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Author Bio:)
Jim
Beard is a speaker on topics such as traditional living and natural spirit
teachings. His topics address many concerns to do with wellness and
balance in life. He is a student of native teachings from Ojibwe Elders,
Algonquin language based people, living throughout the Great Lakes Region of
the US and Canada. The audiences for his presentations vary from youth to
elderly.
Please tell us about your latest book:
Some
things in life happen that one could never foresee. The story you are about to
read is about one of those things. Like most people, my life was pretty well
laid out for me. Growing up in a small town in western New York, going to
school, serving in the military, getting a job, getting married and raising a
family. The typical American dream.
The
walk that follows was so far from my path that I doubt anyone even twenty years
ago would have guessed that it would be how I would spend the rest of my life.
My past wives and family knew me, as did my peers, as a business man and one
who was vested in my community in Southern New Hampshire. Serving on boards of
non profits, going to Rotary, doing Chamber of Commerce functions and running
an insurance agency were a part of what I saw as my whole life. I was a three
piece suit.
What
would come to be was never intended in my mind. In a time of transition, I
began to look for answers about living that seemed to be missing in my life. It
seemed as if the fulfillment of the promise of the American dream was somehow
incomplete. I began to look for something to fill in the missing pieces. As I
searched for that missing part I almost literally stumbled on the first people
of this land. As I began to learn of their continued existence, they led me on
an extraordinary path of understanding. These people who I did not even know
still existed continue to have the gifts of a beautiful culture that respects
all things. The goal for me then became to find those gifts.
With
the history between the original people of this land and the people who have
more recently come here, it can be difficult to gain an understanding of the
depth of the teachings within the culture of the Native American Indian. The
trust level is understandably not there. The oral teachings carried by the
Elders are not openly shared with just anyone who would ask.
The original intent of my quest was to
gain new insight and add it to my existing life. It was not to change my
lifestyle or relationships. What came about began to take me from the life I
had known and to begin an adventure into a different world. I found myself in
transition to a person that I did not know existed within myself. My white
heritage would be enhanced by the ancient teachings that we all once had. I
would learn to wear white moccasins to walk a red road in order to better
understand the original teachings of my own people. The path that I would
follow would give me a new family, a new community to be a part of and a new
identity beyond anything I could have imagined. The life style, values and
dedication of my life would now change for the rest of my time. To all of this
I can only say, miigwich! thank you!
Q. How long did it take to write the book?
A. In real time about six months. The
writing was sporadic over three years.
Q. What inspired you to write the book?
A. My children and past wives were my
inspiration. I was not attempting to write a book so much as to write an
explanation to my family to help them understand the path in life that I had
taken. The path that led me away from being a family and business man. I guess
I wanted them to understand why Dad went crazy and that maybe it wasn’t so
crazy as it seemed at the time.
Q. Talk about the writing process. (do you write at
night or in the morning)
A. For me writing is a way to relax. I am
very active in all the things I do and I enjoy every moment of my life. When I
am tired and want to chill out I often find myself writing bits and pieces.
Sometimes the bits and pieces become whole stories and other times they are
just a thought or concept,
Q. Did you use an outline or do you just
wing the first draft?
A. I guess one would say that I winged it.
I did some outlining to determine timelines or to reconstruct conversations
that occurred in the writing.
Q. How is your book different from others
in your genre?
A. The first
sentence of the book is a question for one thing. “What do you want me to do?”
Most fellow writers advised against that. The book lays out what it takes to
find a Native Elder that will share the inner teachings of spirit and cultural
ways of the Native American Indian. It takes the reader on a journey into the
depth of ancient teachings and ceremony that few, other than native people, have
experienced. There are no books that take someone through that process in
detail that I have found.
Q. Is your book published in print, e-book
or both?
A. The book is in Hard Cover, Paper Back
and e-book
Q. What do you hope your readers come away
with after reading your book?
A. Most important, the realization that
they must pursue their dreams. What came to be for me was not what I thought I
was after yet it is the best gift any man could ask for. I know who I am. I
know where I came from and I know where I am going. Every moment in life is a
gift and I have been gifted the way to live it.
Q. Where can we go to buy your book?
Q. Tell us about your next book or a work
in progress. Is it a sequel or a stand alone?
A. What is in this book tells of the
pivotal experiences of a progression through the teaching of my Elder over
twenty or so years. I am presently writing on several subjects and more than
one book will come. One writing is about Rangering on Mt Monadnock in New
Hampshire. Another tells of travels with my Native brothers and sisters but in
a novel format rather than a biographical way. I will always be writing and who
knows what will come. I look forward to writing and can’t wait to see what
comes myself.
Q. Any other links or info you'd like to
share?
Title: White Mocs on the Red Road ~
Walking Spirit in a Native Way
Author: James B. Beard aka
Noodin
Page count: 178
Genre: Life experience, biography,
Publisher: Lulu Publishing,
James B Beard
Excerpt from book:
Man or Spirit
It
was still dark out. I thought I heard
something outside my tent and awoke with a start. What was that I wondered? Then I heard a crackling of a fire and saw
light on the side of my tent. The
crackling was close. That is my
fire! I had put it out last night so how
could it have started up with no wood. I
heard someone pick up a piece of kindling and put it into the fire. It couldn’t be the kids?!
“This
is my camp!” I said, in as strong and firm a voice as I could muster. “Can I help you?” I tensely waited for a response.
A
quiet, yet also strong, male voice came back.
“Are you looking for someone to tell you about the Iroquois
people?”
“Yes
I am.” I answered.
“Why
don’t you come out and we can talk?”
Said the voice from outside my tent.
I
quickly put on my pants and shirt, thinking to myself, this can’t really be
happening. Who is this guy and what have
I gotten myself into this time?
As
I came out of my tent I looked up at the man standing on the other side of the
fire. He was tall, about 6’2” and had a
strong solid looking build. His hair was
black with gray streaks and hung loosely over his shoulders and down his
back. Even with the gray in his hair he
didn’t look much older than his mid forties.
His jeans were weathered and he wore an old sweatshirt with a faded
picture of whales on it. The features of
his face were unmistakably Indian and he had a proud and contented look about
him. He looked to have a quiet and
gentle demeanor and to be very much at peace with himself.
“I
knew you were coming.” he said. “I had a
dream two weeks ago that you and your children would be here and would camp in
this place.”
I
was taken back a little. How could this man find us out here? I thought, what did he mean, he knew we were
coming?
“I
brought coffee,” he continued, and handed me a cup of Dunkin Donuts
coffee. The coffee was hot, fresh and
strong. No sugar added. It was just the way I like it.
I
went over to my car and took out a red wrap of tobacco to give him. I wanted him to see that I was aware of the
customs of the Native people.
“I
brought tobacco.” I said, and handed a cloth wrap of tobacco to him.
He
took it and said; “I know.”
What
is this? I thought. This isn’t
believable.
He
invited me to sit down and he sat on the other side of the fire. He put a donut bag down beside him, and said,
“My name is Maize and I am from the Cattaraugus Reservation over by Lake Erie.”
He
looked up at me and straight into my eyes, yet somehow deeper. “Why do you ask about us?” He said.
I
thought to myself; well that is cutting to the quick of it.
I
answered; “I want my children to know the truth about Native American
people.”
He
didn’t say anything for a moment and looked back at the fire. Then he slowly looked up, looking me straight
in the eyes again, and asked more slowly; “Why
do you ask about us?”
I
told him that I want to understand spirit teachings of the people. What I have found about my own ancestors
doesn’t give me what I am seeking and I am looking to the Indian to see if what
I seek is there.
Now
I had said it! I am seeking an
understanding of the spirit teachings of the Indian. I have felt drawn in this direction as I have
become aware of the Indian over the past year or so.
He
answered; “There are those who are Indian in heart, which must be why I heard
you. I will talk to you and your
children. Wake them and ask them to join
us. I brought donuts for them. I will smoke this tobacco you gave me tonight
when I get home.”
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Jim
Beard is a speaker on topics such as traditional living and natural spirit
teachings. His topics address many concerns to do with wellness and
balance in life. He is a student of native teachings from Ojibwe Elders,
Algonquin language based people, living throughout the Great Lakes Region of
the US and Canada. The audiences for his presentations vary from youth to
elderly. 
I do know this. There are
moments when Spirit chooses to appear to us and, for me, they are not
happenstance. I believe that Spirit will show a sign or act as a guide in a
time when there is need. Our task becomes a challenge to understand the
message. 
Many years ago when I was
still a young father in my late twenties I had such a visit, or I should say,
my second oldest daughter had a visit. It was around midnight and everything
was silent through the house. My oldest daughter was ten and sleeping soundly
in her room. I awoke and went to the bathroom. Our bedroom had a bathroom
connected to the master bedroom and, knowing my way, I did not use a light. As
I re-entered the master bedroom I noticed the whole room was filled with
light. Not a light of lamps but almost like daylight only with a white hew. My
wife awoke and said to turn the lights off. I answered that I did not have 
Last summer my daughter, now in her mid thirties, was out biking
on a path in the foothills in Colorado. She loves to do marathon bike rides
among many other outdoor activities. Her one big hang up in this world is
snakes. She hates them and cannot even stay in a room if there is a picture of
one on TV or in a magazine. Not an unusual thing to fear snakes. While she was
riding she came down a path and around a turn. On the path in front of her was
a large rattle snake lying across the path. She posted this incident on
Facebook that day. “I ran into a snake on the path today but I am okay”. I read
her post and knowing of her fear I immediately phoned her to make sure she was
okay. She asked me if I remembered the ball of light I had witnessed when she was
a little girl. When I affirmed the memory she told me, “When I turned the
corner and saw the snake, a ball of white light appeared and guided me past the
snake.” Thank you Spirit for what you do watching over my little girl. Thank
you Spirit for what you do watching over my sister Hannah.
