And so begins a personal journey through a daunting world of doctors, tests and chemotherapy. Aided by friends, volunteers and an unrelenting belief in a higher power, the author endures the often painful and embarrassing world of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. From the struggles of getting to treatment sessions through difficult Indiana weather to the debilitating nausea of chemotherapy, the fight against cancer is never an easy one, even with the author’s tenacious pluck. Admitting at times to nervousness, self-pity and frustration (even with those who are attempting to help, such as someone who has volunteered to drive the author to the hospital even if they apparently are not very skilled at driving), Kreinhop presents her journey in an immensely believable fashion and puts a human face on the world-shattering position of such a grave diagnosis. Relatable for any reader who has been through such a journey (or may be facing one), the story maintains a steady pace, pausing only to mention—though never to linger—on moments of fear and trepidation. Abutted with personal details that help to illuminate the individuals involved (such as the author’s joy at receiving an exercise bike one Christmas), the overall feel is one of a no-nonsense family story that, though lacking in robust flourishes, maintains its verisimilitude. Short on embellishments, the story amounts to one woman’s honest telling of a very real and common occurrence.
A brisk, unadorned personal account of a trying time in one woman’s life.
Review Posted Online: May 9th, 2014
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Variants: : $12.95
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE WAY TO MY FUNERAL
Calvert (How I Quit Smoking and Lived to Tell About It, 2012) shares the often humorous story of his life as a traveling entertainer performing comedy, music and magic both in solo performances and with his wife, Sunny.
These short tales offer a brief glimpse into Calvert’s career as an entertainer, including how he got started in show business, some of the people he’s met along the way and the different places both in the U.S. and abroad where he’s performed. Anecdotal tales about his life as a performer are blended together with clean jokes, many of which will be familiar to most readers. Calvert even tosses in a little word-game riddle, the solution to which he buries in the text at a much later point. As a proud family man, he includes short sections on each of his children. Black-and-white photos that accompany the text feature the author performing, family and friends, locales mentioned in the book, some funny signs and even a couple of Internet memes. Despite this strange mixture of information and a somewhat disjointed style, the book is quite readable, with the first and second chapters consisting of almost nothing but jokes before switching to a memoir style accented by jokes in Chapter 3. The author’s breezy, informal style makes it feel like he’s an old friend casually relating these tales. It doesn’t hurt that he focuses on the humorous stories from throughout his life, such as his early days flying: “I believe I am the only student pilot who has ever landed a plane backward.” His tales of performing tend to focus on entertaining events along the way, such as the day a waiter was enlisted to press the play button on the cassette player at the start of a dance number, though he hit fast forward instead and chaos ensued.
The humor runs the gamut from clever to corny, but the lighthearted, upbeat tone makes for a charming read.
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HOW I QUIT SMOKING AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT The Story Behind 7 Steps to Life
“How I Quit Smoking and Lived To Tell About It” is the story behind the very successful system the author formulated, after years of failed attempts, to kick nicotine addiction. He cleverly mixes humor, self-help, health and a rollicking autobiography to explain in layman’s terms just how his system works while so many others fail.
First published over ten years ago and offered by Barnes and Noble under each of the four different categories mentioned above, it has been brought up to date with the most current statistics available as well as recent testimonials.
In this excellent book he goes into detail as to exactly why it works and how it prevents the agonies of withdrawal.
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50 FAMOUS PEOPLE I HAVE KNOWN WELL
This review highlights the book as an entertaining and humor-filled memoir that showcases Mel Calvert’s talent for storytelling. Through a series of vivid personal anecdotes, he takes readers through an extraordinary life filled with unusual encounters and memorable experiences.
The author’s background as a performer and entertainer with Sunny Calvert adds depth to the narrative, shaping a collection of stories that blend humor, nostalgia, and real-life experiences.
Throughout the book, Calvert reflects on interactions with well-known figures from politics, entertainment, and public life. These include memorable conversations with Lyndon B. Johnson prior to his presidency, as well as encounters with personalities such as Mel Tormé and Audie Murphy. Each story emphasizes the wide range of influential people he has crossed paths with.
The review frames the book as highly engaging and easy to enjoy, driven by humor and colorful storytelling rather than strict historical detail or analysis.
Overall, it presents the work as a lively and entertaining journey through a life filled with performance, travel, and remarkable personal connections.
BERTHA’S BATTLE: A Story of Faith and Survival
This memoir tells the story of one woman’s experience facing a cancer diagnosis and the role faith plays throughout her journey. Written by debut author Kreinhop, the book also includes occasional commentary from Mel Calvert.
The narrative begins with the discovery of a tumor in the author’s chest, which brings an immediate emotional shock followed by deep distress and prayer. Over time, she gradually moves toward acceptance, guided by her belief in a higher purpose.
From that point, the story follows her through the challenges of medical treatment, including doctor visits, testing, and chemotherapy. With support from friends, volunteers, and her strong spiritual faith, she continues to push through the physical and emotional difficulties of the illness.
The memoir captures both the practical struggles of treatment and the personal emotions that come with a serious diagnosis, including fear, frustration, and moments of self-doubt. It also includes small personal details from her life that help humanize her experience and those around her.
Overall, the book is presented as a straightforward and honest account of living through a life-changing illness, focusing on resilience, faith, and the reality of enduring cancer treatment without embellishment.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE WAY TO MY FUNERAL
This book presents a humorous and personal account of Mel Calvert’s life as a traveling entertainer, performing comedy, music, and magic both solo and alongside his wife, Sunny.
The collection of short stories offers a look into his journey in show business, from how he began his career to the many people he has met and the wide range of places he has performed across the United States and internationally.
The narrative blends light storytelling with clean, family-friendly humor and includes a variety of jokes and playful anecdotes. It also features a word puzzle woven into the text, with the solution revealed later in the book, adding an interactive element for readers.
Family plays an important role in the book, with sections dedicated to his children and personal life. The text is also supported by black-and-white photographs showing performances, family moments, travel locations, and humorous visual references.
While the structure shifts between joke-heavy sections and more traditional memoir storytelling, the overall tone remains easygoing and conversational, as if the author is casually sharing stories with a friend.
The humor ranges from simple to clever, often drawing from real-life mishaps during performances, including early flying experiences and stage moments that did not go as planned.
Overall, the book delivers a lighthearted, upbeat reading experience centered on entertainment, personal stories, and a long career in performance.
HOW I QUIT SMOKING AND LIVED TO TELL ABOUT IT: The Story Behind 7 Steps to Life
This book explains the development of a practical system designed to help people stop smoking after the author’s own repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit nicotine.
The narrative combines humor, personal experience, health insights, and autobiography to present the method in a simple and accessible way. It aims to clearly explain why the approach works, especially in comparison to other methods that often fail.
Originally published more than a decade ago, the book has been updated with newer data, statistics, and reader testimonials to keep the content relevant.
It also provides a deeper explanation of the system’s structure and how it helps reduce withdrawal symptoms, focusing on making the quitting process more manageable and understandable for readers.
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Join us for the full journey.
Sunny and I have spent our lives on stages and in the clouds, recording albums and flying planes for over 3,000 hours as Pilot in Command. My books bring those one-in-a-million stories right to your living room. From humorous encounters with Hollywood legends to battle-tested wisdom, the complete library is your ticket to a high-flying adventure. Buckle up and join us in the cockpit of a life well-lived.
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