< Previous80 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 CURRENTS | BOOKS STRANGER THAN FICTION Long before COVID, author began writing thriller about dangerous virus story by BARBARA CANETTI | photo by HANNAH STURTECKY D ianne May didn’t have a premonition or any inside knowledge about the COVID-19 pandemic when she sat down to write her first novel, “Factor-7.” The book, which is set in Galveston and centers on a federal infectious disease labo- ratory and possible worldwide deadly virus, has all the markings of a story taken from the headlines. The island actually is home to the Galveston National Laboratory at the Universi- ty of Texas Medical Branch, where researchers and doctors are studying COVID-19. But May wrote the original version more than 20 years ago. Factor-7 is a suspenseful saga of two Galveston doctors who seek to learn more about an infectious virus devel- oped to destroy specific populations, determined by genetic markings. The book is filled with science, intrigue, medical situations, murder, death, love and some titillating sex scenes. May, a former advertising executive and third-generation Texan, lives near South Padre Island in Bayview, a tiny seaside community of 380 residents. There, she and her husband, Buster Vicars, volunteer as animal activists and foster wayward feral cats. She paints and is involved with an art co-op in Port Isabel, where she shows her coastal acrylic works. But writing is her true passion, and something she has wanted to do her whole life, she said. May gets started early in the morn- ings pounding on the keyboard and “listening” to her characters, who write her stories, she said. “They talk to me and tell me what they want to say,” May said. “They tell me where they want the story to go.” In the 1990s, May wrote the first version of Factor-7, she said. But the death of her first husband, and then finding out two weeks later she was pregnant, forced book writing to a back burner. Years later, her daughter Annlyn, now 28, found the original manuscript and encouraged her moth- er to re-write and update the story. “It is barely the same as the original, except the main characters and the title,” said May, who publishes under the name J.D. May. “I’m almost obses- sive. Sometimes, I write all day and into the night. As long as I am ‘hear- ing’ it, I don’t want to stop writing.” She works without outlines, al- though she makes notes along the way, she said. Sometimes, she’s un- certain what will happen two or three chapters ahead. “The ending came to me in a dream,” she said. “I had to get up in the middle of the night and write it.” Although May has spent time in Galveston, she can’t answer why she decided to place the story and char- acters in this city. Perhaps, she said, it’s because one of the story’s focus is a laboratory with a mission similar to the Galveston National Laboratory and the role it plays in the interna- tional investigation of viruses and infectious diseases. In the book, she also refers to Tiki Island, Friendswood and places in Houston, and based her knowledge of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico and several places in Italy on her personal observations while traveling, she said. When she completed the renewed draft in 2019, viruses were being studied and discussed but weren’t the headline news they are today. In fact, as she completed her final draft of “Factor-7” in 2020, she was able to make several references to COVID-19, which gave the book and its theme an up-to-date vibe. The virus she writes about was manmade and stolen by dangerous people who shouldn’t have access to deadly pathogens. There is so much science in the book — nothing very complicated or complex, but enough that it’s obvi- ous May had to do her homework. Although she likes science now, her only formal education in the field was in high school, she said. “I had to do a ton of research for the book, but as an author of fiction, you can take a little bit of facts and make up the rest if you have enough information to back it up,” she said. “But now I real- ly love science and medicine.” May plans to write a sequel because she wants to visit again with her char- acters, she said. “I miss them,” she said. “They had become so much a part of my life that I want to hear them again.” “I’m almost obsessive. Sometimes, I write all day and into the night. As long as I am ‘hearing’ it, I don’t want to stop writing.” DIANNE MAY COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 8182 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 STEM TO STERN ‘MAGIC BOAT’ Island couple’s 214LR Stingray brings family and friends together story by MATT DEGROOD photos by JENNIFER REYNOLDS J udy and Gary Houston’s 2018 214LR Stingray bears no official name, but the Galveston couple hung a flag proclaiming it, “Magic Boat,” along with a slogan, “It makes money disappear.” The Houstons are under no illusions about their boat, the first they’ve owned since one they brought to the area in 1978 — its main purpose is to draw their grandchildren to the island, Gary said. “Living in Galveston, a boat is a really nice benefit,” he said. “There’s a lot to see and do. It’s a great alternative form of entertainment and gives you something to do with your friends and family. There’s a lot of camarade- rie among boaters down here.” The Houstons’ new Stingray, which they purchased in March, is the latest step in their island retirement plan, they said. They first moved to Houston in 1978 for work, and purchased their first Galveston getaway home in Indian Beach in 2008. They sold that one and bought a home in Galves- ton’s West End island neighborhood Evia in April 2015. Now full-time island residents, the Hous- tons decided to pursue the next part of their plan — a boat. “We went and looked at a lot, trying to Gary and Judy Houston have joined the island boating scene with their 2018 214LR Stingray. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 83 figure out what we wanted,” Gary said. “We ultimately decided we wanted something more to take out for the day and enjoy. We aren’t into fishing just yet, maybe when the grandkids are older, but we can do that in this boat just fine.” The couple eventually found the 2018 model they purchased at a Kemah dealer- ship, Gary said. The boat is 22 feet long with a 200 horsepower engine and can seat up to 11 people. “It’s a glorified ski boat or day cruiser,” he said. A major selling point for the specific model is the outboard engine, which is easier to maintain in a saltwater environ- ment, he said. The boat features an onboard restroom. And the Houstons also paid to have two holes drilled into the boat to serve as a rest- ing place for fishing rods, should a grand- child one day take up fishing, Judy said. Al Fink founded Stingray Boats in 1979 with two molds, according to the compa- ny’s website. Since then, the South Caroli- na-based boat manufacturer has grown to include 23 models. Ever since the Houstons purchased their Stingray in March, it has proven to be a huge hit both with the family, neighbors and friends, Judy said. “We wanted it as big as it is so it could seat the whole family,” she said. “We love in- viting friends over to go on the boat. We’ve done that a lot this summer.” Their adult sons and their growing number of grandchildren love to visit, the Houstons said. The Houstons thus far have taken the boat out to Offatts Bayou and Lake Made- line in Galveston, among other nearby locations, they said. One day soon they hope to cruise up to Kemah and, perhaps, venture over to Bolivar Peninsula, Gary said. 84 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 HOOKED LOOK BEFORE YOU BUY Before you acquire a boat, know where you’re going and what you need Story and photos by CAPT. NATE SKINNER J anuary typically kicks off boating season in Texas. That doesn’t mean folks are flocking to the water with their boats in tow in the ever-changing winter weather. It means most boaters and anglers have the spring and summer fishing seasons on their minds. With boat shows and hot deals, January launches a period when a lot of people start thinking about boats. No matter what bay they’re fishing, most anglers have one thing in common that stands between them and the species they pursue, and that’s the vessel they depend on to carry them to the fishing grounds. Now, I’m not saying you can’t catch fish in our upper coast estuaries without a reliable, seaworthy bay boat, but having access to one sure does make it easier and can provide you with more options. And when it comes to fishing, options are good. Whether you’re looking to buy a new or used boat, or you’ve already got one, there are several aspects that all boat-bound anglers should consider. If fishing the skinny water of back lakes and marshes is your preference, then you likely will need a flat bottom, skiff or catamaran style of hull to take you there. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 85 The only thing standing between anglers and the species they pursue is a reliable, seaworthy bay boat.86 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 HOOKED UNDERSTAND YOUR BOAT’S LIMITATIONS First and foremost, it’s extremely import- ant to know how your boat or the boat you’re fishing out of will handle a variety of scenarios and conditions. Despite what some boat manufacturers might claim, there isn’t one hull that can do it all. Some are made to run and float in skinny water, and others are made to take on rough open bays with ease. Very few do both. Knowing a vessel’s limitations will help you decide where you can and cannot take a boat, which ultimately will help you narrow down your targeted fishing grounds. Under- standing the limitations of a vessel also will ensure that you and your fishing buddies are safe each time you hit the water. At the very least, anglers should maintain a good idea of how much water the boat that they’re fishing from needs to float. This typically is referred to as the vessel’s draft. A boat that drafts 9 inches means it can float in as little as 9 inches of water. Another must-know about a vessel is how much water is needed for the craft to jump up on plane. This is the water depth necessary for the boat operator to throttle the engine forward until the boat levels or planes out as it’s running across the water surface. If it’s too shallow, the boat won’t be able to get up and get going, which could be dangerous in emergency situations. Other vital information to know about a boat include how fast it can go, how far it can travel on a full tank of fuel, how it han- dles large waves and rough water, and how operating the vessel’s electronics and other accessories affect the life of the batteries used to power them. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO It’s worth saying again there isn’t really a boat hull out there that can do it all. After learning the limitations of a particular ves- sel, anglers should consider just what it is they want to accomplish on the water, and then choose a vessel that can help them achieve those goals. For example, if you want to fish super-shal- low marshes and back lakes, then you’ll likely Understanding the limitations of a vessel will keep you safe and help you narrow down your targeted fishing grounds. COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 87 Network Funding Your Local Mortgage Company Voted best mortgage company in Galveston county by the daily news in 2019 Voted best mortgage company in Galveston county by the daily news in 2019 Matt Hawkes | Branch Manager matt.hawkes@nflp.com | (713) 521-0413 Apply at nflp.com/matthawkes 1009 Broadway St., Galveston, TX 77550 NMLS# 201887 need a flat-bottom skiff or catamaran-style hull to get you where you want to be. If you would rather travel long distances across deeper, open bay waters, then a V-hull proba- bly will fit your needs much better. WEAR A KILL SWITCH Even though it’s now the law in Texas, I still see hundreds of folks regularly operat- ing boats without wearing a kill switch. This is just plain carelessness that could result in serious injury, or worse. For the sake of yourself and the other anglers onboard, always wear your kill switch while driving a boat. It’s easy to do, and the device, used to stop the engine in the event of a boater be- ing thrown out of their seat, can save lives. BE KIND AND COURTEOUS I have witnessed numerous situations in which an outsider would’ve thought an all out war was being waged between boaters at a boat ramp or on the water. The ironic thing is all parties involved are just trying to enjoy the same common resource. Instead of being quick to anger, be courteous to fellow anglers and boaters. Good practice would be to launch your boat in a timely manner while using a boat ramp, and to get out of the way of the ramp for oth- ers to use it as soon as you can safely do so. Avoid using bright lights that hinder the vision of others during low light conditions or in the dark around boat ramps and boat docks. While on the water, give other anglers and boaters plenty of space. If someone already is fishing in an area, stay as far away from them as you can and operate your boat at appropriate speeds that won’t disturb them. Finally, if another boater does something that you think is wrong, try talking to them rather than immediately chewing them out. More and more people are getting into the sport each and every day, and some folks just don’t know they’re doing some- thing wrong. If more anglers and boaters adhered to this, there would be a lot less unethical behavior between them on the water and at the ramp. We may be entering into one of the cold- est periods of the year, but it won’t be long before the upper coast weather we know and love returns. Follow good boating strate- gies and you’ll be ready to hit the water. 88 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JANuArY 2021 THROUGH THE LENS HITTING THE PAVEMENT photo by JOEY QUIROGA The Galveston Island seawall is the longest continuous sidewalk in the united States, offering views of stunning sunrises and sunsets. runners, walkers and bikers can enjoy 10 miles of the seawall along the Gulf of Mexico. The seawall was built after the deadly 1900 Storm for protection from future storms. Construction began in September 1902, and the initial segment was completed on July 29, 1904. From 1904 to 1963, the seawall was extended from 3.3 miles to more than 10 miles. 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