Published: February 04, 2008 10:46 am      

Fairytale colored by values

STATE LINE, Ind. — Paul Hackett still can remember many of the fairytales and stories he read while growing up. Now, at 60, he wants to share some of those values and adventures with a new generation.

Hackett does so in his first book, “Hady’s Quest,” a 57-page paperback geared toward young adults.

The main character, Hady, has the ability to know the true hearts of her suitors. If their intentions are not pure, she causes their hearts to turn cold to everyone. The women are jealous of her beauty and the men fear her.

She starts on a quest to find a certain person who may be able to resolve the cause of her “curse.”

The book has heartache, adventure, life lessons, an unexpected romance and a surprise ending.

“It’s a rather enchanting story of looking for love in the wrong place and finding it in the right place,” said Marge McLain, postmaster in State Line who has read the book. “It has an unexpected outcome — not what you’d think — on how she finds love.”

McLain called the book a page-turner, adding, “You don’t know what to expect. It’s a little out of the ordinary. It’s an interesting story.”

Hackett, who lives in State Line, said he thinks today’s children and young adults may have trouble relating to some of the futuristic characters they see in movies and on television. Also, modern entertainment seems to lack the morals and lessons that the older fairytales tried to convey.

“Most of the lessons and moral implications of several of the older stories are still valid and apply as much in today’s world as they did back when they were first written,” he said. “Human nature has not changed all that much.”

The old stories taught values, offered adventures and had characters children could relate to, he said.

Hackett added, “I’m just an old-fashioned-type person.”

One of his philosophies is: “Whatever your quest in life may be, make it also an adventure.”

Hackett, a warehouse associate, has worked at NACCO for 38 years. In his free time, though, he has always enjoyed writing.

He’s working on his second book, tentatively called “Blood Brothers,” about two orphans who run away and have adventures.

Hackett came up with the idea for “Hady’s Quest” and began writing in 2005, using his breaks at work to handwrite the story. His daughter was too busy to type up his notes, so he taught himself how to type.

Along the way, he probably rewrote it four or five times, he said, and asked people to read it.

Once he had finished, he sent a manuscript to PublishAmerica, a print-on-demand company, which suggested illustrations.

Hackett eventually came across Breanna Sipple of Clarks Hill, Ind., then 17, who illustrated the book during the course of a year.

While growing up in the Bismarck area, Hackett enjoyed reading classic comics and other stories of adventure. He began writing down some of his thoughts and opinions, as well as dreams and fantasies.

“I have always enjoyed writing,” he said. “I write about people I’ve met, short poems, a couple of songs, different events, personal feelings and do a considerable amount of philosophizing.”

After graduating from Bismarck-Henning High School in 1965, he spent a few months attending DeVry Tech in Chicago and then joined the Army, serving three years during the Vietnam era.

He and his wife, Elza, a nurse at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, have three sons, Travis and Darren, who served in Iraq, and Shawn, and a daughter, Amber, plus three grandchildren.

He also enjoys nature, forages for wild edibles and herbs, and collects antiques, especially from the late 1800s through the early 1960s. He hopes to open his own museum someday.



TO ORDER

Paul Hackett’s book, “Hady’s Quest,” will be available Feb. 11. However, it can be pre-ordered through http://www.amazon.com, http://www.publishamerica.com and bookstores.