New book released by Leland resident

There are a lot of authors nowadays who make their living exploring personal pain, bad childhoods and general angst at the world, but Jim Carpenter isn't about to pretend he had anything but a happy childhood.

Carpenter lives in Leland, and is the author of a new short story collection called Surviving My Happy Childhood. The stories are in rough chronological order and reflect Carpenter's world growing up in the Midwest, first as a child, then as a teen, later as a young adult.

Carpenter says while the stories are grounded in some facts, they are fiction when it comes down to it.

"Many of the stories have a kernel of truth to them but I consider them all works of fiction," he says. "Some of the incidents actually happened but served more as a jumping off point for the stories themselves."

Carpenter grew up in East Grand Rapids, and got several degrees, including a bachelor's degree in biology from Wabash College, a master's in physical anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a master's in library science from the University of Michigan, and a master's in secondary education from Murray State University. That's so far led him to a varied career as a federal government educator and manager, a high school and college educator, managing a non-profit organization, and running a marketing and communications company. He's married to Rebecca Reynolds, a writer and producer who co-owns a film company with Carpenter named 8180 Films.

This is his first published book, and had its genesis in Carpenter's local non-profit work.

"For three summers my wife and I were part of a non-profit group called Stage Turner that presented staged reading of short stories on various themes at the Old Art Building in Leland. During that time we read hundreds of stories and that inspired me to start thinking about writing my own," he says.

The preliminary reviews are good, and indicate Michigan readers will find it both original and familiar at the same time.

"With a distinct Midwestern flavor, Carpenter's work is sure to stir up memories as well as it entertains and brings new light to what's considered normal. Surviving My Happy Childhood is a fine assortment, sure to please," writes John Burroughs of the Midwest Book Review.

The book is published by Delicti Press of Northport, and is available on Amazon.com and at several bookstores in the area, including Horizon Books and Leelanau Books in Leland, Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor, Dog Ears Books in Northport and Brilliant Books in Suttons Bay.

Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jim Carpenter