I’m a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to seriously writing fiction.. For many decades I was busy working and earning a PhD and running my own consulting business and writing a few non-fiction books related to my work. On the side I wrote my first novel—unpublished as of now but I may get back to it someday. During the pandemic, I returned to school to study fiction writing in Warren Wilson’s MFA program for writers—a deferred dream for me. I graduated in 2024. While at Warren Wilson, I wrote my debut novel, This Is Also Life, which won the 2025 Kevin McIlvoy Book Prize and will be published by WTAW Press.
For many years, I was naive about sending stories out to literary journals. I wrote short stories for the pleasure of doing so. I wrote the first draft of “Mushroom Dave” (see below) in the late eighties or early nineties. It was about fifteen pages long and it was a hot mess. But I’d learned about a local writing contest and in a rush of overblown confidence, I eagerly mailed it in. The contest was called “100 Words,” as in stories no longer than 100 words. Somehow that important detail slipped right past me (deepest apologies to the editors). Needless to say, my fifteen page story wasn’t selected as a winner. I’m happy to report that after many rewrites and revisions over the years, “Mushroom Dave” eventually found a home.
Other Writings and Honors
“Her Mother’s Tights.” The Greensboro Review, Fall 2021, Issue 110. (behind a paywall)
“Mushroom Dave.” Hoxie Gorge Review.
“Mo.” Into the Void.
“A Different Kind of Heart Attack.” Woven Tale Press.
“The Universe Can Be An Asshole.” Finalist for the 2017 Reynolds Price International Award for Fiction.
“On Any Monday.” Honorable mention, Glimmer Train’s Short Story Award for New Writers, September/October 2017.