Dave Vizard's Blog, page 5

New book tells tale of farm community and family torn apart by wind turbines

What happens when a cantankerous, old farmer in the Thumb of Michigan says no to wind turbine companies on his 2,000 acres and that defiant action stops family members from cashing in on untold wealth?

Well, obviously that Huron County farmer has got to go. Time for someone to give him a check-in time at the local cemetery.

News reporter Nick Steele gets pulled into the unfolding drama and chases the story. Follow Steele as he goes on a roller-coaster ride through a web of family secrets, lies, greed, power and lust to unravel the mystery behind what appears to be an accidental death.

"Murder in the Wind" is a story about what happens when a community, neighbors, friends, and family members are torn apart by the controversy surrounding the emergence of wind turbines in a traditional rural area.

Reporter Steele sifts through the drama and gets to the bottom of the mystery.

Murder in the Wind

New novel explores touchy family issues

I'm getting ready to launch a new novel and feeling a ton of anxiety.

Of course, part of my stress is fueled by author self-doubt.

Is the writing going to be viewed as quality work? Is the story strong enough? Have I poured enough energy and time into it to make it worthy of readers? Have I come up with a work of fiction that I will be proud to have my name on the cover?

But, beyond that, this book also deals with some touchy family issues that are not often explored, and I'm nervous about how it will be received.

I did not start this writing project with the intention of looking at the relationships between fathers and their children, but that became one of its central themes.

The subject of patricide is unsettling.

To be sure, the notion of a son or daughter plotting to kill Dear Old Dad is completely unthinkable for many. But not so much for others. My research for this story reveals that it happens far more often than most realize or would want to acknowledge. Not every family is carved from the mold of the old black and white TV series, "Father Knows Best."

Relationships between dads and their boys or girls are often very complex and burdened by cultural expectations. No two are alike - even within the same family.

I hope my story causes reflection by all who read it. I think it will prompt many fathers and sons or daughters to look deeply into the relationships they have had with each other.

And I hope it causes fathers-to-be to think about how they develop and nurture their future relationships with their newborns.

We will find out very soon. "Murder In The Wind" is scheduled to launch in mid-October. I'm dying to hear what readers think ...

Clampetts would fit right into 'Hillbilly Elegy'

“Hillbilly Elegy,” HarperCollins, by J.D. Vance

If you’ve ever wondered why Ellie Mae and Jethro lived with Granny and Jed Clampett instead of their own parents, you should read “Hillbilly Elegy” by J. D. Vance to get a first-hand view of mountain culture and families in crisis.

The family depicted in the TV series “Beverly Hillbillies,” with youngin’s living with their grandparents, is not that unusual, according to Vance’s book, which is a New York Times bestseller and highly acclaimed because it’s written by someone who was reared in the culture.

Too often, the author writes, parents are out of the picture – whacked out on drugs, too drunk to stand up straight, or in prison – and unable to take care of their kids without turning home life into one traumatic experience after another.

For example, the author credits the stable environment and relationship he had with his Mawaw (grandmother) and Pawaw (grandpop) for being stabilizing forces in his life. It offered Vance the opportunity to graduate from high school, enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps and, eventually, graduate from Yale Law School.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading “Elegy” for several reasons.

First, it gave me a very topical story to bring to a new book club I recently joined. During my first meeting, members were given the opportunity to read a tome of their choice and then be ready to talk about it at our next monthly meeting. I am confident that members will be impressed with my choice.

Our club meets tonight in the Pigeon District Library at 6:30 p.m. We've got an interesting and lively gang of readers. Makes for a great discussion.

The book offers a powerful, first-hand account of growing up dirt poor in an area of America that’s largely been written off and forgotten. “Hillbilly” is a deeply personal story written by a young man who was fortunate enough to be in position to work his way out of a region in cultural, social and demographic crisis.

Of course, the continuing struggle of white, middle-class Americans and their efforts to be heard, may be one of the biggest reasons Donald J. Trump and his merry band are now taking up residence in the White House.

But I also wanted to read it because my wife and I had taken a trip through the area – from northern Ohio following the edge of the mountains along the Ohio River into West Virginia and North Carolina - last spring. My wife was in search of treasure from the antique and craft stores that dot the area, and I was in search of the area’s rich history.

Our weeklong trip through the area was eye opening and heart breaking. The level of poverty, and the number of broken down communities, was shocking. It was obvious that many people had quit investing in their homes, their neighborhoods and communities. I also was surprised at the number of traffic signs alerting motorists to report erratic drivers because of illegal drug use throughout the area.

Now, that’s scary. But it was also frightening to see the fall of a once great and proud area of the country.
“Hillbilly” is the story of a family’s efforts to rise to a middle-class life only to be dragged down by a legacy of abuse, alcoholism, and family trauma.

The author is able to rise above the rubble around him and is well on his way to becoming upwardly mobile and atop the heap of the middle class. Yet, he is unable to escape the demons of his family’s wild, chaotic history, and must deal with the issues that haunted his youth.

The author’s grandmother, Mawaw, is classic and worthy of her featured role in this story. Unvarnished in every possible way, Mawaw is often crude and brutally honest, much like Granny (minus the profanity) in the TV series, but she is the one constant in the author’s life that he can always rely on.

She is one of many colorful figures in “Hillbilly,” a deeply moving memoir that’s both humorous and touching. It also is a troubling story that offers much to contemplate when looking at how a segment of the country lost the American Dream.

I give it four out of five stars
A Grand Murder

A classroom lesson without opening a book

"Hey Donna, want to know how you're just like wall-to-wall carpeting? Neither one of you are worth a damn until you get laid."

That was the comment of a 10th grade boy who shouted it out to a young woman in an area classroom just as students were taking their seats before class was about to begin.

I was fairly confident that this was a test for me, the substitute teacher filling in for a full-time instructor out with the flu in a Huron County high school. Concerns about privacy prohibit me from revealing more about the kids or the school involved.

I must say that I was shocked at the 10th grade boy's loud comment in front of the whole class. The remark prompted some nervous laughter among students. The girl was clearly embarrassed, blushing fully. She did not respond to the comment. Instead, she rose from her seat and approached me, asking if she go to the restroom.

By now, the class was as quiet as a church on Monday morning. In a firm voice, I told her she could visit the restroom right after she received a public and sincere apology from the young man who made the comment.

"Hell no!" The young guy declared, saying he had no intention of apologizing because it was just a joke and that students tease each other all the time.

I responded, with the whole class now tuned in to the exchange, that I did not accept his explanation as an excuse. I said that his comment was completely inappropriate and that he owed her a sincere apology.

"Men and women who respect each other do not speak to each other like that. You made this young woman feel uncomfortable and you humiliated her in front of friends. She deserves an apology."

His response: "Hey, we've been classmates since the 3rd grade. She knows me, and knows that I was just kidding. So do the other kids in class. I'm not saying I apologize because I'm not sorry."

I replied that I saw his conduct as a form of bullying and that I simply would not tolerate it. I asked the young woman if she thought an apology was in order.

"Yes," she said, turning away from me and looking directly at the young guy. "But I will only accept it if I believe you are sincere."

Silence, the kind that is deafening, hung over the classroom like a thick fog.

After what seemed like an eternity, I suggested that the young man could either make a heart-felt apology or report to the administrative office and explain what happened to the principal.

Finally, he stood up from his chair. "Donna, I should not have made that comment to you. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings."

"OK, I accept your apology," the young woman said.

Students applauded. A few of the young guys in the class wadded up sheets of paper and threw them at the young man who made the offensive remark.

Young men and women in the class laughed off the tension with some light teasing. The young woman thanked me and took her seat.

We started class. It was a great hour with lots of participation and discussion.

A Grand Murder

Great fiction a tasty treat and very fine gift

When a birthday and Christmas roll around, some guys ask for tools, or ties, or tunes as gifts from loved ones.

Me, I ask for books. And since my birthday, which is January 6, and Christmas nearly slam into each other every year, I usually end up with a big stack of books.

I enjoy all kinds. Biographies, autobiographies, fiction, non-fiction - anything that’s a great read. But fast-paced, spicy fiction is what I enjoy the most and try to write.

In the past, I’ve asked for selections of the current popular, meaning Best Sellers, in fiction. You know the names: Coben, Grisham, Patterson, Hawkins, et al. No doubt about it, they’re wonderful writers, turning out one Page Burner after another.

But this year, I decided to walk down a little different path. I asked for a selection of great fiction, either Pulitzer Prize winners or finalists, from the last 10 years.

That request has resulted in a treasure trove of works. Here’s what I’ve received so far:

"Olive Kitteridge," by Elizabeth Strout; "Interpreter of Maladies," Jhumpa Lahiri; "Tinkers," Paul Harding; "Maud’s Line," Margaret Verble; "Let Me Be Frank With You," Richard Ford; "The Plague of Doves," Louise Erdrich; and "Shakespeare’s Kitchen," Lore Segal.

As a result of some well-timed whining and sniveling, I was able to weasel a few of the books out of Santa’s gift bag several days before Christmas, meaning I’ve already devoured Olive, Interpreter, Maud’s, Shakespeare’s and Frank (as well as three other gifts not quite of the Pulitzer caliber) in a about three weeks.

As you might expect, each of the works is very fine writing and storytelling. Consuming these books was simply delicious. I felt like a starving man cut loose in a 5-Star restaurant.

I enjoyed "Interpreter of Maladies" so much, that I immediately read it a second time as soon as I finished it. I started a second reading of "Olive Kitteridge," but then decided to let it settle a bit because Santa slid another delight onto my reading plate. I will return for a second helping of Olive in the future, perhaps if I run into a book that prompts some indigestion.

Only one book, "Shakespeare’s Kitchen," was disappointing. Twice, I gave up on the book, vowing to my dog, Daisy (because she was the only listening creature in my bedroom at the time), that I would throw it in the exchange heap. But a voice (not Daisy) kept saying, “hey, it’s Pulitzer finalist, give it another chance.”

So, I did. And I’m glad because the book did have some redeeming values even though it wasn’t my cup of soup.

Over the coming days and weeks, I will post short reviews of each of these works so you’ll get my take on what makes these books work, or not work. You may agree, or not. Either way, I’d love to hear what you think about them.

But for now, I’m looking forward to Friday, my birthday. I can hardly wait to see the new stack of great books that comes my way after we alert the local fire department to standby because my wife is about to light the candles on my cake.
A Grand Murder

What’s in a nickname? Sometimes they say it all …

I love nicknames.

We all have memories of a Rocky, a Stinky, a Shorty, a Buck, a Liz, a Trish, a Dee-Dee, or some other term of endearment - or derision - from our childhoods.

I grew up with a kid called Sparky. It fit him because he was scrappy and feisty and full of spit, particularly when we played baseball and basketball. Sparky was a great moniker for him while young, but didn’t work as well when he became older.

“How many 50-year old guys do you know nicknamed Sparky?” he asked me a few years ago while we knocked down a couple of cold beers. We laughed about it then. I did not know his real first name was Edward until I saw it in his obituary.

But Sparky was one of many when I was young; I also had friends who were called Bud (real name Faye), Teddy (James), and Toad (William). They loved their nicknames and carried them proudly for years.

Nicknames, of course, are substitutes for proper names of a familiar person, place or thing. It can be a term of affection or ridicule. They are often colorful, interesting and humorous. Sometimes they tell everything you need to know about the individual.

Because nicknames are so colorful and personal, my novels are loaded with them. Readers instantly identify with nicknames because they conjure up fond recollections and memories. Making that kind of connection is as comforting as slipping on a big, old sweatshirt.

One of the main characters in both of my books is a female publisher nicknamed the Castrator.

As you might imagine, she was a no-nonsense boss who had no problem taking down men and women who worked for her. Men tagged her with the nickname but women used it to reference her as well.

And the Castrator herself did not officially object to the nickname when she heard it whispered because of the fear it created. My character wanted desperately to be feared, and more importantly, respected.

The Castrator has become a classic by my nickname standards.

My second novel, “A Grand Murder,” also features a female assassin named Charlene Marks. Professionally, the killer goes by Charlie, partly to camouflage the fact that she is a woman and partly to help conceal her true identity.

The new novel I’m working on puts a spotlight on a sheriff’s deputy who has a double nickname. His birth name was James Robert, so early on family and friends called him Jay-Bob. That worked fine until observant schoolmates decided, in their own cruel and unvarnished ways, that he really should be called Booger.

I don’t think I need to draw you a picture of why the kids at school called him Booger. I created this character by framing him along the lines of a high school coach who is known all across the county as Booger, or Boog if you’re really tight with him.

One day when I attended one of his team’s practice sessions, I heard several of his players call him, or refer to him, as Booger. After practice, I asked him about that: “I’m surprised to hear your players call you by your nickname. Obviously, it doesn’t bother you. You are OK with that?”

“You know, I’ve thought about that a lot,” the coach said, pausing to reflect. “But I’m OK with it as long as they say it and use it with respect.”

Hmmmm, all right. I don’t exactly know how the name Booger rolls off any tongue with respect or grace, but if the coach is good with it, so am I.

Another reason why nicknames are so great.

A Grand Murder

Pray for me - going back into classrooms

Don’t know whether I should be excited or fearful by news I recently received.

This week, I was approved to be a substitute teacher for five school districts in Northern Huron County.

The idea of going back into the classroom and working with young people is something I’m really looking forward to, but it’s also a little daunting. I hope I’m up to the challenge.

My first educational experience with teens goes back to the early 1980s when I worked at The Flint Journal and helped organize a Junior Achievement Explorer’s post for youngsters who were curious about journalism and the newspaper business. It was a great experience.

Later, as managing editor of The Bay City Times I visited all the school districts in Bay County to talk with young people about my profession and career. It was a wonderful way to connect. Several pursued communications careers and a few came to work for me as editorial clerks or interns.

I also became a regular visitor to college campuses all across Michigan, looking for young reporting prospects.

As a mid-sized daily newspaper that offered regular pay well above minimum wage, The Times was a desired destination for many young journalists.

I took great pride in working with young reporters. Many of our top prospects went on to become noted journalists and writers on the national stage.

When I edited True North Magazine in 2005, I became familiar with Kirtland Community College, located out in the middle of the woods near Roscommon. The college had developed a distinguished reputation across the state for turning out top-notch sheriff’s deputies and firefighters, as well as nurses and other professionals.

Later, the college hired me to teach journalism classes and oversee publication of the student newspaper. It was great fun. I loved the energy and optimism I found in most students.

More recently, our writer's organization, the Huron Area Writers Group, has sponsored an annual Celebration of Young Writers writing competition in Huron County. Each of our members has been impressed with the skill and talent of local students.

Now, I hope to rediscover that youthful vitality in high school classrooms. My goal is to substitute teach in English, literature, history, and social studies classes. I may even try some elementary school classes if I get up enough nerve to take on the little ones.

I will also keep a daily journal of my experiences. Who knows? That may even spark an idea or two for new novels.

I’m looking forward to this experience, and I’m praying for unlimited patience. Got a hunch I’m going to need it.

A Grand Murder

Time to recharge batteries and step back into writing routine

Today, I kick back into regular writing mode with the goal of finishing and publishing a new novel by spring.

What the #$@%^&*%$#@, you might ask? Where the $%#@^&*^%$# have you been?

Well, I sell real estate in a summer resort community. It helps keep the howling jackals – bill collectors – away from my door. We had a really good summer, lots of listings and sales. At one point, I went seven weeks without a day off. Exhaustive, but fairly profitable. Best part is that the wild beasts will have to find another place to feed till spring.

No doubt about it, summer is now gone. The trees are just starting to give up their greenery, and I’ve got to get back to telling stories. I miss it, and I am raring to go.

Whenever I step away from writing for a bit, I recharge my creative batteries with massive doses of reading.

This time I’m refueling with Harlan Coben’s new novel, “HOME,” friend Dennis Collins’ new thriller “Charity Island,” and the late Elmore Leonard’s “Rum Punch.”
I admire each writer for different qualities.

Coben is clever, witty and masterful with suspense, weaving the seemingly disconnected elements of a story into a colorful, twisting tale. Collins is just a darned-good storyteller. His works are fast-paced page burners, and he has a nice folksy style. Leonard, of course, is one of Michigan’s great authors. I read “Rum Punch” many years ago, but I have decided to revisit it because I recently happened to watch the movie, “Jackie Brown." Jackie was based on Rum, so I thought it would be a treat to compare the film and print stories.

When I finish this blog post, I will pick up the story I started working on last spring. It won’t be difficult to get it going again. I just have to devote the time and energy to it and slip back into a writing routine.

All writers are different when it comes to approaching their work. I like to start each day while it’s still dark and quiet. No distractions from TV, cell phones, neighbors, friends, or family. Just me, my whirring laptop and the sound of percolating coffee.

I usually write for a minimum of two hours, three if I’m on a roll. Then I start the rest of my day and let the story do some of its own percolating in my noggin. While the passages I have written do some backflips and dipsy-doos in the back of my mind, I always come up with some different ways to set a scene, or improve the dialogue, or sharpen the narrative.

Then, in the early evening, after dinner and before my late night walk, I try to pick up the work that I wrote earlier in the day. A little fine tuning, a little polishing, some re-write, some deletions and addition, all from what churned around in my head during the day.

During my walk, or light exercise if it’s too cold or nasty outside (in other words – Michigan-like), I start thinking about where I will take the story when I get going in the morning.

The writing process, for me, is never ending. When I’m in it, it’s all consuming.

And so it begins again.

I’ll keep you posted on where I am with the story.

A Grand Murder

Catch Spring Fever - and support Huron's Young Writers

If you’re ready to kick start spring and finally say good-bye to winter blahs, turning to the young writers of Huron County for inspiration might be just the ticket.

One of the quickest ways to accomplish a seasonal revitalization is to pick up a copy of “Spring Fever – A Collection of Spring-Inspired Poetry,” a 71-page book by Huron County’s very own Allison Stein.

Allison is a sophomore at Harbor Beach High School. “Spring Fever” is her second poetry chapbook. Her first collection of poems, “Summer Sensations,” published in 2013.

I became familiar with Allison’s work two years ago. In 2013, she was a winner in the Huron Area Writers Group’s annual Celebration of Young Writers Creative Writing Contest for county high school and middle school students.

But Allison does not stand-alone when it comes to being among the skilled and talented young writers in Huron County. We have found great, young writers at every school in the area, both public and private.

Right now, hundreds of students throughout the county are writing essays, short stories, and poetry for the 2016 contest. Each school district in Huron County has been supplied with entry forms and rules for the contest. Entries will be accepted through April 29.
Winners will be announced and cash prizes will be awarded during Author’s Day on May 21 at the Pigeon District Library. Our guest of honor at this year’s Author Day is Edgar Award winning author Doug Allyn, one of Michigan’s great writing talents.

“Our contest gives young people across the county a chance to put their skills on display and earn recognition for exceptional work,” said author Dennis Collins, a co-founder of the Huron Area Writers Group. “The contest is wide open. Students get to choose the topic and genre. Entries can vary in length from 500 to 1,500 words.”

HAWG and the Thumb Arts Guild run the contest. Members from both groups, as well as Huron County Historical Society, judge the entries. Judges do not know the names of the entrants, only their ages and schools.

Members of HAWG are looking for contest sponsors and donors to fund the cash prizes and run the contest. All entrants will receive a Certificate of Recognition. Winners can earn cash prizes ranging from $50 to $250 for the Grand Prize winner. Those who would like to contribute to the contest should contact Collins at (989) 963-0052.

Winners will be recognized at Author’s Day where they will have a chance to meet published Huron County authors and meet Doug Allyn.

Author’s Day is where I bought Allison Stein’s latest book of poetry, which she signed for me. What I found so invigorating about her work is that it is brimming with optimism, which is what we are often looking for during the spring season.

Her work is delightful, but my favorite poem in “Spring Fever” is entitled Spring Bonfire. Allison’s writing is as crisp and clean as a breath of fresh air. Pick up a copy. And support young writers from across Huron County by contributing to the Celebration of Young Writers Creative Writing Contest.

Dave Vizard is a co-founder of the Huron Area Writers Group and a Michigan author who has published two novels. He can be reached at (989) 553-4804.

Everyone has a story to tell - First Draft helps get it started

I made a book presentation to the Bay City Lions Club last week. About 40 people attended, even after a winter storm dumped a pile of snow and ice on the area.

The club had a great luncheon set up for members at the Atrium Restaurant in downtown Bay City. Officers quickly conducted the month’s business and then turned the microphone and stage over to me.

I knew many members from my years as Editor of True North Magazine and Managing Editor of the Bay City Times. I had about 20 minutes to introduce the club to my books. I gave them a quick run through with my slide show, called Anatomy of a Mystery, which looks at how “A Grand Murder,” my latest novel, was created.

Lots of good questions from this very attentive group. That’s big reason I enjoy visiting civic organizations. Their members are community leaders, they’re well educated, and they are often open to new ideas and approaches. That’s why they like to have a guest speaker at their meetings, even if the speaker is hawking a product – as I was.

I sold a bunch of books and had a very enjoyable visit. But, right after I finished, two Lions approached me. They have their own stories to tell. They were eager for information and assistance. This happens after almost every presentation.

I tried to help them, and told them about a class I have put together and presented for consideration to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Saginaw State University. The class is called First Draft. It is designed to help beginners define, organize, research, and put their writing projects on the road to construction.
The two Lions have very good story ideas.

One is a lawyer who has specialized in divorce cases over a long career. He’s pretty much seen it all, and most of it is very ugly. He wants to create a story to bring attention to the horrible effects divorce has on children, who are usually the greatest victims of nasty divorce.

Right off the bat, he has two great pluses in his favor. First, he has a treasure trove of real-life experience. And, he also has passion to tell his story. Every writer needs the means to tell a story and a searing desire to share it with others.

The next steps for the lawyer are to define the story, clarify his message, identify his audience and do some research to see what has been written on the subject. From there, he can move forward with a plan.

Is this fiction, non-fiction, or a memoir? From what point of view is the story going to be told? Is he going to tell his story of divorce from the parents’ perspective? The kids? The lawyers? The judge? Or social workers, the referees who often get pulled into contentious cases?

As we talked, I could see his mind working. We kicked around ideas for 10 minutes or so. He’s more enthusiastic about this writing project now than ever before. He gave me his card, and asked me to let him know if the SVSU OLLI class comes together.

The other Lion has an inspirational story to tell. He is a Bay City man who rose from humble beginnings to try out for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team. This year, he’s being inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. If he can make the big time, then anyone can rise with hard work, determination, faith, and grit.

I offered him the same advice as the lawyer. I have his card, and he’s eager to get started.

With the booming explosion of the Internet and self-publishing, there are more avenues open to writers who have a story to tell than ever before. I look forward to helping them with their journeys whenever I can.

I will keep you posted on what happens with First Draft.
A Grand Murder