This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

New Alexandria Author Hosts Book Talk At Sherwood

Stephen Craig Reynolds author of "Where Do We Get Such Men" discusses his book on a navy pilot

Stephen Craig Reynolds, local author of "Where Do We Get Such Men" hosted a book talk at the Sherwood library last night. His biography chronicles the life of Gil Erb, one of the first Navy test pilots.

"I did try to do a full biography, you know. So home life from start to finish, and you know. Ninety percent of the book is his flying and naval career," Reynolds said. "There was an awful lot of stuff Gil was telling me that I had to use the internet to verify. And then, he and I would get into 'heated' discussion about what was true. He'd go, 'well I guess you're right if it's on the internet' and agree."

During New Alexandria's flood Isabelle several years ago, Reynolds happened to meet his next door neighbor Scott Erb and casually started talking over some post cleanup beers. Once Scott told a couple of Gil's stories, Reynolds knew he had found a story and spent the next three years interviewing and researching for his book.

Find out what's happening in Greater Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I said, your dad would make a perfect oral history. We should do this." Reynolds said. "[Scott] said, 'well my dad's coming up in a few weeks or so. I'll introduce you and see what he has to say.' When I met his dad we got along right away and he said he was just a regular guy, but he would do it."

The writing process, as a newcomer to the field, took time and patience, but he took Hemingway's advice to heart and wrote something every day. Reynolds said he tries to write for four hours a day and when his muse really got going, it's like he's reading the story, rather than writing it and the words just pour out

Find out what's happening in Greater Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I tried to tell an everyman story. What it takes to become a fighter pilot. This guy was a hero, but he never made it known," Reynolds said. "And when I say it's an everyman story, this is why I had so much trouble publishing the book. Everybody at the naval institute, they were saying this is a really great book. It really well written, but he’s not famous so the copies won't sell."

Taking his matters into his own hands, he published the book via Author House, an online self publishing process. To date, he's sold over 700 copies online and at the Air and Space Museum, and reports that Sherwood Libraries' copies are always checked out."

"Writing has always been his passion," his wife Carol Reynolds said. "He finally go to the point where he asked if he could retire to write. Sometimes I come home from work and the house is completely dark. There he is, eyes glued to the computer screen and he hasn't even noticed the time."

Without Carol, Reynolds freely admits that he probably wouldn't be a published author today. Not only does she continue to work and support him, but she also works as his editor and is fondly referred to as 'Carol the Butcher'.

"I couldn't ask for a better. She's really, really tough though," Reynolds said. "She doesn't spare my feelings at all. I don't mind anybody looking over my work and making suggestions, but don't tell me how to write my story. She edits purely grammar and flow, exactly what I want."

Reynolds is also the author of an eclectic collection of fiction short stories, 'Between Bowie And Glendale' and is also working on his first fiction novel. Already 34 chapters in, Reynolds expects 'Alone in the Water' to be out in 2012.

"Some of the short stories are semi-autobiographical. Some are just stories about other people. Some I completely made up," Reynolds said.  "This is fiction and stories about childhood. Stories about tragic stuff, stories about family stuff, stories about happy stuff. My wife said I hit a home run with this."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Greater Alexandria