Graham Broyd ’s First Book Signing

Graham Broyd of Scarsdale, the well-known British-American businessman, writer and athlete, is officially a big-time author now, and he initially closed the deal at a book-signing celebration among his more than 150 close friends and family at his personal invitation on his home turf last Thursday evening at the Scarsdale Golf Club (SGC), where he is the immediate past president.

In launching his new book, entitled “Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard: My Journey Across America, Then and Now,” published by Advantage Books, the most affable and entertaining Broyd, still, after all those years in America with somewhat of a slight English accent and with the crystal-clear ability to always get to the heart of the matter, was his usual calm self during his overall presentation, and answered over 20 questions from a thoroughly engaged audience.

The book reflects Graham’s life-changing journey across America then (1980) and now. It is remarkable how much Graham has remembered, including minute details, even some scary ones and potentially life-threatening events in New York City back then, to ensure that the book had a fast-paced, lively and totally interesting tone. Literally, it could have been a novel, but it isn’t.

But hold on, many of his friends, including me, arrived, 30-minutes and 60-minutes ahead of the scheduled start time of 7:15 pm in order to get a good seat at the table in time before the “Graham Showtime” started.

Nonetheless, if you really know Graham well, nobody needed to worry because Graham, a consummate planner, had everybody in a good seat, the 50-yardline variety. Indeed, everyone had a comfortable viewing perspective and could hear every word. A home run, if you will.

To make 100 percent sure, Graham had reserved three tables each for his friends at SGC and Hitchcock, two tables ticketed for his two running senior groups, one for his new-found friends at Starbucks at the Scarsdale train station, and one for his immediate family that included wife Betsy, son James and daughter Peyton, and close-family friend, Dr. John T. King, Artistic Director and Conductor of The New Choral Society and Minister of Music at Hitchcock.

Only James dared to ask his father a question.

The book is . . .

In a press release supplied by Advantage Media, it says: “Graham Broyd retraces his solo journey across America—then and now—exploring change, purpose, and what it means to truly see yourself and the world.”

“Forty years later,” the release continues, “Graham returns to retrace his steps, revisiting the landscapes, people, memories that defined his youth. What has changed? What remains? And how does time shift our understanding of the roads we once traveled?

“Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard is a raw and humorous adventure memoir, a time capsule of 1980s America, and an unfiltered reflection on risk, nostalgia, and the unexpected turns that shape a life. It’s for anyone who has ever dreamed of throwing away the map, saying yes to the unknown, or looking back at a wild decision and thinking, ‘I’d do it all over again.’’’

An Entertaining Evening

The event last Thursday evening was indeed a wonderful and entertaining evening to enjoy to the fullest. And, Graham’s guests did exactly that and that included the food and drink he provided. For sure, no attendee no matter the age, some in their 80s and 90s, was caught napping.
Graham and has hand-picked interviewer, Betsy Hills Bush, chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the New Choral Society of Scarsdale, an alto in the Chancel Choir at the local Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, where Graham is an elder and a most active and visible member.

An Appealing Presentation

Together, they managed to conduct an interesting, appealing, fun and warm presentation in less than two hours for the courteous and heavily engaged crowd. And, it only seemed like 45 minutes for those begging for more. It just seemed like a short and entertaining movie clip.

With the noticeable professionalism coming from Broyd and Bush and a most attentive and happy, smiling crowd, it certainly could have been a late-night entertainment television show on a major TV network. But it wasn’t.

It seemed to me personally that the “Graham Show,” was much better entertainment and more informative than some of those entertainment shows lately anyway, then and now.

Booksellers at the Ready
Graham even corralled two representatives from the local Scarsdale book store, Bronx River Books, to sell books for him at the event. His book is available there and on Amazon. com.

It seemed to me more like 190-plus folks, all the room will hold anyway to keep the fire inspectors out, and the anxious guests were in their chairs waiting for the star of the show to step-up to the microphone, and start the show. And he did, mostly on time for the recommended 7:15 start time.
Whatever the time, they all seemed prepared and interested to listen to Graham and his natural ability to weave humor and wisdom into every story he would tell. As the event proceeded, the invitees all seemed to be totally engaged and listening to their friend and his personally selected interviewer Bush.

They were eager to hear what he was going to say about his new book, “Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard,” and more. And they weren’t disappointed even though Betsy needed at times to “manage” Graham to allow for more questions.

Of the testimonials in front of his new book, I personally relate mostly to one by Nick Brown, Chairman, Hampstead Cricket Club, St. Johns Wood, London. It says: “I think it’s brilliant. I think Graham’s stories create vivid images in the mind of the reader. I love the detail, the additional history too; this makes it come alive. I felt as I journeyed across America with Graham, shared his adventures, and it deepened my connection with places I had previously visited myself.

In the same press release supplied by Advantage Media, Graham says, “When you strip life down to the essentials, you gain clarity. And with clarity comes a deep connection—to yourself, to others and to what is possible.”

And, Graham now knows for sure “with clarity” that it’s humanly possible for an international banker to become a first-rate author. Pleased with the first one, more books are forthcoming from Graham.