Former Prairie Grove resident now an author

PRAIRIE GROVE — Although Charles Yancey had several poems and short stories published over 50 years ago, it was only recently that he published his first novel.

Megan Wood, library director, and the Prairie Grove Public Library will host a book signing with new author Charles Yancey from noon to 5 p.m., Friday, March 3, and from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, March 4.

Yancey is a native Arkansan. Born into a family of modest means, he is the third of five siblings. His family resided on a small farm located between Prairie Grove and Farmington, and his 95-year-old mother and a younger sister still reside near the old home place.

The Yancey family moved to the Prairie Grove area when Yancey was in the fourth grade and he graduated from Prairie Grove High School in 1968. When Dillon’s grocery opened in December of 1966 he was one of the first two “sack boys” the store hired, and he worked after school till closing each evening and on Saturdays. Of course, that meant he often stayed up late studying. Quite active in high school, he became Student Council reporter one year and was senior class vice-president.

However, Yancey disliked having to speak in front of classmates. He would rather write several written book reports instead of giving one oral report. His rationale was, “You have an opportunity to correct your mistakes and change your wording before the words are thrown out there.”

Although he had been an avid reader for years, it was at this time he became interested in writing.

One of his clearest memories of that era was the fateful day – November 22, 1963 – of the assassination of then President John F. Kennedy. It was a great tragedy for this nation.

After three years of college and Bible school, Yancey entered the United States Army. About a week before the graduation ceremony from basic training, he broke his hip, resulting in a lengthy stay in the Army hospital at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri. After going through basic training a second time (once in the winter and once in summer), instead of going to Vietnam, Yancey was sent to Fort Carson, 4th Aviation Company, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

It was in Colorado Springs that Yancey met a young lady from Farmington, New Mexico, whom he married less than a year later. He said that marrying Darla was one of the most important decisions he ever made in his life. They have now been married 49 years. They have two children, four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

His three passions in life are 1) Bible teaching, 2) family and 3) woodworking. He has a varied background as a minister, author, military veteran and retired carpenter. Yancey is a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature in West Redding, Connecticut, where he studied under the tutelage of accredited author Joan Hiatt-Harlow. (Joan Hiatt Harlow is an internationally known writer. Her writings have appeared in major children’s publications throughout North America, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia.)

Almost 20 years ago, challenged by his wife to write something other than the annual family Christmas letters to family and friends, Yancey began a project he had long desired to do—write a novel. Over the years he wrote and rewrote it many times, then stashed the manuscript in a drawer … to be removed and edited time and again before resolving to submit it for publication.

Yancey named the book, “Alone…Yet Not Alone,” and it is the fulfillment of his longtime dream. The book is a blend of drama, romance, inspiration and humor.

The idea for the design of the book cover was that of the author but Yancey employed the artistic services of his longtime friend, Cecil Savage of Siloam Springs, to paint the picture which adds visual support to the title.

The publication of this book was made possible by Yancey’s acquaintance with another author and publisher. They first met through Yancey emailing a columnist who writes weekly articles in the local newspaper. Gene Linzey writes Reflections on Life, a column printed weekly in newspapers across Northwest Arkansas. Linzey is also a published author, minister, mentor and man with many varied abilities.

Yancey began attending the Siloam Springs Writers’ Guild of which Linzey was president. Through much coaching, Linzey made possible the publication of Yancey’s book. Linzey, owner of P&L Publishing & Literary Services, also an author and writer for Northwest Arkansas newspapers for 14 years, will be on hand to answer questions about writing and publishing.

Alone…Yet Not Alone is available in paperback and e-Book from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, as well as some bookstores. For an autographed copy directly from the author, come meet Charles Yancey at the book signing on March 3 or March 4 at the Prairie Grove Library, or contact him at charles.yancey@rocketmail.com.

Lynn Kutter/Enterprise-Leader Charles Yancey, a former resident of Prairie Grove, will have a book signing for his first novel, “Alone, Yet Not Alone,” on March 3-4 at Prairie Grove Public Library.