Memoir - Mark L Berry

13,760 Feet–My Personal Hole in the Sky

– my fiancee’s fatal flight that exploded offshore Long Island

– a memoir in stories and 41 songs

Read or listen to Chapter 1 as it appears in Airways magazine
(August 2013 issue):

http://marklberry.com/2013/07/03/8132/

Excerpts from 13,760 Feet have appeared in Airways magazine (I’m a contributing editor), and also AOPA Flight Training, Connecticut Newspapers, Epiphany, ERAU EaglesNEST, So…Stories of Life, The Stoneslide Corrective, The Story Shack, TARPA Topics, Under the Sun, and Write This. I have refined my prose at Fairfield University’s creative writing MFA program.
5-Minute Promo Video

Music by Simon Ashby

Praise for 13,760 Feet… (Click here for blurbs)

Here’s my Memoir Photo Page (Click for pics)

Fourteen years before Captain Sullenberger safely landed on the Hudson River saving every one of his passengers and crew, I got a call to turn on the TV. TWA Flight 800 went down—my airline with my fiancée Susanne, a financial manager on a business trip, seated in row 3. I imagined I was suddenly onboard that 747 with her while crewmember friends of mine were assessing emergency exits, opening doors above the waterline, and ordering passengers outside and into life rafts with strong commands, “Open seatbelts, come this way!”

At the time I was a TWA 767 first officer. I knew Susanne was in good hands, but none of this was happening on TV like I was expecting. I continued imagining her taking the whole emergency in stride, but expressing her frustration about the sudden change in the outcome of her flight. She was a strong swimmer and loved the water, but very much a clotheshorse, and getting her business outfit dunked in salt water would tick her off. For a stunning Scandinavian who was very unashamed about nudity, she had more clothes than any five women I’d ever met—combined. I was puzzled that I didn’t see the evacuation procedures unfolding on the news like they were playing-out in my head. Just to see her blue and green outfit with her extremely blonde hair moving into a raft or a rescue boat from a helicopter camera angle would have settled my tiniest doubt that I was keeping hostage in the deepest dungeon of my mind.

World famous cartoon aviator Klyde Morris endorses 13,760 Feet

Rebuilding my life means continuing to move the heavy metal even though I’ve seen what happens when all safety fails. 13,760 Feet – Living with TWA Flight 800 is an insider’s view of what it takes to make it in the major airlines, as well as climbing back into the cockpit after the ultimate loss—my fiancée on TWA Flight 800.

I’ve been in commercial cockpits over 25 years: picking through lines of thunderstorms and shedding accumulated aircraft icing; floating a flight attendant in zero g-force maneuvers on an otherwise empty airplane, only to get caught by my Chief Pilot because the lavatory was re-painted blue with toilet water; and wearing my uniform at the funerals of my family, co-workers, roommates, and friends who have paid for safer skies with their blood. My 124,000-word memoir chronicles what has made me the MD80 captain I am today.

* Listen to all 41 companion songs for free here, sorted in chronological order including the chapter in which each appears
* Or, you can also buy each song for 75 cents, or all 41 songs as a $12 album

This is a story that you don’t just read, you experience it through music.

Chapter 01 – TWA Flight 800
Aluminum Parachute (title song)Performed by Simon Ashby
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links / Debs and Errol VIDEO

Chapter 02 – The Best Day of My Life
Under the Tiny BridgePerformed by Billy Sea
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 03 – Emergency Leave of Absence
Plastic Bags and Tiny Tags
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Adam Hill</a>
Performed by Adam Hill
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 04 – Tighty-Whitie Deep Sea Divers
Tighty-Whitie Deep Sea Divers
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Christopher Madden and Malakai Madden</a>
Performed by Christopher Madden & Malakai Madden
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 05 – An Unwelcome Return
Ode to the Relief Pilot
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Max Vanremmerden</a>
Performed by Max Vanremmerden
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links / VIDEO

Chapter 06 – Sorted by Speed
Outside of School
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Simon Ashby</a>
Performed by Simon Ashby
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 08 – The Majors
My First Solo
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Billy Sea</a>
Performed by Billy Sea
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 09 – The Road Back to the Cockpit
Learning to Breathe Again
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by TC Elliott</a>
Performed by TC Elliott
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 10 – Attrition and Lessons Learned
Black Firebird
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Matt Pierce</a>
Performed by Matt Pierce
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links / VIDEO

Chapter 11 – Keep the Giant Emergency Life Raft Inflated
Keep the Giant Emergency Life Raft Inflated

Performed by Max Vanremmerden
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 12 – Teaching is a License to Learn
Teaching Is a License to Learn
Performed by Simon Ashby
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 13 – Realignment
How Can I Keep You From Slipping Away <a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Billy Sea</a>
Performed by Billy Sea
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 14 – St. Thomas Upside Down and Spinning
Island Hopping Dream
Performed by Nadia Cripps & TC Elliott
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 15 – Hydraulically Actuated
Hey-ho, I Can’t Let Go
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Larry Seger</a>
Performed by Larry Seger
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 16 – Pilots of the Caribbean
Pilots of the Caribbean
Performed by Greg Evets
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 16 – Pilots of the Caribbean
Tryin’ to Get Off Island
Performed by: Christopher Madden & Malakai Madden
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 17 – Team Mark
On the 20th Floor
Performed by Matt Pierce
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links / VIDEO

Chapter 18 – Cutting My Winter Teeth
The Box the Twin-Otter Came In
Performed by CTS
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 19 – Outlook Not So Good
My Magic 8 Ball
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Matt Pierce</a>
Performed by Matt Pierce
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 20 – Pigship Probation
Long Live the Pigship
Performed by MAL & Debs
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 22 – Before CRM – The Five Ps
City in the Sky
Performed by Larry Seger & Sheri Miller
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 24 – Success and Silence (with WLBjr)
Anaphylactic Shock Reaction
Performed by Kristian Borreson & Adam Hill
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 25 – Refuge
I Was Home in the Air
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Meri Amber</a>
Performed by Meri Amber & Meri Amber
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links / VIDEO

Chapter 26 – My Airline Family—Where Dreams Are Free
Dirty Double Crosser
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Sapient</a>
Performed by Sapient
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 27 – Wanderlust
Wanderlust
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Simon Ashby</a>
Performed by Simon Ashby
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 28 – Are You a Cardinal?
Cardinal Puff
Performed by Simon Ashby
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 30 – The Secret the Darkness Completely Concealed
The Secret the Darkness Completely Concealed
Performed by Plain White Toast
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 31 – Losing the Lottery
Susanne
Performed by Mick James
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 32 – Investigation and Speculation
One Day
Performed by Shane Clary, Don ‘Lefty’ Williams, & Cleveland Brown
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 33 – Going South in Eastern Europe
I Escaped into a Dream
Performed by John Cooperider
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 34 – Make the Relax
The Infinite Steps
Performed by Simon Ashby
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 35 – My Vanilla Sky (with WSCS)
Cathedral Steps
Performed by Don ‘Lefty’ Williams, & Errol Elumir
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 36 – Sacred Watering Holes
Sacred Watering Holes
Performed by Billy Sea
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 37 – High Terrain All Quads
Shakin’ It In the Dark
Performed by Valerie Cox
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 38 – Big Flo Flies No More
Ode to Old Big Flo
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Chris Belden</a>
Performed by Chris Belden
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 39 – Catching up with Concord
Farewell to Concorde
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Cleveland Brown and Mark L Berry</a>
Performed by Cleveland Brown & Mark L Berry
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Chapter 40 – 25 Years Since ERAU
When I Look Back at Twenty
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Joanne Gabriel</a>
Performed by Joanne Gabriel
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links / VIDEO

Chapter 41 – Delivery
What Route Do You Fly?
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Nadia Cripps and Valerie Cox</a>
Performed by Nadia Cripps and Val Cox
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

Epilogue
Alison
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by John Argentiero and Jordan Hirsch</a>
Performed by Das Binky and Jordan Hirsch
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

In Memory of the Crew
Ode to the Flight Engineer
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by John Cooperider</a>
Performed by John Cooperider
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

One More Story – Smoke in the Cockpit
In Ernest K Gann’s Day
<a href="http://marklberry.bandcamp.com/album/13760-feet-my-personal-hole-in-the-sky">13,760 Feet – My Personal Hole in the Sky by Mike Skliar</a>
Performed by Mike Skliar
Lyrics & mp3 – plus Artist links /

*Bonus Track*
Two Pilots in Training
– Words by Mark L Berry & Music by Plain White Toast
– Performed by Plain White Toast

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– 348 pages
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Now taking orders for signed copies of the 6×9 paperback.
Please note that some delays may occur by selecting this method to purchase a book as the author (me) has to handle the sale and shipment directly. The upside is that the book will be signed. The downside is that you will have a longer wait to receive your copy than ordering through Amazon or another retailer.
– 348 pages
– 6″ x 9″
– Paperback
– $18 + shipping (and tax within Missouri)