Bill explained that the book is about the fun side of the ’70s with the parties and socialization that he experienced, but it’s also about finding a balance.“The protagonist, Truman Forbes, is a KA brother living in the fraternity house, but in the beginning of the story he’s too straight laced,” Bill said. “His girlfriend has jilted him and he’s looking to have some fun. What he finds may be a bit more than he should.”
According to The Tampa Tribune review, “(Forbes transforms) himself from a diligent student and physical fitness nut to a thrill-seeking, decadent party animal.”
Though the book is fiction, not an autobiography, it clearly draws on Bill’s experiences in undergrad. We asked him how brothers he’s spoken with received the story.
“It’s kind of funny,” Bill said. “We threw a launch party for the book in December 2010. It was in Tampa, and we had a lot of brothers show up. In the days that followed, a lot of people were reading the book cover to cover trying to guess who was who.”
“Brothers liked to come up to me and say, was this character him?”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings,” Bill said. “The truth is, the characters are all composites of people I’ve known. There is no one person who is the sole inspiration for any character.”
The reception Peachtree has received has overall been positive from critics, journalists, and his KA brothers, but we asked what the greatest challenge was in writing the book.
“The biggest thing I had to grasp is the element of time in the thing. I had so many stories to tell,” Bill said. “I made it fit into one quarter – we used a quarter system for the school year when I was in Georgia Tech. Once I figured that out, it came easy and the story got a lot tighter.”
Bill commented that it was unusual to graduate from Georgia Tech and become an author. But it seems he came to the field through simple application and determination.
“I had this idea that once you got out of college you just go and make money and be happy. I know a lot of kids think this, but of course it just isn’t that simple,” Bill said.
Bill went to work for his father’s construction business after graduation. During a slow period in the business, Bill took the opportunity to “buy a book and teach myself how to type.”
There were magazines and newspapers to read in the office, and in his downtime Bill started emulating the articles in those publications and submitting letters of inquiry to publications. He started to publish seriously as a sports writer in 1983 and became a full-time sports writer in 1989. He currently writes for MLB.com.
“It’s just like anything – you figure out what you’re passionate about and go for it,” Bill said. “If you do it, you have life licked. Or, at least it’s more enjoyable.”
Bill published his first novel, “The Streak”, in 2002. “Peachtree Corvette Club” was published in 2010.
When asked if his reflections in Peachtree constituted any advice for KA brothers, he said reflectively, “Sure. Some of it is about finding moderation. Enjoying college life while keeping a balance with academics. The protagonist throws that moderation away in one quarter, but ultimately he finds a happy medium where he can have both.”
The author reflects that he understands that need for moderation now, but he had not as much moderation as he would have liked when he was in school. However, his imbalance had more to do with academics than partying.
“People like to believe the book is my memoir, but despite how the book might read, I did spend a lot of time studying instead of getting out,” Bill said. “I regret not taking the time to smell the roses a little big more. You’re like a family there, a community. The intramural sports the parties – there was always something to look forward to.”
Although far from Georgia Tech, Bill keeps in touch with many brothers from his era including: Brian Hutton ’76; Vick Rice ’80; Bob Hume ’80; Jimmy Guyer ’80; Jeff Gigglio ’77; Bob Graham ’76; Grady Brian; Rick Walsh ’80; Jim Elliott ‘79; John Evans ’80; Rick Toole ’79; and Rammy Cone ’77, as well as Buddy Chastain ’77, who is also his blood brother.
“I’d like to go visit the campus and the house more. I go up in the fall for football games and hang around the house once or twice every year,” Bill said. “I think looking back you just remember the good times for the most part. And the main thing you keep is all the time friendships; friends you’ll have forever.”
Andy’s book “Peachtree Corvette Club” is available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble web sites.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Peachtree-Corvette-Club-Bill-Chastain/dp/0979035074/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300560633&sr=1-4
Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Peachtree-Corvette-Club/Bill-Chastain/e/9780979035067/?itm=6&USRI=bill+chastain
Reconnect with Bill at [email protected].