Photo by Jake Weidmann
My Story
I wish I could say I always wanted to be a writer, but the inspiration came late. Somewhere between shedding my carefree childhood and embracing the realities of the adult world. After high school, stripped from the everyday routine of schooling, I faced the challenge of deciding what to do with my life.
Web design with my brothers fell short of expectations. Nursing felt practical, but painful (I barely passed dual enrollment Anatomy & Physiology). Composing movie scores sounded like too much work for a hobby. I landed on writing, which wasn’t the obvious choice because I struggled with reading (still do). But I loved stories. The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter, The Hobbit. The fact that I struggled made it worth pursuing.
So at eighteen, I decided to be a writer, and I’ve been calling myself one long before I believed it.
One of the most important choices of my adult life had one hitch. Writers don’t make money. At least not right away. I decided what many do. To teach—sights set on higher ed. I welcomed the idea. I wanted to do both. And so my plan found form. To become a Writer Professor. Like C. S. Lewis (though I fall short).
I’d said college wasn’t for me, but being away from school led me back.
Academically, I received an A.A. in Liberal Arts, B.A. in English (Creative Writing), and M.F.A. in Fiction. Professionally, I substituted, tutored, and taught the full range of the educational system, from K-12 to the graduate level.
I would say I haven’t looked back, but that’s what I’m doing now. Paired with my daily writing practice, I teach English at a small, liberal arts college outside of Richmond, Virginia. I live with my wife, two children, and Goldendoodle.
Nothing is greater than a great story, and here we all are living ours. If writing is a well, life is the spring that feeds it, and I will never go thirsty.
On the Road to Publication
My short stories aren’t published—except the one here on my website—though I’ve written quite a few. I’m as patient as I am persistent. Aesop’s Tortoise is my spirit animal. After six years working on a story conceived in my graduate program, I’m seeking literary representation for my debut novel, THE RETURN OF THE FLAME. Currently, I’m writing my second novel, which explores dreams.
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