A young boy needs someone to attach himself to. Someone to follow around and look up to.From my earliest days, there was never a doubt who that someone in my life would be. Grandpa Fred Balke.When a boy has no brothers or male playmates living nearby, but has a father who was less than exemplary in his fathering, it's only natural to look elsewhere for companionship and guidance.In the pages of this book, I've shared my most intimate memories of my life with Grandpa. As you read, I'm sure you'll find that many of your memories are very similar to mine. Grandpa Balke was a special man. In my eyes, he walked on water. Randy Linss was born on January 13, 1958, in Clinton, Missouri. His cherished boyhood experiences of growing up in a picturesque storybook village of a slower, simpler day provide much of his writing inspiration today. He was a 1976 graduate of Cole Camp High School before studying creative writing at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Missouri.His adult years have been spent in various entrepreneurial ventures across the upper Midwest. He has lived his entire life in Missouri cities, including Columbia, Jefferson City, and Rolla, before retiring to his current home in Clinton, near the shores of Truman Lake, where he and his partner and proofreader, Beverly, enjoy a simple, quiet life.His hobbies include reading, writing, hiking, bicycling, and following his beloved St. Louis Cardinals.
