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The write stuff

Retired CPA Peter Engelman has authored four books in two years … and isn't about to slow down

By Bill Sheridan
Statement Editor

Peter Engelman had to retire to find his dream job.

After stepping down from his sole practice in 2002, the 64-year-old Baltimore CPA took up writing in a way that can only be described as prolific. In two years, Engelman has written four books — three fictional thrillers and one faith-based non-fiction piece.

And he shows no sign of stopping. Writing, after all, offers Engelman something accounting never could.

"Writing — fiction, especially — is so unstructured," he said. "In other words, you're free to go wherever you want. Nothing has to balance. You don't have to audit anything. You're writing for the pleasure of writing, and that was a big relief for me after dealing with the stress of accounting."

A 'thrilling' hobby

Engelman dipped his toes into the literary pool in late 2001, when he began work on his first book, a thriller titled Terror at the Cannery. But the book's subject matter (which centers on efforts to uncover a terrorist plot in Baltimore) and its timing (Engelman began writing it shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks) convinced him to pull the book shortly after it was published. It is no longer available.

His second book has had a longer shelf life. Titled Running From Justice (2003, Virtual Bookworm), the book tells the story of a bail bondsman and a bounty hunter who join forces to track down fugitives. Engelman's inspiration was his own son, Steven, a bail bondsman in Baltimore. "I wrote the book with the knowledge I obtained while doing his accounting," Engelman said.

With two non-fiction efforts under his belt, Engelman decided it was time to give non-fiction a try. The result was his most successful book to date. The Minyanaires (2003, Terumah Publishing) tells the story of "a dedicated group of Jewish individuals who, for various reasons, feel drawn to the synagogue on a daily basis," Engelman writes. "Through their attendance, they provide the daily minyan, or quorum, required for the recitation of the Mourner's Kaddish, a Holy prayer affirming the glory of God."

The book consists of interviews with five clerics and 19 members of the morning minyan at Baltimore's Beth El Synagogue. Engelman began attending daily services there shortly after his mother's death in July 2001 and experienced what he calls a "spiritual awakening" as a result. The book explores that awakening by asking its subjects various questions: "Do you believe in God? In miracles? In a hereafter? That prayers can heal?"

"The book is related to members of the Jewish faith," he said, "but the questions I ask cross over all denominations."

The book has been well received at libraries throughout Maryland, and Engelman is working on placing it in libraries in other states as well.

For his latest book, Engelman returned to his roots in fiction to write the thriller Magic, Malice and Murder (2004, Terumah Publishing). The book follows an Italian illusionist dubbed "The Great Zaganinii," who performs elaborate escape acts. When one act goes horribly wrong and Zaganinii is killed, the hunt begins for his killer.

'A creative soul'

Magic, in fact, is a subject near and dear to Engelman. He has been performing slight-of-hand tricks since he was a child and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He also has dabbled in sculpture and other art. "I guess I'm just a very creative soul," he says.

But the love of his creative heart is writing. In fact, he already is working on ideas for his next book. A technical accounting book isn't out of the question, "but it seems to me to be so boring," Engelman said. "I'd rather be writing something fictional." He is even considering a comedy "perhaps a religious parody of an accountant who prepares a tax return for God," he says with a smile.

Whatever the subject, it won't be nearly as enjoyable to its author as the writing process itself.

"It's very satisfying to me to be able to express myself in writing and to create a picture from words," he said. "When I write, I can actually see what I'm writing. It becomes sort of like a painting of words. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. It works the opposite way, too — a thousand words can create a picture."