Caleb Wygal's life story is as good as his books
Myrtle Beach Mysteries author Caleb Wygal, seated, poses with some of the volunteers at the Mount Pleasant Literary Festival.
Caleb Wygal was one of 16 authors at the three-day Mount Pleasant Literary Festival.
"Chapter two" of the Mount Pleasant Literary Festival was a big success. I got to meet one of my favorite authors and heard an inspiring story.
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Caleb Wygal's story is as compelling as his books. The author of the Myrtle Beach Mystery series, and a former Concord resident, spoke at the festival Saturday. His path to writing is remarkable.
As a high school student, Wygal was seriously injured in a traffic accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. The damage was so severe that he had to relearn how to do almost everything.
His family moved from their native West Virginia to Greenville, South Carolina, where his parents could care for him during his recovery.
As he improved, Wygal needed work. Doctors advised finding something that wasn't too taxing. His uncle in Concord offered him a job at his hearing aid business.
The work was simple — cleaning wax from hearing aids and changing batteries — but it came with long stretches of downtime. Wygal filled those hours reading.
Eventually, his uncle decided it didn't look great for him to sit around with a book all day, so he moved him to a computer. There was no internet connection — just company software and a word processor.
That's when Wygal started writing. What began as a way to pass the time led to his first book, "Moment of Impact." It wasn't intended for publication; he simply made copies for family members. They encouraged him to take the next step.
He began sending queries to publishers. After a number of rejections, one finally said yes. The book was published, and his advance was $1 — a dollar bill he still keeps.
That was in 2015. A year later came his second novel, "A Murder in Concord," again featuring Lucas Caine. The character returned in "Blackbeard's Lost Treasure" and "The Search for the Fountain of Youth."
At the time, writing wasn't yet a full-time living. Wygal had moved on from the hearing aid business, helping companies with public relations and websites while also working at Target in Afton Ridge.
Then came another turning point: his wife received a great opportunity with a company in Myrtle Beach. With family already there, the couple and their young son made the move to the coast.
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The move to the coast turned out to be Wygal's big break. He had a simple but smart idea: people love Myrtle Beach, and they're interested in stories set there. Looking at Facebook analytics and demographics, he found millions of people were already engaged with content about the area.
The Myrtle Beach Mystery Series was born.
In 2021, "Death on the Boardwalk" was published, introducing bookstore owner Clark Thomas and detective Gina Gomez.
Wygal said first-day sales of that book exceeded the combined sales of all his previous titles.
His latest novel, "Death in Surfside," was released earlier this month. It's the ninth in the series, with a 10th scheduled for later this year.
I've read the first eight books in the series, along with his first two novels, and I'm currently working through "The Search for the Fountain of Youth." His books are easy to read and consistently engaging.
Wygal weaves in real places that are familiar to Myrtle Beach visitors, grounding the stories in a recognizable setting. The locations tied to crimes are often fictional, but the atmosphere feels authentic. The books read like a blend of "Murder, She Wrote" and a Hallmark mystery.
My favorite authors include Tony Hillerman, John Grisham and Clive Cussler. Wygal's work holds up well alongside theirs.
No. 3
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and Wygal marked it by wearing a green ribbon on his lapel.
The annual observance is aimed at increasing public understanding of brain injuries, reducing stigma and highlighting the resilience of survivors. First established in 1984 by the Brain Injury Association of America, it has grown from a weeklong effort into a nationwide campaign focused on prevention, education, research and advocacy.
In North Carolina, the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina continues that work at the local level. Throughout March, the organization hosts events and programs across the state to raise awareness and support survivors and their families.
Those efforts range from educational workshops to community gatherings, all designed to inform, connect and inspire.
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The festival featured 15 other authors, and all of the programs were free to the public. Writers spent time talking with readers, answering questions and signing books, creating an engaging and welcoming atmosphere.
Editions Coffee and Bookstore partnered with the festival, offering early signed copies of participating authors' books. Those titles are available at the shop, 217 S. Main St. in Kannapolis.
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The Friends of the Mount Pleasant Library organizes the festival, with support from sponsors, donors and the Bernheim Literary Society, which helps make the free event possible.
Organizers will evaluate this year's event before beginning plans for next year.
For more information, or to learn how to join the Bernheim Literary Society, visit https://www.mpfol.org/ bernheimliterarysociety.
If you have a Friday Five, story suggestion, or something I can rant about, email mplemmons@independenttribune.com or call or text 704-786-0001.
