James Baker

After high school graduation I joined the U.S. Coast Guard and spent 34 years—regular and reserve. Many of my stories, and the background for my current novel, are from knowledge gained and events occurring during that time.

Upon my mother’s death I found a cigar box containing letters I sent home during my tour at Cape Sarichef LORAN station on Unimak Island, Alaska. I transcribed them into my computer—more than 46,000 words—and they have formed the basis for several magazine articles. In 1954-55 mail service to the island was weekly—weather permitting—and phone service not available. Under the theory that you have to send in order to receive, I wrote a lot of letters.

During my senior year at Arizona State University the Journalism Department awarded me the State Press prize for excellence in feature writing. My first write-for-pay article appeared in the Arizona Republic’s Sunday supplement four months after graduation.

I have been involved in safety most of my adult life—Patrolman, Arizona Highway Patrol—Highway Safety Specialist, Arizona Governor’s Office of Highway Safety—Instructor Pilot/Flying Safety Officer (Civilian contract) U.S. Air Force—Marine Safety Officer, U.S. Coast Guard.

Some of these jobs involved writing; arrest and accident reports, curriculum guides, state regulations, law revisions and officer efficiency reports. During those years I sold several video scripts to a small production company in California.

Prior to retirement I wrote my first novel. It took seven years and did not sell. My second is past the five year mark and I am on what I hope is my next to last rewrite. Before beginning the current novel I joined a writers’ group and have found their critiques most helpful.

Due to my serving on two lighthouses, Lighthouse Digest—www.lhdigest.com—has published ten of my articles.

For part-time work I have been a charter pilot, an adjunct professor, taught traffic school for the courts and conducted CPR/First Aid classes for school districts throughout Arizona. I have held teaching/instructor certificates from eight national, federal and state agencies.

Fiction writing is my favorite pastime. In addition to magazine articles, short stories and the two novels—plus two more in beginning stages—I have produced 36 memoirs and 16 stories others have related to me.

We took LaFon’s laptop on our recreational vehicle tour to Alaska so I could continue writing. Chewey, our grand dog, often accompanies us on shorter trips.

Story ID:	3477
Written by:	OurEcho Admin (bio, link, contact, other stories)
Story type:	In The Spotlight
Location:	Chandler AZ USA
Year:	2008
Person:	James Baker