frank eckblom Profile

A WWII navy combat veteran, my writing career started with stories in the 6th Grade. Currently I am writing, printing, publishing fictional stories about the Gold Rush in the Mother Lode of California. I started Eckblom Publishing Co. in June 1967 with the Twain Harte Daily News. I published and sold newspapers in the area until Feb. 2005 when I sold a newspaper I had started in Calaveras County CA, namely Valley Springs Daily News. My adventurous life began in New York Harbor as a deckhand on an Excursion boat up the Hudson River at age 15. I learned seamanship and continued working harbor boats, including a stint on a coastwise oil tanker, until June 1944 when I was accepted in the Navy. A highlight in my life was taking care of a 60 foot Ketch out of St. Thomas in the Virgin Island where I wrote several plays and one novel (none of them have been published). Since I sold my last newspaper I have spending much time maintain my health by riding a stationery bike, working out on a pull-push apparatus and walking. My daily workouts of 1.5 hours resulted in the loss of 45 pounds. I feel great and look forward to every day and the hope that more people will read my stories, six in all, that are posted on my website www.californiaforme.com/ Life is good.