Autobiography

Bryan James Beck grew up between Las Cruces and Albuquerque, New Mexico, living in over forty homes and attending eighteen different schools before the age of twenty-one. Through it all, one constant kept him grounded—stories. Whether watching, reading, hearing, or writing them, Bryan has always believed that storytelling has the power to transform lives.

After seventeen years in food service and eight in banking, Bryan finally wrote the novel he’d always dreamed of: A Debt in Time, his debut adventure about unlikely heroes, family legacies, and finding your place in history. He holds degrees in business administration, film technology, bartending, and office administration, but his favorite title by far is storyteller.

He's now gone on to write several more novels, including A Debt Remembered, Blood & Wine, and he's deep into finishing A Debt Returned.

Bryan lives in Albuquerque with his partners and family, surrounded by books, laughter, and endless conversation. When he’s not writing, he’s probably sharing a story over coffee, hiking New Mexico’s trails, or plotting his next creative adventure.

"James doesn’t feel like he fits in anywhere. He’s different, and the kids at school are happy to point that out to him. In fact, his girlfriend just broke up with him and even called him a loser-told him he was going nowhere. As if things couldn’t get any worse, he had a horribly vivid dream last night that scared the snot out of him, and now his truly torturous teenage boss at the movie theater says he can’t have time off to go to his grandfather’s funeral. James may be different than most of the kids, but he’s smart enough to know what’s important, and family comes before this crummy job with Torquemada for a boss. So, he accompanies his mother to Grampy’s funeral, only to discover that the grandfather he hardly remembers left him something in his will. James has been given a box- well, a chest- that seems like it’s ancient. He’s given specific instructions about it, and how/when/where he should open it. Following the instructions, he opens the chest to a flash of light, a falling sensation, and total confusion on his part. Instead of being in Grampy’s old house, he’s now in a... forest? It’s cold, quiet. But there’s smoke nearby. He’s got to be dreaming. Hey, remember the ex-girlfriend who told him he was a loser and was going nowhere? Well, she was totally wrong. Because James is about to discover that he’s traveled so far back in time, he’s now in Ancient Scotland, facing two massive ginger-colored brutes who resemble Vikings as much as anything else. Michael and Jaime are wearing kilts, carrying archaic weapons, and are beginning to realize that the three of them are actually related. Cool. A Debt in Time is actually the first book in the Ancestral Debt Anthology by Bryan James Beck. Ancient Celtic magic has forced James into becoming an unwilling time traveler. He has no idea what he’s doing or how he’s supposed to survive, much less carry out the objective the Celtic witches laid out in the original curse. He also thinks this has got to be some great big karmic mistake, because he is not worthy to be the hero this ancient magic requires. It felt like a scene straight out of Indiana Jones, but this time, James wasn’t the hero swinging in to save the day—he was the poor sucker walking to the altar. Within this fast-paced, adventurous first installment, James will travel from medieval Scotland to WWII-era Britain. He’ll find himself held prisoner aboard a pirate ship, travel to the New World, and even face that crazy dream he had before coming to the funeral, the one where he’s about to get a mace in the head by some knight wearing medieval armor in a swamp that has James too bogged down to save himself. Along the way, James will discover things about history and the world in general that he never knew. He’ll experience what it’s like to fight in the dogfights over the London skies with Nazi bombers doing their best to obliterate the Brits. He’ll learn to fight with a sword, a cutlass, a knife, and his wits alone. He’ll learn what it’s like to be truly hungry, truly cold, and 100% frightened. But most important of all, James will learn what his character is actually made of. He’ll learn that being courageous doesn’t mean being unafraid. He’ll learn, best of all, that his Grampy was right; James is smart enough, strong enough, and tough enough not only to survive but to meet his challenges head on and end this generational family curse.

Beck has brought together a fascinating novel combining historical fiction, adventure, and fantasy. This story may have been designed for teens and young adults, but it carries both a storyline and a message that other ages can relate to as well. The characters here are richly drawn, each unique and vastly entertaining. There is great wit here, which certainly helps keep balance in a story that deals with people in grave danger. The Scot brothers, Michael and Jaime, are so much fun. Yet they’re far from being just a comic plot device. They will be great assets to James and prepare him for the road ahead. They’ll also help to ground James as he’s flung into a world he was completely unprepared for. Among the adventures of his travels, James will meet a young lady named Jane, who has him completely forgetting that nitwit of an ex-girlfriend who told him he was a loser. Jane knows better and helps James see the worth within himself. I loved the pop culture references, James’ slightly snarky, often hard-on-himself inner monologue, and the speed with which this entire adventure flew by. I couldn’t help but think of Jumanji when James started hearing drums come from his inherited chest the first time—well, every time, really. Even though the story deals with harsh subjects in a gritty world seemingly full of death and destruction, there remains a youthful hope to this story that I found endearing and energetic. When he used the toilet for the first time since returning, he actually cried a little. It was the little things. I may not exactly be between the ages of 14 and 18, but I found this story wonderfully enjoyable. Sure, you’ll need some suspension of belief here, but after all, this is a story woven with Celtic magic and time travel. Readers should be going into this recognizing that some suspension of belief will be happening. Regardless of this, A Debt in Time provides readers with an entertaining, thoroughly satisfying tale of one young man attempting the impossible, and finding he’s worthy after all."

-5 Star Editorial Review By Terri Stepek for ReadersViews

"A Debt In Time by Bryan James Beck is a fun time travel adventure that takes readers on an amazing journey through history. The prologue is intriguing enough to draw you straight into a story of courage and adventure. This is about family ties, bloodlines, and unexpected friendships, with plenty of humor thrown in for good measure. It's a book you'll sink straight into, and you'll struggle to put it down until it ends at the beginning; read the book, and you'll understand. The characters are lovely, so likable and relatable, and it's very clear that Bryan put a great deal of time and effort into the research for this story. The plot is exciting, easy to follow, and thoroughly engrossing, and it's highly recommended to readers who want something just a little bit different. Can't wait to read the next installment."

-5 Star Editorial Review By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

"What an original and engaging concept! A Debt in Time takes the idea of family legacy and spins it into a centuries-spanning adventure that feels both fresh and heartfelt. James Manning is a relatable protagonist—someone just trying to survive in the modern world, who suddenly finds himself responsible for undoing the mistakes of his ancestors. His journey through different time periods is vivid and full of energy, with settings that range from medieval Scotland to World War II dogfights.

The story balances action and emotion beautifully. The battles, curses, and time-travel twists kept me hooked, but what really stood out was the emotional core: the exploration of family, redemption, and the question of whether we can ever truly escape the debts of our past. James isn’t a perfect hero, and that makes him easy to root for—his growth feels hard-earned.

Fans of Outlander and The Time Traveler’s Wife will love the historical detail and sweeping romance of fate, while readers who enjoy the fast-paced adventure of Percy Jackson will find plenty of excitement here. This first entry in the Ancestral Debt Anthology sets the stage for a much larger world, and I’m already eager to see where the series goes next.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves history, fantasy, or just a good story about finding courage in impossible circumstances."

-Rebecca Kennerly

"I was pulled in right away by Bryan James Beck’s riveting and imaginative fantasy thriller, A Debt Remembered. It’s the tale of college student, Robert Gagné, studying and living in New Hampshire. One day, he finds he’s inherited an old chest from his grandmother, and when he opens it, it transports him back to Ireland in the Middle Ages, in a place called Éire, outside the village of Clan O’Maingin. Robert meets Nancy, a warrior and part of the clan. Nancy teaches him how to survive, and there is definitely something romantic simmering. Unfortunately, Roman soldiers are attacking, and more oddness is in store for our hero. There’s an intense magic ritual, and Robert gets pulled back into the box and whisked away to Liverpool circa 1847.

There, he meets Jane, another pivotal character, and it’s here that he learns just why the box is doing this and how he is connected to it. Jane reveals that he is a descendant of Charlemagne, and apparently, Charlemagne wasn’t happy with controlling the lion’s share of the Western world, so he made a covenant: his ancestors are bound to save three lives across time. Jane translates a fable and confirms Robert’s fate: Charlemagne the conqueror wants power. Power he shall have tenfold. In exchange, he must give his children. And his children’s children. They will protect our lineage, And keep our family strong. This chest we make as a bond,

Tied to his blood and bound by it. Something is stirring between Robert and Jane, but the same fate befalls him once again: He’s sucked back into the chest and into the 20th century to meet a troubled boy, Lucien. Robert helps the boy by chasing away some bullies and the two grow closer. Soon, a young woman, Ivy, will arrive, and Robert will formally pass the covenant onto her. Yes, it’s a humdinger of a plot, and the world-building is first-rate. The battles with the Romans were brutal and thrillingly narrated, and the author took time to address important cultural nuances like the Gaelic accent. But at the heart of the book are the lessons learned, especially by Robert, whose romantic life is twice stymied by that blasted chest. Yes, sacrifice is key here, and the story is clearly reminding us that putting one’s own desires on the back burner is essential if one is to achieve anything of real worth. In this sense it’s also a powerful coming-of-age tale and a hero’s journey.

As for Charlemagne’s ego-driven behavior – passing his nasty karma on to his grandkids – I suppose we are supposed to refer to that with some euphemism like “Intergenerational responsibility.” At least they’re doing some good. This is what makes Bryan James Beck’s A Debt Remembered so powerful: it gets us to look at our own situation and ask ourselves if we aren’t paying the price for the greed and avarice of our ancestors. Or at least it did for me, and it’s clear that we’re taking on the burden of our ancestors' sins the same way Robert is. That’s a clever parallel and a smart way to end a finely-crafted fantasy time-travel thriller."

-5 Star Editorial Review By Paul Knobloch for ReadersViews

"A Debt Remembered by Bryan Beck is a fantastic sequel to A Debt In Time. It could potentially be read as a standalone, but you'll get so much more from it if you read the other book first. This is another adventure-packed time travel tale, filled with magic and mystery, and no small amount of danger along the way. It's a tale of courage and family, of the ties that bind us, with the same upbeat humor from the first book, and the ending will definitely leave you wanting more. I hope there is another book to come, because I don't feel this story is fully told yet. Once again, the characters are well-developed, and if you read the first book, you'll recognize some of them. The plot is exciting and well thought-out, making it another unputdownable story. Once again, highly recommended and a must-read for all fans of time travel and historical stories."

-5 Star Editorial Review By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

"Bryan James Beck’s Blood & Wine is a riveting novel that combines crime, suspense, and psychological elements. It’s both a mystery and a moral test of how far one man will go to expose the truth. It is a heartfelt story about trauma, prejudice, and bringing justice to a close-knit town. Michael's path to redemption shows how war can change a person both emotionally and mentally. At the same time, the book paints a graphic picture of Ruidoso, a town where secrets run deep, justice is manipulated by the wealthy, and loyalty is bought and not earned. These social dynamics certainly keep the storyline captivating and fresh. The narrative alternates between Michael's and Gracie's points of view, building a sense of tension and intrigue that keeps readers engaged. Their exhilarating partnership brings the right amount of pizzazz to the story. It's the perfect must-read for murder mystery fans."

-5 Star Editorial Review By Richard Prause for Readers’ Favorite

"(A Debt in Time) is an "I can't put it down" book. It is an exciting story of a family heritage of time travel. One captivating experience with James Manning leads to another. I highly recommend "A Debt in Time". I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel."

-Roberta Willet

"A Debt in Time is a great page turner! I had a hard time putting it down. Great story about time travel, family, magic and finding your strength. James Manning is an interesting character who finds himself in situations he doesn't think he can manage, but in the end he realizes that he's stronger than he thinks! I can't wait to read book two, the suspense is killing me!"

-Paula Manning-Lewis

“A Debt in Time” is an engaging summer read with something for everyone - fantasy, history, romance, swashbuckling adventure, and the promise of more to come. Looking forward to it!"

-Ken

"A Debt in Time is an exciting adventure through different periods of time with amazing characters. Stories of friendships, family, courage, adventure, love and everything in between. James Manning will make you part of his amazing journey. You'll laugh and cry! I read it in one day, couldnt put it down! I loved it!!!"

-Coraly Duran

"A great story full of adventure and surprises. I really enjoyed it."

-Goodreads Reader

"I was hooked from the first page and didn’t want to put it down. So excited to read the second book!"

-Goodreads Reader

"(A Debt in Time) What a wonderful, page turning book! The premise was original and so intriguing. I found myself anticipating where James will end up next. I can’t wait to read book two!"

-Goodreads Reader

"(A Debt Remembered) GREAT BOOK! I cannot wait for the 3rd one! Another page turner by Bryan James Beck."

-Goodreads Reader