Strange Inheritance
Man inherits–and publishes–manuscript 108 years in the making
MIDVALE, Utah, May 7, 2015 — What would you do if you came across an unpublished mystery manuscript? If it was good, you might just publish it. That���s what Midvale author, Karl Beckstrand did when he inherited the story from his grandfather.
���My mom typed it up for her father years ago in hopes of submitting it to publishers,��� Beckstrand said. But while the story, set in silver-rush-era Nevada, was gripping, ���there were holes in the plot and the characters needed to be fleshed out some more,��� Beckstrand said.
Because Beckstrand���s author-grandfather had grown up in the backcountry of Northern California in the early days of the last century ���his writing was filled with intense action, but also a real care for the land and its creatures,��� Beckstrand said.
Being careful not to destroy the story���s folksy vernacular, Beckstrand decided to fill the story���s gaps and burnish it a bit. ���The language practically vibrated with authenticity,��� Beckstrand said. ���I really wanted to preserve that as I worked on it. I think it came out wonderfully.���
The result: To Swallow the Earth, by Ransom Wilcox. ���It���s a thriller about man and a woman, each searching for missing family members, who clash amid a Nevada silver rush scheme that leaves both unsure who to trust — and scrambling to stay alive,��� Beckstrand said.
���While it has the hardened male players you���d expect in a story about that era,��� Beckstrand said, ���it also has a strong female lead character.��� Beckstrand is proud of his grandfather���s inclusion of a gutsy woman.
Beckstrand, who has more than 20 published titles, kept his grandfather���s name on the book. ���I think it���s kind of fun that 108 years after his life���s adventure began, my grandfather���s mystery has been published,��� he said.
Wilcox also has a book of short stories on the fanciful reminiscences of his early, rugged years in the Sierra Nevadas: Horse & Dog Adventures in Early California. Both books may be found via��http://www.PremioPublishing.com, Baker & Taylor, Barnes & Noble/NOOK, Amazon.com/Kindle, iTunes, Follett, Ingram, Mackin, Kobo, Sony, and select booksellers.
Get it in a giveaway (scroll down this page): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25486206-to-swallow-the-earth
