Local author shares inspiration for historical fiction novel with Winston-Salem ties [Video]

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A local author was inspired by a famous Winston-Salem family to write a historical fiction novel.Author and restaurant designer Wade Beauchamp based his recent novel “The Purple Menace and the Tobacco Prince” on the opulent and scandalous life of Z. Smith Reynolds, one of the heirs of R.J. Reynold’s Tobacco Company. Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking hereBeauchamp was born and raised in Winston-Salem. He graduated from West Forsyth High School and later Forsyth Technical Community College. He says he’s loved creative writing from a young age. “In eighth grade, we were assigned a creative writing project and it was the first time I ever got to do something like that, and I ended up just falling in love with it,” he said. Today, Beauchamp still lives in Winston-Salem and loves to write. On Mar. 1, his latest book was published. Keep up with …