Work of fiction, based on a true story, is the first title for Janice Beetle Books imprint

SOUTH HADLEY—Janice Beetle, owner of Janice Beetle Books LLC, will discuss a client’s book, Flight of Integrity, and read from it on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at South Hadley Public Library. 

Beetle developed the book with Peter Cichon of South Hadley over the past four years. The work, with cover and page design by Lisa Stowe in Florence, tells the story of Cichon’s former career as a ramp agent for a major airline that is now defunct. 

“Peter’s experience there traumatized him,” Beetle said. “His reason for telling his story was to free himself of the shame he felt after he and the airline parted ways.”

Flight of Integrity is the first title published through Janice Beetle Books and carries the business imprint along with that for Off the Common Books in Amherst, which printed the work. Through Janice Beetle Books, Beetle works with writers of all skill levels—as well as nonwriters—to help them carry a book idea through to publication. She also offers writing coaching services.

The reading is free and open to the public; South Hadley Public Library is located at 2 Canal St. 

Beetle will tell the story of how she and Cichon partnered to tell this story, and she will read several excerpts from the book. Beetle and Cichon will answer questions from the audience.

The book is available at https://www.levellerspress.com/product/flight-of-integrity/.

While the book is fictionalized, it is based on Cichon’s life and career path as well as on facts and actual characters and events. 

In it, the main character is James Kowalski, who grew up poor and developed a work ethic that served him well. Kowalski became an exceptional laborer and was praised by every employer he had. Working as a truck driver, he dreamt of changing his career and fantasized about working at an airline. 

When he was finally offered a job as a ramp agent—loading and unloading baggage and maintaining airplanes for Arrow Airlines at Bradley International Airport—Kowalski jumped at the opportunity. He also took on the volunteer role of managing employee payroll because he loved being a part of the success of the airline.

Sexual harassment was common in the workplace, and race relations were troubled. The book details incidents and the players involved and tells the story of how events played out for Kowalski.

Judith Kelliher, a longtime colleague of Beetle’s, helped Beetle conduct interviews early in the process and also copyedited the manuscript. 

For more information, visit JaniceBeetleBooks.com.

The post Authors to Read from Flight of Integrity on Nov. 5 appeared first on Beetle Press.