Duncan R.M. Ferguson

Biography

just a run-o-the-mill wordsmith, chronicling travel in 46 of 48 contiguous states as a professional commercial driver, plus some other places in North America, people, experiences, relationships(long and short), somewhat musically inclined have played guitar(mostly 'self taught' but also from other guitarists) , drums at age 12, harmonica, vocals, besides music in grade school only had one paid drum lesson my father paid drummer at night club, informal drum lessons from my older cousin, plus age 8 or 9 I took music lessons-reading music and chanter/bagpipes from a Scottish doctor with a Japanese wife and their two cute daughters-might of been spark for my liking for Oriental woman), started writing own songs early teens, have been geared towards mostly rock n' blues genres(harmonica mentor in Memphis Dr. Malcolm Anthony-'bluesologist') , my grandfather on my mother's side (from England) was an inventor and published poet about logging and railways in the great Northwest, grandfather on my father's side came from highlands of Scotland, clan name Ferguson on crest is -'dulcius ex asperis'(Latin-'sweeter after difficulties'), some in Ferguson clan were mentors/contemporaries to Scottish poet Robert Burns, and though different surname related to Robert The Bruce (i.e. king in 'The Highlander' movie). Though my father and grandfather were both alcoholics, I don't assign blame even for drinking beer at age 4, almost dying of alcohol aphxyation from leftover wine bottles from a family house party by age 8 (my father was a successful national wine sales mgr), then being hyperactive- 'ADD'/sports/track and very academically inclined start grade school age 5 & later 'skipped' a grade passed with honors, once I broke my left wrist falling off rings in gymnastics is when I got introduced to opiates, which spiralled to more drug use, stolen cars and guns, high speed chase in hot car almost shot by cop in the back at age14, by age 15 did a summer stint in juvie after firearm heist, and though I went through periods of cleaning up, working, going to night school, taking martial arts, and aspiring and practising towards/trying out to a career in music(top 40 & orginals)/movies(accepted by director early 80s movie with Loni Anderson but got really drunk and kicked out by crew), my addiction/alcoholism took precedent over relationships i.e. beautiful buxom brunette with blue eyes of Dutch ancestry plans of marriage/kids fell thru due to incessant drinking, by age 23 I was shaking and showing signs of later stages of alcoholism, throughout the 80s which only got worse, by into 90s totally strung out on heroin , I'd actually made an attempt to quit drinking by end of 80's, but continued with the drugs (meth, heroin, coke) A crowd I ran with even ripped off the Columbian mafia for about $1 mill in coke. One of our crew was nearly beaten to death, he showed up cut up face all swollen and black and blue with his Oriental GF in a BMW to warn us/said the cartel would of offed him, but were 'sending a message' in attempt to recoup product/$. After a few more attempts then at quitting everything incl marijuana & cigarettes through half the 90s, and after a couple ODs on 'speedballs'(heroin&coke mix)that I remarkably survived after 95% full 1cc syringe hanging out of arm turning blue etc. then after 2nd heroin possession in medical ward of jail medical attendant overseeing me named Jesus! , kicking so bad I was transported to an outside hospital 2X! I've since with alot of God's help & help by others in recovery i.e. friend I credit as 'my guide' leading me back on path to church etc was ancestry of Irish-Cherokee & a Marine , been clean&sober since August 6 1996, had possessions dismissed, grad of long term 17 month treatment by 11-98, even applied for a governors pardon (pending)
I'm currently based in beach cities area of SoCal.

Smashwords Interview

What is your writing process?

Primarily will ignite initially with inspiration from a myriad of sources: personal experiences(recent or past which of course involve 'first hand' interactions with female interests), listening to music(mostly rock & blues-KOCI & KJZZ are my faves), watching news with some bizarre or inspiring newsfeed, watching movies i.e. a write/song just came to me while or after watching "Girl" movie from 90s.
Also a major factor which surpasses surface sensory perception, which is either a prime inspiration or intertwined within fabric of a write, is Scripture, The Word, which I glean from the KJV which I find more eloquent and descriptive, after years of absorption and daily reading. Other times will be from books I've read throughout life, Jack London, Joseph Conrad etc also since I've absorbed so much musically, I'll be inspired by lyrics, sometimes even quoting them within a write, which I make sure to add quotations and reference the band or lyric writer.
So a couple of lines may just come to me, or a whole stanza, which I then just craft into or follow it's structure like trudging in direction of flow along the bank of a stream or river such as the curvy hwy 12 in ID-Lewis & Clark route or the Bear River in Evanston WY or that really winding stretch flanked by shadowed imposing canyon walls at times dripping icicles like stalacites on the 70 of the Colorado, then is really cool when encounter confluence from another river(like the clear Thompson into the muddy Fraser) or bristling brook, then as spans out in delta providing wet grasslands, sandbars, and a symphony of various creatures that become symbiotic players in the scape, or as the band 'Heart' says, "the song is the master."
Other times is a phrase which I adopt or twist into my own unique title or sometimes I'll double check online and see if isn't already a title, but other times I don't care if it is, because I know whatever I'm writing is original, not copying or the incriminating plajerizing.
Of course, either way, like Bob Seger who I saw in concert on his 35th birthday says, "10% is inspiration, the other 90% is work."
I.E. after a couple of lines or even say a complete 4 line stanza just enter my mind usually very quickly, though sometimes I'll do what I call let it stew or brew for a couple of days even before pen hits the paper. I then have to work at it, crank out corresponding verses, sometimes first or other times I'll just know I have to construct a bridge or break, usually after a couple of stanzas(this holds true if is or starts as a song or lyric)
But other times if is more a free form, I'll just let it flow, sometimes anticipating an end rhyme, other times just buffet flow of wings whilst always under the shadow of His Wings i.e. Psalms 17:8, 31:1, 36:7, 57:1, 63:7, 91:4 , with desired content/expression and then decide of an appropriate end rhyme. Though I must admit It does work better to think ahead of an end rhyme, then build content into it, using end rhyme like a capstone or sometimes called a porcap, as I worked construction/framing before in late teens, and early 30's at a building supply yard in HB, but let's not forget "The Cornerstone" i.e. "the Stone the builders rejected was peradventure the most important stone of all." i.e. Psalm 118:22, Luke 20:17, Matt.21:42, Acts 4:11, 1Peter 2:6 Note: I also do parodies of songs which in no way means I don't like the song, I really do, and respect the crafter(s) of such ditties. I.E. "Mr Brownstone" by GNR becomes "we've been dancing in the fire with Mr. Cornerstone, He stands at the door and knocks-but'll respect ya if ya wanna be left alone." OR "Spoonman" Chris Cornell/Soundgarden becomes "Crossman- they nailed Your Feet n' Hands- You saved me!-now I'm together with God's plan...all my new friends are Christian-all my old friends're ODed n' deadpan."
Sometimes I'll think of 2-4 end rhymes ahead of content, and write them in the margin or top o' page. That being said I'm big fan of rhyming, usually 'true rhymes' but occasionally ones that sound close. Sometimes, say in a free form, I'll write a line with an end rhyme on the back burner, then cram with a several lines of content, sometimes with inner rhymes or sometimes not, then lead up to end/punch line with end rhyme, which I usually enjoy adding on what marvellous maiden of the quill-Paloma Positano coined as my "signature twist."

Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?

I'd say Dr. Suess books had a big impact on me, as I started reading when I was like 4 by my Mom. She was suggested to try teaching to read by a doctor, as I was extremely hyperactive, referred to as ADD now. I think the rhyming prose of Dr. Suess(who ended up just down the road in La Jolla, CA) had an effect or set a precedent on my writing style. I also give credit, and had chance to thank my mother while still alive, for having the wherewithal and extreme patience, to teach such a tasmanian devil like terror to read so young.

Where to find Duncan R.M. Ferguson online

Website: https://lightdistiller.com/?theme_preview=true&iframe=true&frame-nonce=e54cff6ca9

Books

Memoirs Of A Dark Warrior by Duncan R.M. Ferguson

Price: $8.99 USD. Words: 87,160. Language: English. Published: October 17, 2019 . Categories: Poetry » Themes & motifs » Places

travel, places, people, experiences, mostly in U.S., some North America, and worldly fantasy/historical references, rock n' blues greats, a few movies, light faire political satire, addiction/alcoholism leading to recovery Spiritual insight of Scripture studies KJV.