Roy and Millie had two sons. Bob Proebstle who was one-year old at the time of the crash, and Jack Proebstle, who was in the womb. The writing of this book has stimulated a renewal of our friendships, for which I am very happy. Their individual support, research, and encouragement was instrumental for making the steady journey of discovery and writing enjoyable, regardless of the complexities encountered.
At the beginning, Fatal Incident seemed like a fairly straightforward project. The reality, however, of not being a pilot, never having traveled to Alaska, and having no military experience overwhelmed my writing effort from the beginning. Thankfully, the availability of the online and written resources listed in the bibliography was a godsend. Through the efforts of capable writers, researchers, and enthusiasts my experiential shortcomings were made whole.
Lastly, I am learning that each project calls out the special nature and gifts of friends and relatives interested in helping. As with, In the Absence of Honor, I always felt that writing a novel would be an adventure—an accomplishment in which I would take great pride. The accomplishment is rightfully shared by those whose support and feedback I received throughout this process. Among those are:
• Carole Proebstle, my life’s partner of forty-five years, for her gentle reminders and encouragement that I can accomplish whatever I choose
• Mike Proebstle, nephew and godson, whose skill and knowledge as a navy pilot helped demystify the language of flying and make the cockpit a friendlier place
• Mary Norris for her devotion in reading, critiquing, and offering suggestions that helped nurture the characters and develop the story
• Wonderful friends who patiently listened with interest, ever confident that Fatal Incident would ultimately find its way to the bookshelf
• The friendly and extremely competent staff at Greenleaf Book Group
Writing is a solitary activity, but not one ever accomplished alone.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alaska: The Territorial Life Magazine, Alaska Life Publishing Co., January 1944 and April 1945.
Ambrose, Stephen E. D-Day June 6, 1944: The Climatic Battle of World War II. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1994.
Ambrose, Stephen E. The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944–45. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2002.
Bradley, James. Fly Boys: A True Story of Courage. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2003.
Braun, Don C., with John C. Warren. The Arctic Fox: Bush Pilot of the North Country. Bloomington: iUniverse, 2000.
Gann, Ernest K. Fate is the Hunter. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1986.
Follett, Ken. Eye of the Needle. New York: Avon Books, 2000.
Littell, Robert. The Company: A Novel of the CIA. London: Penguin Books, 2003.
Ludlum, Robert. The Tristan Betrayal. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2004.
Norris, Frank. Crown Jewel of the North: An Administrative History of Denali National Park and Preserve, vol. 1, Alaska Regional Office, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 2006.
Sfraga, Michael. Bradford Washburn: A Life of Exploration. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 2004.
Web Resources
388th Engineer Battalion Engineers Plumb the NWT: Canol: www.mendonet.com/588th/canol.htm
1946 Atlanta Constitution Atom Bomb Articles: www.reformation.org/atlanta-constitution.html and /atomic-bomb.html
Army Radio Sales Co., Spy Radios of W.W. II: www.armyradio.co.uk
DC-3 Engine Run Checklist: www.douglasdc3.com
Education Resources: www.momomedia.com/CLPEF/camps/poster.html
Elmendorf Air Force Base: www.elmendorf.af.mil
High Gallery: www.highgallery.com
Lockheed P-38 Lightning – USA: www.aviation-history.com
Manzanar Internment Camp: www.cmdrmark.com/manzanar.html
OLIVE-DRAB: www.olive-drab.com
Russia and the Revolution: www.periclespress.com/Russia_atomic.html
Szilard Petition, July 17, 1945: www.dannen.com/decision/pet-gif.html
The History of Chalkyitsik: http://explorenorth.com/library/communities/alaska/bl-Chalkyitsik.htm
The History Place: World War Two in Europe: www.historyplace.com
The Japanese A-bomb: www.fortfreedom.org
The National Archives Learning Curve: www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: www.wikipedia.org
World Atlas Travel: www.worldatlas.com
World Atlas – MSN Encarta: www.encarta.msn.com
World War II Memorial Newsletter: www.wwiimemorial.com/archives/newsletters/winter2000.pdf
A CONVERSATION WITH JIM PROEBSTLE
Growing up in Massillon, Ohio, I always remembered the picture of Roy Proebstle, “Uncle Curly,” on my dad’s chest of drawers in the bedroom. He was a handsome man in his Captain’s dress uniform, flashing a warm smile that reached out to me every time I entered the room. The story about Curly’s death, however, was always buried deep in my father’s heart. Occasionally, I would hear comments between him and my mom, but they were always shrouded in the sad tone invoked by the loss of a best friend. Part of my experience in writing Fatal Incident was the thrill of vicariously participating in that period of Curly and my dad’s life, prior to World War II, when aviation shaped their future paths.
Q. How did you link together the history and fiction components of the story?
A. The timeline of WW II is obviously in place for all to reference. I had to make a decision, however, about just how much of the story surrounding the actual crash I was going to use. I knew that Fatal Incident would involve espionage and treasonous activities, and I did not want to link any of the real crew or passengers with these acts. I concluded that the best way to handle this would be to treat all parties on the plane as fictional characters. Once this was done and some alternate timeline issues were worked out, the story was easier to write.
Q. How did you approach the research effort for the book?
A. I did start with an outline, as I have on other writing projects. This helped to narrow the scope of the research required. At an early stage in the project I just started to fill my mind with everything I could get my hands on that related to pre-war Alaska. Not being a pilot or a veteran or having traveled to Alaska was the real challenge, however. These hurdles added a year to the book while I cobbled together the knowledge I needed. Capable authors, the internet, and a few subject-matter-expert friends were invaluable in filling in my experiential gaps. I found the research process very interesting and exciting as I immersed myself in the details and grew in my understanding of how this story would come together.
Q. What is your most productive time to write?
A. It really depends on my routine and my project involvement in Prodyne, Inc., a consulting firm I started in 1991. Since my office is in the home I can shift gears pretty easily. If I could write five to seven pages at a sitting I felt successful. The morning hours after working out—9 a.m. to noon—are best for me. My energy is stronger and my thinking clearer.
Q. Did you find any useful techniques in getting started with actually writing the novel?
A. Since this story is based on true events experienced by my family, I do have a lot of original pictures, letters, newspaper articles, etc. that can quickly get you into the setting of what happened. My Aunt Millie—Uncle Curly’s wife at the time of the crash—is still living and had saved all of the postcards he had sent as a normal part of their correspondence. Following Uncle Curly’s thoughts gave me the feeling of being there as each postcard identified the various writing locations from Bethel, Alaska, to Edmonton, Alberta. This allowed me to construct a flight map to follow his assignments. These first-hand resources on the players involved were like listening through a wall with your ear to the glass.
Q. How did it feel to write about family members?
A. It was almost like reaching out to touch them via a medium. My father’s work was classified so we never
really knew what he did until after his retirement from Goodyear Aerospace. Constructing dialogue between Nick and Bud (Curly and my father) was exciting; it was like bringing them back to life. My discussion with Aunt Millie added a first-hand perspective on the dating and early married life between she and Curly. My cousins (Millie and Curly’s boys), Bob and Jack Proebstle, shared my excitement and were world-class cheerleaders throughout the effort.
Q. What’s your underlying motive for writing this story?
A. It was after my father’s death when I started digging deeper that I realized the story we were told didn’t hold water. My cousins agreed. Since no one knew what really happened I wanted to write about what could have happened. All accounts of why the crash took place in Fatal Incident are fictional, to be sure, but several possibilities could exist. I wanted to present one of them in order to establish a credible alternative.
Q. What were your biggest learning points is writing Fatal Incident?
A. First: as before with In the Absence of Honor, it’s not only editing, but having the right editor who harmonizes with your writing style while challenging your writing. I still don’t like the red lines, but the book doesn’t exist without them. Jay Hodges, an editor from Greenleaf Book, walked the line between drill sergeant and cheerleader very well. Second: dialogue is as varied as the characters in the story. It’s enjoyable to lock a character into a three dimensional scenario with realistic expressions unique to the character’s senses, emotions, beliefs, culture, and education. I think that this is at the core of good dialogue and will be a continuing educational effort.
Q. What are you writing at present?
A. The more I write and travel, the more ideas I have for stories. Since I’ve not made a commitment to myself for the next project, as yet, I can only say that the choices lie between 1) two fun-filled stories revolving around very different nationally acclaimed athletic events, and 2) a story of a deeply troubled athlete whose very success becomes the devil’s anvil for the athlete’s failure in life. By the time you read this I hope to have made a choice.
Q. How are you staying in contact with readers interested in your work?
A. Three ways primarily: First, the website www.jimproebstle.com will provide updates to activities regarding the progress of the book. I’ll make a commitment to respond to all questions readers may have about the book. Second, I plan to make myself available to book clubs and reading groups that choose Fatal Incident as their book selection. See the website for more details. Third, I find that group presentations bring the story alive to readers. To that end, I plan to make myself available for presentations wherever possible. The feedback will help me become a better writer and I look forward to bringing something new to your event.
QUESTION FOR BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION
Question: How did you react to the interactions in Nick and Martha’s relationship? How might their relationship be different if it was taking place today instead of the 1930s?
Question: How would you deal with the ability to communicate then vs. now? Is a postcard just a slow text message?
Question: Who was your favorite character and why? Which character developed and grew substantially as the story unfolded?
Question: Did you know about the significance of Alaska’s strategic positioning during World War II? Were you aware of the unique relationship between the United States and Russia?
Question: Are you more or less encouraged to learn more about the involvement of Russia’s spy network in the United States during WW II?
Question: What was the emotional letdown experienced by a character that you empathized with or identified with more than any other?
Question: Did you feel like you were there—playing a part in the “big” war? Did the book provide you with a sense of Alaska that was real?
Question: What part of the story would you challenge? Did you feel like any moments were pushed past the test of believability?
Question: What other possible scenario(s) can you think of that could be behind the crash?
Question: How has the author’s writing changed or evolved as compared with his first book, In the Absence of Honor?
There are many more questions of course, but I hope you find these interesting for your book club discussions. With that in mind I make the following offer:
I would be happy to participate in your book club, live or via conference call, to lead a discussion complete with answers to your questions about the characters, the story, or the writing experience itself. Please go to www.jimproebstle.com for details. I find that the more I interact with people interested in reading, the better I become as a writer—in the end we will both benefit from the exchange.
Another Book by Jim Proebstle
In the Absence of Honor
Emerald Book Company, 2008
In the Absence of Honor weaves together the lives of a bewildered, downsized widower; a wealthy, aging megalomaniac; two corrupt members of the local Ojibwe tribal council; and a Department of Interior agent in their battle over a valuable piece of property in northern Minnesota. Money, power, and greed are weaved together in a new story of corruption as casinos take a grip over the economic lifeblood of the reservation.
The story of murder, conspiracy, sex, fraud, and betrayal is set in northern Minnesota. It revolves around the conflict between two corrupt Ojibwe tribal council members and a wealthy brewery executive over an historically important piece of land. Ultimately, Jake, our hero, and Donna, the Department of Interior Agent, are caught up in the discovery of an Indian Mafia network skimming money from casinos throughout the United States. While corruption and greed fill the motivation for some, love and hope are the driving behavior for others. The tale whisks the reader from a small northern community and Indian reservation to powerful forces in Washington, DC.
In the Absence of Honor was honored as a finalist in the 2009 Eric Hoffer Awards for the commercial fiction category, a nominee in the 2009 Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards for the fiction category, and a finalist in the 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards for the mystery/suspense category.
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