Local author Michael Bean has a unique insight on the trials that middle schoolers face. Not only was he once a middle schooler himself, but he also teaches middle school students at Vance Charter School. That insight has contributed to Bean writing a book simply called “Jazz.” The book follows the character Mitchell Williams as he navigates the intricacies of middle school at fictional King’s Hollow.
The coming of age story is told through two intersecting yet different timelines, one as a middle schooler and one as a high schooler. Mitchell has to deal with bullies, preparing for band competition with the school’s jazz group as they raise money for a trip to New York and with meeting a girl.
Bean says the book started off as a story about himself. “After I started writing it, I realized I was not all that interesting,” Bean said on Tuesday’s TownTalk with Bill Harris. “That’s when I changed the characters name from Michael to Mitchell and realized I could throw everything at a fictional character,” Bean continued.
The beginnings of the book date back to 2020 and was written in about a year, according to Bean. “I edited it eight times,” Bean added. The book is self published, and his son designed the cover. The book is available through Walmart and Barnes & Noble. An e-book is available through Amazon.
To help draw attention to the writer’s efforts, Bean will host a book signing in the Farm Bureau Room at Perry Memorial Library on Breckinridge Street in Henderson on Saturday, August 12th from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Bean said he initially ordered 75 books for the signing, but interest has been so good he ordered an additional 100 books for the event.
While this is Bean’s first novel, he has more writing on the horizon he said. “I have two other books I’m working on and a graphic novel,” Bean said. It’s a slower process Bean said with these projects. “Jazz” was written during the pandemic, but now Bean is back to teaching, attending Vance Charter athletic events and he and his wife have three children of their own so there isn’t as much time to write as before.
With “Jazz” Bean hopes that not only teenagers but everyone will find something to identify with and see something of themselves in the pages he has written.
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