Writer's Profile

I am posting this on December 18, 2006.

I am 61 years old. I live in Huntington Station, New York, which is on Long Island. I am unmarried and content to be that way. If a woman should come into my life, that would be fine, but if nobody ever does, that will be even better.

I am a committed, born again Christian. I attend the First Presbyterian Church of Greenlawn, New York, which is also on Long Island. We have a Spirit filled Congregation. I operate the sound system during Sunday Morning Worship Services. During Adult Bible Studies, I am the guy who keeps the Pastor on his toes, but in a friendly, respectful way.

I graduated from Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York, in 1963. My formal education ended there, but I have a curiosity about everything, that has never ended, and I have never stopped learning. My mind is an infinite reservoir of useless knowledge, which I have never been able to share, until I started writing on the Internet.

I have been writing for nearly 40 years. Before the advent of the word processor and the Internet, I used typewriters, and sent my stories to publishers through the mail. In all that time, I sold only 1 short story, for which I was paid $5.20. I did not frame the check. I invested the payment, in a breakfast at I-Hop.

So the only advice I'd give to any aspiring writer is this. No matter how good your writing is, don't quit your day job.

On the other hand, writing has always been my means of escaping the daily frustration. It has not however, been my only means of escape.

From 1969 until 1987, I spent my vacations as a world traveler. As a tourist, I visited Puerto Rico and most often Mexico. I also once visited Portugal and Spain. I was in Guadalajara, Mexico in February 1979, when the newly elected Pope John Paul II was visiting. I was also in Guatemala, in 1976 when the Country was struck with a massive earthquake.

I've also been to Panama, the Dominican Republic and Caracas, Venezuela, which was the only place I disliked. The City was obliterating itself, with urban renewal. In this Country, I've visited Washington D.C., Miami, Florida, Disneyworld, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. That's where my father came from, and where some of my relatives live.

I am now disabled. I was injured in a traffic accident in 1994, and have been unable to work, since then. I now live on monthly disability payments and food stamp credits. However, I am not an invalid. I can get around on my own, and can take care of myself. It's just that my physical movements are restricted, so that I can not do a full day's work.

However, the Lord has blessed me. I no longer have to take jobs I do not want, or do work I do not like. I'm now writing just for recreation, and to keep my mind alert. I have never felt more blessed than I am now, especially since people are finally reading what I've written, and appreciating my efforts.

As for my reading, first there is the Bible. As a committed, born again Christian, I read it for guidance.

I started reading books seriously when I was in the 7th Grade. “ Treasure Island” was my first favorite book. As I grew older, so did my tastes. In High School I read “The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde”, which is very different from the movies. I read “Mutiny on the Bounty”, and two Dickens novels, “Oliver Twist” and “A Tale of Two Cities.” I also liked the Revolutionary War Novel, “Arundel”, by Kenneth Roberts.

During High School, I had so much studying, that I was unable to take the time to read as much as I wanted. Once my education was completed, I was finally able to read much of what was recommended. I read Shakespeare’s plays, and much that was good.

Unfortunately, I’ve also read a lot of mediocre writing, but that’s part of learning the craft.

As for my TV favorites, I've been watching for more than 50 years; and I've had many.

From the beginning, and I mean the very beginning, it started with Howdy Doodie and the Mickey Mouse Club. There was also Roy Rodgers, Gene Autry, Hopalong Cassidy, and the Lone Ranger.

There were the Comedy Shows: Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Sid Caesar, Red Skelton, and Milton Berle (I didn't care for him.) Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Steve Allen, and "The one, the only, Groucho Marx". There were also old Laurel and Hardy Movies, along with Abbot and Costello. I know that with all the names that I've just given, I'm showing my age, but I am a natural comedian, and when I write comedy, I learned from watching the best.

Then there were the Sit-coms like I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best, The Donna Reed Show, and Leave it to Beaver, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

I also liked Crime Shows like Dragnet, The Untouchables, and 77 Sunset Strip.

As time went by TV changed. We had All in the Family, M.A.S.H., Happy Days, Barney Miller, One Day at Time, Columbo, Married With Children, and many more too numerous to mention.

As for contemporary TV, I have basic cable, which offers 75 channels, with nothing I want to watch, on any of them. The History Channel is good, but like History itself, the Channel tends to repeat itself. I usually have my evening meal while watching the News. I often have dinner with Wolf Blitzer. (I’ve got to get a life!) The only Show I really would miss if it went off the air is Veronica Mars.

Out of those more than 50 years of TV viewing, my favorite show of all time was Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

That's a very brief profile. I don't want to write more. I feel very uncomfortable, telling people anything personal about myself. I'd prefer that you read my stories in the following anthology.

Here they are Ladies and Gentlemen:

So read them and enjoy; and if you do enjoy them, please let me know.