Boxing and Redemption
When last we caught up with Ben Alirez, Retired, LADWP, 33 years of City service, he had just published a novel about the pandemic. That was 2022, after he had already published a series of short stories.
El Gato’s Crusade.
“I’ve managed to stay busy writing since my last novel, Embers of Innocence, on the COVID-19 pandemic,” he wrote to Alive! “This latest novel, El Gato’s Crusade, is a coming-of-age story about a teenage boxing sensation who becomes entangled in gang violence and personal loss. More specifically, it addresses the senselessness of hatred and gangs found here in Los Angeles. It’s fast-paced and brimming with action. It also has
elements of faith and hope—love and friendship. Ultimately, it is an inspirational story that hits home for far too many of us. My short stories have also appeared in four anthologies for the California Writers Club since I retired in 2018.”
He feels like his journey in retirement is expanding his footprint.
“As I look back on my time with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, I am very proud of the things I accomplished,” he explains. “Many of them, procedures developed for the benefit of employees’ present and future.
“But they were also confined to offices or sections. In writing stories, novels in particular, I feel like I’m leaving behind a larger footprint for others to enjoy. I find this new chapter in my life extremely fulfilling. Thankfully, my time at the LADWP has allowed me this incredible opportunity, including training courses in report writing, proofreading, and grammar.”
Ben worked for the LADWP for more than 33 years, retiring as a Principal Clerk Utility. He now serves as Membership Chair for the Inland Empire branch of the California Writers Club, having previously held the offices of treasurer and secretary. Prior to El Gato’s Crusade, he co-authored Brothers in Arms in 2004, a young adult novella also about gangs and inner-city life, and in 2022, Embers of Innocence, a novel about the devastation COVID-19, as experienced through an ensemble cast of characters.
“I remain devoted to growing in the craft of writing. And playing pickleball, not necessarily in that order.”
El Gato’s Crusade is now available in paperback and eBook. It’s also expected to become available as an audio book before long.
Well done, Ben! The Club is delighted to showcase your continued journeys in telling your stories.
Purchase Ben Alirez’s book on Amazon:
