24 DECEMBER 2024 By Sherry Sklar The concept of this coming-of-age story had lingered in his mind for some time, but its true impetus came at the top of Camelback Mountain. As Arcadian John Heckenlaible recounts, pausing to take in the vista, the opening line appeared: “It wasn’t where I wanted to be, but there was nowhere else I’d rather be.” In that instant, he knew his narrative journey had begun. John’s first novel, NO BETTER PLACE: A Hometown Tale , is set in southern Minnesota in the early 1980s. John describes it as a “pseudo memoir,” a fictional tale informed by his first-hand experiences managing the singular grief of a parent’s death and romantic heartbreak and surmounting those obstacles through personal grit and determination. The story is told through the eyes of the main character, Karl Bruchenheiser, a college student from New Prague – a town with a population of 2,700. John’s self- deprecating humor and wit keep the narrative aloft, peppered with what he describes as “Easter eggs” to connect the reader to a specific place and time. “For me, everything started with hard work. That’s the foundation. Growing up in New Prague, it was simple: you were either a ‘hard worker’ or ‘good for nothing,’” John said. “It didn’t matter if you were wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between. At our dinner table, the only measure of a person was whether they were willing to put in the work.” Recollecting the promising Reagan era, John lays out the precariousness that clouded his young adulthood. “The early eighties Midwestern economy was terrible. We faced a farm crisis, high inflation, and widespread unemployment. I had graduated into this job market and couldn’t find work after being laid off,” John said. “The future felt bleak and uncertain. My dad had recently passed away, so his support and guidance weren’t there. I had to dig deep, bootstrap my life, and figure it all out on my own, and that’s exactly what I did.” John draws a parallel between his own early adulthood and his daughter’s experience entering today’s rapidly evolving workforce, shaped by technology and AI. This connection partly inspired him to write the book. “My daughter is in her senior year at the University of Arizona, and uncertainty surrounds her future, just as it did for me in my early twenties,” he said. “The core message I want to reaffirm is that overcoming adversity can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, honing your capability and confidence that ultimately guides you to a better place.” John recalls the lively Kolache Festival and sweet and savory ethnic delectables that characterize the Bohemian Triangle, incorporating Lonsdale, Montgomery, and New Prague. He recalled, “As a kid, we ate pork dumplings ( knedliky ) and sauerkraut. I have included a recipe in the back of the book and a food glossary explaining what my characters are eating.” New Prague’s high school, football rivalries, teachers, and community provided a civic framework for belonging. “You always knew that you had a home,” John said. “I always felt supported. I never thought I was alone. I was brokenhearted, but people in my community always understood me and knew what I was going through. I was never a stranger, and there’s a certain comfort in that.” John writes about this intimate town atmosphere, Karl’s relationships, and linguistic cadences, bringing the experience of growing up in the Midwest to life. Drawing similarities between New Prague and Arcadia, John – who moved to the Phoenix neighborhood as a newlywed in 1993 – cites a similar hometown feeling and is grateful for the neighbors and local friends he sometimes runs into at Teepee and LGO. “I grew up in a family of seven, which influenced me tremendously, but it was my community that made me what I am,” he said. John regularly celebrates the local activities that make Arcadia a special place to call home and nurture memories. NO BETTER PLACE: A Hometown Tale is available on Amazon. How one Arcadian found strength in his small-town roots John Heckenlaible PHOTO: KATE BURKE laid off,” John said. “The future felt bleak and uncertain. My dad had recently passed away, so his support and guidance weren’t there. I had to dig deep, bootstrap my life, and figure it all out on my own, and that’s exactly what I did.” between his own early shaped by technology and AI. 602.399.8540 debbiefrazelle.com dfrazelle@cox.net PAST ARCADIA PTO VP PAST HOPI PTA PRESIDENT ARCADIA RESIDENT FOR OVER 30 YEARS Top 1% of Coldwell Banker Agents Debbie Frazelle | CLHMS | ABR Experience luxury resort living at the exclusive 24/7 guard-gated community of Biltmore Greens! This 3 BR/3.5 BA, 2 car garage, 2,745 sq ft split-level home is adorned with soaring ceilings & wood beam accents providing an appealing flow from the formal living & dining area to the kitchen & family room, dual primary suites with walk-in closets, remodeled kitchen with granite & stainless-steel appliances, and remodeled baths. Most rooms wrap around a meticulously manicured patio with a fountain & spa. Take the spiral staircase to the observation deck and find breathtaking 360-degree views of the city & mountains. 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