I was raised in the Ozarks, and attended undergraduate and graduate school in Arkansas. I first began writing when I was a preteen, and have continued it, in one form or another, for the duration of my life. I first began acting in the sixth grade and that has continued, off and on in one form or another, for the duration of my life as well. My greatest compliment about my writing was, "You know how to reach up inside someone, pull their guts out and tell them, 'Look at this! These are your guts!'" My greatest compliment for my acting was, "Why didn't go go straight to Hollywood as soon as you got out of high school?" The answer to that question is because I was too scared, insecure and lacking in confidence. Now, in my sixties, I am no longer that scared kid. Most of my experience has been in stage acting, but I did have a bit part in a documentary film "Printer to the Territory" directed by J.M. Young in 1977. A few years ago, I also had a bit part in an independent feature film, but that ended up on the cutting room floor. So, I guess it barely counts. Acting is not my top priority right now, but I do want to make myself available to do Zoom table reads for screenwriters at no cost because I enjoy doing them, and I appreciate the experience and feedback. Maybe I might devote more attention to acting at a later date. However, I am open to considering any opportunity that may cross my path.
I have written, over the years, for regional magazines and had a monthly feature article in a regional magazine out of Memphis in the 1990's. It was called "Recovery Times" and I wrote for them for several years with other authors who had a monthly feature such as Father Leo Booth, Alan Cohen and Rokelle Lerner. I have written fiction, short stories and poetry for most of my life, with very little publication. However, I did finish my first novel at the age of 58, and it was initially published in 2014. My first novel won a New Apple Awards medal for general fiction and my second novel won a Firebird award, as well. All my books are off the shelf at the present time pending second editions that are being prepared. However, the second edition of my novel "The Calling Dream" will be published on 3/17/23. I am also about halfway through writing my third novel.
I retired from my white collar day job in January 2023 and from this point forward will devote myself to the pursuit of my creative talents hoping to monetize those talents as much as possible. I am currently working on getting on a speakers circuit as public speaking is something else that I have done a lot of and I am good at. I hope to connect and do speaking engagements and presentations with corporations, conventions and conferences as I have a fairly extensive knowledge of trauma survivors, addictions, anxiety and stress management, and general morale. My novels, in fact, are about people who are struggling to overcome their own inner turmoil related to trauma, addictions, etc.
I don't really know what is next for me, but as I said, I am open to considering any opportunity that may cross my path.
Unique traits: amblyopia
GAY DOWN YONDER Budget: $1M - $5M | Comedy ⋄ Romance A Chicago elite fashion professional is torn between the city he loves and the husband he loves when his burned-out emergency room doctor husband tells him he wants to move back to the simpler life of his tiny home town in Missouri farm country.
The Calling Dream Budget: $10M - $30M In the 1960s and ’70s, a sexually addicted televangelist battles himself over his sins of lust while he is tormented by recurring dreams of a strange, red-headed woman who knows his darkest secret, the one he can never admit, even to himself.
Confessions from the Pumpkin Patch Budget: $1M - $5M | Drama A promiscuous, headstrong, small-town girl of the 1960's can’t stand her controlling mother, adores her alcoholic father and thinks she knows it all until she falls in love with an "ugly hippie" who involves her with aspects of life that she never imagined, and shows her that life isn't always what it seems, not even her own family.
A Printer to the Territory
(
Film
by Jess M. Young
Bit part Film was used for many years as the introduction for tours at the Arkansas Territorial Restoration in Little Rock, Arkansas.
"The Calling Dream" won a Speak Up Talk Radio Firebird Award for general fiction and cross genre.
(2021)
2016 New Apple Award for General fiction e-book http://newappleliterary.com/2016ebookCat04.html
(2016)
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
(1979-1981)
Lyon College
(1973-1977)