I spent a career in administration and tinkered with writing by going to conferences and joining a critique group. After several years with the critique group one day our teacher asked me to stay after the meeting. Not sure why she asked be to stay I became apprehensive. After the members of the group left she asked me to sit down. She looked me directly in the eyes and said, Rex, you are the most improved writer I've ever worked with, you need to take the scenes you've been writing and turn them into a book. I was flabbergasted. Seven years have passed, more conferences attended and now I have finished manuscript. I left the corporate world (actually it left me, I was re-organized out of a job) so I'm at long last following my muse.
I've been fortunate to have three fabulous, supportive teachers: Laurel Yourke, Christine DeSmet and Marshall Cook all from the University of Wisconsin.
I write because I'm a born storyteller and I love to exercise my imagination. I also write because I want to address life themes that can be expressed by story. The idea for my novel came from The Irish Independent that my son brought back for me from his trip to Ireland. The backdrop for the novel is the period in Irish history called the 'Troubles' from 1968 to1998. The theme is how betrayal is a two edged sword and results in Ian Murphy, the protagonist, transforming his life. The manuscript is currently being reviewed by several agents and publishers.
I am also launching a freelance writing career to pursue my "real world" interest of a sustainable lifestyle. To date work as been published in two local newspapers, an e-zine Extra Innings a newsletter for writers and the Small Farmers Journal. I am also an independent contractor with Examiner.com. My articles appear in: www.examiner.com/x-70167-Madison-Green-Culture-Examiner and www.examiner.com/x-61816-Madison-Gardening-Examiner.
The authors that have influenced me include: Ray Bradbury, Wallace Stegner, Anita Shreve, Edna O'Brien, J.G. Farrell, John McGahern, Margaret George, Tim O'Brien and Kent Haruf.
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