>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

WE'LL VISIT A BIRK ISOLATED SHOWERS-BASED ARTIST WHO CREATES ART FROM RAW WOOD WITH A CHAIN SAW.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK IF I CAN SEE WHAT'S INSIDE THE LOG.

I PREFER TO SAY I'M SEEKING.

I'M TRYING TO FIND WHAT'S INSIDE THAT.

>> WE'LL DISCUSS AN EXHIBITION DESIGNED TO REFLECT INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION AND JUSTICE.

>> THE RED IN IT SYMBOLIZES THE MISSING PEOPLE, THE MURDERED PEOPLE, NOT JUST WOMAN, BUT JUST THE WHOLE GROUP OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN TRIED TO BE ERASED FROM THE GLOBE.

>> AND WE'LL HIT THE OPEN ROAD FOR A VISIT TO CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SHOP IN FAIRGROUNDS.

>> MY -- FRANKLIN COUNTY.

>> I DREAM ABOUT FOOT PEGS AND HEADLIGHT MOUNTS.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONVICTING VIEWERS -- CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

WOOD SCULPTOR KEN PACKIE'S ART IS INSPIRED BY NATURE.

HIS ARTIST STATEMENT NOTE THAT IS HE USES CHAIN SAWS, CHISSALS -- CHISELS, AND FIRE, TO, "FREE HIS CREATIONS FROM THEIR LOG."

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER VISITED THE BERKSHIRES-BASED ARTIST RECENTLY TO GAIN I INSIGHT INTO HIS CREATIVE PROCESS AND WORK AND BRINGS US HISTORY.

>> BE READY TO WORK HARD.

THIS IS NOT AN EASE ART WORM.

>> ALONG ROUTE 8 IN OTIS, KEN PACKI IS AT WORK, CULP THING -- SCULPTING CREEPERS FROM THE WOODS.

>> I DESCRIBE WHAT I DO AS CHAIN SAWS, CHISELS, AND FIRE.

I'LL USE THE CHAIN SAW, POWER TOOLS, ISWHICHEL -- CHISELING, AND THEN I BURN IT.

THAT ELIMINATES ALL THE FURRING FROM THE CHAIN SAW.

AND IT'S MUCH LESS SANDING TO DO AND THEN ALSO I'LL COME BACK WITH THE TORCH AFTER I BURN THAT AND BRUSH THAT OFF TO CREATE SHADING, PATTERNS, THE WINGS OF AN OWL.

>> HIS OBSESSION WITH THIS UNIQUE CRAFT STARTED WHEN HE SAW SOMEONE ELSE DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK AT A HOME SHOW AND HIS JOURNEY BEGAN.

>> MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO, WHICH WAS FAIRLY COMMON, I THINK.

SO I DID THIS CAREER TESTING PROGRAM.

AND MY SPATIAL MATHEMATICS WAS OFF THE CHARTS.

SO THEY SUGGESTED TO MY PARENTS I SHOULD BE AN ARCHITECT.

AND I HATE DRAWING STRAIGHT LINES AND I FORGOT ABOUT ALL THAT.

BUT WHEN I SAW THE GUY CARVING, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT SCULPTURE IS SPATIAL MATHEMATICS.

AND IF YOU COUPLE THAT WITH A GREAT IMAGINATION, THAT COULD BE THE PERFECT STORM.

>> IF YOU LIVE IN SOUTHERN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, CHANCES ARE YOU'VE ENCOUNTERED KEN PACKIE'S WORK.

IN OTIS ALONE THERE ARE PROBABLY TWO ON 3 HAD00 OF -- 300 OF HIS CARVINGS.

HE SAYS HE STRIVES TO CAPTURE THE FINE DETAILS AS WELL AS THE INTERACTIVE DYNAMICS WITHIN HIS SCULPTURES.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK IF I CAN SEE WHAT'S INSIDE THE LOG.

I PREFER TO SAY I'M SEEKING, I'M TRYING TO FIND WHAT'S INSIDE THAT.

BUT I START WITH THE HEADS.

ESPECIALLY IF I'M DOING MULTIPLE ANIMALS.

I WANT TO -- I WANT TO -- AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE INTERACTING.

I WANT TO START WITH THE HEADS.

AFTER MY HEADS ARE IN PLACE, I CAN SHIFT DOWN TO THE SHOULDERS AND SHIFT DOWN TO THE HIPS.

AND I CAN CHANGE THINGS AS I GO.

SO I DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE EXACT POSE IN MIND.

I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR IT.

>> AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS ANIMALS THAT PACKIE IS CARVING.

FOR HIS MOST RECENT COMMISSION, HE SPENT 15 DAYS OVER THE COURSE OF FIVE WEEKS TRANSFORMING AN OLD RED OAK TREE INTO A LIFE LIKE RENDERING OF THE HOLY FAMILY.

>> IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST CHALLENGING THINGS DI AND I DID TAKE A LOT OF PICTURES ALONG THE WAY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE DRAPERY AND TO MAKE THIS LOOK LIKE A STONE SCULPTURE, LIKE A DIFFERENT MEDIUM, WHICH IS MORE SANDING THAN I'VE EVER DONE ON ANY OTHER PIECE TO MAKE THIS LOOK LIKE STONE.

>> A LOT OF THE COMMISSION WORK PACKIE GETS INCLUDES REQUESTS FOR BEARS.

BUT WHEREAS OTHER SCULPTORS RENDER WOOD BEARS IN A CARTOONISH FASHION OR WHAT PACKIE CALLS SQUARE BEARS, HIS SCULPTURES EMPLOY A VERY REALISTIC STYLE.

>> WHEN I STARTED CARVING, BECAUSE OF ALL THE SQUARE BEARS, I REDUCED TO CARVE BEARS.

AND IN 200 EIGHT I MET TWO EXTRA ORDINARY CARVERS.

JEFF WAS THE GUY I HAD SEEN AT THE LOG HOME SHOW AND THEY KNEW I WAS CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO GO FULL TIME AND THEY CONVINCED ME THAT BEARS PAID BILLS.

SO I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BLACK BEARS AND GRIZZLIES BEARS.

AND THAT GOT ME ON THE JOURNEY OF THINKING OF MUST CLA TOUR -- MUST COULD YOU LAR TOUR AND MOVING, AND CARVING BEARS TOOK ME REACHING BEYOND WHAT WAS UNDERNEATH AND HOW THEY ACT.

TOOK ME PROBABLY THREE YEARS TO CARVE A BEAR.

THE BLACK BEAR STILL SITS ON MY FRONT PORCH.

ONE THING I'LL NEVER SELL.

>> THE WORK HE DOES IS PHYSICALLY DEMANDING.

MOVING 100-POUND HOW LONGS SEVERAL TIMES AS THEY WORKS, BATTLING THE ELEMENTS OF MOTHER NATURE, AND THE MECHANICS OF CHAIN SAWS.

>> EVERY LOG, EVERY DARVING OUT HERE, I MOVE THAT:00 P.M. THREE OR FOUR TIMES -- I MOVE THAT THREE OR FOUR TIMES, GETTING IT IN AND OUT OF THE TRUCK, PICKING UP THE CHUNKS.

THIS IS NOT JUST ME CREATING SOMETHING FAST.

IT'S A LIFESTYLE.

¶ ¶ >>> EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT "CONNECTING POINT" EXMOSHES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

NOVEMBER IS INTERNATIONAL DRUM MONTH, AND IN THIS WEEK'S DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, "CONNECTING POINT'S" LOOKS BACK AT THE INCREDIBLE CAREER OF HOLYOKE'S HAL BLAINE, WHO PLAYED DRUMS ON THE RECORDS OF ELVIS PRESLEY, FRANK SINATRA, THE BEACH BOYS, AND MANY OTHERS.

>> WE'LL JUST KIND OF ASSUME THAT SOMEHOW SIMON AND GARFUNKEL'S BAND OR ALL THE BEACH BOYS WERE PLAYING AND THEN IT WAS REVEALED IT'S THIS GUY FROM HOLYOKE, HAL BLAINE, AND A BUNCH OF HIS TALENTED BUDDIES OUT IN L.A.

LAYING DOWN THESE PERFECT TRACKS.

AND IT MADE ME REALIZE HOW MUSIC IS MADE.

>> DON'T MISS THIS DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE AVAILABLE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> NOVEMBER IS ALSO RECOGNIZED AS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH, AND IN HONOR OF THAT, PAPER CITY CLOSING COMPANY, IN COLLABORATION WITH JUSTIN BEATTY, IS PRESENTING A GOOD EXHIBITION ENTITLED, NOVEMBER RED, NATIVE AMERICAN ARTISTS."

THE EXHIBIT, WHICH WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH DECEMBER 18TH, INSIDE PAPER CITY CLOTHING COMPANY, FEATURES THE WORKS OF SIX NATIVE ARTISTS WHOSE PIECES REFLECT INDIGENOUS CULTURE, CONTRIBUTION, AND THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR RECOGNITION AND JUSTICE FOR NATIVE COMMUNITIES.

I SPOKE WITH CARLOS PENA, ARTIFFIVIST, COMMUNITY LEADER AND OWNER OF PAPER CITY CLOTHING COMPANY -- >> I WORKED WITH THE NATIVE COMMUNITY FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND JUST -- JUST MORE REPRESENTATION OF BEING PART OF THAT COMMUNITY AND TRYING TO CREATE A SPACE THAT IS FOR US, BY US, AND NOT HAVING TO JUMP THROUGH THESE HOOPS TO TRY TO GET INTO A SPACE THAT REALLY DOESN'T EXIST FOR US, YOU KNOW?

SO IN BEING IN THIS COMMUNITY AND BEING THE TIME THAT IT IS, NOVEMBER, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE VERY -- I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A WEIRD HOLIDAY FOR ME AS IT IS FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THAT IT EXISTS.

AND IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING ELSE.

SO I WANTED TO REPRESENT WHAT IT SHOULD BE AND THAT'S THE RECOGNITION OF A WONDERFUL -- WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE A LOT FOR THE UNITED STATES.

>> CAN YOU GO INTO A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY IT'S KIND OF A WEIRD HOLIDAY FOR PEOPLE FOR NATIVE AMERICANS -- >> UP FORTUNATELY, THE HISTORY THAT'S BEEN PASSED DOWN ABOUT WHAT THE HOLIDAY IS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS WILDLY INACCURATE.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT WAS NOT A SITUATION WHERE THE NATIVES AND YOU KNOW, THE PILGRIMS DECIDED TO SIT DOWN TO HAVE A MEAL.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

WHAT ACTUALLY LED TO LIKE THE FIRST THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION WAS AFTER A MASSACRE OF NATIVE FOLK, WAWPENAU FOLKS, AND THANKSGIVING WAS THANKING THE VICTORY OVER, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF NATIVE FOLKS THAT HAD BEEN KILLED.

THAT'S WHERE IT COMES ABOUT.

BUT NATIVE FOLKS HAVE ALWAYS HAVE THANKSGIVING FEASTS WHERE WE'RE THANKFUL FOR HARVEST OR THANKFUL FOR CHILDREN BEING BORN OR RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN DIFFERENT NATIONS.

SO THE FEES 9ING PART -- FEASTING PART, IS CELEBRATION PART, IS COMING.

IT'S A NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING FOR A A LOT OF NATIVE PEOPLE AS WELL.

>> SPEAKING OF THE MOURNING, NOVEMBER RED IS PRESENTING THE WORK OF SIX NATIVE VIRT ART -- VIRTUAL ARTISTS.

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE BEHIND THE TITLE, "NOVEMBER RED"?

>> RED HAS BECOME A -- FOR ME HAS BECOME A VISUAL SIGNAL FOR SOMETHING WRONG THAT'S BEING DONE.

AND FOR ME THE REASON WHY I CALLED IT NOVEMBER RED WAS BECAUSE THE BIG MOMENT THAT HAS STARTED NOW.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ANY AWARENESS UNTIL NOW.

WHEREAS MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN, GIRLS, AND ALSO TRANSGENDER FOLK, WHICH THE NATIVE COMMUNITY CALLS TWO SPIRITS.

EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING JUST WITH THE NATIVE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE UNDERSTAND AS IT IS TODAY TREATS THIS COMMUNITY, IT'S KIND OF SAD AND I WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT AND I THINK THE RED IN IT SYMBOLIZES, YOU KNOW, THE MISSING PEOPLE, THE MURDERED PEOPLE, NOT JUST WOMEN, BUT JUST THE WHOLE GROUP OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THAT HAS BEEN -- HAS BEEN TRIED TO BE ERASED FROM THE GLOBE.

>> JUSTIN, YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEATURED ARTISTS AND YOU HAVE AN EXTENSIVE WORK AND DEDICATED A LOT OF YOUR WORK TO TAKING A DEEPER LOOK INTO THE CULTUTIONAL, POLITICAL, AND SOCIAL ISSUES THAT AFFECT INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES.

IN WHAT WAYS DOES ART LEND ITSELF AS AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATIONAL COOL TOOL?

>> WELL, ART, FIRST AND FOREMOST IS AN EXTENSION OF CULTURE, RIGHT.

EVERY CULTURE HAS AN ESTHETIC THAT'S DEVELOPED OVER YEARS, WHETHER IT'S THE FOODS THAT ARE CHOSEN TO BE TRADITIONAL FOODS OR THE MUSIC AND CLOTHING AND HOW WE EXPRESS OURSELVES, WHAT WE KIND BEAUTIFUL.

THE WAY WE EXPRESS OURSELVES THROUGH ART IS SOMETIMES MEANT FOR OTHER PEOPLE AND SOMETIMES IT'S MEANT FOR -- JUST FOR US.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A WAY FOR US TO GET OUT SOME OF THE FEELINGS AND IDEAS ABOUT OUR EXPERIENCE AND OUR SITUATIONS.

AND SO I THINK THAT AS A LEARNING TOOL, A LOT OF TIMES ART COMES FROM A MOSH INTIMATE PLACE.

RIGHT, AND IT CAN BE A BIT MORE RAW.

SO IT'S SPEAKING DIRECTLY FROM A PERSON'S SENSE OF BEING WHO WHOM -- TO WHOMEVER VIEWS IT OR HEARS IT OR READY IT.

SO THAT -- READS IT.

SO THAT VALUE COMING DIRECTLY FROM PEOPLE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY MAKES IT -- A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND IF YOU SEE A MOVIE THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY MAYBE WELL UNINTENTIONED OR A BOOK, IT DIDN'T COME FROM FOLKS WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES.

>> WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT ABOUT THE FACT THAT NOVEMBER IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.

AND I KNOW THAT HERITAGE MONTHS ARE IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE, BUT SOME WORRY THAT ONCE THE MONTH END, SO DO THE CELEBRATIONS AND THE CONVERSATION.

HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT THE REPRESENTATION FOR EACH HERITAGE MONTH CONTINUES ALL YEAR-ROUND?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE WAYS IS TO CONNECT WITH VARIOUS NATIVE ORGANIZATIONS AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT YOUR AREA.

GENERALLY THEY'RE NOT TERRIBLY DIFFICULT TO LOOK UP AND FIND.

THERE ARE NATIVE EVENTS GOING ON WITHIN NATIVE COMMUNITIES YEAR LONG.

YOU KNOW, POW WOWS GENERALLY RUN FROM LATE MARCH INTO NOVEMBER.

DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER AND COVID.

AND THEN DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, WE HAVE SOCIALS, WHICH ARE SORT OF INFORMAL GET-TOGETHERS.

THERE ARE ART SHOWS, THERE ARE ARTS MARKETS, THERE ARE GUEST SPEAKERS, THERE ARE NATIVE PERFORMANCES.

YOU KNOW, MUSICIANS AND POETS AND WRITERS.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING ON WITHIN THE NATIVE COMMUNITY.

AND SO YOU KNOW, AGAIN, LIKE US HAVING THESE GALLERY EXHIBITS IN AN ATTEMPT TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THIS ABILITY GETS PEOPLE TO ASK QUESTIONS, LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT AND HOW DO WE FIND OUT, YOU KNOW.

GETTING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IT.

LIKE YOU CAN ACCESS THE NATIVE COMMUNITY ON A CERTAIN LEVEL IN TERMS OF GAINING AN EDUCATION AND HEARING MORE.

AND WHEN YOU START TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE NATIVE COMMUNITY, IT GIVES YOU A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY, RIGHT.

YES, WE HAVE A PAINFUL PAST.

RIGHT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE CREATED A LOT OF BEAUTY OUT OF THAT PAINFUL PAST.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> DID YOU KNOW THAT THE VERY FIRST MOTORCYCLE PRODUCED IN AMERICA WAS WAY BACK IN 1898 AT A FACTORY IN WALTHAM, MASS?

SINCE THEN MOTORCYCLES HAVE BECOME A PART OF AMERICANA, EMBODYING FOR SOME THE FREEDOM THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND ON THE OPEN ROAD.

IN THE VILLAGE OF TURNERS FALLS, THAT SPIRIT IS STILL ALIVE AT NOVA MOTORCYCLE, WHICH AIMS TO BRING OUT THE BEST OF THE OLD MOTORCYCLE IN NEW RIDES.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" LOSSES TAKES US ON A RIDE TO SEE HOW THEY TAKE -- THEY TAKE A VINTAGE BIKE AND GIVE IT A MODERN SPIN.

[STARTING MOTORCYCLE] ¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> I THINK MOTORCYCLING IS AN ACTIVITY THAT PUTS YOU VERY MUCH IN THE MOMENT.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY PRESENT TO DO IT RIGHT.

WHETHER YOU'RE WORKING ON IT OR RIDING IT, YOU CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >> WELL, I GREW UP ON TWO WHEELS, YOU KNOW.

MY WHOLE CHILDHOOD WAS ABOUT BICYCLES.

SO I THINK THERE'S A BIG PORTION OF MY PSYCHE THAT'S ASSOCIATED LIKE THE FREEDOM OF JUST GOING ANYWHERE WE WANTED TO, EVEN AS A KID, WITH TRANSPORTATION ON TWO WHEELS.

>> IF YOU'RE IN A LARGE SUV, YOU HAVE A SUPER BARRIER BETWEEN AND YOU THE WORLD WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND.

YOU DON'T REALLY SEE OTHER PEOPLE AS -- COEQUAL BEINGS IN THE WORLD, SO TO SPEAK.

ON THE MOTORCYCLES YOU DO.

IT'S BEEN MOTORCYCLES FOR ME IN VARYING STATES.

ONE THING THAT'S GREAT ABOUT PETE AND I IS WE HAVE SEPARATE SKILL SETS.

HE DOES SO MANY THINGS I CAN'T DO AND I DO THINGS HE CAN'T DO.

>> WE SHOULD START A MOTORCYCLE COMPANY AND I'LL DESIGN THEM AND YOU REPAIR THEM.

AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY.

THAT'S HOW NOVA STARTED.

>> FROM END OF APRIL BEGINNING TO MAY UNTIL END OF SEPTEMBER, WE'RE DOING PRETTY MUCH REPAIRS, WHICH I CONSIDER FOR THE MOST PART SHORTER TERM STUFF.

AND THE OTHER SEASONS, WINTER, FALL, WINTER, AND EARLY SPRING, WE'RE DOING MORE DEEPER RESTORATIONS.

THAT'S WHEN WE TRY TO DO OUR MOTOR WORK AND THAT'S WHEN WE DO MOST OF OUR CUSTOM WORK.

>> MY DESIGNS ARE ALWAYS BASED ON SIMPLICITY.

MAKING THE MOST COMPLICATED PARTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHO I'M ALWAYS TRYING TO DO.

IF ALL THE BIKES WE BUILT WERE MINE, I WOULD BE REALLY EXCITED.

I THINK NONE OF THEM ARE PERFECT.

THERE'S STILL THINGS -- I'M LIKE, OKAY, ON THE NEXT ONE WE'LL DO IT THIS DAY.

BUT -- WAY.

BUT I THINK THEY'RE ALL NICE.

I JUST LOVE THEM.

>> IT'S A BIT HECTIC IN REPAIR SEASON IN A GOOD WAY, NOT UNLIKE A RESTAURANT WHERE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN, THE PHONE IS RINGING, EMAILS ARE HAPPENING, A LOT OF JUST ON THE FLY, IN THE MOMENT.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND GOT TO GET THIS DONE, GOT TO GET IT BACK OUT THE DOOR.

WE ALL DO THIS BECAUSE WE LOVE THE WORK.

WHEN YOU CAN WORK LIKE THAT IT'S REALLY THE BEST.

THAT'S OUR IDEAL.

>> I DREAM ABOUT FOOT PEGS AND HEADLIGHT MOUNTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YEAH.

I TEND TO DRIVE A LOT.

I DRIVE -- COMMUTE ABHOUR EACH WAY.

-- AN HOUR EACH WAY AND NOADEIO ON.

MY BRAIN IS ALWAYS -- NO RAID O ON.

MY BRAIN IS ALWAYS PROCESSING, WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP, THE NEXT STEP.

THE OTHER THING WE WANTED TO GET INTO IS MOTORCYCLE TOURS.

WE LIVE IN A GREAT AREA, THE PIONEER VALLEY, AND WESTERN MASS, SOUTHERN VERMONT HAS SOME OF THE BEST ROADS IN NEW ENGLAND.

AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE RIDDEN OUT HERE WITH US KNOW THAT AND.

AND WE WOULD LIKE TO SORT OF SHARE THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

>> I WORKED DESK JOBS AND NOT BEEN HAPPY.

SO NO.

I CAN'T.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S -- YEAH, IT'S PRETTY GOOD.

IT'S A WEIRD -- YEAH.

NO, I CAN'T.

IT'S HARD -- IT'S HARD TO SPEND YOUR LIFE DOING SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT.

I -- CHANCES -- MOMENTS I'VE HAD DOING THAT, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO DO, YOU KNOW.

AND SO, NO, I'M VERY GLAD TO BE WHERE I AM.

MIEWTIONZ MIEWTIONZ MIEWTIONZ MIEWTIONZ.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> TWO-TIME GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING STORYTELLER, MUSICIAN, AND WRITER BILL HARLEY RECENTLY RELEASED A NEW ENTITLED, "NOW YOU SAY YES."

THE NOVEL TELLS THE FICTIONAL STORY OF A YOUNG GIRL, HER ON-THE-SPECTRUM BROTHER, AND THEIR MONUMENTAL CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY AFTER THEIR MOTHER PASSES AWAY.

THE MASSACHUSETTS-BASED AUTHOR SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT THE BOOK, HOW HIS CAREER BEGAN, AND WHAT HE ENJOYS MOST ABOUT BEING A STORYTELLER.

>> WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I GOT A GUITAR.

I STARTED TO WRITE SONGS.

AND MY FRIENDS AND I STARTED A DAY CAMP IN THE TOWN WHERE OUR COLLEGE WAS.

AND I HAD A DOZEN SONGS.

WE'D SKINNING EVERY MORNING -- WE'D SING EVERY MORNING AND IN THE AFTERNOON, WHEN THE CAMPERS, THE COUNSELORS WERE SICK OF THE CAMPERS AND VICE VERSA, THEY WOULD SAY GO SEE BILL.

SO I BECAME THE DEFAULT PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAM THERE.

AND I HAD A COUPLE OF STORIES THAT I WOULD TELL TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HOW A STORY KIND OF OF CONTEXTUALIZES, IT EXPLAINS IN A WAY THAT NOTHING ELSE CAN.

AND I WAS JUST MYSTIFIED WHEN THE KIDS WOULD JUST DROP WHATEVER THEY WERE DOING AS SOON AS YOU SAW SOMETHING LIKE, ONCE UPON A TIME.

IT SEEMS TO WORK WHEN NOTHING ELSE DOES.

>> YOUR LATEST BOOK "NOW YOU DAY YES."

TELLS THE STORY ABOUT A CROSS-COUNTRY JOURNEY MADE BY A 15-YEAR-OLD AND A 9-YEAR-OLD OWE THE SPECTRUM -- ON-THE-SPRING BREAK -- SPECTRUM BROTHER AFTER THEIR MOTHER DIES.

WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION?

>> IT'S FUNNY HOW IT HAPPENED.

AND FOR ME, STORIES, WHETHER THEY'RE BOOKS OR STORIES THAT I TELL, THEY ARE ALL KIND OF THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS THAT YOU KNOW, ASKING YOURSELF WHAT IF.

AND THE GENESIS OF THIS STORY WAS MY NIECE FROM LOS ANGELES, WHERE THE MAIN CHARACTER MARI IS FROM, WAS VISITING US.

SHE WAS 14.

I SAID, SHOULD YOU COME VISIT US MORE OFTEN.

AND SHE SAID AIRPLANE TICKETS ARE JUST TOO EXPENSIVE, UNCLE BILL.

AND I SAID YOU COULD DRIVE, AND SHE SAID I'M JUST 14.

AND I SAID, WHAT IF YOU HAD TO, THOUGH?

WHAT IF YOU HAD TO DRIVE, COULD YOU DO IT?

SO THAT WAS REALLY THE GENESIS OF THE STORY.

>> THIS BOOK EXPLORES THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND THE AUTISM SPECTRUM.

HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO AUTHENTICALLY PORTRAY THESE CHARACTERS WHEN THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY A REFLECTION OF YOUR OWN LIFE?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

AND MY FIRST RESPONSE IS, I HOPE I HAVE.

AND I HOPE I'VE HONORED PEOPLE WHO HAVE BOTH OF THOSE EXPERIENCES.

SO OBVIOUSLY, I DID A LOT OF RESEARCH, BOTH ABOUT THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

I TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

I READ A LOT AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT.

AND ALSO I READ AND THOUGHT A LOT ABOUT AUTISTIC AND HUNG OUT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE SPECTRUM.

AND TURNED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY ACTIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY.

AND AFTER I READ THE BOOK, I VETTED IT WITH HIM.

THAT SAID, YOU CAN STILL GET IT WRONG.

AND PROBABLY IN SOMEBODY'S MIND, THEY'LL SAY, THAT'S NOT -- I DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

BUT IN THE AUTISTIC COMMUNITY, ONE OF MY FRIENDS SAYS, WE KNOW, WE SAY IF YOU'VE MET ONE AUTISTIC PERSON, IT MEANS YOU'VE MET ONE AUTISTIC PERSON.

AND THAT'S TRUE FOR KIDS IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM.

YOU SAY SOME THINGS GENERALLY, BUT THE SPECIFICITY OF IT IS SOMETHING YOU WRESTLE WITH.

SO I SAID VERY -- LIKE DANCERS VERY, VERY CAREFULLY AND HOPING THAT YOU GET IT RIGHT.

>> ONE OF YOUR RULES OF THE UNIVERSE IS WE ARE MORE ALIKE THAN WE ARE DIFFERENT.

HOW WILL WE WITNESS THAT IN YOUR LATEST BOOK AND WHY IS THAT RILE SO NEAR AND DEAR -- RULE SO NEAR AND DEAR TO YOU?

>> THIS BOOK IS REALLY -- I GUESS -- I MEAN, ALL MY WORK, WHETHER IT'S BEEN SONGS, OR SPOKEN STORIES, OR BOOKS, I'M ASKING MYSELF ALL THE TIME IS WHAT'S THE UNIVERSAL IN THIS STORY I'M TELLING OR THIS SONG I'M SINGING.

WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS HUMAN BEINGS.

AND SO IN THIS BOOK, MARI HAS REALLY BULLPEN HER IDENTITY IS AT -- HER IDENTITY IS AT RISK AND SHE FEELS ISOLATED.

SHE FEELS THERE'S NO ONE REALLY THAT GETS HER.

AND SHE'S AFRAID OF WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO HER.

BUT THROUGH THE COURSE OF THE BOOK, THROUGH THE PEOPLE SHE MEETS AND THE EXPERIENCES SHE HAS, SHE BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS THAT WE ARE ALL CONNECTED.

AND AT THE -- REALLY, ONE OF THE HEART -- CLIMAX, IT'S NOT THE CLIMAX, BUT THE EMOTIONAL OR SPIRITUAL CLIMAX OF THE BOOKS, SHE SEES PEOPLE IN A WAY TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYBODY IS BROKEN.

AND IN SOME WAYS IT'S THAT BROKENNESS THAT WE MOST HAVE IN COMMON.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THAT, THE DEFENSES KIND OF DROP AND YOU OPEN YOURSELF A LITTLE.

SO THAT'S VERY MUCH AT THE HEART OF WHAT THIS BOOK IS ABOUT.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELL KNOWN FOR YOUR SONGS AND STORIES TAILORED FOR YOUNG READERS.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WRITING PIECES FOR THIS DEMOGRAPHIC AND WHAT THEMES REALLY RESONATE WITH YOU?

>> I THINK A KID -- KIDS ARE FIRST CHECKING YOU OUT TO SEE WHAT YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THEM IS AND A LOT OF WORK FOR CHILDREN IS PRESCRIPTIVE AND ALSO CAN BE CONDESCENDING.

LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE.

AND MY WORK HAS ALWAYS BEEN, DOES THIS -- DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU, IS THIS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN THROUGH.

DO YOU GET THE FEELING THAT IF I CAN MAKE THAT CONNECTION, THEN WE'RE GONNA BE -- ON AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO ALONG WITH ME.

AND ALTHOUGH MIDDLE GRADEERTS -- MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE A LITTLE MORE RESERVED, BUT YOU KNOW FROM A KID WHETHER IT'S WORKING OR NOT.

AND THEY BUY IN.

ADULTS, AND I DO A FAIR AMOUNT OF WORK WITH A -- ADULT AUDIENCES, THEY SIT THERE AND BE POLITE.

BUT IF IT'S NOT WORKING WITH CADE, YOU FIND OUT FAST AND YOU HAVE TO -- WITH A KID, YOU FIND OUT FAST AND YOU HAVE TO ADJUST.

I APPRECIATE THE IMMEDIACY.

ADULTS WE'RE COVERED UP.

AND KIDS ARE LESS LIKELY TO COVER UP AND I LOVE IN A ABOUT THEM.

-- THAT ABOUT THEM.

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR TO HAVE 26TH -- NOVEMBER 26TH, 2021.

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGIT-ONCOLOGY TENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT 6:00 FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

>> Announcer: SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" IS PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.