Causley takes aim at historical fiction
Local author Fred Causley ’ s first foray into fiction is grounded in one of the state ’ s most iconic historical events – the Dust Bowl .
A columnist and poet , Causley ’ s newest work explores themes of resilience and grit . “ Winds of April ” follows the Carlisle family ’ s choices to stay in an unforgiving environment many others fled .
1 . Can you give us a little of your professional and writing background ?
I graduated in Agricultural Journalism at OSU , later earning a master ’ s degree in Creative Writing , also at OSU . First job out of college was for the Rural Electric Cooperatives of Missouri . I traveled the state two years writing feature articles on people , businesses , events and state attractions for their statewide magazine , now called Rural Missouri . Left there to become the Beef Editor for The Farmer magazine out of St . Paul , Minnesota . The job required far too much time away from family , so we came home to Stillwater after one year . I hired on with OSU ’ s Agricultural Communications department in 1976 until retirement after 26 years .
2 . What brought you to the Dust Bowl ?
As a youngster visiting Oklahoma from Arizona , I noticed the vast fields of wheat waving in the wind . Later I read John Steinbeck ’ s “ The Grapes of Wrath .” Combining the plight of his “ Okies ” moving west and viewing photos and films of Dust Bowl damage piqued my interest . It led me to realize that someone or something – or both – had returned the region to becoming an important part of the breadbasket of the world . The heroes of my story couldn ’ t afford to move away . I interviewed several Dust Bowl survivors and realized what determination and courage they displayed living their lives in the face of such adversity .
3 . How about a nugget of something undiscovered that surprised you when you were researching the Dust Bowl for this book ?
Many people have been surprised to learn that a major cause of America ’ s Dust Bowl was WWI . We had a worse drought in 1954 than that of the 1930 ’ s . But we had learned how to deal with it . Many rural people went to fight in WWI , but agriculture was considered vital to the nation ’ s victory .
Farm people were told that they would be considered heroic to stay home and provide food for our doughboys . Not only that , they were paid higher prices for farm commodities than they ever experienced . War-time wheat reached more than $ 2.50 a bushel .
Farm people were told that they would be considered heroic to stay home and provide food for our doughboys . Not only that , they were paid higher prices for farm commodities than they ever experienced . Wartime wheat reached more than $ 2.50 a bushel . At the same time , technology brought tractors and harvesters and other equipment that was expensive . But the government made financing them easy . When the war ended , wheat prices plummeted to as low as 19 cents a bushel . Honest farmers , wanting to pay their bills , answered their challenges by opening land that should never have seen a plow . When the drought and winds hit , the result was inevitable .
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 12