NEXT CHAPTER AUTHOR

Gary Beene

Gary Beene grew up on a farm in southern New Mexico. At Las Cruces High School, he studied the 440-yard dash and continued that study in college. He was not much of a student, but he sure could run. People used to say "Gary has wheels!" Now, he just has flat tires.

Gary worked with and for people with disabilities for thirty years. During his career, he served as the New Mexico's State Director of Special Education, State Director of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Assistant Secretary of Education.

Gary now lives and writes in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife, Carla. A cat and a dog contribute their thoughts to Carla’s and Gary’s writing efforts by walking across the keyboards from time to time.

IN THE AUTHOR’S WORDS

Author interview

Interview submitted 14 August 2026.

What inspired you to start writing?

Oh my! My memory does not work that well. I have wanted to write since I was a child. Life's intervening events drove me in a different direction.

I had many opportunities to write throughout my career, but most of that was technical, research, and report writing.

I "retired" rather young because a book in my head kept begging to be written...so I did.

Who are some of your favorite authors and books?

There are so many great writers and even more great books.

Far Pavilions by M.M. Kaye

Mists of Avalon by Marion Z. Bradley

Almost everything Ken Follett writes

The Black Rose by Thomas Costain

Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

The Talisman by Stephen King

As I look at the books in our library I wonder where I could possibly stop with this list.

What would you like to tell readers who have just discovered your books, but haven't read one yet?

The nonfiction and fiction books are DIFFERENT! The subject matter, writing style and intent vary dramatically.

If you haven't read the Eden's Angels series yet, try it...you'll like it.

Who is the favorite character you created, and how did they come into being?

Interestingly, my favorite character is one of the minor characters in Alien Genesis. I suppose, as the author, I am like all of the other characters in the book. "Everyone loves Alicia."

What are your future plans as a writer?

After finishing the last book in the Eden's Angels trilogy, I dusted off a set of short stories and submitted them to Next Chapter Publishing. "The Word of Gods" was published in June 2026.

I am now working on a speculative literary fiction story. Because it is so different from anything I have written before, I'm afraid to even venture a guess as to when the novel will be ready for prime time.