About the Book
Walt Hackman's "No Problem, Mr. Walt" is more than a poignant travel memoir. It is written by a father and easygoing voyager about his travels throughout China in his extraordinary quest to build an authentic wooden Chinese junk boat--in China! This delightful book is filled with humor, drama, and suspense juxtaposed with Chinese history, anecdotes, poetry, and recipes.
Synopsis: When Walt's son was tragically murdered, his world collapsed around him. Seeking peace of mind and a new beginning, Walt sought to honor his son's memory by bringing to life a dream that had long been delayed.
It is said, "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." "No Problem, Mr. Walt" is the story of how, despite his unimaginable heartbreak, Walt decided to take that first single step, and the next, and the next. The result is a fun and fascinating story about the people and experiences he encountered in China during the construction of the 'Mei Wen Ti, ' an authentic handcrafted wooden Junk, and the journey he took in the process of becoming "Mr. Walt" while rebuilding his life as he built this extraordinary boat.
Mr. Walt's memoir is an account of personal tragedy and tenacious triumph. It's about the adventures and experiences of making unlikely friends despite significant cultural and language barriers, achieving an improbable dream against all odds, and the culmination of the "first step of a thousand miles" that changed his life forever.
Mr. Walt's extraordinary journey to build a wooden boat ultimately helped him honor the beloved son he lost and sail new seas.
Receiving rave reviews from readers around the world, this rewarding read will allow you to vicariously experience the author's China adventure--wherever you may be at the time you read it.
About the Author :
Author Walt Hackman is a retired computer executive, art gallery owner, philanthropist, Navy serviceman, father, husband, and world traveler. Walt joined the Navy in 1954, where his attachment to the ocean began. The next four years were filled with electrical and electronics training and an international tour aboard the USS Kermit Roosevelt ARG-16. While stationed aboard the Kermit Roosevelt, Walt traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia and developed an ardent and abiding interest in Asian and Pacific Rim culture. After his discharge, Walt attended Glendale College, where he studied electronics and then went to work for Singer-Librascope, a subsidiary of the Singer Company, which primarily developed and manufactured computer systems for the US Navy. Walt started as an Incoming Electrical Inspector and worked his way up to Field Engineer. In the early 1960s, he was sent to Mare Island Naval Shipyard where he worked on the latest computer system aboard nuclear submarines. In 1962, Walt married Diane Magrina, and they moved to Hawaii where Walt had been transferred for work and continued his travels throughout the Pacific. His daughter, Lynn (who would later own the Mei Wen Ti from 2000 to 2008), and son, Walt, Jr., were both born in Oahu. The Hackmans eventually returned to Glendale, California, and in his early forties, Walt pursued his bachelors and master's degrees at Pepperdine University, graduating with a BSAS with honors and his MBA. For a while, Walt was a partner in a small computer company that specialized in third party maintenance (before the Geek Squad). In 1980, Walt and Diane purchased a local art gallery and custom frame shop. By the middle of the '80s, they had successfully expanded into an additional operation in Old Town Pasadena. Perchance, it was at the Pasadena art gallery that Walt met Don, a modern-day China trader, and his Chinese wife, Mei. They became friends, not realizing at the time that they would later share a life-changing adventure as they traveled back and forth to China together. In 1989, life as they knew it dramatically changed forever when the Hackman's son was tragically killed. The Hackman's marriage fell apart, and by 1992, they had sold their businesses and home, and both were set adrift in sorrow and the uncertainty of new beginnings. It was then, in his early fifties, that Walt Hackman decided to pursue his dream of living on a boat. Not just any boat, as it would turn out. Thus began his adventure of building a boat, rebuilding a life, and discovering China. The Mei Wen Ti would become Walt's phoenix rising, and the happy beginning of a life filled with adventure, discovery, and love. Walt met Virginia Harmening, who had a boat right next to the Mei Wen Ti in Ventura Harbor, and they married in 1997. Gordon Jackson, Editor Publish Authority PO Box 4015 Newport Beach, CA USA gordon@publishauthority.com www.PublishAuthority.com Gordon Jackson has been Editor-In-Chief for Publish Authority since 2015. He holds a B.A. In English from the University of Georgia. He currently resides in Saint Simons Island, GA. Raeghan Rebstock Publish Authority PO Box 4015 Newport Beach, CA USA gordon@publishauthority.com www.PublishAuthority.com
Review :
Review Excerpts: I thought [this book] was the story of building a handcrafted Chinese junk in a Chinese boat yard, according to modern American specs. Hmm, I thought.. To my delight, the book was that and so much more. ..a wonderful portrait of ancient and modern China.. ..the story of a man overcoming adversity and fulfilling a dream ... [with] challenges of communication between different cultures, yet reveals what can be accomplished when both sides exercise patience and good will. ..highly recommended. (Craig B. Smith, Ph.D. Author of Extreme Waves, Joseph Henry Press) Five Stars - Delightful, surprising and hard to put down! Best Memoir I have read in some time. I am always a bit cautious when I agree to read a memoir as I have found the majority to be tedious and more than a little boring, but this was an exception. "No Problem, Mr Walt" is charming, informative, cringe worthy and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny. It has an unexpected appeal and is difficult to put down. Well worth a look. (Sara Jackson, Melbourne, Australia) A wonderful Adventure! This is a amazing story! It isn't just about an American having a live-a-board boat built for him in China. It is about embracing change and taking the next steps in life when those steps are difficult or it is unclear where they will lead next. Mr. Walt's next steps lead to learning and adventure. It is a pleasure to feel like I am with him in his journey and meeting interesting friends along the way. (Pamela Beard Wheeler, Amazon) 5-Stars - Well done, Mr. Walt! This memoir moved me emotionally. While reading it I felt like I too was a part of this journey. There are sections of this book which are extremely agonizing and [and some] which are incredibly funny. After all, life itself is that way; there are those inevitable crests and troughs. The writer has documented the changes in his life without any exaggeration. Penned in impeccable style, this book makes a perfect read. It is both entertaining and inspirational. (Sara Chatterjee, Page-Hungry Bookworm) Five-Stars Fascinating! I was immersed from the first page! I was amazed by this book! Hackman uses a combination of narrative, expository, and descriptive writing that invites readers to join him on his amazing adventure. Readers will find themselves immersed as Hackman guides them along busy city streets, into shops and restaurants through the countryside to explore remnants of a rich and ancient culture, and discusses the trials and triumphs he experienced while building his Chinese junk. (Charity Rowell-Stansbury, NookPress) A fascinating tale of a man, a boat, and China This is not just a story about getting a junk built -it's a story about Hackman learning how to get things done in China, what he learned about the culture, and how he applied that. It wouldn't be a book about international travel, business, and misunderstandings without some travel horror stories- but wow, he had some doozies. ... It's a fascinating book and an easy, rewarding read. Give it a shot, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. (Irresponsible Reader, irresponsiblereader.com) Five Stars -Fantastic Memoir, Couldn't Put It Down A poignant and fascinating journey. While we all dream of traveling to far lands or building a boat, etc. how many ever strike out and take the risk especially after a devastating and life-changing loss of a child. Felt Like I was walking with Mr. Walt on his journey to overcome his son's death and rebuild his life through the Mei Wen Ti. Buy the book, you won't be sorry. Great read! (Lynn, Amazon)
