Introduction
I set my tagline on this site to read “Novelist, Playwright” because it explains what I do. I started this site a few years ago when I got serious about trying to market my novels. Novels are my main focus these days.
But first, let’s discuss the plays.
I’ve had lots of plays produced, and with one exception I never cared much whether they were published or not. For me, the joy in writing for the stage lies in seeing the works realized with actors in front of a live audience—that, and seeing how the audience reacts. For the decade in which I wrote mostly plays, that was enough reward. (I did make a little prize money here and there.😉)
Before and after that decade, I wrote narrative fiction, short and long. And as I said, it’s my main interest now.
A little background
For most of my life writing has been an avocation, something I did in the early hours before going to work. Sometimes major life events precluded even that. Despite the difficulties, over the course of the years I’ve managed to write six novels, two screenplays, many short stories, and over fifty plays. I don’t claim any great success with the fiction, though I did sell a little horror story, “The South Wind Rises,” to the now-defunct Plot magazine.
Since I retired I’ve given more attention to the novel. This is because when I moved to Tennessee I no longer found myself in an area with a thriving theater scene. I still write a short play now and then, primarily for contests. My latest was produced in July, 2016, in Houston.
Genres
So, what kind of fiction do I write? In general, imaginative works under the heading of fantasy, or “speculative fiction.” However, I don’t consider myself limited to fantasy. Recently I decided to branch out into the mystery genre. Experimenting with genres is one of the few advantages an unpublished writer has over a published one. Once you’ve established yourself in one particular category of writing, chances are you will have to go on writing in that category. The fact is, I’m no stranger to mysteries, either as a reader or writer. My most successful plays have been of the mystery/suspense variety.
Yet I’ve always read speculative fiction–science fiction, horror, and fantasy–because I’m attracted to the element of wonder. These genres take us to another world, sometimes a strange one far away, sometimes one that’s only slightly beneath the skin of our own world. Fantasy stories are sometimes labeled “escapist,” but they can reveal as much about the human condition as any other style. It’s the storytelling that matters.
Latest novel
My latest novel is The Truth About Jacob Marley. This is my first novel to be published (thanks to Twin Oaks, a small press in Tennessee). I want to put in a word here about the origin of the work, since the book is different than what I usually write.
In 2015 I’d written a mystery/love-story novel that wasn’t getting much attention (The Intended Victim). Some agents asked to see the manuscript, but none ever wanted to represent me in selling it to a publisher. At the end of the year I wasn’t writing anything, and the folks in my writing group scolded me because I didn’t bring anything to the weekly meeting. This was in December. I didn’t have any fresh ideas, but something I read in a news-feed irked me. I can’t remember what it was about, but at that time of year I’d seen several articles leading off with something like, “VHS was dead, to begin with”—a supposedly witty reference to the opening line of A Christmas Carol. I was really tired of it. Yes we all get it! I remember thinking. Damn it, what if the man wasn’t dead? That was the spark for the idea of The Truth About Jacob Marley.
So I decided to write a short story with that premise. Soon I was taking in ten pages or so to the meeting. To my surprise they really liked what I was writing and encouraged me to continue. At some point in January I realized that I could take the story further. In fact, I’d already created a lot that needed to be explained. I realized it had to be a novel. So I kept at it, doing the historical research as I went along. I completed the first draft on New Years Eve of 2016.
The book is a “parallel novel.” This term has been applied to works such as Alice Randall’s The Wind Done Gone, a daring alternate interpretation of Gone with the Wind from the black point of view, or Valerie Martin’s Mary Reilly, which retells Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from the perspective of a housemaid in Dr. Jekyll’s house. (You might have seen the movie of it starring Julia Roberts.) My take on Scrooge, Marley, Fred, Bob Cratchit, etc., is original to be sure, but respectful of the classic tale. It’s not a sarcastic send-up by any means. It is also a true historical novel, the first I’ve written. Looking back now, I think that aspect pleased me the most as I was writing, for early Victorian England was indeed awash with change, invention, and hope.
Personal stuff
I’ve lived in:
- Frankfort, Kentucky (home town)
- Pasadena, California
- Houston, Texas
- Smyrna, Tennessee
- Fort Worth, Texas
Attended University of Louisville (Bachelor of Music degree)
Served in the US Army, educated as Russian linguist, primarily stationed in northern Germany (Schöningen)
Occupation: computer programmer-analyst, now retired
Now single and fortunate to live close to my son and his family here in north Texas
To contact me, go to Contact.
George Rapier 
I’ve been reading your Blog. It’s fascinating! Now I will buy your latest book.
Hi, Dwight. I just noticed that you had responded directly here. Thanks for reading the blog. Hope you liked the book.
Hi George. Dan Dustin here. I am meeting Ken Elkins in Las Vegas for an overnight on March 26th. I had hoped you might join us. Sigh. At any rate, I just ordered your Jacob Marley book. I will read it promptly and get back to you. I am so happy that writing has been central to your life post Army. Me too. I think we should rendezvous sometime in the near future. I would love to learn more about you, your life, your writing, etc., etc. You can email me at <daniel.dustin@health.utah.edu> Let’s reconnect. We are way overdue. (P.S. I see the message above from Dwight Williams. I have such fond memories of him during our time at Det K. He was a gentleman.) We are not that far from one another. I now reside just outside of Santa Fe, NM.
Hi, George,
I had hoped to see you in Frankfort in October. We had an upbeat 60th but missed you.
Do you happen to know anything about Gary Johnson? I believe you were friends in high school, but no one seems to know anything about him recently.
If I infer correctly, you now live in Fort Worth. I was interim executive director of the San Antonio Bar Association, 2016-17, but then we returned to Connecticut and now live in Westford, MA near grandkids in neighboring Chelmsford.
Please stay in touch,
Larkin
Hi, Larkin! Good to hear from you. I chose to skip the last reunion because of a health problem.
It was because of an eye problem I have. A year and a half ago I had the cataract operation (you may have done this as well) and chose to have lenses put in as well. The operation was great and for the first time in my adult life I could see far and near without glasses or contacts! It was wonderful. About six months later I had a bad cold and one morning woke up unable to see out of my right eye. I went to the person following my condition and was told it was the cataracts. She made an appointment in two months for a procedure to correct this. But when I went in for the procedure, a doctor examined the eye and said it was not the cataracts; instead I had a detached retina.
They were able to re-attach it, but most of this year I’ve not been able to see out of the eye (although it’s better). But the good news is I am having another surgery soon that may be able to correct my vision. As a result of all this I have been reluctant to drive much. I live in a small city next to Fort Worth and get around here fine, but I’ve been avoiding the freeways and interstates. So unlike last time, I didn’t want to drive all that way back to Frankfort.
About Gary. I haven’t heard from him for years. The last time has about 20 years ago, At that time he was working for the state and playing the organ and directing the choir at a church, maybe the Presbyterian? Gary turned out to be a better musician than I was. I don’t remember him coming to a reunion except for the one that was held in someone’s house by the river. I do remember asking him about one of the later reunions, and he said no, he wasn’t going. I don’t why, but somehow I think he has some past grudge or bad feeling about something. The last time I saw him was after the reunion I talked to you. My spouse at the time was with me, if you remember.
I have ended up in north Texas because I was “following the grandkids,” in my case just only one, my granddaughter, Jessica. She is now married and is a civil engineer. Anyway, I wish you a good Christmas!
George
Wasn’t aware of a 60th. Or a 50th. Or a 40th. etc.
Anyhow, I wondered what had become of Larkin. Last I saw you, Larkin, was at FCC many years ago, when I was organist. Been at First Pres now 25 years, married Barbara Gregg, who passed away in 2013. I occasionally see Bill Graham, John Baughman, sometimes Don Jeffers. I’m a retired programmer, just enjoying my days now and making music.
Good to find you’re doing well and, as Lt. Frank Bullitt said in the old movie: “Take it slow”.
Sorry to be so long responding
Hi, George! I actually recently got your Marley book- it is fantastic! I like how it’s told from the point of view of Fred. A lot of my friends don’t like stories set in first person, but I actually find them easier to read than others. It’s like I’m being told the story, myself, by Fred. I’ve actually made my own version of the story where Marley also lives, so I can get why you made yours! #JusticeForMarley!
Adele, thanks for the comments and praise. I don’t get many these days. This was the first time I wrote an historical novel and I found it a lot of fun to keep things correct. For instance, I wasn’t sure if they had the railroad yet, but I found out they did, and also that in London they had this elevated platform, the first. I enjoyed finding things like that. I’ve been writing for a while, and in the old days (pre-Internet) I had to go to a library and research things. The Internet makes it easy.