Win a $25 GC: As Good As CAn Be by William A. Glass

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MY VIEW – WHERE I WRITE

It’s fitting that I should have several favorite places to write. That’s because, like the main character in As Good As Can Be, I’m hyperactive. Still, my favorite spot is the porch of my house in South Carolina. After that comes the front passenger seat of a van full of soccer players. Finally, when soccer season is done, and the gnats or the weather make the porch inhospitable, I’ll go inside, sit in my rocking chair, and tap on my laptop.

My wife, Bettina, and I have moved around a bit, but it now looks like South Carolina will be our final roosting place. We bought a fixer-upper in a town that’s beyond repair several years ago when I took a job coaching soccer at the nearby college. After living in Washington D.C. and later in Atlanta, the clear air, birds, and quiet are wonderful! Unlike northern states, South Carolina has five seasons; Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Hell. I can write happily on the porch most days in all but the last- mentioned season.

During the soccer season, I am the back-up driver of a fifteen-passenger van. So, when not called upon to take a spell behind the wheel, I can plug my laptop into a charger and work while traveling to games. I love rolling down the road, with a snootful of gas station coffee lighting up my synapses and Nine Inch Nails blasting on the stereo. Some of my best writing has been accomplished this way.

When all else fails, there’s always the den and my rocking chair. It’s comforting to work surrounded by furniture I salvaged long ago from my grandfather’s house. He was a learned Scottish gentleman and left me a nice collection of books. Sometimes his ghost peers over my shoulder as I write.

Dave Knight is a wayward child growing up in a military family during the 1950s. His older sister wants to kill him but settles for regularly beating him up. Other siblings join in the mayhem while their alcoholic father contributes to the chaos with his unique approach to parenting.

As the Knight family moves from one army base to the next, Dave develops a give-a-damn attitude that often leads to trouble. In high school, he joins other delinquents in a series of escapades, some dangerous, others funny, and a few that would be worthy of jail time should they ever be caught.

After barely graduating, Dave is drafted into the army and sent to guard a nuclear weapons depot in Korea. There, he gets into trouble with his sergeant and tries to avoid dishonorable discharge.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Two rocking chairs are arranged in front of the fireplace. On the mantle is a signed photograph of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. Mr. Lawson takes the picture down and shows it to Dave. “My pappy rode with Forrest,” the old man says. “He killed a lot of Yankees, you know, in the war.” Mr. Lawson looks at Dave expectantly but is disappointed by the uncomprehending expression on the child’s face. Carefully he places his prized possession back over the fireplace.

Dave and Melissa return to Gram’s house in time for lunch. After eating, the Knight children have another quiet time. Then Ethel comes up with an idea. “Let’s take a ride out to the river,” she suggests.

“What for?” Knight asks.

“I want to see if the rain the other day caused it to rise.”

“Who cares?”

“Come on, it’s something to do,” Bobbie says impatiently.

The family piles into the Plymouth and rides a short distance to where the Trinity River flows. Knight parks on the shoulder of the highway, and they all go onto the bridge to peer at the muddy water. It’s an evil-looking stream, full of snags and home to alligators, cottonmouths, gars, and snapping turtles. No one in their right mind would go swimming in the Trinity, so all the natives can do is look, check the water level, or maybe drop a line in to see what manner of creature takes the bait. “Can we go now?” Marie asks.

“Hush. Gram wants to look,” Bobbie says.

“At what?” Dan asks.

About the Author:

Bill is a retired business executive now living in South Carolina with his wife, Bettina. She teaches high school German while Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Their three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon, have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers.

For recreation, Bettina and Bill enjoy hiking and camping out. Usually, they take their dog, Scout, along. When the weather permits, Bill commutes to work on his motorcycle.

Website ~ Goodreads

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