About the Author

Greetings, fellow Arizona writers. Warm congratulations and kudos to the members who’ve won awards and publishing contracts. I feel most fortunate to be a part of a literary organization that boasts a wealth of experience, deep knowledge, and skills.

Time constraints of being a trial lawyer, clergyman, and counselor, along with various health and life-related issues, have so far hijacked my well-intentioned efforts to attend the annual meeting or any of the readings, workshops, and other events. I thought I’d lean on the kindness of the Arizona Authors Association newsletter editor and readers to introduce myself.

I currently have more than 16 books in the works. Most fall into the historical fiction category, although I’ve also written and illustrated two children’s books, a show musical, and several plays. Three of my novels, soon to be released by Dorrance Publishing Company this summer, include  Oregon Trail, Land of Promises,  a coming-of-age story set in the Midwest and told through the eyes of a boy traveling by wagon in search of his father.

In my non-writing life, I spent several decades in Kansas, Montana, Missouri, and Arizona courtrooms as a public defender or judge, so my novels are strongly influenced by the gritty dramas, comedies, and tragedies of real life. Writing is indeed a wonderful way to explore our nation, and who could resist learning more about the “Main Street of America” from its New Mexico setting? My back cover copy offers a glimpse:

Route 66: The Whole Enchilada tells the story of the people of Santa Cuervo, New Mexico. Among its residents are a young boy and his teenage sister who struggle to flee poverty and isolation amidst the town’s culture of superstition and folklore. Their odyssey to maturity, love, and prosperity are tested by deeply hidden family secrets. As Route 66 carries strangers, omens, and change into their small town, the characters are pulled into a mystery that has long been buried in the dust and silence of the desert. The past is about to rise.

It is no surprise that the romance in my books is G-rated. I tend to revisit themes that focus more on family, community, loyalty, courage, resilience, and faith. I love history, especially historical events that happened in the Midwest and Southwest spanning the period between the years leading to the Civil War and throughout the 1970s.

My novels and novellas set in Kansas, where I was born and raised, include Johnny’s War about a young man who yearns to join the Navy, but isn’t yet old enough to enlist; and Last Ranch to Nowhere, that chronicles the life of a former Rebel soldier who lands in Kansas soon after the end of the Civil War.  A more contemporary, faith-based, companion novel set are Street Prince and Esmaria and Her Peppermint Prince, which vividly portrays a young girl who witnesses homelessness and social unrest in Kansas City of 1969.

My experience as an airplane pilot and flight instructor since the 1960s provided valuable background knowledge for my novel Sweet Hyperion, which details a top-secret World War II plane that needs to complete its testing and move to another location. But when the company’s test pilot is murdered, what does the young female president of the aeronautics company do, especially since she needs the government contract? She must fly the plane herself! Her plane is sabotaged and crashes. Her life is saved, but forever changed when she meets orphaned children and someone very special. Does she now need to change her long-term life goals and plans?

My family history and aeronautical knowledge inspired me to write Paul, Stars & Wind, the true story of my uncle, who as a young man, flew into the heart of battle during World War II. In the skies over Eastern Europe, danger comes from every direction between enemy fighters and the ever-present threat of mechanical failure. For Second Lieutenant Paul E. Miller and the crew of the Star Grazer, a B-24 Liberator bomber, every mission might be their last. Based on true accounts from the 456th Bomb Group, Star Grazer follows the courageous crew as they combat exhaustion, grief, and the harrowing odds of aerial warfare. While history remembers battles and strategies, this story shines a light on the humanity behind the headlines, especially the real life love story of Paul Miller and his wife. The laughter, the loss, and the unbreakable bonds formed at 25,000 feet pay tribute to the men who risked everything.

Back on land, I love the railroads! There’s not a train that I haven’t studied or maybe even ridden, so railroad buffs will savor Somewhere Between, the adventures of Miss Irene and Miss Viola, two orphaned sisters who accepted positions in 1908 with the Fred Harvey Company on the Santa Fe and Grand Canyon Railroads. Of course I couldn’t resist including the Baldwin Works, 2-6-2, 1000 series locomotive as a character in the book!

I’m also an artist, and I enjoy illustrating some of my books and covers. Tides is a 48-page read-aloud children’s book with colored-pencil illustrations on every page.

Well, there are more books I’ve nearly finished: A Marvelous Love, which is the back story of my great-great-grandparents in Italy.

Hopefully, this introduction gives you an idea of my work.

At this point, what goals do I have for my writing? First, I strive to make each successive novel better than the last. Secondly, I want to publish more of my books, besides those currently with Dorrance Publishing. Ideally, I’d love to find an agent (wouldn’t we all?!), preferably one who would be interested in my whole body of work. For now, I’d prefer to go the traditional publishing route rather than self-publishing.

In the meantime, I’ll keep plugging away at the keyboard and sharpen my pencils to the last eraser.

Most importantly and throughout it all, my wife, Mary Jean, has been by my side for 57 years. We have 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

My email is barelli.deegan@jpbarelli.com. Let’s chat! I’d like to talk about your latest book.