Meet Randy Blalock
By Josh Hudson
This month, Stroll The Georgia Club spotlights Randy Blalock, a Georgia Club resident who has proudly written and published several books, ranging from biographical novels to children’s storybooks. Randy was born and raised in Atlanta, where he lived until he graduated college. He attended Georgia State University, earning his BBA degree in Finance, and worked in the financial services industry for 40 years. Randy has been happily married to his wife Cindy for 38 years.
Randy’s love for writing began early in his life. “I’ve enjoyed the creative aspect of writing for as long as I can remember,” recounts Randy. “If given the option of speaking in front of the class or writing a paper, I would always choose writing, as the written word has always been easier for me than the spoken. Over the years, I’ve written poetry and numerous short stories; however, I never tried to get them published until Cindy encouraged me to do so. She said, ‘do something with these stories, they’re too good to just sit in a drawer.’ Her words, not mine. I retired from banking in 2008 so, having some idle time, I began writing more earnestly and found a publisher to do my children’s books.”
Randy’s first novel (The Many Walks of Life) was published in 2014, shortly followed by a biography (The Man in The Dugout) in 2015. In 2018, he finished The Batboy (his second non-biographical novel). In addition to his novels, Randy also crafted three children’s books: Which Cloud Does God Live In, Randolph: The Forgotten Reindeer, and The Magic Ornament. The most recent addition to his compendium is The Windmill of Tralee, a collection of short stories written over the years, and his newest effort, a novella serving as the centerpiece for his new book.
Below are synopses of Randy’s novels in his own words, including his most recent work, The Windmill of Tralee.
The Many Walks of Life – “This is a story of a man who is facing a life-changing event. This causes him to reflect on the many different “walks” (stages and events) that he has taken in his life. Along the way, he meets someone who has a profound impact on his life. The story features many of the people, places, and things that I experienced growing up in Atlanta. Some events in the story actually happened, while others are fictional.”
The Man in the Dugout – “This is a biography of legendary (Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA) Hall of Fame) coach Julian Mock. Coach Mock, who was my high school baseball coach at Murphy High School in Atlanta, was also a Major League Baseball Scout where he eventually obtained induction into the MLB Scouting Hall of Fame in San Diego in 2014. Coach Mock was not just a great coach, he was a mentor, a father-figure, and an integral presence in the lives of the young boys he coached. He passed away shortly after the book to honor him was published. This book is probably the one I’m most proud of, because it honors a truly fine man.”
The Batboy- “This a story of a young boy growing up in Brooklyn, NY. In 1947, he gets the chance to be the batboy for the Brooklyn Dodgers. That, of course, is the year Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier. They become good friends and the young boy learns valuable lessons while watching Jackie face the challenges of bigotry, racism, and hatred. What he learns helps him face a difficult challenge in his adult life.”
The Windmill of Tralee- “This is my most recent work, published by Palmetto Publishing in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It is a collection of many of my short stories, but the title story is a novella inspired by a story our tour director told Cindy and I while we were on a trip to Ireland last May. His story provided me with the idea for my story. People often ask me what my favorite part of the trip was, and the answer is easy - the people of Ireland. The country boasted beautiful scenery, great food, and magnificent buildings and history, sure, but I’ve never met such gracious, friendly people anywhere that I’ve travelled.”
All of Randy’s novels can be purchased on Amazon, or, like his children’s book, directly through him.
“I don’t consider myself an author,” continues Randy. “But, at the end of the day, I think I’m a pretty good storyteller. I only hope my stories are entertaining to readers and make them laugh and think about their own life. Maybe they will even shed a little tear along the way. I have been very honored to have two of my books, The Man in the Dugout and The Batboy selected by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, to be included in their library. Cindy and I travelled to Cooperstown last October for the official presentation of The Batboy.”
Randy and Cindy moved to The Georgia Club in 2022 from Winder, where they had lived for 30 years. After deciding on the club, the couple bought a lovely house in the North Hill community and fell immediately in love with their new neighborhood. “In good weather, we enjoy sitting on our porch, which is adjacent to Silver 6, saying hello to the golfers as they ride by,” adds Randy. “Cindy is so active in the community, I see her less than when she worked. But that's why we both love it here so much- the wonderful friends we've made."
