Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Durham, NC across the street from the Bird Park, which was a city park with a meandering creek, a little league ball field, a picnic shelter and multiple sites for eating, a church 1/2 block away, a community recreation center another 100 yards away, and an elementary school 1 block away with a middle school a bike ride away. My first book was an expose on growing up in this type environment and the life effecting decisions created by it. I wrote my first story when I was in the third grade and fell in love with the written word. As I matured, I became entrenched in the church teachings and read more devotionals and Bible sturdy material. I spoke my first message at this church 1/2/ block away and my second at my uncle's church 90 miles away. By the time I got to high school, however, I slipped away and became my own sinful self.
My loving parents challenged but did not antagonize; sheltered but did not spoil, laughed with me but did not preach to my mistakes, and continued to push me until I finally outgrew my youth (at an older age) and became the man they had seen in me. I never moved away from Durham all my life and now at 67, I have begun renewing my first love--writing.
When did you first start writing?
Though I wrote my first Sci-Fi story in the third grade, I guess I consider my junior year in high school when I first became sure of the power of words. I wrote my draft copy of my book report on Silas Marner and titled it "...and a child will lead them". I was sick at the time and did not attend the next day when we were to produce the final draft. Based on what the teacher saw in my rough draft, I received an A+ and read the report to the class. I have never been so proud and I continue to tell this little story to anyone who listens today. It taught me to be prepared, do your best every step of the way, and love what you do.
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