HOW IT ALL BEGAN

Who'd a thunk Chuck Hinman, that chubby Nebraska farm kid would have published a book in his old age. Even I have difficulty with that!

The earliest hint it might have happened, was when I took an English Composition course after the war at the University of Nebraska. I needed a 3-hour English credit so I chose English Composition 101.

Chuck is told: you should write professionally

The course required I write a weekly composition. The subject matter was left to me. I found that I liked the course better than I imagined. Even though that was 60 years ago, I remember distinctly when an anonymous student paper-grader noted on one of the compositions -- "You should consider writing professionally." I was flattered but that was all.

Several years ago when I moved to Tallgrass Estates in retirement, I decided to write a little dab to leave for my kids. That little dab turned into membership in a writing club called the ImPeruvians -- a group of writers from my alma mater, Peru State Teachers College, Peru, Nebraska. With special encouragement from them and church friends, Alsie Mae Stapleton and Orva Lee Brown, the seed was planted.

Chuck is talking into publishing his works

It matured when chat room friend, who I only knew by her moniker -- 'Bird' -- saw some of my writings, and as a professional typesetter in Asheville, North Carolina, talked me into publishing my works with her help.

Her name is Joy Garland, and without her expertise and patience, this absolutely would never have happened. My special thanks to Joy Garland, sisters Alsie Mae Stapleton and Orva Lee Brown, and my son, Paul, who offered expert help in proofreading the text and endless other ways.

A not-quite 'quote' from Julia Child

And of course, Thanks be to God, from whom all blessings flow!

'Bone aperitif' to steal a line from Julia Child, famous chef, translated 'GOOD READING!'

Chuck Hinman

I have never seen the book It's Just Me. I first received the stories as emails from Chuck. After his death, Alsie Mae Stapleton sent me stories. She has keep a copy of everything Chuck ever sent her.

In an email to her and her sister Orva Lee Brown, Thursday, 5 May 2005, Chuck says:

Chuck's proof book is in his computer

...just a note to tell you what's going on -- my proof book is here in my computer -- last I heard Joy say it would be close to 300 pages (a whopper in her experience) and it will set in a 6" x 9" book when it is printed..... I sent Paul a copy... and he is going to proofread with me -- I think he is pretty good.

About my cadilac -- excuse me -- cataract -- I have an EKG at 2:30 just for safety according to Dr. J. Grisham so when I get back home I expect to read my eyes out -- gosh 300 pages -- my brother (deceased) would probably have chided me that he didn't think I knew that many words -- probably means I'm full of you know what -- SMILE -- Chuck

You guys started all this!

A litte later that day he wrote:

I was wrong -- it is 179 pages per Paul and that's plenty.

And still later that day Alsie Mae wrote:

A second book of stories proposed

Sounds like there is going to have to be Book #2. Too many good stories won't be told, otherwise.

Chuck replied, "Not counting it out," but he did not live to see a second book. His son Paul is working on that now.

It's Just Me Again

I suggested to Chuck that the second book be titled It's Just Me Again.

There is a story already on ColumbiaMagazine titled "How It All Began." It tells some of this same story but the 'facts' differ in a few places.