It had to start somewhere.
For me, it was third grade in a small Kansas town. My teacher, Mrs. Day, was an inspiration. What started as a vocabulary exercise was the launch for my passion for reading and writing.
This would qualify as my first book:
Man From Pluto, or is it Neptune? It’s obviously a science fiction work. Set in 2009 (written in 1970), this is the story of a 29 year old astronomer who communicated with beings on other planets through an elaborate telescope. The machine took off one night with him in it, and he woke to discover himself on Neptune. The ‘nepturanius people’ made him their King. He lived there for 18 years, married nine maids, and became rich. Eventually, he longed for Earth, but he did not want to disappoint the people of Neptune. They read a book on mind reading, however, and were unhappy to learn he wanted to go back to Earth. Meanwhile, people on Pluto learned of him, kidnapped him, and again spoiled him and made him their king. In the end, his telescope returned him to Earth, and he was happy.
Lightning’s Hand
I’m still in Kansas. Now I’m a teacher. I’ve learned all of life is an exercise best reflected on in writing.
Lightning’s Hand is one of a series of novels I've written. Since the series gets all commingled with science fiction gizmos, time travel, and the supernatural, I chose to publish this book first. Lightning's Hand is the most approachable in the series, for it's set in the near future and centers on a guy struggling in his job and a girl trying to establish her own identity.
Learn more about Lightning’s Hand:
Two Stories from the Ground Up
The above link goes to an archived version of my Master’s Thesis in Creative Writing. Yes, it’s cringe-worthy, but it’s also a good reminder to me of where I come from. [cue the Alan Jackson tune]