James Gillam

Author of:
Alpha City: Ticket to Orbit Series
Space Toys of the 60's
Treasures of the Misty Mountains

James H. Gillam is a toy enthusiast and avid science-fiction novel and motion picture movie fan. He has collected toys from 1991 when he discovered Dinky Toys and specifically Gerry Anderson Toys. For those unfamiliar with Gerry Anderson he was the creator of such hits as Captain Scarlett and the Mysterons, Joe 90 and Thunderbirds. Space 1999 and UFO were the crowning jewels and in 1976 Space 1999 revolutionized science-fiction serial television filling the void left by the departure of Star Trek the original series. Growing up in the 1960's and living through the space race, James became enamored with all things space and vividly, at the age of nine recalls the first moon landing on a small fuzzy black and white television set top box. He, after all belonged to the NASA fan club! Space Toys of the 60's captures the essence of that time, the race to the moon and little boys, now grown men's fascination with space, rocketry and exploration to the stars. Major Matt Mason led the way of course. You may have forgotten this little six-inch rubber fellow until you see him but if you were a young lad in the 60's, you probably had Major Matt Mason, a Colorform Alien or Mighty Zeroid Robot and if you were really lucky, you had them all.

Growing up in the 70's was a wild and crazy time as James's latest book, Ghosts of Christmas Past can attest too. Culture was changing being tugged in every direction and television had become the new parent and darling of the media. Ghosts of Christmas Past captures the most loved television shows of that era. If you were a child of the 1970's you remember Charles Angels and Starsky and Hutch. Serpico and Kojak maybe even Police Woman starring Angie Dickenson were probably you main stays.

Saturday morning was a merchandizing extravaganza with HR Puff n' Stuff, Jason of Star Command, The Justice League, ARK II and the Star Trek animated series. And what was delivered to each and every door in both North America and Europe in the late fall of each year signifying that Christmas was on its way? Why, Christmas Wishbooks of course.

Ghosts of Christmas Past takes a pretty wild romp down memory lane with Wonder Woman's Lynda Carter at the helm. With hundreds of pictures you can again recapture those early childhood days. Lying awake at night, flashlight in hand under the covers making out your very own Christmas wish list, thanks to those Wishbooks from Sears, Eaton's, JC Penny, Aldens, Montgomery Wards, Shoprite, Spiegel, Acme and many others.

Finally high school saw a required reading course featuring books of JRR Tolkien. Treasures from the Misty Mountains - A collector's guide to Tolkien takes a similar approach, as does Space Toys to the world of collecting. With hundreds of beautifully photographed collector's pieces including novels, calendars and artwork this book is not to be missed by the true Tolkien fan. High gloss heavy bond paper makes this book the perfect item for the coffee table, oversized and perfect for presentation.

James has held writing as a passion for a long time now and has embarked on some new and exciting adventures. Moving away, at least for the moment from collectable books he has just completed his second, soon to be published book in the new and ongoing children's book series. Given James's interest in space and science fiction it shouldn't be a surprise that they are serial books with reoccurring characters set in the year 2050 AD.

Each novel recommended for children from ages nine through thirteen should provide a high level of adventure with concrete learning about science and space exploration. One of James primary goals is to include life lessons and deal with social issues those children at this age encounter on a day-to-day basis. This is an issue near and dear to his heart. Having had a difficult childhood being less that two pounds at birth, life and death hung in the balance for young James for some years. Moving onto public school saw many challenges due to learning disorders, medical complications but eventually slow but steady improvement was noted.

James unique vision of children and their needs comes now from twenty years as a social worker with children and youth. He has worked with sexually abused and assaulted children, the emotionally and behaviorally challenged and is now a Play and Art therapist with private counseling practice. It is his hope that the new children's book series tentatively title 2050 AD - Ticket into Orbit and Rise of the Clones will present high adventure and learning lessons for those children and adults who read these books together. This new children's book series will examine our oft times seemingly crazy world in a way that makes sense to both kids and opens dialogue for parents and caregivers. Coping strategies, problem solving, divorce and separation, adoption, anger management and loss will be threads that "provide not only adventure by education and teaching for our children", he says.