Gerald Beckman
If you believe a man is what he does and you’re curious about Gerald Beckman, then you must know he was born and raised on a farm in West Texas, practiced law for 25 years, is active in his community, thrives on conversation, discussion and debate, is a more or less experienced wine sipper, beer taster, and spirit sampler, and is a compulsive walker. Since retirement he has hiked through Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France, Spain and Peru. He has biked through Belgium, Holland and Germany and pack-packed through the Grand Canyon, Sycamore Canyon, Rocky Mountains and along the Appalachian Trail. Such travels provide not only hours of intense fun, but many of the ideas for his stories.
He reads practically anything, screeds excepted, but most typically, he writes. On a laptop, using MS Word, almost every day. Four novels completed to date, three others at various stages of completion, and many short stories. Even some poetry. He was managing editor of a local professional magazine for two years and on the editorial board for four. And finally, not the least of lifetime accomplishments, he has remained in the same happy marriage for 45 years.
Contest Winner!
Manly House
Part #1 in Issue #1 (March 2008)
Part #2 in Issue #2 (April 2008)
Part #3 in Issue #3 (May 2008)
Manly’s vision includes the strength of youth, the beauty of nature -- without true human contact…
He wanted a different clientele. He had dreamed of building his own inn high in the mountains since he was old enough to dream such dreams. He would call it Manly House and it would be different from all others. Its guests would visit by invitation only, and they would be young. Young people with strong limbs and lungs, tanned bodies and unjaded spirits who would hike up steep rocky trails they themselves would help build and maintain in exchange, perhaps, for a portion of the cost of their lodging – people who, by their presence, would add beauty and grace to the landscape.
