Melvyn Chase

I was Brooklyn-born and -raised at a time when that borough was celebrated in song and story and in the movies, too. The Dodgers were still at Ebbets Field and a ticket to a ball game was so cheap that even a kid's allowance could handle it with ease. A Sunday double-header was an all-day affair, starting with batting practice and providing hours of fun in the sun. And just before the Bums took off for L.A., "we" finally beat the Yankees in the World Series--a victory we would always keep close to our hearts.

And even back then, my private game was writing stories, building castles in the air.

Later, choosing a career, I came down to earth and directed my talent toward public relations, with a specialty in speech-writing. But I never really abandoned my youthful game and finally, coming full circle, I began to write short stories and novels, building brand new castles in the air.

As a reader, I've always enjoyed a broad range of genres and styles, and my own work reflects my eclectic taste. In my books you'll discover serious contemporary character studies and humorous sketches, sci-fi tales and historical fiction--and even a one-act play. This broad-brush approach stirs my imagination, but it complicates efforts to publicize my books. If someone asks, "What is your book about?"--my answer isn't a simple "It's a love story," or "It's a scary fantasy."

But there is a basic theme at the heart of my stories, whatever the genre or style. And that theme is "self-discovery." In a variety of settings, in a variety of ways, the characters I conjure up try (and often succeed) in understanding themselves and shaping or reshaping their lives.

Of course, my commitment to the reader is to make these fictional journeys of self-discovery as stimulating and entertaining as might be wished.

Each of my stories is an open invitation. Come share my imaginary castles with me. No need to hesitate: the key to every one of these castles is something magical that only you can bring: your own imagination.