About Alton J. Myers

Alton J. Myers , the author, is a native of Ohio, born and raised on a farm. He first became a science and mathematics teacher, teaching in Ohio schools after receiving a B.S. in Education degree from The Defiance College in northwest Ohio where he was born. During his time of teaching high school, he earned a Master of Arts degree from Bowling Green State University, also in the field of science and mathematics. Additional studies took him to the University of Detroit to study atomic and nuclear physics during the summer that riots occurred there in 1967.

After thirteen years of high school teaching, the author began the road to becoming a Presbyterian minister. He attended and received a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, in December, 1975. He was pastor of three different Presbyterian churches over a career of 21 years, in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. During this time as a minister, he became interested in the Thirty Years’ War, the time of the Counter-Reformation. As he taught and learned of this important time in our European history, he discovered in 1984 that he had some Swedish ancestors of which he was previously unaware.

This discovery stirred interest in how this ancestry may have come about. After speaking with Swedish authorities, he found that a number of German families migrated to Sweden during the turmoil of 17th century Germany. Thus the beginnings of a book about this era began to stir in his mind.

The author retired early to begin this project of writing a book, in the summer of 1997. It was back to Bowling green State University that summer to begin a two-year stint as a SAGE student (Senior Adult Grants IN Education). German language, history and English courses in Imaginative and Creative Writing workshops were the focus. The third year was spent in research at the library at BGSU.

Then the outline of the book Calico Dance began. By the winter of 2001, actual writing of the book took place, extending over a year, along with revisions until the final product came about. From farm life, to teacher, to minister, to author, Alton has sought to follow a dream, a vision, a calling he has felt was important to each stage of his life.

Now, a second novel, “Sizzlin’ Summer Surprise” has been written. This historical fiction comes out of personal experience of the author. It is his eye-witness account of the 1967 riot in Detroit. Like the first book, he wrote there is much truth contained in its story; yet room is given to imagine and adjust the account to keep interest high.