Marysville author’s book of short stories to benefit veterans

MARYSVILLE — Gary Clark calls his new book the culmination of a project that took 18 years.

The idea for his book, “Golfing in America: Golfing Observations &Train Travel Amid Short Stories,” started when he accepted a job offer for a mortgage company in 1993 that moved his family from Santa Rosa, Calif., to Marysville.

He and his wife, Sue Ann Clark, had two cars to drive to their new home, Clark said. So he decided they would drive one car and he would take a train back to pick up the other car.

While on the train, Clark started observing other people and taking in the sights outside his window. He pulled out a yellow legal pad and took notes about what he saw.

“On the train you can just sit there like a glob or you can pay attention to what’s happening, and so I started taking notes about sights and sounds and things that were happening on the train,” Clark said.

The notes he took reminded him of several short stories he’d written or thought about writing. When in September 2010, he had the opportunity to take a train from Seattle to San Jose, Calif., for his 50th high school reunion, Clark decided he would see what had changed and take more notes along the way.

“I took meticulous notes,” he said. “On the trip back I took more notes and I realized that not only could I write more short stories, I could turn them into a book.”

Clark, 69, did just that, and on Dec. 12 self-published his collection of 27 short stories through CreateSpace, an independent publishing company.

Clark enjoyed playing golf until 20 years ago when an injury kept him from being able to play. While his book isn’t about golf, Clark said he does mention the sport and several golf courses he’s been to or researched. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1966, Clark spent a dozen years as a volunteer firefighter in California. Several fire department anecdotes are also part of the book, he said.

Clark hopes his book entertains readers and helps to fund programs for veterans. He spent eight years as a veterans benefits specialist for the state Department of Veterans Affairs and plans to donate a portion from sales of his book to programs that help homeless and at-risk veterans.

“It’s a good overall purpose of this book,” Clark said.

At the end of his book, Clark writes about Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville and accomplishes one of his many writing goals.

“I’ve always wanted to end a book with the word ‘shadows,’ ” he said.

The last line of the book reads, “At Cedarcrest Golf Course, there are many tall trees, and, of course, they do cast shadows.”

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.

Support veterans

Marysville resident Gary Clark plans to donate money from book sales to programs that serve homeless and at-risk veterans. More information about the book, “Golfing in America, Golfing Observations &Train Travel Amid Short Stories” is at https://www.createspace.com/3612219.