Mr. Ballpoint: A Novel

Mr. Ballpoint: A Novel

In 1945, Milton Reynolds introduced the ballpoint to the United States and triggered the biggest single-day shopping riot in history at Gimbels in Manhattan.

The Reynolds International Pen Company made $5 million in eight weeks during the first non-wartime Christmas season. Thereafter, increasing competition from established companies such as Eversharp triggered several years of the "Pen Wars."

An exuberant entrepreneur who had already made and lost several fortunes, Reynolds bragged that he "stole it fair and square." This novel is told from his mild-mannered son Jim's point of view, about coping with Milton's outrageous schemes, then their sudden success.

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About the Book

The author’s screenplay adaptation of Mr. Ballpoint was awarded a Film Independent (FILM) Fellowship in 2001 by Independent Feature Project / West Screenwriting Laboratory under the working title, “The Big Idea.” Inspired by the true story. Included in the Prize-Winning Literary Fiction Series from LaPuerta Books and Media

He stole it FAIR and SQUARE!

World War II ended in the fall of 1945, just before the Christmas shopping season. But due to shortages, there were almost no luxury goods to buy as gifts for returning vets.

Except for this new thing, the ballpoint pen.

When the Reynolds Pen was placed on sale at Gimbel’s department store in Manhattan, squads of patrolmen had to be dispatched to manage the exuberant crowd of shoppers storming the store. It quickly became a shopping riot!

Here’s the story of how we got the ballpoint pen – some names changed to protect the guilty!

It was a time when consumerism was exploding. Everybody needed everything. And there were no rules!

Details
Publisher: LaPuerta Books and Media
Publication Year: 2015
ASIN: B00M5K8O6A
ISBN: 9780996543828
List Price: 15.99
eBook Price: 3.99
Audiobook Price: 10.20
Endorsements
Loved this book! It was great hearing Mr. Jones read that scene [Boychik Lit podcast clip] and experiencing his obvious affection for the material. That was such a perfect way to set up what an outrageous character the ballpoint king was. Talk about a Type A. He [Milton Reynolds] was a Type AAAAA++ personality. I hope others enjoy 'Mr. Ballpoint' as much as I did.
– John Rachel, author of The Man Who Loved Too Much
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