TRAVERSE CITY -- As you travel through life, you can only hope to benefit from the knowledge and experience you've picked up along the way.
Arlen Matson's done just that. His boyhood in the Upper Peninsula and his passion for bicycling, canoeing and other outdoor activities served as inspiration for the 74-year-old Traverse City man's first book, "The Adventures of Anderson."
"I'm like a little kid right now," he said of his finished project. "This is so special."
The book was self-published in April through AuthorHouse in Bloomington, Ind., with illustrations by Traverse City resident Tenille Enger. The work of fiction geared toward families teaches lessons in courage, leadership, faith and friendship through the experiences of adolescent Curtis Anderson.
Set mainly in the Upper Peninsula during and after World War II, the story introduces readers to the 12-year-old as he embarks on a 90-mile solo bicycle trip from Ironwood to his grandmother's home in Iron River.
As he journeys toward young adulthood, he's joined by school buddies Bryce, Gordon and David in adventures and mishaps. Together, they build and sail a raft and find their way out of an abandoned mine. They also befriend an Amish family and explore their relationships with God and religion.
The book is part of Matson's post-retirement goal of keeping body, soul and spirit healthy. He retired in 1993 after a 32-year teaching career with Traverse City Area Public Schools.
He has kept physically healthy by helping build and maintain trails through the Grand Traverse Hiking Club, a chapter of the North Country Trail Association. He and his wife, Arlene, strengthened their spirits by visiting and organizing trips and potluck gatherings for elderly members of their church.
Matson decided that the best way to keep his mind sharp was to write a book. He started by writing about how he accidentally injured the scoutmaster's son after a prank at Boy Scout camp. That account later became the prologue to "The Adventures of Anderson."
He wrote one chapter a year for 12 years. Each chapter is based on a true experience, exaggerated for fiction's sake.
"You can go through the chapters and find the thread of the idea came from a childhood experience," he said.
For instance, Matson rode 90 miles alone on his bike to his grandmother's house. However, unlike Curtis, he did not encounter a band of thieves on the run.
Matson wanted his young protagonist, whose name is derived from Matson's middle name and his grandmother's maiden name, to have flaws and personal struggles in order to show young readers how to overcome adversity. The adolescent Curtis wears thick glasses, but that doesn't stop him from excelling at sports and enjoying the great outdoors.
"To me, that fellow's a hero," he said.
Also, Matson tells a tale of forgiveness and friendship by sharing his own childhood challenge. Both Matson and Curtis worked hard to overcome a bad reputation in grade school after stealing a BB gun and a bike from the doctor's son who seemed to have everything.
In real life and in the book, the unpopular boy is accepted as is by the three new boys in school. The friendships had such an impact on Matson that the boys in the book are named for his friends.
And Curtis' friends' appearances and characteristics are based on the actual Bryce, David and Gordon.
Matson has not seen the three since his family moved to the Lower Peninsula during his freshman year of high school. Once his book was published, he located his friends online and sent each of them a copy of his book. He has since reconnected with the real David, learning that he, David and Bryce all became teachers.
Now that he's fulfilled his post-retirement goals, Matson plans to continue his work as administrative fields coordinator for the Grand Traverse Hiking Club. He said he hasn't given much thought as to whether he'll write another book.
"The Adventures of Anderson" by Arlen Matson can be purchased for $14.49 at Rainbow Book Store, 1253 W. South Airport Road, Traverse City; by e-mailing bkorders@authorhouse.com; or by visiting amazon.com. A book signing at Rainbow Book Store will be scheduled in the near future.
Print this story
E-mail this story
