I started writing due to the enouragment given by an English teacher in HS. I gave her a short story to read hoping that only she would see it. Instead one day she said that she was going to read to the class a new short story the author was not cited. I nearly died. After she completed the reading she asked he class to critque it. Again I nearly died. All were positive. Then the class found out that it was this shy kid who sat in the back of the room. After class they came over and congratulated me. Wow! That was it. Interestingly my entire writing career has been writing nonfiction. I do have an idea for a novel and will venture forth...very soon. 

NEH Fellow; Fullbright Scholar; Scholar in Residence at the American Academy In Rome; Excellence in Teaching Award University of Chicago. I recently taught at the Loyola University's Rome Cener