Writing
In 1958, my mother, Delores Beckman sold a short humor piece to The American Home magazine for seventy-five dollars. My friend Richard and I were excited and declared we wanted to be writers.
Delores wrote for confession magazines for years. When confessions began to delay payment until the magazine hit the rack, she wrote for children. Her first book My Own Private Sky (Dutton) won the International Reading Association’s Book of the Year award in 1981. Sky, as she called it, went into three printings. Her second book Who Loves Sam Grant (Dutton), was written for young adults and appeared in hardcover and paperback. Delores titled the book, The Boy In The Wings. Alas, Who Loves Sam Grant was the title chosen for the market at that time. (Amazon Books)
Both our children write, and our daughter Rachel sold her debut book, Praying with Jane: 31 Days through the Prayers of Jane Austen, to Bethany House in the fall of 2017. (Praying With Jane, Amazon) Her second book is The Anne of Green Gables Devotional.
Matthew has a piece of flash fiction published in 365Tomorrows and several WIPs that are very promising.
In November 2015, Matthew, sent an email: “Dad, why don’t you write something?”
I dusted off an old manuscript I started in the late 70s (written on a typewriter). It is a young adult book titled Members of the Cast (MOTC).
I finished writing the book and rewrote the opening seventy-nine times. MOTC was originally written in third person. I changed it to first person and that broke everything, but I got to know Maggie better. After several rewrites, and rejections, I switched it back to third person with a literary feel. I have lost track of how many times I have written the opening.
Am I any good? Who knows? MOTC takes a query jaunt from time to time. It has been rejected by some of the best agents in the business. *smile* For more, go to my Writing Website.
You may enjoy this Book Trailer.
Members of the Cast
1950s Pasadena: Jr in HS Maggie’s parents leave her behind again- this time, with a great uncle she’s never met. She finds a home, friends, love, and the secret that shrouds her family. Will her parents move her again or can she find her voice and stay?
Other Works in Progress
I’ve written a “stand-alone novel with series potential.” Books 2 and 3 are complete, as well. (Read trilogy.)
Book 1, The Ship from Wolfskill (California, 1892)
In 1891 Freebooters burn and pillage. A levitating airship offers young Will hope and love as he and his crew fight in a war they may not win. The ship sails between heaven and earth, while Will drifts somewhere between adulthood and being a child.
Book 2, Eagle’s Crest
Will and his friends are wealthy from “Flying Riverboat Excursions” for the rich. They take refuge at Eagle’s Crest when the army comes for their airship. When Freebooters and army renegades attack in great balloon airships, the battle moves to the desert mountains of Southern California.
Book 3, The Air Loom
The Supreme Navarch’s diabolical plans are revealed, and the scope of the threat is far-reaching. Will and José, infiltrate the compound where the Air Loom is located. In a maze of tunnels and caverns, it is difficult to tell who is a friend and who is a foe. A battle of wits and airpower ensues.
I host #LineByLineTime, a Mini-Critique hour on Twitter giving writers a chance to try out their work.