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Books-and-Authors.net: Where did you grow up and was reading and
writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and
why?
Chuck Peters: I grew up in northwest Iowa; my mother encouraged me
to read and helped me with my school home work. She would tell me
“what you read and what you learn, nobody can ever take it away from
you no matter if you are rich or poor.”
Books-and-Authors.net: Why do you write?
Chuck Peters: The reason I write is for gratification knowing I am
contributing to society. Writing helps me express myself and it is
satisfying.
Books-and-Authors.net: Discuss your book BILLY OLIVER Holding on to
Memories.
Chuck Peters: The story of Billy Oliver by Charles Peters takes
place in the late 1940s in northwest Iowa, and reveals how a
youngster’s life is transformed when he finally leaves his meager
existence behind to live at a new place that promises the
opportunity of a bright future. When his mother becomes terminally
ill, Billy, one of thirteen children, picks wild flowers every day
to cheer her up. “Remember telling me how they tell a story?” he
asks her. “Mama, look at them. The stems are straight and strong,
just like you said we are to live our lives. See how green and lush
the leaves are, representing life’s experiences? See all the
beautiful blossoms representing love?” After placing a white rosebud
on her chest, he reminds her that she told him that thorns tell us
to protect ourselves, and that unopened white buds symbolize purity
and innocence, and bring the promise of a new day. When his mother
dies, Billy is only nine years old, and he wonders what will happen
next.
Where will he sleep and eat? Will Papa abandon him now, too? When he
and his siblings are sent to stay with their Aunt Sarah and Uncle
Jacob, he wonders if he will ever see all the neat things he had
found and stored in the barn again, or his thousand-piece horse
puzzle. Three weeks later, Billy’s grandma instructs the children to
write their names on pieces of paper and put them into a hat, and
this is how she, their father, Aunt Sarah, and Billy’s eldest
brother Lee decide where each of them will live. Billy subsequently
moves to his grandparents’ house, where he plays cards every night,
listens to The Great Gildersleeve on the radio, and learns how to
crochet, earn money parking cars, can vegetables, and make tomato
juice. Tragically, sometime after Uncle Jacob is hit by a train and
killed, Grandma suffers from a brain aneurism, and Grandpa is unable
to take care of both her and Billy. When Billy’s father arranges for
his son to be taken a hundred miles away to a home for boys and
girls, “Maybe you will get adopted,” he says. From then on, how
Billy handles repeated rejection and encourages other children at
the orphanage to stay positive is outstanding, and something that is
sure to touch every reader’s heart. The day he is chosen for
adoption at eleven years old, “I am thrilled,” he says. “I can feel
my heart pounding in my chest.” When it’s finally time for Billy to
leave his colorful past behind, “Thank you, Mama,” he whispers, “for
teaching me good values to live by.” At last, he has a new Mom and
Dad, and is about to start a new life on a farm. Written in memory
of his biological mother, “an amazing woman,” the author says
Billy’s childhood experiences were inspired by many of his own.
Without doubt, the feelings and emotion expressed in this book could
only come from a person who has lived the story.
Books-and-Authors.net: In your opinion what makes BILLY OLIVER
Holding on to Memories different from other books?
Chuck Peters: Billy Oliver is a wholesome down to earth story about
a youngster that captures reader’s attention resulting in them
living in the moment with Billy and not wanting to put the book down
until they have reached the very last page. It causes readers to
revisit some of their own memories and reminisce a little bit.
Books-and-Authors.net: BILLY OLIVER Holding on to Memories takes
place in the 1940's. Who is Billy Oliver?
Chuck Peters: Billy Oliver is a character I have created by using
my middle name (Billy) and my father’s middle name (Oliver). It is
an uplifting story of a youngster who despite having his world
turned upside down by the loss of his mother and being put up for
adoption by his father, comes out stronger and happier in the end.
How he handles adversities and tragedies with unwavering courage is
remarkable. How he influenced other kids to be positive is
inspiring.
Books-and-Authors.net: BILLY OLIVER Holding on to Memories would
make a wonderful film/TV movie. If Hollywood called today and asked
you to cast the movie, who would you cast and why?
Chuck Peters: I currently do not have anyone in mind but from past
movies/tv series I think Ron Howard who played Opie on the Andy
Griffith show would have been excellent. It should be someone who
could be sincere, honest, wholesome, innocent and positive all the
time.
Books-and-Authors.net: What are readers saying about BILLY OLIVER
Holding on to Memories?
Chuck Peters: Some of the comments from readers of Billy Oliver
are:
Books-and-Authors.net: What do you hope to achieve with BILLY OLIVER
Holding on to Memories?
I have heard that every person has at least one good novel floating
around in their head. I would like to encourage people to write down
their stories and ideas; we need to share so other people can learn
from the past history. At my age (71) I felt it is never too late to
contribute to society.
Books-and-Authors.net:What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was “Heaven is for Real”.
Books-and-Authors.net: What's next?
I have several things in mind, my debut book “Billy Oliver” will
keep me busy for awhile then I plan to take some time off. Then I
would like to write a children’s book using our family pet as the
main character.
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