Few, if any, books, journals, or local chronicles can provide entertaining stories of rural life with such historical accuracy and straight shooting as Stockton Todd Holden's latest offering, Loaded for Bear. From wrestling with the complex nature of groundhog karma to meeting old friends and finding lost things, Mr. Holden's travels continue on with adventures at his home, Rustica, as well as a deeper side trip through Delta and the surrounding area. The stories presented here are everything you've come to expect from Mr. Holden...and then some. Recounted here are stories of personal triumph with double-knee replacement surgery and the long, slow walk that comes after. There are recollections of old landmarks, as well as old friends who long ago became bigger than life to many. This porch swinger of a book delivers an appreciation of life, of community, and the strong spirit that comes from always being ready for the big adventure...living with conviction and purpose, Loaded For Bear.
About the Author: Todd Holden was born in 1939 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Holden's father and mother lived in the Wilna area before moving to Bel Air in 1946. In 1953, the family bought the Southampton Farm from Bill and Ellen Amoss. This farm was 565 acres and milked over 100 head of cattle twice a day. Today, Todd lives on a small portion of the farm, now simply known as Rustica. He has lived there since 1984, raising his two talented children there, Mina and Sam, with his wife Ann. Todd attended the University of Maryland where he majored in English Literature and minored in History. On home for a weekend from college, he first saw and fell in love with the woman he would marry. Todd married Ann Newman in 1963 and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1964 with a BA degree. After reading an article in the local paper, The Aegis, that he felt was inaccurate, he called the editor to complain. To his surprise, he was offered a job as a reporter. During his six years with the paper he covered most of the major events of the county, including the H. Rap Brown case and car bomb, the Groundhog Day fire that destroyed a section of Bel Air, Tropical Storm Agnes and the ultimate decision not to dynamite the Conowingo Dam, and many others. Also during this time his photography came into prominence at The Aegis, and one of his early photographs was published in Life magazine. During his tenure, he won honors in both photography and writing from the Maryland-Delaware-Virginia Press Association. By shooting the work, processing the film, printing images in his busy darkroom, and exhibiting his work, Mr. Holden honed his craft and delved deeper into the entire photographic process. In 1972, Mr. Holden went into business for himself and opened Holden Studios Photography and Other Phenomena in Bel Air. It was here that he fine-tuned his skills in photography taking meaningful pictures for residents of the county. Todd closed his photography business in 2003, but continues to stay active. His mastery of photography and writing equals his passion for life. Son, You Turn A Good Phrase is the premier book by Mr. Holden exploring life, love, and the pursuit of truth from out and about to down on the farm. Twists and Turns In The Road, his second offering, expands on character studies, life lessons, and rural county life as seen from Mr. Holden's perspective. His latest book, Loaded For Bear, takes us further out of the Harford County seat and provides slices of life from Delta, PA.