Senior author follows creative star to Cowichan campus

Manuel Erickson doesn’t waste time.

When he wanted to research trains, he took to the air as the most efficient way to collect information for his first book.

When he wanted to prime his writing career, he took himself to Malaspina University-College, Cowichan campus, as the most efficient way to polish his prose.

Starting this fall, the 71-year-old <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Mill Bay resident will take Creative Writing 120, followed by Creative Writing 100.

“It might whet some creative juices,” he said. “I want to learn more about creative writing, what it is, and what it is supposed to accomplish.”

Erickson is already a published writer. His short story about the rescue of a lobster, Loretta, was included in the 2002 Chicken Soup for the Canadian Soul. He recently published a story in Canadian Aviation Magazine.

His first book, Romance of the Rails in British Columbia, is currently with a publisher. To gather information for the stories, poems, and photographs in the book, he flew his 1956 Cessna 172 to locations throughout British Columbia.

It took him several years to write the book, learning his craft as he wrote. He discovered a talent for fictionalizing historical events, an ability to transform scanty facts into engaging stories.
One story details what might have happened when a 75-ton, 1907 Shay locomotive fell off a barge and was dragged ashore at Beaver Cove near Port McNeill in 1941. From the brief facts he found, Erickson crafted a dramatic vignette.   

He is also writing his memoirs, started a science fiction novel, and composes music.

Enrolling at Malaspina University-College continues his interest in lifelong learning. He was 35 when he enrolled at the University of Waterloo to complete a degree in Political Science.
At 45 he learned how to pilot a small plane.

Although the Cowichan campus offers writing through Continuing Education, Erickson opted for the challenging degree program. For seniors, the credit courses are free, and can lead to upper level courses in editing and publishing.

“My interest in education is life long, it is part of who I am. So I follow my star,” he said.