About Me

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After retirement, for two summers I worked as a tour guide at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in Oregon. This opportunity enabled me to learn more about that lighthouse than any of the others I've seen. Although I have personally visited and photographed over 300 lighthouses in the United States and three Provinces in Canada, the Umpqua River Lighthouse has special meaning for me. That Lighthouse inspired me to write two fictional books with the characters working, living, and enduring the challenges of lighthouse keeping. All pictures posted in this blog were taken by myself, unless noted otherwise.

Book Info.

I hope you will find time to enjoy my books. Preview the book covers below at the right side of page.

Book #1: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse." Detail: "The Wickie and the Umpqua Lighthouse" is an 1860's story about the lighthouse keepers and their families at the Umpqua River Lighthouse. It will stir your emotions and warm your heart. Discover the challenges they met but never expected, and their determination to maintain navigational aid to mariners on the Oregon coast. (Wickie is a nickname used by the early lighthouse keepers at the Umpqua River Lighthouse in OR.)

Book #2: "Spirit of The Lighthouse" is a sequel to The Wickie. Detail: Jesse Fayette, assistant keeper at the Umpqua River Lighthouse, finds himself alone to operate and maintain an Oregon lighthouse after the accidental death of his head keeper. After notifying the Lighthouse Board and requesting help, he is surprised but must deal with an acquaintance, Red Saunders, who believes the lighthouse is haunted.

Book #3: "Unexpected Moments" has a different theme than those of Book #1 and #2. Detail: Dan and Megan, as well as their old friends Jim and Anna, experience unexpected moments of hardships and tragedies in Arizona and California. Will they survive these unexpected moments and find any hope for their futures?

All of my books are available on Amazon.

First Book Review/Comments

The following review/comments were made by individuals who have read "The Wickie."

(Because this first individual did such a detailed review, portions of his review have been omitted to keep readers' in suspense about details of the story.)
7 October 2013
by:  John Clements - San Antonio, TX
      Great debut novel by Alfred Bates. The story in a nutshell is about one particular Umpqua River Lighthouse and its caretakers. A bad storm causes the death of one caretaker and a young replacement, Jesse, is sent in. The surviving caretaker, old veteran Gus, takes Jesse under his wing and shows him the ropes.
     Simple language helps keep you in the time frame of the setting as riverboats, telegraph machines, helpful friends, and generous home cooking fill the gaps. The mood changes quite a bit in the last chapter to one more sorrowful, however the last few pages justify it all and really do put a nice close to the whole enchanting story.
     Full review at GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/735742163




17 October 2013
by:  Gaylyn Gradley - Lihue, HI
      I was so-o-o thrilled with the story, the writing, and especially the ending - I cried! The ending was a delight!!! I recognized so many places and names (all fictional) and with a warm heart felt so close to these people and their thoughts, and lives at both the lighthouses. You did a marvelous job writing this story!



18 October 2013
by:  Margaret Lewis - Wilmington, OH
      I read your book and loved it. Wow! You have done a great job. I really enjoyed it. When does your next one come out? 


24 October 2013
by:  Wanda Neier - Santa Anna, TX
      I enjoyed your book so much. It really held my attention. You did a wonderful job writing that book. I learned about the lighthouses, which I knew little about.



29 October 2013
by: Ernie Anthony - Universal City, TX
     Good story, and the detail about the lighthouses I learned a lot


3 November 2013
by:  Charles Fannin, Pastor of Seniors, FBCUC - Cibolo, TX
      I finished your book and enjoyed reading it. Good story.



3 November 2013
by:  Dale Prince - Saint. Hedwig, TX
      It's a good book and I liked the way it ended. When's the sequel coming out.


2 January 2014
by:  Jim Miranda - Garden Ridge, TX
      Mr. Bates, I've just finished reading Rush Limbaugh's Brave Pilgrims, which is on the New York Times Best selling list. Comparing your book with his, you get an A +++, and his book gets an F +++.  All you need is for Rush to indorse your book and promote it on his radio program, and your book would be on the list of all time greatest sellers.


30 January 2014
by:  Marla Carr - Caldwell, OH
      I just finished "The Wickie", and I really enjoyed it. You really nailed it at the end.


21 February 2014
by: Ann Dickenson - Cibolo, TX
      My eyes have finally let me read, and I am almost finished with your book, "The Wickie". I have enjoyed every page! I'm so glad you wrote it and that I was privileged to read it.


31 March 2014
by: Judy Kagrise - Cincinnati, OH
      I finished your book last night, and I heartily compliment you on a really, really charming story. I learned a lot about running a lighthouse so the book was worth the time to read it for that alone. Also, for a soft cover book it was easy to hold open, certainly not the norm. Your publisher was a good one. The cover is very attractive and of such good design and in pleasing color it is calming to look at. Other than a couple word errors, your proofreaders did well. The little swirly design between time frames was a nice idea, too. Your ending bowled me over! I didn't see it coming and it was a perfect ending to a perfect story. THANK YOU for your book. You certainly knew what you were writing about.


2 October 2014
by:  Diane Freeman - Phoenix, AZ
      Thank you Al for sharing your beautiful photos and stories about Lighthouses! I recommend that everyone get a copy of your book "The Wickie" and read it. The book is very enjoyable and takes us back to a time when life was much simpler but also much harder. I also learned a lot about lighthouses and the families who kept them working to keep mariners safe. I will never look at a lighthouse in quite the same way ever again. Wonderful book!


29 October 2014
by:  Van Matthews -  Universal City, TX
       It seems like every time I see a photo from your blog, I think of your book, "The Wickie." Great book! I like the twist in the plot at the end as it ties it all together. Thank you for all the work you did putting it together.


    


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