Hershey (yes, it does smell like chocolate here), Pennsylvania, United States
I’m a writer and teacher of college English Composition.
Before entering academia, I worked as a journalist (in both print and broadcast), then as a free-lance writer, poet and short-story writer.
Most of my professional writing was done before I earned an English degree, which made me think there is something natural and intrinsic about writing.
When I studied English Composition in the doctoral program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, I researched the craft of writing, finishing my Ph.D. (with a specialty in Narrative Theory and Research–basically the theory of writing life stories), I wrote a dissertation based on a case study of six professional writers.
If I’m not writing a poem or short story, I’m reading and writing about the craft of writing, or composition theory.
One of my favorite writers, Milan Kundera, claims that we are, all of us, writers. Kundera is one of many theorists in the field who believes that we live the stories we tell about our lives. And, by writing these stories, we become aware of who we are in this world.
The Ever-Changing Book List (my favorites change all the time)
Anil's Ghost. Michael Onandaatje's mystery about a forensic anthropologist rummaging through clues about war, love and death.
Anthills of the Savannah. Achebe is gifted at creating readers' expectations and failing to fulfill them in predictable ways. Read it to see what I mean.
Art of the Novel by Milan Kundera. A non-fiction work for serious story researchers, which takes up the relationship of history and the novel.
Atonement, Ian McEwan. Powerful storytelling in this work.
Death Comes for the Archbishop, Willa Cather's artful story about history of the Catholic Church in the New Mexico Territory, politics and spiritual journeys--based on several true stories.
Divisadero, Michael Ondaatje. The story drags a bit, but I like that it's set in the foothills of the Siera Nevada Mountains, near Grass Valley, CA.
In the Lake of the Woods, Tim O'Brien's story about marriage, loss and deceit (self and otherwise).
Mountains Beyond Mountains. A stunning piece about the life-work of Dr. Paul Farmer, who advocates better understanding of the relationship between poverty and infectious disease. Very inspiring story.
Running in the Family. Michael Ondaatje's remarkable story about his memorable family.
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, by Milan Kundera. You must be fearless to read Kundera's subversive meditation on everything you thought to be (historically) true.
The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje's lovely epic story.
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb. Read it for the story, not for a neat and satisfying conclusion.
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant O.K. the writing's not the best, but this is an important story.
The Things They Carried, Tim O'Brien. A must-must read & re-read. Best book on storytelling and love, set in Vietnam during the war.
Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe. Story-lover's story.