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Keokuk grad Nash, 18, has his first book published
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| Matthew Hall (right) of PC Consultants, Keokuk, shows the Keokuk City Council some of the Web sites his firm has designed for area businesses and organizations. At left is Gabe Payne of PC Consultants. The city council also has talked to GovOffice Web Solutions, PC Technologies and Ed Vinson about establishing an updated Web site for city government. A new city Web site is part of the Keokuk Area Vision plan. |
By Diane Vance/Gate City Staff Writer
Derek Nash, a 2008 graduate of Keokuk High School, adds another accomplishment to his resume. The 18-year-old son of William and Susan Nash of Keokuk has published his first book, “The Broken Road - Choices: The Carson Wolfe Series, Book I.”
“I've always wanted to write,” he said. “I've had the stories plotted out for years. Last summer, I figured out the ending for the first book.”
Nash has eight books in mind for the Carson Wolfe Series. And four more books that will not be a part of this series.
“It took me three weeks to write and about seven weeks to have it read, proofed and revised,” he said about his book of more than 200 pages published by Morris Publishing, Kearny, Neb.
“It's a love story, though it didn't start out that way. It transformed over the months.
“This is not a normal series. It's about Carson Wolfe, 18, whose 16-year-old high school sweetheart breaks up with him a month before he's leaving for college. Each book in the series will have a different scenario. What happens if he makes this choice? What happens if he chooses that?
“The first book is written from the perspective of a Midwest housewife, married with three kids. She gets a call 20 years after high school from one of Hollywood's most famous top actors, Carson Wolfe.”
Her former high school heart throb has made it big in Hollywood and she has kept up with his career and awards through the media. She has watched all of his movies.
When Monica Elston gets the phone call out of the blue, she is contented with her life and loves her husband and three teens. Yet she is intrigued by the invitation to see him again after all these years. She discusses it with her family and decides to go. The idea of closure for both characters is repeated throughout the story.
“She promises never to have feelings again for the guy,” said Nash. “The plot twists and turns. She's eventually asked to give up her family for him.
“In the second book, Carson Wolfe goes off to college and misses his girlfriend so much he returns home after a semester. He makes a career in government. The second book is about how he deals with a tragedy.
“I originally had all these ideas using different characters,” said Nash. “Then I decided to make it the same characters woven in and out of different books. Each book can stand alone. Readers don't have to read the series in chronological order or even the whole series.”
On the back page of the book, which includes Nash's biography, is a paragraph about the series:
“This series answers the age old question of ‘What if I hadn't done that?' and ‘Where would I be if I hadn't made that choice?' Throughout the series Carson Wolfe will be the same character but live a different life in each one. Every book will be the same up to when his heart was first broken. The different choices he will make in each book will alter his future and give him a new life and adventure in each book.”
Nash has set Carson Wolfe's hometown in a small, fictional Iowa town along the Mississippi River amid farmlands.
“I figure it to be about 10 to 15 miles north of Burlington,” he said.
Nash is a native of Keokuk, and like his fictional character Carson Wolfe, his parents both taught at the local high school.
When a personal relationship of his broke up he was inspired to finish his first book because now he had an ending.
“Each summer I spend a couple weeks on my grandma's farm in Center Point,” he said. “Last summer I took my laptop. When anyone asked, I said I was writing a book. Everyone usually laughed.”
In the fall, Nash will attend Wartburg College in Waverly, studying business administration and sports management.
“I want writing to be a hobby,” he said. “I absolutely love to do it. My dream would be two years at Wartburg, then transfer somewhere to learn about writing screen plays. I really would love to turn these into movies.”
His favorite writer is John Grisham.
“I probably got my love of writing from reading so much,” he said. “But I love movies even more. I get creative inspiration from movies.”
Nash enlisted Keokuk High School teachers and friends to proofread and critique his manuscript before publishing. He acknowledges language arts teacher Kay Slusher, business teacher Pam Strong, student services director and speech coach David Wendt, assistant Superintendent Dr. Lora Wolff and his girlfriend, Emily Barrett, with editing and proofreading.
“The readers all seemed to enjoy it,” he said. “Most said it was better than they thought it would be. My parents are very proud of my efforts. My mom started to read it and decided to wait until all the changes were made.
“My parents are my best promoters. It was their graduation gift to me to get it published.”
The finished book is completely different than his original manuscript, he said.
“I'm glad I had men and women read the book,” he said. “The women told me some of the things I had my female characters saying would not be uttered by women. I got good input. I learned more about writing by doing it than taking a class in how to write.”
Nash provided the artwork for the cover of the paperback. It is a photo of a dirt lane with an opened livestock gate. He said it's a road off Carbide Lane in Keokuk. The back photo, of a lake and pier, was taken by his sister.
“I want to write a book per summer,” he said. “That way, I can have it done before school starts again and have others reading and editing it for me. I've actually started my second book in November.”
Nash will have a book signing on Saturday, June 21, at Book Island in the 700 block of Main St., Keokuk.
His book is for sale at Courtyard Books. Bab's Boutique also will carry his book when the boutique moves from River City Mall to the new strip mall between the Hawkeye Restaurant and Wal-Mart.
Nash plans to ask a few other local retailers to stock his book. Orders also can be placed by e-mail to chiefauthor75@live.com.
“I've always wanted to write,” he said. “I've had the stories plotted out for years. Last summer, I figured out the ending for the first book.”
Nash has eight books in mind for the Carson Wolfe Series. And four more books that will not be a part of this series.
“It took me three weeks to write and about seven weeks to have it read, proofed and revised,” he said about his book of more than 200 pages published by Morris Publishing, Kearny, Neb.
“It's a love story, though it didn't start out that way. It transformed over the months.
“This is not a normal series. It's about Carson Wolfe, 18, whose 16-year-old high school sweetheart breaks up with him a month before he's leaving for college. Each book in the series will have a different scenario. What happens if he makes this choice? What happens if he chooses that?
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Her former high school heart throb has made it big in Hollywood and she has kept up with his career and awards through the media. She has watched all of his movies.
When Monica Elston gets the phone call out of the blue, she is contented with her life and loves her husband and three teens. Yet she is intrigued by the invitation to see him again after all these years. She discusses it with her family and decides to go. The idea of closure for both characters is repeated throughout the story.
“She promises never to have feelings again for the guy,” said Nash. “The plot twists and turns. She's eventually asked to give up her family for him.
“In the second book, Carson Wolfe goes off to college and misses his girlfriend so much he returns home after a semester. He makes a career in government. The second book is about how he deals with a tragedy.
“I originally had all these ideas using different characters,” said Nash. “Then I decided to make it the same characters woven in and out of different books. Each book can stand alone. Readers don't have to read the series in chronological order or even the whole series.”
On the back page of the book, which includes Nash's biography, is a paragraph about the series:
“This series answers the age old question of ‘What if I hadn't done that?' and ‘Where would I be if I hadn't made that choice?' Throughout the series Carson Wolfe will be the same character but live a different life in each one. Every book will be the same up to when his heart was first broken. The different choices he will make in each book will alter his future and give him a new life and adventure in each book.”
Nash has set Carson Wolfe's hometown in a small, fictional Iowa town along the Mississippi River amid farmlands.
“I figure it to be about 10 to 15 miles north of Burlington,” he said.
Nash is a native of Keokuk, and like his fictional character Carson Wolfe, his parents both taught at the local high school.
When a personal relationship of his broke up he was inspired to finish his first book because now he had an ending.
“Each summer I spend a couple weeks on my grandma's farm in Center Point,” he said. “Last summer I took my laptop. When anyone asked, I said I was writing a book. Everyone usually laughed.”
In the fall, Nash will attend Wartburg College in Waverly, studying business administration and sports management.
“I want writing to be a hobby,” he said. “I absolutely love to do it. My dream would be two years at Wartburg, then transfer somewhere to learn about writing screen plays. I really would love to turn these into movies.”
His favorite writer is John Grisham.
“I probably got my love of writing from reading so much,” he said. “But I love movies even more. I get creative inspiration from movies.”
Nash enlisted Keokuk High School teachers and friends to proofread and critique his manuscript before publishing. He acknowledges language arts teacher Kay Slusher, business teacher Pam Strong, student services director and speech coach David Wendt, assistant Superintendent Dr. Lora Wolff and his girlfriend, Emily Barrett, with editing and proofreading.
“The readers all seemed to enjoy it,” he said. “Most said it was better than they thought it would be. My parents are very proud of my efforts. My mom started to read it and decided to wait until all the changes were made.
“My parents are my best promoters. It was their graduation gift to me to get it published.”
The finished book is completely different than his original manuscript, he said.
“I'm glad I had men and women read the book,” he said. “The women told me some of the things I had my female characters saying would not be uttered by women. I got good input. I learned more about writing by doing it than taking a class in how to write.”
Nash provided the artwork for the cover of the paperback. It is a photo of a dirt lane with an opened livestock gate. He said it's a road off Carbide Lane in Keokuk. The back photo, of a lake and pier, was taken by his sister.
“I want to write a book per summer,” he said. “That way, I can have it done before school starts again and have others reading and editing it for me. I've actually started my second book in November.”
Nash will have a book signing on Saturday, June 21, at Book Island in the 700 block of Main St., Keokuk.
His book is for sale at Courtyard Books. Bab's Boutique also will carry his book when the boutique moves from River City Mall to the new strip mall between the Hawkeye Restaurant and Wal-Mart.
Nash plans to ask a few other local retailers to stock his book. Orders also can be placed by e-mail to chiefauthor75@live.com.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of dailygate.com.
To Victor wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:42 PM:
" Sounds like the green eyed monster has taken control of you. "
Sharon wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:26 AM:
" I am originally from Keokuk, but now live in Georgia. I keep up with what goes on in Keokuk, & am excited about the book series. I called my neice to ask her to get me a copy & I hope she gets it signed. Good luck Mr. Nash!! "
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Stephanie Lantz Charles wrote on Jun 20, 2008 12:37 PM: