Q & A

My grandfather, Arlie Hascall, was from David City. He took me gopher hunting and called me Skipper Pete all the time. I thought he just didn't remember my name. The endearing name stayed with me and, the truth is, I love the name, Skipper Pete. So, that's the name I have for my website and my works. Thanks Grandpa Hascall. 

My next novel is Gnomio and Ouliette about a gnome and elf falling in love during a war against their clans by a creature bent on burning down their lands.

Skipper Pete is a series in fantasy, YA fiction. The Adventures of Skipper Pete is four books; the adventures take place in North America. A young boy, Skipper Pete, crosses The Bridge of Transition ruled by a beast, "The Creek Monster" The story is steeped in Native American mythology and North American mythological creatures. Book I, II, and III are done. Book IV, "Battle in the Gray" - I'm working on the story and look forward fall of 2026.

I am against the ongoing acceptance of AI in the general public around the world. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Stop thinking it is okay for a machine to do for you! The Terminator, The Matrix, you saw the movies. We must do for ourselves and not wind up a slave to a device capable only of ones and zeros. There is nothing original in a one or a zero. Copying the works of myself or other fiction authors is a crime. Using our works to aid a learning computer is a crime when that computer uses our works to sell to other people. Will you accept a pilotless plane? Will you accept a computer that decides between good and bad? We have our emotions and our moral compass and those are not calcutable. Stop selling your independence for comfort or laziness. 

Yes, I have two YouTube channels; here are the direct links: Skipper Pete Books or  Skipper Pete Travel or Michael Lachance

From life, from my wild imagination, from people watching and saying to myself, "what if?" What if that guy waiting near the jetway door looked around him at a fever pitch. Every movement from people's legs, to pets paws, to the janitor by the bathroom picking his nose caught his attention. And then, the police show up. He fidgets, hands wringing one over the other, and then he shouts, "they are following me!" There ya go...;)>.

My favorite books are: While England Sleeps by David Leavitt. I think it perfectly told a slice of life story and I loved the characters. The Boys in the Brownstone by Kevin Scott was a great character read. The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst was set in 1983 (the year I graduated HS!); it also hit home that while I was in the Air Force, Regan was President and there was no way a man on active duty could be anything more than just a man, a straight man. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller was a triumph and, I felt, uniquely told about the years of Achilles and Patroclus; I love the story of The Iliad and felt that this novel added spice.

Please check the events calendar. 

My desk is a mess; I used to keep everything in its place, but I find that's harder with a growing collection of paper notes, new books, and my thoughts that there's a pile for it. 

My favorite author is David Leavitt and his book, "While England Sleeps". I'm also keen on Madeline Miller - Song of Achilles and Circe.

My favorite genre is romance.  I love historical stories where, against incredible odds, love prevailed.

I am against book bans and censorship. I believe we, as a whole world of people, have to mature and trust our fellow readers to know what to do about material that foments hate toward a specific group of people or how to make a bomb. I do not believe we've reached the apex of reading maturity.