first offerings to the literary world. Their works are as different as their
personalities, but they share common roots.
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They both came of age in Jackson Parish, but that is where the similarities stopped — until Tuesday afternoon.
It was on that day that two former Jackson Parish residents met up with each other on the steps of the Jackson Parish Library, each there to sign copies of his first book.
In
the last few months, Michael Pate, 35, of Alexandria and Dr. Timothy Wise of
Magnolia published their
first offerings to the literary world. Their works are as different as their
personalities, but they share common roots.
“Not in my wildest dreams,” said Pate on the idea of whether he would ever write a book, let alone be sitting in the Jackson Parish Library autographing copies. “In school and college, English was not my favorite subject.”
Pate, a 1985 graduate of Quitman High School has penned a book titled When Big Boys Tri. It is a chronicle of his inspirational journey of going from a couch potato to a 330-pound triathlete. (A triathlon is a race where participants swim a long distance, bike for many miles, then run a lengthy race.)
The claims adjuster for Farm Bureau said the book is a compilation of his journals, and the trials and tribulations he had being an overweight man in a thin person’s sport.
He hopes his journey will inspire others.
“People may not be inspired to do a triathlon,” he said. “But no matter what they aspire to do, if I can be an inspiration to those people — people who seek a better lifestyle — then I have made a difference.”
Wise’s book is the polar opposite of Pate’s fitness story. Wise has written a science fiction/superhero novel that takes place in the distant future.
The story has its roots in Jackson Parish, the place where he began developing the characters while he was in school.
Wise, now 38, is a 1983 graduate of Jonesboro-Hodge High School. He is now an associate professor of management at Southern Arkansas State University.
But business aside, writing has been a life-long passion.
“At Jonesboro-Hodge, a teacher loaned me a typewriter, and told me to start writing,” he said.
His book, Intrepid Force, is the chronicle of a band of heroes trying bring justice to the universe. The story is steeped in Christian values and undercurrents
“On the inside, it is a story about friendship, dealing with guilt and facing the past,” he said.
This is the first book in what he hopes to be a series of stories around his group of characters.
“I have 50 pages written for the sequel,” he said.
For more information about Pate’s book go to his website www.whenbigboystri.com.
For more information about Intrepid Force, visit http://emporiausa.com
Source Jackson Independent Thursday July 31,2003