Location: United States
Member Since:
April 23, 2013
Charles Bechtel
Publisher info
Born:
Spring Lake, North Carolina, April, 1953, fourth day, five minutes past midnight (thus late for my parents’ anniversary, which sets a standard for all such events from then on.)
Educated:
a long while back, when colleges offered to improve human beings attending their classes, not dedicate themselves to the function of making a person employable. Ahh, the good old days.
Undergraduate degree: In English from a State college in Glassboro, NJ, that changed its name to Rowan University when Mr. Rowan gave it a huge wad of cash.
Master degree:
In English from Temple University in 1996, which is where I got to learn exactly what I needed to know from David H. Bradley, the author of a fine book, “The Chaneysville Incident” *among others) which I recommend reading. Otherwise, graduate school for writers is a waste of time and money.
Marriage:
I married to the finest woman on Earth, by accounts of many others more than myself: Manuela.
I married once before, but for practice. It lasted a mere sixteen months.
Manuela brought with her two wonderful young ladies, Elizabeth (Baby Beth) and Manuela (Meme), who each in turn delivered into my life young ladies of inestimable worth: Sky (b. 2003) Lucy (b. 2007) and Mia (b. 2008.) Though I give to each huge chunks of my heart, doing so has increased that heart’s size.
Work History:
Let’s say I worked, and have enjoyed no occupation more than Educator. My students put their trust in me; I put my faith in them. Pretty much always works out.
What I do for fun:
Everything. If it is not fun, I quickly stop doing it. (see Work, above)
Writing Philosophy:
Make sense by appealing to the senses.
Spring Lake, North Carolina, April, 1953, fourth day, five minutes past midnight (thus late for my parents’ anniversary, which sets a standard for all such events from then on.)
Educated:
a long while back, when colleges offered to improve human beings attending their classes, not dedicate themselves to the function of making a person employable. Ahh, the good old days.
Undergraduate degree: In English from a State college in Glassboro, NJ, that changed its name to Rowan University when Mr. Rowan gave it a huge wad of cash.
Master degree:
In English from Temple University in 1996, which is where I got to learn exactly what I needed to know from David H. Bradley, the author of a fine book, “The Chaneysville Incident” *among others) which I recommend reading. Otherwise, graduate school for writers is a waste of time and money.
Marriage:
I married to the finest woman on Earth, by accounts of many others more than myself: Manuela.
I married once before, but for practice. It lasted a mere sixteen months.
Manuela brought with her two wonderful young ladies, Elizabeth (Baby Beth) and Manuela (Meme), who each in turn delivered into my life young ladies of inestimable worth: Sky (b. 2003) Lucy (b. 2007) and Mia (b. 2008.) Though I give to each huge chunks of my heart, doing so has increased that heart’s size.
Work History:
Let’s say I worked, and have enjoyed no occupation more than Educator. My students put their trust in me; I put my faith in them. Pretty much always works out.
What I do for fun:
Everything. If it is not fun, I quickly stop doing it. (see Work, above)
Writing Philosophy:
Make sense by appealing to the senses.
Smashwords Interview
Where to find Charles Bechtel online
Website: http://www.charlesbechtel.com
Twitter: @Charles_Bechtel
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-bechtel/42/806/327
Twitter: @Charles_Bechtel
Facebook: Facebook profile
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/charles-bechtel/42/806/327
Where to buy in print
The Odor of Orchids
by Charles Bechtel
Price:
$4.99 USD.
Words: 91,270.
Language:
English.
Published: September 8, 2013
by
Charles Bechtel.
Categories:
Fiction » Literature » Literary
This book takes you into the steamy summer-hot mountains of western North Carolina, but it's not a regional book. History is made equally among people who do not make it into the news, and the history of three strangers coming together becomes a microcosm of what troubles the daily life of us all. Love, loss, sex, strangeness, hope, anxiety, confusion, betrayal... these and more are all in there.
Books
The Lady from Spain
by Charles Bechtel
Price:
$4.99 USD.
Words: 82,420.
Language:
English.
Published: December 8, 2014
.
Categories:
Fiction » Mystery & detective » General
In a dark hour after midnight in 1938 a volley of shots ring out and a number of Spanish men fall dead. For them, from then on, there are no consequences. But for the women left behind, wives, mothers, daughters and sons, the echo from those gun barrels repeat, repeat, and repeat. This is the story of the women in one of those affected families.
And Then You Don't
by Charles Bechtel
Series: The DREW NOLAN stories.
Price:
$3.99 USD.
Words: 83,610.
Language:
English.
Published: April 4, 2014
.
Categories:
Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Adventure » Action
Is Drew Nolan chasing a ghost from his past this time? Two ghosts? Is there even anyone dead? Join Nolan on another adventure in which the only answers are those that lead him into forests of ever more questions. "And Then You Don't" is funny, engaging, and further explores whether "The One Who Knows has the Responsibility" to make what's hidden known — even though the consequences may be deadly.
Book of Days
by Charles Bechtel
Price:
$4.99 USD.
Words: 113,230.
Language:
English.
Published: September 28, 2013
.
Categories:
Fiction » Literature » Literary
Travel a man's life through twelve chapters, each chapter the length and breadth of a day. Claude is a boy who wanted to draw, a youth who had much to see, and a man compelled to put himself and those around him onto a canvas. The twelve days visited invite a reader to inhabit this person, who sought only to find honesty and permanence among those who touched him, and within himself.
The Long and the short
by Charles Bechtel
Price:
$2.99 USD.
Words: 63,530.
Language:
English.
Published: September 25, 2013
.
Categories:
Fiction » Literature » Literary
This collection of 25 short stories is by the author of "Book of Days," "The Odor of Orchids," "The Lady from Spain" and the six-book series, "DREW NOLAN — reluctant detective."
Both entertaining and quirky, these 25 showcase the author's ability to see things usually missed, and to present them in a clear and cogent appeal to the emotions, passions and intelligence of readers. They're also fun.
On Second Thoughts
by Charles Bechtel
Price:
$2.99 USD.
Words: 65,180.
Language:
English.
Published: September 8, 2013
.
Categories:
Essay » Sociology, Essay » Political
A former newspaper columnist and publisher continued his print column, "On Second Thoughts," into the digital age. Inside are fifty "essays" from his weekly e-column.
Ranging in topics from the death in Iraq of a local boy to a valentine to his father, to ruminations about social upheavals and to second thoughts on using words when, Bechtel gives life a quirky second look. Fit for the bathroom!
The Odor of Orchids
by Charles Bechtel
Price:
$4.99 USD.
Words: 91,270.
Language:
English.
Published: September 8, 2013
by
Charles Bechtel.
Categories:
Fiction » Literature » Literary
This book takes you into the steamy summer-hot mountains of western North Carolina, but it's not a regional book. History is made equally among people who do not make it into the news, and the history of three strangers coming together becomes a microcosm of what troubles the daily life of us all. Love, loss, sex, strangeness, hope, anxiety, confusion, betrayal... these and more are all in there.
Running Before Thunder
by Charles Bechtel
Series: The DREW NOLAN stories, Book 4.
Price:
$3.99 USD.
Words: 83,330.
Language:
English.
Published: June 21, 2013
.
Categories:
Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Adventure » Action
(5.00 from 1 review)
In this 4th book in the series, Drew Nolan heads to the horse races at Santa Anita Park, and the funeral of a man he's never met. At the grave's edge he meets a beautiful Hispanic woman who let's on that the dead man died by no accident... he was murdered.
Nolan's day at the races is no walk in the park. Conmen, jockeys, horse thieves, killers, the FBI... think Nolan can leave this alone? No way.
When The Ball Drops Foul
by Charles Bechtel
Series: The DREW NOLAN stories, Book 3.
Price:
$3.99 USD.
Words: 78,360.
Language:
English.
Published: June 21, 2013
.
Categories:
Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Adventure » Action
This time Drew Nolan and his girlfriend June find themselves deep in a mystery about who killed a young ballplayer in the worst way possible: he was lynched.
Right place, but wrong time. Nolan lands back in it again. All they had to do was get back on their boat, but this injustice June could not let alone. Against Drew's reluctance, he plunges in again where he doesn't belong, and isn't wanted.
Hell's Cold Furies
by Charles Bechtel
Series: The DREW NOLAN stories, Book 2.
Price:
$3.99 USD.
Words: 83,790.
Language:
English.
Published: May 13, 2013
.
Categories:
Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Adventure » Action
Book Two in the series:
Join Drew Nolan, reluctant detective, again.
This time our former Philly cop lands his butt in a saddle on a dude ranch in Montana where, needing some relief, he finds himself staring down at a half-eaten corpse.
Unlucky hiker wandered off a cliff? Nolan wishes that was all it was. Unfortunately for him, the fellow has a story to tell, and only Nolan hears it.
A Hole in the Water
by Charles Bechtel
Series: The DREW NOLAN stories, Book 1.
Price:
$3.99 USD.
Words: 83,170.
Language:
English.
Published: May 13, 2013
.
Categories:
Fiction » Mystery & detective » General, Fiction » Adventure » Sea adventures
Meet Drew Nolan, reluctant detective.
"A Hole in the Water" is the first of six books in a series about a former cop turned Charter Boat captain living in Key Largo. What he wants is to be a bum, away from it all. What he winds up is a guy who finds himself too often in the middle of other people's messes.
He tells his stories with ironic humor and a bit of self-deprecation.
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ows
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