Americus native writes book

Local News

January 16, 2010

From Staff Reports

AMERICUS — “The Beck House,” written by Americus native Janie Hopwood, arrived in bookstores just in time for Christmas. “The Beck House” tells the story of Rena Beck, a twice-widowed woman who is looking for the means to care for her family; of six daughters born to her and her first husband, three are still at home, and must be fed and cared for. How Rena transforms their home into a boarding house where guests are fed sumptuously, and roomers are treated like family is another Southern story worth telling. In fact, this one has details that resonate across the generations, for Rena Beck is a woman for the generations. She is a mother hendwho protects her daughters without smothering them; she is an entrepreneur who takes advantage of every opportunity that comes her way — and some that she invents — to keep her business going and growing. And she is a sympathetic, caring, landlady who takes on the woes of the world through her colorful boarders.

The story encompasses the World War II years, as her daughters’ husbands go away and return; she lives to see them all settled in more comfort than she ever dreamed. And then she faces the fight of her life: she comes to Sumter County to face the big city lawyers who have come to represent the County in its efforts to take her land through the law of eminent domain. They’re also demanding that she pay to have the house torn down and removed.

Rena is a just a woman. She has always treated others justly and cannot believe that someone would treat her otherwise. How she faces this final battle is characteristic of her life’s story.

In Rena Beck, author Janie Hopwood has created an unforgettable character from the annals of her own family history — a character you’ll be telling friends about, and thinking about long after you have put the book aside.